BSN directly from ADN

[grechi2009]

is it possible to go straight to a BSN From a ADN program? I have heard that most community colleges have programs with major universities for their graduates to do a RN to BSN which only takes about a year (based on all the other gen eds are done including chemistries if required for BSN). I know some programs require that you work as a RN for a year or a certain amount of hours before applying to their RN to BSN program. has anyone went straight to a RN to BSN right after graduation? how much different was it? did you feel like you had a andvantage?

[llg, PhD, RN]

I have worked with new orientees in hospitals for many years and now teach in an RN-BSN program. Here is my perspective on your question.

1. Before entering the RN-BSN program, you need to find out the type of students it is geared to. That is true of any educational program, but most prospective students never consider that in their decisions. If the program is geared towards nurses with several years of clinical experience -- and you will be the only one with zero actual nursing experience -- then you will be at a great disadvantage. The homework assignments, tests, term papers, etc. may be designed with the experienced nurse in mind. For example, they might ask you to apply the content from the textbook readings to a problem in your current practice setting. If you have no practice setting and never did have a practice setting, that will pose an extra problem for you. You can probably work around that once or twice ... but if you have similar problems all through the program, it will hurt your performance, your learning, and your grades. So, be sure to check on that before you decide to enter any program. You don't want to be dramatically different from the other students in the class in terms of educational background and experience -- because the class and its expectations will be developed toward the majority of the students, not the ocassional student with a different backgroung.

The above is true for any type of program ... Master's, DNP, PhD, etc.

2. I have also seen new ADN grads struggle with their transition to practicing professional nurse when their energies and attention are divided between their new jobs and more schoolwork. We can only handle so much at a time, and when you take on too much, both the job and the school usually suffer. I've seen such new grads do OK in their schoolwork, but fail miserably in their jobs because they weren't giving their jobs their 100% attention.

I always recommend that new grads set aside time to get fully oriented and comfortable in their new roles as RN's before going back to school. That usually takes between 6 months and a year. If you don't wait, you are putting both your job and your academic record at risk. Yes, some people do it and survive. But they are taking a big risk with 2 very important foundational aspects of their career. Some of them do poorly on their jobs. Some do poorly in school. (Most of my weakest students in class are those with very little clinical experience.) Consider that first year on the job as a "finishing" to your ADN education. Get that done: then re-start school. That might not be the best choice for everyone, but it is the best choice for most people.

[Perpetual Student]

I started working on a BSN a few months after graduating from an ADN program. I am just about to finish the first semester and it has been easier than the ADN program so far, with there being more of a focus on writing papers than memorizing things. That may change when I take other courses, though.

I believe I have an advantage over some students who've been out of school for a long time, as they struggle more with writing papers and adapting to the electronic aspects of education. I have also been working as an RN since I earned my license. I've actually been doing the exact same job I was doing as an LPN while I earned the ADN.