Best Path to RN for me?

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I'm trying to decide what my best path to becoming an RN would be - ideally with a BSN at some point (sooner rather than later!).

I'm 31 and already have a BA in another field. I don't have any experience in nursing/health care yet, but I'm thinking about doing a CNA program and working in that. As far as an RN goes, it looks like my two main options are:

1. Accelerated BSN - total cost of prerequisites + 12 month program = $55,000

The downside to this is that I would not be able to work during the 12 month program.

2. Associates Degree, then bridge to BSN - total cost of 2 year program = $17,000

I assume I'd be able to work at least part time while I'm doing this, and then after a year or two, I could go on to do a RN to BSN program for $15-30K. My hesitations with this is the longer course length, and the fact that since I've already got a BA, I wouldn't want to have to repeat gen ed classes.

So, what do you all think of this? Is it worth the "big money" to go straight to the BSN, or better to take it slow and steady? At this point, I am single (separated) and don't have any kids, so I'm relatively free financially, although the thought of having no income for 1 or 2 years scares me!

Thanks!

Wow, I could have written your post! I am also 31 with a bachelors(and masters) in another field. I am in the process of appplying to nursing school. I have been accepted at a local ABSN and I am waiting to hear back from 2 other ABSN programs. However, due to the price of the ABSN's I also applied to my community college's nursing program, and I am seriously considering doing and ADN and then doing an rn/msn program. I will likely save over 50,000. Yes it will take me longer....but I looked at a loan calculator for borrowing 50,000 for an ABSN and I would have to pay $600 a month for the next 10 years! Makes the community college look a lot more intersting than the ABSN! Also some schools allow you to get your MSN without a BSN (just an RN) as long as you have a bachelors degree in another field. This very reputable school does not require you to have a bsn if you already have a bachelors and an adn.Frontier Nursing University - Distance Education from the Birthplace of Nurse-Midwifery and Family Nursing in America

I see you are in Pennsylvania. I'm in Pittsburgh, which schools do you want to apply to? I have applied to robert morris, duq, pitt, and ccac.

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Wow, I could have written your post! ... However, due to the price of the ABSN's I also applied to my community college's nursing program, and I am seriously considering doing and ADN and then doing an rn/msn program. I will likely save over 50,000. ... Also some schools allow you to get your MSN without a BSN (just an RN) as long as you have a bachelors degree in another field.

I see you are in Pennsylvania. I'm in Pittsburgh, which schools do you want to apply to? I have applied to robert morris, duq, pitt, and ccac.

Thanks for your reply... I'm actually in northeastern PA, so far from Pittsburgh! I'm looking at applying to SUNY Broome and Binghamton University (both in NY state) and maybe some schools near Scranton, although that's a bit further of a drive.

I really liked the ABSN idea until I realized how much it would cost - and then not being able to work that year on top of that. With an ADN program, I could work part-time, and the cost is less than half of the BSN program. It's starting to seem more and more like a no-brainer for me in my situation!

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I was basically only considering ABSN until a month ago when I realized how much it was going to cost! I also plan on working part time during the adn and local hospitals will pay a portion of tuition, so it would be practically free to do the adn.

It does seem much more fiscally responsible to do the adn!

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Specializes in Oncology.

I don't know if this is an option in your state, but here you can go to a community college for the ADN and have concurrent enrollment with a local university to essentially do the bridge to RN while earning your RN. You take one or two classes on-line each semester with the university and typically earn the BSN about a month or two after the ADN.

I live in Arizona and I know that NAU and ASU both offer this program.

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I don't know if this is an option in your state, but here you can go to a community college for the ADN and have concurrent enrollment with a local university to essentially do the bridge to RN while earning your RN. You take one or two classes on-line each semester with the university and typically earn the BSN about a month or two after the ADN.

Wow, that sounds like a good option to do the bridge to BSN online while you are doing your RN! I don't know of any program like that around here (I'm in northeastern PA) but I'll keep my ears open for one. Thanks!

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Thanks for your comment! I had not even thought about RN to MSN. That's definitely something I want to look into!

My nurse manager where I work did that. She had a B.S. on Psych went to the CC and back to her old school for the RN to MSN program. Bit more costly thend the RN to BSN route online, but I look at it your getting two degrees.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I have an Associate's Degree already in general studies and am doing ADN and bridging to BSN. That way, I can get my RN in 2 years, hopefully begin working, and I plan to complete my BSN online. To me, it's more important to get the RN completed and get to work than it is to get the BSN all in one go. You may find that due to the courses you took getting your first degree that you can take a couple of pre-reqs and then get into an accelerated ADN program.

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If I could go back and do it again, I would have taken the ADN route and then do RN-BSN online. It took me 5 years to complete my BSN. If I would've went the ADN route, I would have been working sooner. You don't have any children so you could go either way. I would not do the accelerated personally because I think it is too much stress and I was an average student, so it may have been too rough for me. I pick option 2 if you want to being working sooner. If you don't care time wise, go straight BSN route.

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Hi,

Is there anyone who could help you financially while you are in school? I guess that would be the main question. I would spend the money and just get it over with because it will be worth it in the end. That is what I am doing now. Good luck!

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To me, it's more important to get the RN completed and get to work than it is to get the BSN all in one go. You may find that due to the courses you took getting your first degree that you can take a couple of pre-reqs and then get into an accelerated ADN program.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm hoping my first degree will help somewhere along the line, even if I'm kind of "starting over" with my ADN.

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If I could go back and do it again, I would have taken the ADN route and then do RN-BSN online. It took me 5 years to complete my BSN. If I would've went the ADN route, I would have been working sooner. You don't have any children so you could go either way. I would not do the accelerated personally because I think it is too much stress and I was an average student, so it may have been too rough for me. I pick option 2 if you want to being working sooner. If you don't care time wise, go straight BSN route.

It's good to know you would have done the ADN if you were doing things over. 5 years is a long time to be in school! I am financially ok now, but don't want to be in school / out of work for longer than necessary so I think I'm leaning toward the ADN. Thanks for sharing!

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Hi,

Is there anyone who could help you financially while you are in school? I guess that would be the main question. I would spend the money and just get it over with because it will be worth it in the end. That is what I am doing now. Good luck!

I think I could get help from my family while I'm in school and I could get loans, but I'm not sure if I want to owe that much. Good for you - just going for it with the BSN right away! That's what I originally wanted to do and thought it made the most sense, but I'm having second thoughts. Thanks for sharing your experience - there haven't been too many others going the BSN route who have chimed in yet!

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