E. TN - Now LPN - Apply to ADN, BSN or MSN???

[Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP]

Howdy,

I'm a LPN in East TN and just finished my BA in History, it's almost time to move on up the ladder. I'm almost done with my last pre-req for RN (Aug 12th done).

So in the next few months I'll need to apply to either the local 1 yr bridge LPN to RN programs (2) or apply to ETSU for the (19 month) accelerated BSN program or apply to (19 month?) Vanderbilt MSN program in Nashville.

Any recommendations? 12 months for ADN, 19 months for BSN, 19 months (I think is the term) for MSN direct entry. Part of me says get the quickest RN and work on the higher levels part time, but another part says go ahead and get the BSN or MSN full time while I'm at it.

I'm retired military, working 2 jobs, age 44 going on 45 yo, LPN with 12 months med/surg, and a year of ER/Urgent care experience. I Work for the Veterans admin and a local Hospital system.

I'm only guaranteed to get into ETSU as they have a grant to take the local LPN graduates, the remaining programs I will need to compete for. I have a 3.23 gpa, GRE combined of 1090. I have 3 years eligibility left on my GI bill (college money) so education costs aren't too bad.

I could start as soon as Jan 2012 at ETSU with summers off, or I could wait until summer 2012 and go to either ETSU or the 2 community colleges and go straight thru without stopping until graduation (spring 2013 ADN or Dec 2013 BSN).

Any thoughts?? Summers off, quicker graduation rate or higher level of education.....so many choices (most of which are not guaranteed of course)

Tony

[kristinafaith]

i'd go bsn hospitals like it better when you have the four year degree

[Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP]

i'd go bsn hospitals like it better when you have the four year degree

Thanks for the advice.

Question: Start in Jan 2012 with summers off but not finish until May 2014 or start June 2012 and go straight thru Dec 2013 with no big breaks. Also, work full time and go to school full time or part time, or just focus on school and work part time to none?

There are no real wrong choices, just better/worse ones.

Thanks again.

[dtoast861]

If you can graduate with a ADN in May 2013 or a BSN in Dec 2013, that's a no-brainer to me. You can increase your potential for advancement into management, increase your marketability as an RN, and you have the door wide open should you decide to go into a MSN or DNP progam (most of which require BSN or bridge classes) - in only 7 extra months of work.

I'm actually in the same boat as you - Bachelor's degree in Biology, working as a full-time LPN, wife and kids to support. I've seriously contemplated moving to be closer to an LPN to ADN program (NE State doesn't have one) or even going the PA route and skipping the BSN/MSN program altogether, but right now I'm leaning towards the guaranteed spot at ETSU because the accelerated program ends up being the same amount of time as most of the ADN programs, with no waiting list, I wouldn't have to move my family or find a new job, and it's guaranteed admission. Not too shabby.

In answer to your second question, I'm planning on doing the accelerated program because the course loads are the same. The summer semesters run from Pre-summer to the end of Summer 2, so it's like a normal semester in that regard, not a shortened one. If you look at the course loads each semester from the traditional and the accelerated, you are still taking the same credit hours every semester, it's not like the load is lessened when you go traditional. I don't really need a 3 month break, I'd just rather be done 6 months earlier. As for work, I work second shift at a long-term care facility, and I'm planning on working weekends and maybe one night a week to keep some kind of income and so I can have more experience on my resume. I'll probably end up having to take a couple of Perkins/Stafford Loans though since I'm not eligible for Pell (second degree). Hope that helps.