Considering an ADN over a BSN but already have a bachelors

[heyitsryan]

Hello everyone,

I had a question regarding the associates and the bachelor's degree in nursing. Currently I am active duty Air Force, but plan on getting out soon and am hoping to change my career to nursing. I have a degree in logistics management and organizational management, so going back to school is going to be pretty much coming out of pocket ( as far as living expenses go, because my schooling should be covered by my GI bill) and have been hoping to weigh the benefits over having an associates over a bachelors program in nursing.

I understand that most employers prefer a bachelors, but since the RN title is obtained from both degrees ( both take the same nclex, both participate in similar coursework) I was wondering which would be more beneficial to me, as someone who already holds a couple degrees under his belt. From what I understand, the bachelors encompasses more business and liberal arts coursework,correct?I understand there are accelerated programs, but unfortunately, staying in one area for more than a year is going to be a problem for me ( my wife is still Active duty) so given my time constraints it would be difficult for me to complete a 18 month accelerated program. My overall goal is to eventually apply to become a Nurse Practitioner, but from what I have read I can apply with any degree as long as I'm an RN. I also understand that employment varies inbetween areas, but I am hoping to come back to Texas to be a nurse.

So my question to you, allnurses.com, is which degree from your experience would be a better option for me? Anyways, thanks in advance for all of your responses and I am looking forward to reading all of your replies. This website has been a great resource for me!

[PMFB-RN, RN]

If you have a BA or BS in another discipline, the accelerated BSN is the way to go. Done in one year. By the time you're starting the 2nd year of an ADN program you could (ideally) already be licensed and working and making money as a BSN, RN.

*** I thought that most of those programs required pre-reqs that would make the whole thing considerably longer than a year?

[loriangel14, RN]

*** There is no need to have a BSN if one wants to be an advanced practice nurse. Many schools will accept other degrees and some schools don't require a degree at all. One can go from RN to MSN without having or obtaining a bachelors degree.

However the BSN won't hurt and would give more options.

I for got the OP was in the US. I am in Canada and our programs are different. Up here you have to be a nurse before NP.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

*** I thought that most of those programs required pre-reqs that would make the whole thing considerably longer than a year?

Aside from the A&P sort of pre-reqs I think they some how make a leap from BSinsomething to MSN. I think it really depends on the pre-reqs for your other degree.

And focker---well, apparently you didn't read the other discussions. Shame. I would expect a nurse from any degree background to read more.

[focker14]

You got me good itsnowornever.....however just for my own sanity and the fact that I only look a pictures in big books only because I don't need to read anymore....please tell me where I stated that I believe ADN's were prepared better in my original post....if you can find it, then I would argue you are not as illiterate as I thought....

don't do personal attacks on this forum...thats what FB is for!

[Emilynn09]

It depends. Do you want to start working right away? I also have a BS in Leadership. I went for an ADN because I wanted to get working faster. I live in San Diego County, and I was hired in an acute care hospital before I even passed my boards. I went straight into a RN-BSN bridge program as soon as I got acclimated into my new position, and will have my BSN by April 2013.

ADNs not getting hired in large city environments is FALSE. They DO get hired. Most of my class is working now, many in hospitals. Big name, magnet status hospitals, with ADNs. The best way to get these jobs is to network during clinicals. Work as a CNA, participate in volunteer opportunities. It's all about networking, and building relationships during school. It's ALL about who you know.

Best of luck with your decision.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I'm an ADN student, I have a Bachelor's already. While I was applying to programs, I could only apply to ADN programs because the universities that had BSN programs weren't able to take any 2nd Bachelor's students. Given a choice, I'd have gone with an ABSN program as it's fast, efficient, and I'm done in about a year. I didn't have that choice, so I went with what's available, and started to set myself up for a transition to an RN-BSN program. The good news is that I can get a BSN very quickly: just about 6 courses and I'm done. I can also take 4 courses and I'm set up for an MSN program. Or I could take those 4 courses as a post-bac student, get qualified as an MSN student, and while waiting for the program to begin, I take the last 2 courses and "score" a BSN on the way. Direct Entry MSN was considered, but I decided against it because some places won't accept those grads, even if they'd passed the same NCLEX-RN exam that everyone else took.

I'm going to have a hard enough time getting a job as pretty much everyone has difficulty finding them, but... it won't be because I'm not clinically prepared to begin working as a new grad.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I for got the OP was in the US. I am in Canada and our programs are different. Up here you have to be a nurse before NP.

*** The same is true here. The difference is that you don't have to have a BSN to be an RN here. What I was saying was that an experienced RN can become an MSN NP without first (or ever) obtaining a bachelors degree.

[loriangel14, RN]

*** The same is true here. The difference is that you don't have to have a BSN to be an RN here. What I was saying was that an experienced RN can become an MSN NP without first (or ever) obtaining a bachelors degree.

Ahhh gotcha.

[duskyjewel]

OP, at least part of your living expenses will be covered while you go to school on Post 9/11 GI Bill. My husband is currently earning his MBA on his, and he gets housing allowance. He is going to an on-campus program, and so gets the full amount of housing allowance for an E4 (even though he was a Major, apparently they just set it at that point). As of Oct. 1 of last year, if you are enrolled in a fully online program, you still get half that housing allowance amount. Look into it.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Got my BSN after BA. Worked part-time while going to school. If you have the resources to bite the bullet, just dive in for BSN and get it over with. Yes, most places still hire ADN's but the market is very, very crowded and you might be in an area that's hiring only BSN's. They are cranking out ADN's like candy bars so all things being equal, employer might as well bet the biggest degree for their buck! Gets you on the road for NP faster. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[BDavisRN]

My first degree was in English. I looked into accelerated BSN programs, but there were very few in my area, and they had wait lists. So I got my ADN and am going to do a bridge program to complete my BSN. In my case, I didn't want to wait.

In some areas of the country, ADNs are having problems finding work. I didn't have any issues. I had more than one job offer before I graduated and was able to choose which one I wanted to take. I realize it's not like that everywhere.

Had I found an accelerated program that worked for me, I would have done that. As it is, getting my ADN first has been fine, too. :)

[ughhmehh]

Emilyn, WHERE are ADNs getting hired in Southern California? I have a BS from UCSD and graduated in May from San Diego City College with an ADN. I have applied to hospitals all over California, and San Diego is the worst. Only 4 out of my class of 55 are working in acute care, and they already worked as techs or CNAs at these hospitals. SOme of my classmates who worked as techs or CNA's have not been hired by their hospitals.