Need advice - bail on my accelerated BSN for an ADN?(long)

Nurses General Nursing

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I am in semester 2 of a 4 semester accelerated BSN program. Right now I am kicking myself for not applying to the ADN program at my local CC. The more I learn, the more I feel like I am spinning my wheels with classes like Nursing Research and Theory. I am beginning to see that the BS in BSN does not only stand for bachelor of science (bad me - :nono: )!

I am seriously considering applying to transfer to the ADN program after this semester is over. If I do this, I will have about $20,000 less in student loans, a great deal less stress and heartache, a life for the next year, and an RN either way! From what I can gather, depending on when they schedule the classes that I will need to finish the ADN program, I will either finish at the same time or maybe one semester late if they do not offer the classes I need in the summer.

Now a bit about my reasons for looking into this. It is not grade related. I have a 4.0 currently and at worst I will finish this semester with one or 2 B's and the rest A's. I have no problem succeeding in this program - but at what cost? Since starting this program, I have injured my knee twice (not necessarily related to the program), been sick several times, and the migraines that I have not suffered from in years are back and kicking. My house looks like a tornado came through it, and the dust bunnies are taking over. I often emerge from my study coma to wonder who that handsome man in my living room is, then realize it is my husband! I own a horse who no longer remembers what I look like, and I recently sold another horse who I bred and raised from birth becuase I did not have time for her and it is not fair to ask my husband to do more than he already is (he works FT and is in school PT working on an associates in business). We don't have kids yet, but would like to someday soon, except that you have to actually have a relationship with your spouse for that to happen!!!

I am committed to becoming an RN, I am just doubting my judgment on the route to get there. Has anyone done this, or do you have any advice for me?? What do you think?? :nurse:

Specializes in Cardiac surgery ICU.

I would stay with the BSN programme, you would be sorry you didn't stay with it. When I went in the 60's there was no BSN programme and I did it in the 90's with working full time. ADN is also studying. :studyowl: You are studying now anyway, so stick to it and good luck.

Don't even think of bailing out. I just graduated from my accelerated BSN, and it felt like I was crazy to have joined, but I am glad now that it ended in one year. On top of it, I am a single parent, and was sending one child to college too. You are lucky you are doing it when you don't have children. I agree you can't keep horses with this, but don't think ADN will be easier. You might find yourself working as hard as now. Think about going slow track if you can. A lot of people in our batch dropped out of the accelerated program to go for regular BS. They will get the same degree at a human pace.

In any case, the market for ADN is going out. In a few years, BS degree will be the entry level for nurses. Magnet hospitals will not even hire you if you don't have a BS degree. Besides, they prepare you to think like an indepentdent professional in Bachelor degree courses, not a hand-maid. You also have been exposed to community nursing, research, activism and a lot of other things which expand your job opportunities and give you a broader perspective.

As far as stress, go to your college couselor. Ours came on the first day of class and helped us relax and give us very good tips to ward off illness & cope with stress.

Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

You asked for advice although personally I think you have already made your decision, Yes your program is rigorous and I think the pressure of maintaining such a high grade point average is also killing you, Keep on with the program youre halfway there and you WILL REGRET it later if you stop- but take it a bit easier on yourself You can still graduate with a 3.0! And be a good nurse and person. This truly is a personal decision and bear in mind that if you want children they should be factored in sooner than later.

Re: that handsome man in your living room - if he is supportive and patient- than you are really lucky and should take advantage. Chances are if you dont finish now you will have to go back later and it wont be easier later!

Good luck whatever you decide!!!

Aloha! Being an RN provides opportunities to serve others. Whether a LPN, RN, aide-it is what you BRING to it. A BSN will afford you more opportunities in management. Many ADN nurses complete their Bachelors later, some never do and however you accomplish it, the NCLEX holds you to the same standards of care. Explore the ramifications 1st-Can the ADN program accept you soon? What is the down-side?

Do what is the best thing for you, right now.

Specializes in Government.

Accelerated BSN grad here...I was in your shoes. I'm so glad I finished the BSN. 15 years after I graduated, I couldn't do floor nursing anymore due to JRA. My BSN was my ticket to community health nursing, a job that required a BSN or better. I now have a nursing career through to retirement with no lifting.

Please think long term before you decide.

Many states are now requiring RN's to have a four year degree. My state, NY is just about to pass that law. If you are already an RN, then you are allowed 10 years in which to get that four year degree. Are you going to want to do that in several years? :mortarboard:

I'm sure others have said this, but IF you are still thinking of transfering into the ADN program, you better check on WHEN you could get in.

Here in my area, the wait for any ADN program is 2+ years, and that's IN DISTRICT. At my CC, if you're out of district, you can pretty much forget it. The accelerated programs are a one shot deal, you apply for that year, if you don't get in, you reapply next year.

You may find yourself out of the BSN program and then waiting 2+ years to even get IN to an ADN program. By that time, you would have already graduated with your BSN.

