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.
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.
Your GPA may be low even for an ADN program. I would talk to the school's/program's admission advisor and investigate their requirements and options.
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.
There's nothing wrong with wanting your opinion validated. But don't ask a yes or no question if the only acceptable answer is no. Or at least tell the posters that you will reject any answer that doesn't validate your opinion so they don't waste time answering what they thought was a sincere question.
You don't want to go for you BSN, you were clearly set on that from the beginning. The good thing is that no one will force you to do it, you already know that it is not a requirement in your area, and if the job market changes and it becomes mandated in order to continue working, you will always have that option. It's rare that an employer would not give you a time frame to complete the BSN if that's what they decided they wanted, so it looks like you are in good shape.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I say at least go for your RN. I live in a small town & even though you say you want to work in a clinic you might be surprised how hard it is to get that job & one day they might phase RNs & LVNs out & start hiring MAs in. At least with as an RN more doors are open to you.
As far as going for your BSN, if you don't want to get it then don't get it now. But I would always tell someone to go for their RN. It's always a smarter move.
Your GPA may be low even for an ADN program. I would talk to the school's/program's admission advisor and investigate their requirements and options.
I've already spoken with my local community college, and they are well aware of my GPA as they've seen my unofficial transcript, and they still said it may be possible for me to get advanced placement in their nursing program, so I'm not worried about that.
There's nothing wrong with wanting your opinion validated. But don't ask a yes or no question if the only acceptable answer is no. Or at least tell the posters that you will reject any answer that doesn't validate your opinion so they don't waste time answering what they thought was a sincere question.
You don't want to go for you BSN, you were clearly set on that from the beginning. The good thing is that no one will force you to do it, you already know that it is not a requirement in your area, and if the job market changes and it becomes mandated in order to continue working, you will always have that option. It's rare that an employer would not give you a time frame to complete the BSN if that's what they decided they wanted, so it looks like you are in good shape.
Actually, I would love a BSN...but under my circumstances, I don't know that it's the right choice for me. If I had all the prereqs done for a BSN program, I'd be applying to them and would only go to the community college if I didn't get in to one of the BSN programs. But the fact of the matter is, I don't. For every single ABSN program I've looked at, I'm at least 3 classes short, and 4-5 for most of them. That's a lot of classes! And it would take quite awhile to finish those because I could only take 1, maybe ​2 in a semester and still work full time which I would have to do in order to make it possible to spend a year to a year and a half not working at all.
I say at least go for your RN. I live in a small town & even though you say you want to work in a clinic you might be surprised how hard it is to get that job & one day they might phase RNs & LVNs out & start hiring MAs in. At least with as an RN more doors are open to you.
As far as going for your BSN, if you don't want to get it then don't get it now. But I would always tell someone to go for their RN. It's always a smarter move.
That's not the question at all. I've already decided not to finish my LPN because of the expense and the ability to get my RN for less than it would cost to finish my LPN. It's getting an ASN vs. getting a BSN -- community college vs. an ABSN program.
Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Supervisory, HEDIS, IT.
I would say go for it. Nursing is changing their requirements. It may not happen soon but it is definitely happening. I started a BSN program (I am an ADN) and I could just take 1 course at a time. I had to stop because I started a job that was working me 60-70 hours/week. I have since left that job and once I saved up for the tuition I will definitely go back and finish (I only have 8 classes to go).
If you go to work in a hospital a lot of them have tuition reimbursement....Is that an option for you?
For a few reasons you should strongly consider just sucking it up and getting the degree.
It makes you more marketable/desirable. So that pediatric office you desperately want to work at? Theres going to be plenty of people with better credentials than you also going for that cush office job. Especially in an area such as yours where there doesnt seem to be a lot of options.
Ok so you are hoping and praying that you do get this office job. And like I said above, there will be many nurses with more experience and a bachelors who would get this job ahead of you. So then what? You gonna hold out forever and not work? Where will you work? You either will have to move if there is nothing in your area...and you could end up having to move somewhere where the requirement is a BSN, then what? Back to school you go. And hate to say it, but you just might "have" to work in a hospital, even if its for a year or 2. But there are so many different things you can do in a hospital setting that are not floor nursing. Theres things like infusion centers, many doctors have their clinics etc. Who knows, what if in clinicals you do a pediatric rotations and you love it? You just dont know. Why limit your options. Especially the way the market is going, with most employers putting a preference for a degree. Yeah in reality just the fact that you have a degree is not the biggest deal, a good nurse is a good nurse, but to employers it is.
I mean in the long run, its not that much longer.When I was in school it was like maybe 3 semesters more. Thats not much in the grand scheme of things. Its a harder market for a new grad, so you want to make yourself look as good as you can. if yopu have a degree, you will have a slightly better chance of getting that job, and then paying for that short extra year of school will not be that hard.
I'd say it depends on how long you plan on nursing. If you will not be retiring in the next 10 years, BSN would be a smart move. Besides, you can't imagine how many door will open for you with a BSN. Nursing is always changing, and you have limitless opportunities besides bedside nursing--or clinical--with a BSN.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
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.
So don't get a BSN, then. It really doesn't matter to me one way or the other, to be honest. Just trying to give you some things to consider, not convince you of anything.
Upon thinking about this reply I would like to add that in an "advice" thread when one seems to be arguing with the people who take the time to offer their thoughts it's counter-productive in general. Didn't mean to come across as rude.
VANurse2010
1,526 Posts
what you're saying as generalization is not true. It depends on where you are.