ADN or 2nd degree, what should I do?

Nurses General Nursing

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All right from what I understand in terms of a (2nd degree accelerated nursing program) BSN or ADNs, ADN is 2 years, both allow you to sit for the NCLEX RN exam and hence from either one emerges as a Registered Nurse. Starting pay is roughly the same and both are allowed to perform the same duties.

The primary difference aside from time and monetary comment is the BSN allows one to transition more easily into managerial positions, perhaps better job prospects. And if one is looking into the military, BSN is accepted in any service whilst ADN can only look into the reserves.

Is there anything I am missing from BSN or ADN?, are employers only looking for BSN etc....

My situation is I am a college grad who is looking to get into the nursing field. Currently my options are go to a Community college for the ADN or enroll in a 2nd degree program. Ideally I would like to go 2nd degree but from what I understand ADN is cheaper and faster.

Previously I believed the prerequisites for a 2nd degree could be completed in one year (2 semesters) however for some courses there are prerequisites to the pre requisites. I.e, statics and Biochemistry are prerequisites to getting accepted into the 2nd degree program, yet they themselves require certain courses to be completed before you can even take Stats, Biochemistry etc...

What is giving me reservations about the 2nd degree is money and time.

I am assuming with the 2nd degree the prerequisites would take a little over 2 semesters to complete, maybe 2 semesters and a summer/winter or if I was truly lazy at the most 4 semesters to complete before actually taking any nursing courses.

In comparison with the ADN your done in 2 years

Money would have to come from student loans, either a 2nd degree or a ADN I am relying on student loans. Since I am assuming the 2nd degree will take longer I will obviously have to take out more loans.

If you where in my situation, what would you do? Would you take the additional time and money and go for the 2nd degree program or would you go for the quicker route and go for the ADN?

(I am unsure of how common/sensible it is for someone with a Bachelor's to go back to school for an associates)

Any advice, personal experience would be extremely helpful for I am ready to take the next step.

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It has been my recent experience most places have minimum requirements for BSN, even in rural areas. I'm going back to finish my degree to be more marketable. So you might as well go on and do it from the start.

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

Just depends on your financial situation. I was able to attend a good quality diploma program for less than half the cost of an accelerated BSN program; yes, it took twice as long, but I also graduated with no loans/no debt, and had applied/earned some scholarships along the way that helped pay for my education. And, I was able to find work with my degree right after I passed boards even after relocating, so I believe I made the best decision for me, and I received a better clinical education in the diploma program and probably wouldn't have felt as prepared clinically in an ABSN program. Good luck to you! It really is a personal decision that we can't really help you with here, only just make sure research both and don't incur more debt than you can afford to pay off. It really just comes down to the quality of the program; if the adn program is a joke, then go with the BSN program; similarly, if the BSN program is viewed as a joke by many, then attend the ADN program.

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I earned an ADN in May 2010. Job prospects around here for ADN are pretty limited. I was lucky and did get on with a local hospital in the surgical unit. Ive been weighing my options and am looking at an ADN to BSN program online. If you can swing it,I would recommend doing the BSN off the top, it will enhance employability. I would also look at your state colleges to see about doing a BSN accelerated program. Our state school offers an accelerated program that is 18 mos - 2 yrs and you end up with a BSN, based upon your current degree with additional training for the medical field. It might save some time and money. Just a thought, good luck!!

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

First of all, you will have to do the same prerequisites (more or less -- every nursing school has slightly different requirements) whether you go for an ADN or an accelerated BSN (ABSN)-- you seem to be under the mistaken impression that the prerequisites are included in the ADN program -- they're not.

ADN programs are 2 years (at a minimum -- I've been told that some nominally 2 year programs actually take the students more like 3, due to lack of availability of some classes needed for graduation) and ABSN programs are 12 to 18 months, so it is the accelerated BSN program that will be faster, not the ADN program.

You are correct that accelerated BSN programs are generally much more expensive than ADN programs. ADN programs are generally less intensive in terms of hours per week in class or clinicals, so it may be easier to work while going to school -- but with the ABSN program, you'll be done with school up to a year sooner, and potentially working as a nurse up to a year sooner.

Whether employers prefer or even require BSNs for hospital jobs depends a lot on the area in which you live. As a general rule, the more competitive the job market in your area,the more likely they will prefer or require BSNs.

