Decision

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Apr 16, 2014

Are you going for ADN or certificate completion then, as opposed to BSN?

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Apr 16, 2014

A RN can either be a ADN or BSN. They take the same NCLEX to become a RN. Are you wondering whether a 2 year or 4 year degree? I would check and see what the hospitals in your area are hiring and make my decision from there. Some will hire ADNs and some won't. Look on your local hospital websites and see what they hire.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 17, 2014

PPs are trying to help you clarify.... just to reiterate - "RN" is a license awarded when you pass NLCEX, not an academic degree.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2014

Good day, TW2nurse:

While it is probably on the decline, you can also get to a RN from a hospital diploma program. So you have diploma, AD, BSN. HouTx hit the nail on the head as being a registered nurse is a licensing issue, not an academic degree. In terms of the academic degree, I would recommend going the BSN route as that is the direction of the industry.

Thank you.

TW2nurse · Apr 24, 2014

I am trying to decide 2 year ADN or 4 year BSN. Most of the hospitals are still hiring ADN nurses in my area. Yet the largest one prefers a BSN.

RunBabyRN · Apr 24, 2014

If that's the case, the ADN might be a good way to go, and you can decide later whether or not to bridge to the BSN while working as an RN; unless your heart is set on that one hospital, there's no need to go straight for the BSN.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Apr 24, 2014

Then I would do the ADN and finish my BSN after I got a job. As a matter of fact, that is exactly what I am doing. I live in a small town and they hire ADNs. My goal is a children's hospital is the large city near me so while I get experience for a few years up here, I will work and complete my BSN degree. Once I have that I can apply to work at the children's hospital. By then I will have a few years of experience under my belt along with my BSN which is what the larger hospitals want.

TW2nurse · May 12, 2014

I got accepted into a 4 year BSN program and that is the way I am going.

If I did the 2 year program I would still have a year of pre-reqs which would make it a total of 3 years. Hope I did the right thing!!!!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 12, 2014

Congratulations on your acceptance to the BSN Program of your choice. For the most part, ADN and BSN are functionally identical. They take the same NCLEX and receive the same license. However, the fact that you'll have a BSN means that you'll have some doors open for you earlier than would open for an ADN grad. The one very small downside of having a BSN is that some places might be cautious about hiring you because by having a BSN, after a couple years, you might disappear and go to school for an advanced degree, such as CRNA. That means the cost to train/orient you to their floor/unit will essentially be lost and they'll have to go through the whole expense of hiring and training another nurse.

I'm sure that through whatever process you went through to determine that you wanted to go to a BSN program was the right decision for you. It won't be an easy ride, but you'll learn a lot along the way, not the least will be learning a lot about yourself.

Good luck and have fun!

RunBabyRN · May 12, 2014

Congratulations!!

TW2nurse · May 12, 2014

Thanks