For lots of reasons, even though I already have a BA in Psychology and if I took another 3 or 4 courses I could apply for an ABSN program, I'm thinking it's not worth it.The fact that I would have to take a semester's worth of courses before I'd be eligible is one of my reasons (I already don't have money for school, so spending more money makes no sense). Also, I live in an area that still hires LPNs, even in the hospitals, and while I don't know where I'll end up being permanently, I can definitely see myself being there for awhile. And then of course, there is no BSN program where I live, just an associates program. So like I said, lots of reasons I think a BSN might not be worth it for me.
Is a BSN absolutely necessary? I know there's been a push to only hire BSNs, but I also know that there are plenty of places that only care about your license, not your degree...and I can't imagine I would ever want to work somewhere where degree mattered -- I want to be a nurse in a PCPs office or at an urgent care.
Yeah...where I live, there's only one hospital for the entire county, and the next county over is the same -- only one hospital. And for both of these counties, there's only one nursing program, and it's at the community college. Welcome to Upstate NY lol.
Well, I hate to be the Beyotch, but it sounds like you need it. So, reality check.
Your posts are full of supposition, which usually bites you in the butt.
First, you need to find out what the requirements are at the places you want to work. Second, you need to find out if these places are going to have any openings. You need to get the stars out of your eyes and think about reality. Making suppositions based on the job openings they've posted isn't going to cut it. Call them and ask them, or, even better, go ask them in person.
What's the point of getting any education at all if you aren't going to be able to get a job? LPN and RN are two totally different roles. Just because an office hires LPNs doesn't mean they don't want the RNs they hire to have BSNs. Make sure what the role requirements are before you pick a role.
If the places you want to work have had the same nurses for decades, it's a good bet they won't have any openings when you graduate. If turnover is nil, there won't be a place for you, anyway. Make sure you aren't wasting your time.
So, get rid of the blinders. It sounds like you are setting yourself up for disappointment based on what you want to believe is true. Find out the actual facts and then make decisions.
I hope what you want to believe is actually true, but I wouldn't bet my future on it if I were you.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
What if I have literally no desire whatsoever to ever work in a hospital? Because I don't. And I never have. My dream job is at a pediatrician's office -- yes, if I could choose to do anything out of the million things you can do in nursing, that's what I would choose without a doubt.
I think your dilemma in that case will not be ADN vs BSN but whether they hire RNs at all. Where I live Medical Assistants are replacing nurse jobs in offices.
I think your dilemma in that case will not be ADN vs BSN but whether they hire RNs at all. Where I live Medical Assistants are replacing nurse jobs in offices.
Well this one I know for sure -- they hire nurses. I have not seen a single posting for MAs. They specifically say LPN/RN (most of them in that exact same format).
I just am not seeing how it would make sense to do the BSN right now because it would require so many classes to even be able to apply, and that alone would take me a good year (from this winter session through next fall if I were lucky and a class I needed was offered in the winter, but more likely, from next spring to the following spring)...so we're not talking about even being done with the BSN prereqs until 2017, and I could be done with the ASN program at that very same time! Also, I 100% cannot afford any program besides a state one since I can barely afford that...so the BSN programs available to me are very limited.
Well this one I know for sure -- they hire nurses. I have not seen a single posting for MAs. They specifically say LPN/RN (most of them in that exact same format).
I just am not seeing how it would make sense to do the BSN right now because it would require so many classes to even be able to apply, and that alone would take me a good year (from this winter session through next fall if I were lucky and a class I needed was offered in the winter, but more likely, from next spring to the following spring)...so we're not talking about even being done with the BSN prereqs until 2017, and I could be done with the ASN program at that very same time! Also, I 100% cannot afford any program besides a state one since I can barely afford that...so the BSN programs available to me are very limited.
If there is any possibility that you might want to work in primary care as a pediatric NP or FNP at some point in the future, definitely go for the BSN.