Two additional types of nursing which require BSNs besides the ones you mention are public health nursing (in most states -- maybe not all) and school nursing (same comment).

Hope that helps!

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Specializes in critical care.

Around here, new grad ADNs have a much harder time getting jobs. I know many places are similar, but look into what the job market is like where you are. Check the allnurses forum for your region, and read job postings for hospitals in your area to give you an idea.

Second, I know ADN programs are designed to be completed in 2 years, but that is not the reality for many. You may need to complete the pre- AND co-requisites before being able to start your nursing courses, due to impacted nursing admissions. In other words, ADN programs are so difficult to get in to, they only accept students who have all their non-nursing coursework done already.

You should be able to finish the pre-reqs for many 2nd degree programs in 1 year, though. Biochemistry is not commonly required. Stats is probably more commonly required, but if you had a basic math course in your 1st degree, you should be able to take a stats course. Look at the requirements for multiple programs and you will see the variability.

I chose an expensive 2nd-degree BSN over an ADN program that would have started and finished at the exact same time. I didn't feel confident that I would get a job coming out of the ADN program, and in my heart I knew I wanted the BSN. Was it worth it? I dont know; I'll let you know when I start paying back my student loans. ;)

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

Just wanted to add, about prerequisites that have prerequisites -- shop around! There are multiple community colleges or online sources where you can take your prerequisites, so if place A has a prerequisite to their statistics class, and place B does not, then take statistics at place B. I did this to avoid prereqs to the prereqs. Also, in some places you can skip the prereqs to the prereqs with the instructor's permission.

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Ty all great advice, most message boards you get squat but here it is spot on.

The advice concerning shopping around for prerequisites is pretty good, originally I planned on taking all my prerequisites at one school but if i can find a school that does not have a prerequisite to a prerequisite then I will def. go there.

As for BSN or ADN, in my heart it is BSN, I just feel more confident with the BSN so I will probably go that route.

I suppose my next step would be to find the school(s) to enroll to knock out the prereq courses and start applying for that FASFA (January for fall 2012)

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I was in your situation and did the ABSN, because it was 12 mos. Also, it was a well-respected school with a large university teaching hospital where I wanted to work. Our instuctors also worked at this hospital, and one of my instructors put in a good word for me with a nurse manager (she hired me even before I graduated). That was worth the $25,000 tuition to me.

I had to take 3 semesters to pre-reqs before I started. I graduated May 2009 and started pre-reqs that same month, finished April 2010, started ABSN August 2010. I did not take any of the mandatory pre-reqs for the pre-reqs -- for example, I took Organic Biochemistry, but not Chemistry 101, and I took Pathophysiology, but not Biology 101. How I did this: the first class I took was A&P (required no pre-reqs), which I got an A in. I spoke with an advisor who allowed me to skip Bio 101 based on this grade, the fact that I already graduated from a university with honors, and my confidence that I would do well without the intro classes. Skipping chem was more difficult, but I talked my way out of that as well. So, if you feel confident about the pre-reqs without taking the intro classes, talking to an academic advisor at the CC may be an option.

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I was in the same situation as u. I have my BS in another area, I got my adn. I do think I would be more marketable as a new grad if I had a bsn and despite the additional debt I'm kind of wishing I went that way instead.

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Specializes in PACU, presurgical testing.

I had a choice between an ADN, an ABSN, and an MSN, all ranging between 16 and 24 months. I went with the MSN because I want to do research, and it seemed like the fastest route to get there. I had to take the same NCLEX as everyone else, and I don't anticipate it making a huge difference in the first few years, but I hope to do hospital-based QI and research projects soon.

University programs are expensive, even at state colleges, and private colleges are brutal for an ADN. Check out scholarships, work study, and loans and don't get in over your head--the job outlook isn't what it used to be, and as soon as you're not a student anymore, you have to start paying back loans (I believe).

Reiterating what some here have said, we have several hospitals around here that either don't want to hire ADNs or expect you to complete your BSN in some amount of time. Just be aware of that. In NH, for example, you won't get paid more for having a more advanced degree--a job pays what it pays--but you may be more likely to get hired.

I don't regret taking this route at all; just today I had an interview with a unit that seems to want me for my research bent as much as my RN license! The right thing will be different for everyone; good luck!!

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