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Discussion

Four years to earn an ADN :/

Hey all! Hope everyone is doing great!

I just wanted some insight on this. I started back to school Fall 2013. Working 40+ hours a week and taking at least 2-3 classes a semester, going spring, summer and fall. Ive got a GPA of 3.65. I'm finally at the point where I'm eligible to apply for the nursing program. And it dawned on me... By the time I'm done, it'll have been four years to earn an ADN, and that's depressing! I'm 25 with no kids, but I'm working to pay for school and to put off taking out loans until it's absolutely necessary. I'm not really sure what I'm asking. I guess i just want some reassurance and to know it will be worth it. Thanks all!

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Probably the only one who can answer that is you. If it's something you truly want to do, then the amount of time it takes to accomplish your goal shouldn't matter. I started school Spring 2010. I will graduate with my ADN in March. It's taken a long time, but I am so excited about what I have accomplished. A lot of my cohorts it has taken this long as well. Good luck to you with all your schooling.

  • Experts

You are working to pay for school without loans. That is commendable. Instead of getting depressed, pat yourself on the back for having the foresight to start your new career debt free. That puts you one step ahead of others who will be looking for work with a debt burden on their back. Good luck.

I believe it will be worth it. I wish I were 25 and doing this instead of 50, It's also going to take me almost four years. I work 40 hours a week and have to use my student loans to help subsidize my income, raising a family on my own. I'm scared to death but don't know what else to do. I'll be 55 or so by the time I'm done and in the kind of debt that scares the heck out of me, I also worry about age discrimination at 55. So I would say, your future is looking pretty peachy right now.

How about 7 yrs.

I placed really low in my math placement test so I did 2 yrs of math classes, every Saturday morning for 4 hrs, 2 yrs in a row, to get through math 60 to statistics

Then 2 yrs of all the pre-req classes, then I didn't get in the 1st time I applied to the program, so I did another yr of school got an AAS and AA degrees then got into the program for 2 more yrs.

So far 7yrs 3 associate degrees

Then 2 more years for the BSN.

All total 9 years, granted the 1st 2 years I only did 1 class at a time same with the last 2 years with the BSN only 1 class at a time, so 5 yrs full time.

So OP, no you are not alone

And worth it! Now 5 yrs of nursing experience I have my dream job in a children's hospital working in the ER

It does make sense since it takes people 1-2 years to do prereqs and a typical cc adn program is 2 years. And if you add on RN to BSN that's another 1-2 years. It's fine, age doesn't really matter in the long run if this is your goal you know?

Theres a youtuber who is now a great nurse and she didn't start college till years after finishing hs!

Yes, that's about the time it takes; TBH, ehen I found that out when I was in an ADN program, I got disheartened; then I ended up not doing well; skipped read mission and set my sights on a BSN program; re grouped and went to PN school, got my associates, worked and got my BSN and circumvented the ADN process because I wanted a BSN.

Total schooling time-8 years. :blink:

Wouldn't change it for the world though! :up:

My take is this: if you want a 4-year degree, then get it; it still may take you more than 4 years; it will be up to you to make that decision-whatever you choose, choose what's BEST for you.

  • Author

Thank you all so much. Nursing is my dream, and i have come so far to just quit. Sometimes i think the pressure i put myself under just exacerbates the issue. The people who are married with kids, work full time and STILL manage to earn a nursing degree are my heroes! And here i am worried about how long it will take to earn the degree! You're all right, it doesn't matter as long as it's my passion. Thanks again for the kind words! :-)

I don't know what state you're in but have you considered a BSN program? Many take 2 years to complete once all pre-reqs and general eds are done. Some are expensive but there are some reasonable priced programs out there.

I understand your frustration, for a long time I refused to even consider an ADN program because of the length of time it took to receive an associates compared to a bachelors. Eventually I came to a point where I knew I wanted to be a nurse no matter which route I had to take or how long it took me. It seemed as soon as I expanded my options, I got into both an ADN program and a BSN program.

If this is really what you want, yes it will be worth it in the end. I wish you the best of luck!

I don't think that's depressing. It's the same license as a BSN nurse except you will be getting it for WAY CHEAPER.

AND by the you get your associates it only takes a year to get your bachelors because of all of the credits required for an ADN

I just finished an ADN program and it took me that long between pre-reqs and then the nursing program. I also worked full time while doing it because I can't afford not to work but I graduated debt free. It was worth it to me!

I understand your frustration....I started my pre-reqs 2 years ago....I am married and have 2 kids....and was running my photography business (which has since taken a back burner because something had to give) i start my ADN program in a week and plan to pretty much go straight into a rn-bsn bridge if possible.....

It pains me to think i could have had my bsn faster by just applying for a bsn program but this is the route that worked best for our family. It will be worth it in the long run but it's frustrating....especially since I feel like I have spent so much time in school and am just now headed in the right direction .

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