If there is any possibility that you might want to work in primary care as a pediatric NP or FNP at some point in the future, definitely go for the BSN.
There's not. Well, I should say, there's not enough of one that would get my butt back to school. It's a wonder that I'm even considering getting my RN. I thought I was going to get 1 degree and be done -- and I have my 1 degree. I hate school with a bloody passion and wouldn't even DREAM of getting a masters in ANYTHING. I occasionally think about getting one in psychology, but then I'm like, no, I don't want to be in school like that, goodbye thought. And I really only sometimes think it because psych is what I have my BA in.
$142 per credit? That's like robbery! The community college I attended for my prerequisites is currently $46 per credit, and when I went to school there about 5 years ago, it was even cheaper. I never looked into the cost of tuition in other states, but I know everyone says everything is more expensive in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I went to school... so I assumed $30-40 was going to be on the expensive end. $140 per unit is practically how much it cost me per semester to attend the university when I do the math.
I just am not seeing how it would make sense to do the BSN right now because it would require so many classes to even be able to apply, and that alone would take me a good year (from this winter session through next fall if I were lucky and a class I needed was offered in the winter, but more likely, from next spring to the following spring)...so we're not talking about even being done with the BSN prereqs until 2017, and I could be done with the ASN program at that very same time! Also, I 100% cannot afford any program besides a state one since I can barely afford that...so the BSN programs available to me are very limited.
Maybe it doesn't make sense for you to get a BSN, but you've asserted that from the beginning of your thread and have rejected any sentiment to the contrary. So if you already were convinced of this, and you aren't interested in hearing anything which doesn't validate your opinion, then why did you solicit opinions of others by posting a question to which you already knew the answer?
$142 per credit? That's like robbery! The community college I attended for my prerequisites is currently $46 per credit, and when I went to school there about 5 years ago, it was even cheaper. I never looked into the cost of tuition in other states, but I know everyone says everything is more expensive in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I went to school... so I assumed $30-40 was going to be on the expensive end. $140 per unit is practically how much it cost me per semester to attend the university when I do the math.
Wow!! $46 per credit is like a dream!!! I don't think there's a single school in NYS where tuition is that cheap, because even within the SUNY system, there's a minimum tuition which is definitely over $100 per credit!
Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.
For job stability on down the line (because you won't be able to guarantee anything that may last for half of a century like employment!) I would plan on eventually getting your BSN. Doesn't have to be now but it will help with job security in the future...where do you see yourself in ten years...how about twenty...etc.
Maybe it doesn't make sense for you to get a BSN, but you've asserted that from the beginning of your thread and have rejected any sentiment to the contrary. So if you already were convinced of this, and you aren't interested in hearing anything which doesn't validate your opinion, then why did you solicit opinions of others by posting a question to which you already knew the answer?
I'm not saying a BSN wouldn't be helpful. It may or may not be.
But I have to look at the whole picture...money, the amount of time it will take, schools I could actually get into (my undergrad GPA is only like a 2.7 or 2.8)...so I'm not competitive for an ABSN program in any sense of the word unless you count my previous nursing credits, and like I said, I could be done with the ASN by the time I'd be done with the prereqs for the ABSN. Also, if I do the ASN program, I can work during it as the max credits I'll be doing in a semester would be 13. I can't say the same about a BSN program.
So yeah, sue me for having my own opinion that yes, would be nice to have validated, but most of you won't but wanting others' opinions anyway. Some of you though see it like I see it, and that's great. And some things that a few people have said have really made it clear that trying to do an ABSN isn't worth it for me.
Plus, there's always the future, like AJJKRN said -- if my employer requires a BSN, either they can pay for it, or I will have worked as a nurse enough to be able to pay for it myself and I can do an RN-BSN program.
SingDanceRunLife
952 Posts
Yeah...where I live, there's only one hospital for the entire county, and the next county over is the same -- only one hospital. And for both of these counties, there's only one nursing program, and it's at the community college. Welcome to Upstate NY lol.