It is tough, but it's possible. We all look for the out, but it's not always the right choice. Good luck with your decision!!!

Your pain and frustration is temporary. You are almost finished. The BSN will give you more opportunity for the future. You are worthy and will increase your salary. It is natural to be frustrated.

Hug that man of yours and feel the love for you are blessed and don't give up!

I am about to graduate from an accelerated BSN program in Northern Kentucky and although it has been a crazy 18 months it seems worth it in the end! About 6 months ago I was really kicking myself for signing up for the madness AND PAYING FOR IT!!!! but now that graduation is one and a half months away and i've already accepted a job I am glad I stuck with it. I say go for it you only have two semesters left (ps i was a straight A student pre ABSN but now i just try my hardest and if i get a B it is not the end of the world.

Specializes in OR, CCU, L&D, Home Care.

I labored over a decision about what type of program to do...back in 1978 when the BSN was just starting to be known as important and significantly different. If I had it to do over, I would have done it differently.

I decided to do a long diploma program which would give me lots of experience. It was three full time years, including summers and it was difficult. When I graduated, I could be in charge of any type of floor in our hospital and I had done many procedures many times and I thought I had made the right decision. Now, I don't think so.

I continued my education (to get the BSN) using the Regents External Degree Program (now Excelsior) as it allowed me to take tests for all my experience and knowledge and take courses at any accredited college for things I needed for the distribution requirements (humanities, etc)...It took years...finally, I graduated and felt like I was not much further along but I was definitely filled up to my eyeballs with nursing.

So, for my Masters I started an MPH program. After completing nearly half the program at Hunter, I realized I hadn't learned much at all and I switched to Columbia University School of Public Health and got an MPH . When I graduated, I felt like I had finally caught up with myself.

After a great deal of nursing experience I applied to become an instructor in several of the nursing programs (I am in NYC so there are quite a few). I discovered that the profession of nursing is not the slightest bit interested in having me teach anything (despite my extensive experience and 20 years in research) because I did not have an "advanced" degree in nursing. This is the same in nursing programs all over the country as I discovered when I applied to online schools.

My advice is - get the fastest RN possible. There are tons of programs that will allow you in an MSN program with your background (many of them part-time and online)....then you will have an advanced nursing degree which means much more than the BSN...because you are right about what the BS stands for...

Good luck with your schedule. I think you will find it to be well worth the effort!

I am sick of this discussion, and every time it seems like the ADNs are talking down about BSN like it's a waste of money! I am currently a BSN student, and I have much respect for the ADNs, LVNs, and techs I work with and would never say that their education was a waste of time (unless they purposely did the ADN then went back to BSN. I feel like they took 2 nursing student spots to end up with the same license.)

Any how, where I'm from, it depends on where you want to go & what you want to do. here, ADNs can only do bedside nursing or clinic work. they can't do research, occupational, pharmaceutical, educational, or any other stuff like that. personally, I don't want to do bedside nursing for my entire career. I eventually want to have an 8-5 monday thru friday with holidays off and still make decent money. I started to do the ADN, but I'm happy where I am. ultimately, it's more important to me that I just be a nurse.

Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.
I am sick of this discussion, and every time it seems like the ADNs are talking down about BSN like it's a waste of money! I am currently a BSN student, and I have much respect for the ADNs, LVNs, and techs I work with and would never say that their education was a waste of time (unless they purposely did the ADN then went back to BSN. I feel like they took 2 nursing student spots to end up with the same license.)

Any how, where I'm from, it depends on where you want to go & what you want to do. here, ADNs can only do bedside nursing or clinic work. they can't do research, occupational, pharmaceutical, educational, or any other stuff like that. personally, I don't want to do bedside nursing for my entire career. I eventually want to have an 8-5 monday thru friday with holidays off and still make decent money. I started to do the ADN, but I'm happy where I am. ultimately, it's more important to me that I just be a nurse.

I personally don't think I will be taking 2 peoples spots. If you have a diploma or ADN and go RN-BSN (WHY WOULD YOU APPLY TO TRADITIONAL BSN IF YOU ARE ALREADY AN RN???), you will be taking 1 spot. RN-BSN program you are ALREADY a Nurse. So that point you made really didn't make sense to me, but anywhoo. I was originally going the BSN route and used to think why would anyone go ADN or Diploma? But its a long wait to get into any of these programs where I live not to mention the BSN EACH college requests DIFFERENT pre-req's, so I figured why waste my money when I can apply to the Diploma program and start clinicals AS SOON as I'm in basically. Many people choose different routes for many reasons. Me I will be FULLY reimbursed for my diploma program PLUS have my RN-BSN FULLY paid for by my hospital. Yes I will become an RN for FREE. Yes it means I will be contracted for 3 yrs, but its also to a top teaching hospital here in North Carolina so its not that bad (they have a contract with the diploma school for FULL tuition reimbursement). I can get my BSN and work towards my goal of ICU work to later become a CRNA.

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