Has anyone switched from a BSN program to an ADN?

Nurses General Nursing

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My daughter wants to be a nurse. We are encouraging her to go through an ADN program only because that way she can live at home without having to worry about where her next meal is coming from. (She is a senior in high school, no savings yet, just started working.) She can't tell me why she wants a BSN, just that she wants to go to the same school her best friend is going to. Best friend will not be going into nursing. I have heard of people going from one ADN program to another for different reasons, but I've never heard of a BSN student being able to switch to an ADN program.

We would not be supporting her completely if she lived at home, but there's a huge difference in paying us $100 rent than 5 times that much in the city, plus having to pay for food and utilities. I don't want to discourage her but I know that if she tries it she will not be able to make it and will end up dropping out. And no, I am not trying to sabotage her. We know what her financial situation is and she would not make it.

Any ideas?

Tazzi,

I hear what you are saying. Here is my story.

I was a briliant kid. Not tooting my own horn, but by the time I graduated high school I had a slew of O levels, A levels and 27 hours of college credit.

Off I went to college. I did well the first year. Then things got hairy. I kinda lost my head. What should have taken me three years took me 6.5.

At the end of year 3, mom and dad cut support back to 3/4 tuition only. At the end of year 4 they stopped entirely. I had always worked, but now I had to work enough to cover rent, food, gas, utilities AND TUITION.

Mind you, I think I have the best parents God ever made, but even they realized it was time.

At 33 I can honestly say, I wish they had made me pay for more of my own education from DAY ONE. Weird, but I really think I would have benefitted from being cut off sooner. Even my mum says how much I flourished when they let me go.

I was never irresponsible, but I learned SO much from having to take care of things. I was a better student when I had to work and study. You really become adept at time management when you have to wait tables and study for a Organic Chem final! No more sleeping in the afternoons like most college kids. And yes, even with work, I could still enjoy myself.

If she wants o go to a four year school, let her. Be honest and upfront with her about how much and for how long you will provide support. Let her know that nursing school is an all out slug fest and you wish to ease the pain. If your rule is low grades=less financial support, tell her that. Call a family meeting, spell it out, put it in writing and have everyone sign it.

You are a good parent for wanting to watch her back. You have even greater insight as you know what a bear nursing school will be. Let her know that nursing school is a 12-round slug fest and you wish to soften some of those blows.

Still that four-year college experience AWAY from home is something I would never have traded for any amount of security at a community college at home.

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One more thing,

During those 6.5 years in college (the first time, lol) I studied formally in classrooms in four countries. I visited Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Veneuela, Costa Rica, Belize, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Cote' d Ivorie. I toured Europe twice. I travelled the entire US. I studied Indian culture on various Native American reservation. I visited Civil War battle sites and dug around with famous historians. I dug for dinosaurs, released wolves back into the wild with famous zoologists and did research with famous immunologists at the CDC and NHA. I interned at a well-known brokerage firm and even did a political internship up in DC.

My parents NEVER paid for the trips, even when they were paying tuition. I paid for all that waiting tables (in a family resturant- no HOOTERS for me, lol). I eventually graduated with a triple major, cum Laude.

She can make the $15/hr to support herself. If she doesn't she will quickly figure out your way is better and move into the dorms or back home to finish up. Either way, she will have lost nothing, but gained valuable life experience.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Your daughter obviously wants to be an independent lady out having fun with her friends while going to school. Can't blame her.

What was her response to the realities of the financial situation when presented with the facts and figures?

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Definitely never meant that a BSN is better able to pay off student loans than an ADN--that would be a dumb thing for me to say; in my area they make the same amount. Just meant that if she took loans to pay for her BSN degree, once she got that degree she could pay them off.

Getting into the numbers would be going off topic, but I do want to say that I'm always surprised by how much money people think they need to live, even to live well. A parent told me recently that he estimates it's going to cost more than $30,000 per year for his daughter to attend University of California. I think that's just silly--but a lot of children these days, and some of their parents too, seem to think that kids going off to college should maintain the same standard of living it took their parents YEARS of hard work to reach. (Not saying that you're thinking this way at all, TazziRN--just an observation of the current crop of new college students.)

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.....Getting into the numbers would be going off topic, but I do want to say that I'm always surprised by how much money people think they need to live, even to live well. ..... I think that's just silly--but a lot of children these days, and some of their parents too, seem to think that kids going off to college should maintain the same standard of living it took their parents YEARS of hard work to reach. (Not saying that you're thinking this way at all, TazziRN--just an observation of the current crop of new college students.)

I totally agree. I think that is the major reason so many people struggle with finances and money. The parents don't stress to the kids that a middle calss lifestyle takes years of work to acquire.

... and yeah, this does not apply to Tazzi. I applaud her effort.

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What was her response to the realities of the financial situation when presented with the facts and figures?

*bug-eyed stare*

"You're ***** me!!!"

Dad: "Nope."

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
*bug-eyed stare*

"You're **** me!!!"

Dad: "Nope."

LOL. Give her time, maybe she'll see the light. Sometimes it's a bitter pill when kids who don't have to think about where their next meal comes from grow up and are told they have to fend forthemselves because the hand that fed them wasn't a silver spoon.

But sometimes we kids have to eat ramen noodles and wash clothes in the sink and learn the hard way.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
But sometimes we kids have to eat ramen noodles and wash clothes in the sink and learn the hard way.

Shirts and pants in the bathtub, drawers and sock in the sink.

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And don't dry them in the microwave?

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Specializes in L&D, PACU.
*bug-eyed stare*

"You're ***** me!!!"

Dad: "Nope."

LOL, yep that was kind of the reaction I got with my boys too...

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Shirts and pants in the bathtub, drawers and sock in the sink.

Yep, bathtubs make great washing machines don't they.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Yep, bathtubs make great washing machines don't they.

You can even take an empty Swiffer head and handle and use it for an agitator to save your back.

(I do not miss those days)

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