Doing the WHOLE college thing, or complete in 18 months?

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  1. Did you go to a college or an accelerated school to become an RN

    • 1
      Did the college thing, was in it for the long haul!
    • 0
      Went to the super expensive school to finish faster.
    • 1
      Other

2 members have participated

Hi awesome nurses!!! I'm trying to decide if I should do the 6+ years of school to become a nurse or the fast programs they have, where you can complete the ADN in 18 months. Am curious to how many of you out there did what. And if you don't mind telling me why, and if you regret it or not.

A little background on me, I am 37, a stay at home mom to 6 kids, the youngest being 2. Never been to college, just started working straight out of high school....my husband has a job where lately, you never know if he will be let go :/ (he's been there for 17 years!). So I would like to start school and do what I've always wanted to!

Thanks for your help guys!!!!!

*Not sure how to add a poll....

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

You're going to have the "do the whole college thing" eventually, Also, an ADN program is no cake walk. You are probably going to have to take about 2 years of pre-reqs just to to get into an ADN program. Get your CNA cert while you get your pre-reqs to get some experience.

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Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

I started nursing school at 38, to get my ADN. I guess it will depend on if they hire ADN's in your area. They do in my area...so I decided I would go for my ADN and then work while doing my BSN. People kept saying they don't hire ADN's in my area of DFW, but I did some checking on the hiring in my area and many students from my school get hired right out of school. So, it is just something you will have to figure out.

However, you also have to keep in mind that you will need to complete prereqs prior to your ADN.

I personally think if they hire ADN's in your area, it is more economical and time saving to do that first.

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Anyone else??

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Hmmm, I was already an LPN when I went into a bridge program, but it turned out to be around 18 months with pre-reqs for ADN. I say now that if I had to do it over again, I would go straight for BSN. Of course, that would be before husband and kids. In reality, the LPN-ADN-BSN road that's spanned nearly 10 years has been the best route for me and my situation.

In any case, I would avoid any program that requires you to shell out big bucks. Nothing wrong with community colleges and state universities.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

It won't be fast either way. You would still have to do the prerequisites before the ADN so you won't really be done in 18 months.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I went to school in my 30's also and I would advise just doing a BSN right from the start.

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Just go for the BSN. You're going to have to do the "whole college thing" eventually. Plus, more hospitals are hiring BSNs now more than ADNs.

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Do you already have a bachelor degree in another field? That's how you get to finish an ADN program in 18 months, by already having the general ed requirements done before applying. If not, you will need a year or two of courses before you can apply to an ADN program, that is then another two years. Or you can do a BNS program start to finish in 4 years. Depends on how much you want to spend up front and whether you can find a job in your area with an ADN and not a BSN. and some schools in a lot of areas will have waiting lists to even get in.

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I have an ASN. It took 4 years as I completed my pre-reqs the first 2 years, got accepted to the nursing program and THAT took another 2 years.

What is this program that promises you an ADN in 18 months? If it is possible.. you will live and breath only to complete that program.

Do you want to give up your mom duties to do that?

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Anyone else??

I'm still in school, but I had to complete 1.5 years of prereqs before I was accepted into the 2 year ADN program. And that was full time.

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