confused student

babynurselsa, RN · Aug 31, 2000

don't get depressed, to be realistic it takes 3 years to get the "2 year" ADN

unless you want to go to class 12 hours a day and then there's homework and careplans. I think ahe ADN route is the way to go. just remember it's the same boards. then you can further your degree with a completion program later.

Mijourney · Sep 1, 2000

Hi Ms. Manicure,

After debating the merits of the BSN to unsympathetic minds, I think that it does not matter whether you get an ADN or BSN degree. A poster under another topic pointed out that nurses essentially function at the practical level at this time. I feel this is very true for those in clinical nursing. I think that when you get into certain settings outside of direct patient care, management, and/or get a graduate degree in nursing then you may experience that sensation of being more than just a handmaiden. Best wishes.

Youman · Sep 1, 2000

Hi! Just wanted to say that I'm currently a senior in a 2 yr ADN program. My plan is to go into a BSN/MSN program once I've finished and have gotten a job that will help with the tuition for this. My personal opinion is that this is a good way to go for 2 reasons: 1. You can get tuition assistance, which is great and 2. You can make some money in your field of study while you further your education. Best of luck in which ever road you take.

Jay-Jay, RN · Sep 5, 2000

In Canada, they recently made the BSN the standard requirement for admission to the field of nursing. Those nurses with diplomas will not have to get BSN's only new nurses wanting to enter the field.

In my case, I already had a bachelor's degree in Science as well as a B.Education, and decided a 3rd bachelor's degree would be totally redundant. Most of my science courses were done so long ago, that I would have had to take everything all over again, anyway, so it wasn't like I could take a BSn in the same lenght of time it would have taken to do my diploma. I really don't feel the lack of a degree has held me back, either. Good luck, whatever you chose.

lorita · Sep 5, 2000

Because of the wait to get into the nursing program it took me 31/2 yrs to finsh an ADN. I often wished I gone for the BSN because it probably would not have taken much longer. Now it will take me 2 more years to finish Bsn program here. I would also like to know where the person who finished in 3 semesters went and how many classes she took a semester to finish that quickly.

Ms.Manicure · Sep 6, 2000

thank you all so much. all opinions were important to me and are certainly vauled.

KSEFLINK · Sep 8, 2000

In my 18 years of experience, no matter what institution or whatever avenue we obtained our degrees by, all the nurses I have worked with end up doing the same work for the same pay. Dependent on what your personal and financial situation is, I would tell you that getting your nursing degree at a diploma or associates level will get you a job virtually anywhere in the world. But here is the flip side of the coin- it is getting harder to obtain an "administrative" nursing position without a BSN. In the years to come if you want to move into a supervisory type position, a lack of a BSN may impede career progression. Many UR, Occupational, Industrial, Case Management and Legal field jobs require the BSN as a minimal requirement. As a BSN nurse right out of school many years ago, I found that the non-BSN nurses knew a lot more clinical aspects of our job and that I had to learn the old-fashioned way (at the bedside). The years that it will take you will speed by, so no matter whether it takes 2,3 or 4, your education will keep you in a position for years to come. You have lots of opportunities in the years to come, and that will probably include more education. I know because I just completed a Masters Degree and I swore I would never go back to school! But I have had four great job offers just because of my degree and I find myself in the dilemma as to which one to take!! So do a "lesser" degree now and you can always do a "higher" level upgrade later. The nurses at our hospital even talked one of the colleges into doing the classes for the BSN program at our facility because we had enough nurses to fill a class. It was less time consuming and more accessible as well. Working together we have had over 20 nurses in the last couple of years get their BSN's. The power comes in all of us working together, because we ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!!! If we spent all the energy in the argument over who is better than who;in trying to make our lives and our patients lives better, we would certainly see some great changes in patient care delivery!!! Good luck with your studies; the years will fly by-soon you will be making impact on lives in ways you would never expect to!!

mcg02 · Sep 8, 2000

My response to your confusion is to go ahead and get your BSN. I see it as this why go to a nice resturant and get a hambuger(something you can get anytime), and not choose the steak, you see what I mean. I have just started a BSN program and granted it is not easy, but for the job market these days and for advancement opp. and for employers to look highly on you a BSN is like a requirement. I also agree with aresponse another person made about getting your ADN then working and have an employer pay all or part of the cost of geeting your BSN, which is a real good idea, but you have to do your research on that. I have already in my first semseter spent about $600 on books, so the choice is yours good luck.

S.T · Sep 9, 2000

I'm an undergraduate, therefore I am just beginning my studies in the nursing field. The reason I chose nursing as a career was because it is a wide open field. Everytime I looked in the newspaper, there were ads searching for nurses. The more I looked into this field, I became extremely interested into the different areas that nurses can branch out into. But now that I have begun school, I am wondering if I can handle the pressure. The amount of information that a person has to learn to become a nurse is overwhelming. I feel that I am not grasping the information because so much is being thrown at me all at once. I haven't really gotten to clinicals yet, but that is something that I fear. I am scared that I am going to do something wrong like: give the patient the wrong medication or give the patient the incorrect dosage. Because nursing is a stressful field, I am beginning to wonder if I chose the right career.

wsiab · Sep 10, 2000

I think what matters the most is what your ultimate goal is. If your goal is to get your BSN, than you need to decide what is the most important factor in getting there. If you can qualify for financial aid or afford to attend and you want your BSN, the quickest way to get there is to do the four year program. I am now a senior in a BSN program, I transferred in with pre reqs from a junior college. Several of my friends from the junior college went into their ADN program. We all started pre reqs at the same time, they graduated in june, I graduate in December. The difference in time to complete the programs from start to finish with full time enrollment came down to one semester and I wanted to eventually get my MSN, which is why I am where I am now. Another factor to consider is the admissions process, at the junior college I attended, admissions was based on an anual lottery after completion of the pre reqs and you could not rely on good grades to get into the program like you could with a BSN program. The ADN to BSN programs that I know of take about 18 months to complete full time. If your goal is to get a BSN and move on and you can afford it, you can cut down a significant amount of time by going straight for the BSN and it is possible to work as a CNA or a clerk during school as well if needed.

fromatoz · Sep 10, 2000

I'm not a nurse yet, but I'm in the BSN program, and will graduate in spring of 2002. I would really recommend the BSN program. First, its always great to have a bachelor's degree under your belt, especially if you're thinking about pursuing a master's program. Even if you're not right now, a BSN would really help you keep your options open. Second, think that a BSN nurse makes more money (but I'm not out there working yet). Our professors have told us that management positions are generally reserved for the baccalaureate nurses only. Third, BSN nursing students are trained to treat the patient holistically, as opposed to just clinical treatment. That's where the prereqs come in, and also classes you'll take in the BSN program. Personally, that's one of the things that really attracted me to the program. But, on the other side, there are definitely financial concerns regarding staying in the longer program, and it all depends on your personal situation. I know its a tough decision, good luck with it.

katelorr · Sep 11, 2000

Hey! I am a nursing student in a BSN program. I am very glad I chose this route. I went to a junior college for my core classes. The college offers an associates degree in nursing. For the ASN program, it would take one year for core, then two years in nursing school. Then if you wanted to bridge from RN-BSN it would take another year. That would be a minimum of four years. If you were to choose that BSN route it would still be four years, but the content is separated. For the BSN, two years of core, then two years concentrated nursing study. It works out quite well. If I had to do it all again, I would still choose the 2+2 BSN program!