ADN or BSN

Nurses General Nursing

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Greetings all,

I have recently been acccepted into an ADN program. I have almost all of my pre-reqs for the BSN. So my questions is, should I accept the ADN position or finish up my pre-reqs and apply for the BSN program? I would start the ADN in Jan 08 and god willing the BSN in Jan 09. Would I be a fool for gambling with the guaranteed seat?

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Specializes in Triage, MedSurg, MomBaby, Peds, HH.

I think it depends.

First of all, is there a waitlist for the BSN program? How many are turned away for every seat? If you don't get into the BSN in January '09, how long could you end up waiting?

Secondly, right now do you have any longer term goals of going on to grad school (Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, Informatics, Nurse Management, CRNA, etc.)? If so, do the schools available to you in your area offer any RN to MSN programs? If not, waiting for the BSN program may be the best in the long run.

If your ultimate goal is to be an RN, my advice would be to start the ADN program right away, because I believe ADN RN's are every bit as good as BSN (and I'm a BSN student myself).

If you know you have to continue on anyway, it may be the shortest thing in the long run to do the BSN in a year; it would save you an extra 1 to 1 1/2 years in the RN to BS programs before even starting the MSN.

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Greetings all,

I have recently been acccepted into an ADN program. I have almost all of my pre-reqs for the BSN. So my questions is, should I accept the ADN position or finish up my pre-reqs and apply for the BSN program? I would start the ADN in Jan 08 and god willing the BSN in Jan 09. Would I be a fool for gambling with the guaranteed seat?

I suggest going for the ADN program instead of waiting for BSN seat. ADN, sit for boards, pass, apply for Bsn program. Then if life throws you a curve ball you have your RN. Ultimate goal BSN or higher but you can at least make a decent living with your RN.

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Specializes in CCRN, TNCC SRNA.

In my experience, I found it easier to get my ADN and then go back for the RN to BSN track. (At least that's what I did)

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What do the financial scenarios look like for both options? How competitive is admission to the BSN program (are you 99.9% likely to get in)?

What are the time requirements for the ADN vs. BSN? In my area, one of the BSN programs can have students attending school six days a week! That makes it tough to work even part-time.

I am working on my BSN prereqs while I wait for ADN admission. It's going to be a tough call for me, too, if I am given the option to choose.

I am glad you posted this question. :)

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I'm starting with an ADN myself, then going for BSN. My thought: ADN will start right away and it's A LOT less expensive, then I can work while getting my BSN, making money for my family and letting my employer pay for the rest. JMHO.

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It just my experince but I have noticed that many ADN's go to school as long as BSN's. In my opinion I'd just go straight for your BSN. Why do the same work twice when you can get a higher degree. In addition you'll save money- and if u work as a PCT (nurse assistant) in a hospital you can end up getting your BSN paid for while gaining valuable experience.

save youself the time and $$ and got for your BSN.

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Is it possible for you to start the ADN program and transfer if you get into the BSN program? I wouldn't give up the guaranteed seat if I were you, but then again I don't know how competitive the programs in your area are. If you decide to pass on the ADN program can I have your spot?;)

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In a perfect world, and if you are GUARANTEED to get into a BSN program, i would say do that. The money and time that you would waste going through the ADN then the RN to BSN stepup is a lot. BUT if you are not certain that you will get into the BSN program, i would take what is offered to you. Now a days it is difficult to get into any nursing program (I FINALLY got accepted into the BSN program that i wanted....). Either way, i wish you luck in which ever program you choose!

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I had the same problem. For me when it came down to it I was desperate to get into any program, even though I had a 3.75 pre nursing GPA. It's so impacted, many schools are resorting to using ATI as a nursing program predictor (which I think is a stupid idea). That being said, if you think you will do well on the ATI have a strong GPA I'd hold out and apply for bachelors. It seems as though you are going that route anyway. If you do ADN then BSN, it will be 2 yrs ADN, then 2 yrs to get your BSN, as opposed to 3 yrs straight BSN.

If your gpa is not strong, and you will likely do poorly on ATI standardized testing I would go the ADN route. it's a bit longer but at least you can work as an RN while you wait for BSN to arrive. The good news is that ADN to RN is less impacted and you have a better chance to get in. Hope this helps.

I ended up getting into a bachelors program that didn't use ATI for entrance requirements. = )

Greetings all,

I have recently been acccepted into an ADN program. I have almost all of my pre-reqs for the BSN. So my questions is, should I accept the ADN position or finish up my pre-reqs and apply for the BSN program? I would start the ADN in Jan 08 and god willing the BSN in Jan 09. Would I be a fool for gambling with the guaranteed seat?

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Specializes in EMERGENCY NURSING.
Greetings all,

I have recently been acccepted into an ADN program. I have almost all of my pre-reqs for the BSN. So my questions is, should I accept the ADN position or finish up my pre-reqs and apply for the BSN program? I would start the ADN in Jan 08 and god willing the BSN in Jan 09. Would I be a fool for gambling with the guaranteed seat?

If your ADN program is at a community college and way cheaper, then go for it. You will save yourself tons of money in student loans. After getting your RN you'll certainly be able to pay for two more semesters for your BSN out of your decent RN salary. Other factors to consider may include your age, personal responsibilities,how old your other prereqs are (remember some schools won't accept pre-req olders than 5 yrs), etc. All the best.

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Hi Everybody,

Thanks so much for all the advice. You have all given me a lot to think about. We do not have wait lists here. Every semester one must reapply and the top points attain the seats. I have a 3.9 GPA so while I feel like I could earn a seat, I have no guarantee. I do believe that it would be shorter to wait to get in the BSN program but I just can not get over the "no guarantee" fact. I will continue to think about all the advice here while I am making my decision. Thanks Again.

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