Becoming a Nurse

[duran]

Sorry if this is in the wrong section but I have an inexperienced question.

Well I have thought about several career paths, all across the spectrum but I have now thought about it and decided that I just rather take care of people. But I have some questions regarding becoming a nurse.

The nursing program is a bit confusing, or at least different from every other college program out there. I will undoubtedly have to go through a community college one way or other due to my academical past. Now I know there are three different paths: a certificate from a hospital , the ADN and the BSN. The problem is that the ADN is a 72 credit hour program, and thus is more than the 60 credit minimum to transfer to receive the BSN at a university (it will also take me more than 2 years, minimum).

From the bls.com profile for registered nurses, it reads: "Many RNs with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelor's programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practice. Often, they can find an entry-level position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits to work toward a BSN by completing an RN-to-BSN program"

What does that mean? Will they really pay for my tuition to receive my BSN? Should I go through the community college ADN program and skip the transfer until I gain enough experience, say 1-2 years, before going for my BSN?

[Katnip, RN]

An RN-BSN program is a bridge-type program. In a BSN the last two years of school are strictly nursing courses, many of which an ADN has already taken, so to go from RN (ADN or Diploma) to BSN you would usually take less that those two years to get your BSN.

You can go directly to BSN if you don't mind the money and time. Some facilities offer some tuition reimbursement for employees, including RNs, to go back to school. Few offer total reimbursement. My facility offers $5k a year. Doesn't help much if you're going to grad school, but may help if you're going to a state uni for BSN. We also have a nursing scholarship program that will pick up most of the tuition if you qualify financially.

With that tuition help comes a committment on your part to work at that hospital for a certain amount of time for each year you take money for school or you will have to pay a good chunk of it back. Make sure you like where you are when you take them up on the offer.

[duran]

Well, the problem, as usual, begins with the money needed to go through school. I have read that due to the shortage of nurses, a ADN will provide the same type of job opportunities. I don't really have the money to go through a bachelor's without some type of job, so I might as well and take advantage of just getting a ADN.

[AZ_LPN_8_26_13]

I am taking the ADN to become an RN route..... Primarily

because of money. My employer is paying for my education

in exchange for a work commitment of a minimum of 3 years

as an RN for them. I figure that once I'm an RN & working

for the hospital where I work now, I can take an RN to MSN

bridge program (I already have a BS in another field). It will

take me longer to do it all, but I won't be further in debt...