Timing of Bachelor Degree Attainment

[annajlund10]

I am currently in an Associate Degree Registered Nursing Program. I am about to graduate, but I plan on continuing my eduction. From any of you that have attained your BS, MS, or such, do you suggest going straight on into the BS program or do you suggest working in the field for a while and then starting the BS schooling? Because much of the BS schooling has to do with leadership and management, I wasn't sure if it would be beneficial to have some hands-on experience with this before trying to do school work related to it.

[chloecatrn]

If you've got momentum, don't stop. I stopped, and I wish I hadn't. I keep saying, "Next semester," and I'm afraid next semester will never come.

Keep going until you're done.

ETA: I don't mean just keep going and not work. Definitely get to work, too. Go to school online, part time, whatever you have to do to make it work. But if your goal is a BSN or MSN, keep going forward.

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

Another possibility is that while you work, you can start off just going part-time and taking your time while gaining experience. Ultimatley it is up to you to guage your drive and how many hours you can handle though. I hope you do well!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[Perpetual Student]

Starting right away part time isn't a bad idea, nor is taking a semester or two off to get acquainted with actually working as a nurse. Don't try to take too many classes while you're orienting to a new job. Either your work or school performance will suffer if you do.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

i went straight away... i attended school pt and worked ft (i am now in my last semester). i found it very beneficial to continue with school right away as well as work since the rn-bsn program is very work related and i was still in my study mode. on the other hand, i have no idea if taking one or two semesters off would have damaged me since i know of nurses who took off for a few years and have gone back without difficulty. gl!

[AgentBeast, BSN, RN]

Many of the RN-BSN programs are moving online with the exception of the clinical component, of course. Depending on what kind of student you are it may be possible to have the best of both worlds. Working and obtaining a BSN at the same time.

[llg, PhD, RN]

As someone who has been in Staff Development for years and coordinated lots of orientation programs ... I recommend not going to school while you are still on orientation for your first job as a nurse. Take a few months off from school and focus on being successful as a professional nurse before dividing your time, focus, and energy between work and school. If you take on too much too soon, you'll probably end up doing a bad job of both things. I've seen that happen many times.

As a part-time faculty member in a BSN completion program ... I say it is CRUCIAL to investigate the nature of the BSN program before deciding whether it is a good fit for you. Some programs are geared for practicing nurses who have a few years of work experience -- and they incorporate that experince into their coursework. Their assignments assume that the student has that experience -- and students who don't have it will be at a disadvantage. Other programs are not designed that way and don't assume that their students have experience. In such a program, few people have experience and therefore, those without it are not at such a disadvantage.

A lot of people don't think of that when they enter a school. You need to research the school, talk to people who have gone there, talk to the faculty, etc.. Ask questions about the typical students: e.g. "Do most students come directly from ADN programs or do they get a few years of work experience first?" That information will help you to know whether you and the school are a good fit for each other.