Being an RN with an Associates Degree or a Bachelors Degree.....

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I was just wondering waht in your opinion was the best way to go. I am currently a freshman in college ready to switch schools if I decide to go with a 2 year... What are the perks? better pay? An RN can do everything a BSN can do right? The problem is that Im looking at the curriculum for schools around me, and I dont think I could handle a 4 year program...but im just wondering what the best way to go is...thanks!

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

What route you take depends on your circumstances. Choose what's best for you. Whether a bsn, adn, diploma....bedside nursing is all the same for each one. There are jobs you can get with a bsn that are not hospital jobs though, so what do you hope to pursue with your nursing choice? You've got to begin with what YOU want.....and only you. :wink2:

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I am purely interested in just being an RN in a hospital. I would enjoy that for my whole life I believe...how many of you have just an AS?

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I am purely interested in just being an RN in a hospital. I would enjoy that for my whole life I believe...how many of you have just an AS?

Most hospitals offer tuition reimbursement - a quick 2 year AD will open the door. You can then pursue your BSN and have part of tuition reimbursed!

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ADN or BSN.......both can do hospital nursing. BSN can open other doors for you later on in life (i.e. management, teaching, etc).

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Specializes in Med-Surg, , Home health, Education.

I was an LPN for many years then went back for my ADN. I now work in education.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

This topic has been done and done and done again, often ending in the moderators locking the thread. It is very controversial. I searched the boards for you and found some entertaining reading. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion regarding this. Personally I wish I'd had the financial resources to go for BSN originally and now I'm a little lazy to go back to school.

How do you feel about ADN nurses?

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96377

Why do RN's with ASN and BSN make the same?

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96455

BSN requirement for all RN's?

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79197

What can I do with my BSN that Assoc. RN's can't?

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69728

Why Not Just Do a Bsn Program???

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67683

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I am purely interested in just being an RN in a hospital. I would enjoy that for my whole life I believe...how many of you have just an AS?

Don't say "just an AS", LOL. I forget the figure but more than half of us practicing are AS graduates.

I have my AS and have for 15 years. I'm looking at maybe 25 or more years of work ahead of me. So at the age of 46, I decided to go RN to BSN, because I'm not sure I can do this until I'm 70. I might be perfectly content to, but if not the BSN will give me options that I don't have now.

The AS was the only route for me at the time and I have no regrets. I've done well for myself and am proud to be "just an AS". :)

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

I think if getting your BSN is really something you think you may want in the future, just save yourself the trouble and get it over with now. When I went to school, by the time you got all your prereqs done, the BSN program was only 1 semester longer than the ADN. I knew myself well enough to figure that when I was done with school, I probably wouldn't want to go back. I know several people who are working, with kids, and trying to go back and get their BSN. It just seems like a lot of extra trouble. Just don't be fooled by the "BSN nurses are better than ADN nurses myth" I just think of my BSN as an investment in my future, just in case I want to move into a postition that requires it some day. Good luck making your decision!

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This topic has been done and done and done again, often ending in the moderators locking the thread. It is very controversial. I searched the boards for you and found some entertaining reading. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion regarding this. Personally I wish I'd had the financial resources to go for BSN originally and now I'm a little lazy to go back to school.

How do you feel about ADN nurses?

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96377

Why do RN's with ASN and BSN make the same?

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96455

BSN requirement for all RN's?

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79197

What can I do with my BSN that Assoc. RN's can't?

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69728

Why Not Just Do a Bsn Program???

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67683

Have you thought about online learning? I looked for a long time to find a graduate program for nursing education. Found it at Walden University. Look for an online program--it's great to go to school in your PJs! :rolleyes:

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In case you hadn't read my other post, I believe I may have found a solution to my problems. I have found a program in Pittsburgh at Univeristy Pittsburgh Medical Center. It is a 2 year program, and it is completely paid for as long as you sign your life away to them for 2 years. LOL You just have to sign a 2 year agreement saying if they offer you a job, you must take it. They might not even offer you a job and your still tuition free. I'd have to merely pay for fees, uniforms, parking pass, etc... I'd have to take all my pre-req's at a community college before attending, and there is no wait list. This sounds absolutely fabulous. But the only problem i'm running into is that it's only a diploma program. I was kinda looking forward to at least having some sort of degree.. even an associates. But, if there isn't a problem having your diploma, it'll be fine with me. The only thing is that I will have went to BG for a year, MTC (marion technical school where I will be doing my pre'req's) for a year, and this nursing program for 2 years... and i'll only come out with a diploma....opinions...please! lol

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Specializes in PICU, Nurse Educator, Clinical Research.
I think if getting your BSN is really something you think you may want in the future, just save yourself the trouble and get it over with now. When I went to school, by the time you got all your prereqs done, the BSN program was only 1 semester longer than the ADN. I knew myself well enough to figure that when I was done with school, I probably wouldn't want to go back. I know several people who are working, with kids, and trying to go back and get their BSN. It just seems like a lot of extra trouble. Just don't be fooled by the "BSN nurses are better than ADN nurses myth" I just think of my BSN as an investment in my future, just in case I want to move into a postition that requires it some day. Good luck making your decision!

Definitely look at your personal situation, though. For me, because of prior university education in liberal arts, it was going to be 2.5 years ADN, 4 years BSN. In my area, there aren't any differences in pay, period. Some unit managers go in with ADN's and the hospital (attached to a university) pays their RN-MSN tuition with a bridge program (which I'll do later).

The RN-MSN bridge option is something I rarely see mentioned here- I don't know how common those programs are, but it may be a better option for many people, especially when an ADN is usually a fraction of the price of a BSN (for me, it was free d/t a grant, vs. almost $9K for a BSN)- then you can get the hospital to pay for the bridge program education, and come out with a Master's degree.

The ADN/BSN debate is silly. Make your decision based on time and cost- that's my advice.

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