BSN versus ADN

Are RN-BSN's only for people who don't already have a bachelor's? If I have a degree in Sociology and then get my RN, can I still become a BSN?

Are RN-BSN's only for people who don't already have a bachelor's? If I have a degree in Sociology and then get my RN, can I still become a BSN?

RN-BSN programs are for licensed nurses who are graduates of an ADN or diploma nursing program. In your case (assuming your degree in sociology is a bachelors) you can only get a BSN degree by pursuing an accelerated BSN program or transferring into a traditional BSN program. One does not "become a BSN" by simply having a non-nursing bachelor's and getting an RN via an ADN program.

Thanks for "clarifying". I understand that one can not magically have a BSN with a non-nursing bachelors and an ADN. My question is, is an RN-BSN program only for those who have never gotten a bachelors in anything? My bachelors degree in sociology makes me ineligible for an RN-BSN program after I complete my ADN?

Thanks for "clarifying". I understand that one can not magically have a BSN with a non-nursing bachelors and an ADN. My question is, is an RN-BSN program only for those who have never gotten a bachelors in anything? My bachelors degree in sociology makes me ineligible for an RN-BSN program after I complete my ADN?

No not at all, you CAN pursue an RN-BSN program after your ADN even though you have a prior bachelors. Sorry I did not "clarify" enough ... I may very well be doing that myself in the event I am unable to afford an accelerated BSN program. In fact, there are some RN-MSN programs out there if you're so inclined, where a non-nursing bachelors degree and and ADN are accepted.

I've been a nurse since 1982. At no time during a job interview was I asked what 'kind' of nurse I was. RN is RN. I was, however, once asked by a patient---an MD---where I had gone to school. There were 3 nurses on the floor that day. He refused the BSN, the Associates Degree nurse and told the supervisor he would only let me take care of him since I had gone to a hospital school of nursing and therefore was the only 'real' nurse. Go figure.