Diploma RN programs VS. ADN or BSN

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Hi everyone!

I will be graduating in May with a BS in health studies and I plan on starting my nursing education immediately after. Lately I've been coming across hospital based RN diploma programs and Ive started to wonder whats the difference between those and degree granting RN programs. Ive been leaning toward the hospital based programs mostly because they all seem to have the loan forgiveness if you work at their hospital.

But given that I will be having a BS soon,would it be better for me to just get a degree in nursing opposed to a diploma or does it matter? In my situation what would you do and why? thanks!

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You will be better off getting a BSN in nursing. Anything less is limiting. If you get a diploma or ASN, then in the future, you may find yourself in the awkward position of being forced to get a BSN or lose a job. Just get the BSN now and get it over with.

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

If you already have a BS, I recommend considering an accelerated BSN program. I just graduated from a 14 month A-BSN program in Texas, saved time and money (1 year of rent instead of 2, less semesters of school fees, etc.) Also, it has impressed recruiters and interviewers.

Accelerated or not, getting a BSN will maximize job prospects. However, most hospitals will hire ADNs and diploma grads as well, there is a great diploma school here in Lubbock, Texas called Covenant, it's dirt cheap as well!

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Specializes in Vascular Surgery.

With the amount of people applying, I'd say apply for all three. Go with the program you get accepted into. Worry about getting more advanced degrees (AN/BSN) later on.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Not all jobs require a BSN, nor does it guarantee anything...in fact, with the job market being so lousy, new BSNs are having just as hard of a time being hired right now as the rest of the graduates.

It does help though, so get the BSN if you can...because to many employers, a BA/BS plus a diploma/ADN is not equivalent to having a BSN.

And with that being said, I also agree with stripec30: apply to all three, take what you can get, and go for there. Competition for NS is very tight.

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I do plan on just applying to all three, it cant hurt anything. Hopefully somebody will accept me and I'll just figure out the rest from there.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I can not say anything about the Diploma programs. They do not exist in California anymore. I went the BSN route because I eventually want to get my masters. I do not know why anyone would want to do the ASN route unless for financial reasons. Its four semesters for a ASN and five for a BSN (not including your transfer and upper division courses of course). I encourage anyone with the resources to skip the ASN and go for the BSN

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Heartsopenwide,

I see what youre saying. Ill already have all of my ged ed and pre reqs done so at this point Im just applying to the most affordable ADN and BSN programs and wherever Im accepted is where ill end up going. If there were direct entry programs in my area i would go that route because I eventually want to have a MSN anyway. But we shall see...

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
Heartsopenwide,

I see what youre saying. Ill already have all of my ged ed and pre reqs done so at this point Im just applying to the most affordable ADN and BSN programs and wherever Im accepted is where ill end up going. If there were direct entry programs in my area i would go that route because I eventually want to have a MSN anyway. But we shall see...

Depending on your grades and where you are you may have a better chance of getting into a BSN program. In California ASN programs go by a lotto and waitlist. The BSN programs go by merit. I applied for the ASN and BSN programs in my area; doing the same thing as you to up my chances of getting in. I got into the BSN program because of my grades and past medical experience. I was waitlisted as number 72 at the ASN program that only takes 30 students a year.

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I live in MI and actually here you have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting into nursing school. Im not even going to waste my time applying here, Im going to apply to schools in Ohio instead. To get into a BSN program in MI the cutoff GPA is usually 3.9 and the ADN programs have waitlists between 3-5 years. In 5 years I plan on having my MSN, so MI schools are NOT and option for me at this point. I'll end up paying more money to go to school but in my opinion its better than putting my life on hold.

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

Ohio is kind of tight too, especially for out of state students. Good luck to you.

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Im applying to private schools which Ohio seems to have plenty of compared to MI. Im confident I'll get in somewhere though.

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