Would you choose an Associates OR Bachelors in nursing? need your opinions, please.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

You are reading page 2 of Would you choose an Associates OR Bachelors in nursing? need your opinions, please.

amy8155

5 Posts

I would like to take this time to introduce myself. My name is Amy and I have been a Pre-Nursing Student for about....3 years. I love it but it makes me sad, happy and everything else. I took Nursing Assistant 3 times so far. I ve been in a LPN program but drop out becuz I don't think I can emotionally take it. But I want to so bad. I don't know what to do. Ahhh.

I too also debate if I would like to go for Associates or Bachelor Degree. From what my sleepless nights debating what I would do. I would defiently say go with the bachelor degree I think it will be the most rewarding for you educational wise. I wish you luck. in whatever you do.

Cute_CNA, CNA

475 Posts

Here's something you might be able to do to save time and money: take some courses @ a community college, and then make sure those courses are transferrable to a 4-year college. That is, make sure you know they are transferrable before you take them. See an advisor every semester, and especially before you start taking any classes. I know you can do that with other degrees, maybe it can be done w/nursing?

BadBird, BSN, RN

1,126 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.

I am in a accelerated RN to BSN program now, my understanding of 18month BSN programs required you to already have your RN either by diploma or associate degree.

Daytonite, BSN, RN

1 Article; 14,603 Posts

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Here are a few other considerations you might want to think about. You need to realize that in an accelerated program the information is going to be presented quickly. You need to be able to assimilate it quickly. If you've never done any kind of nursing before you may find it extremely stressful. If you are confident in your study skills then I would go for the BSN. If you've never had a nursing class before, you may find it difficult to adjust to because you do not, in general, have much information to build on as you do when you take a history or math class (you've had history and math all through HS to build on). If you go to the BSN program, do you have all the pre-requisites required by the college to get a bachelor's degree (not just to get into the nursing program)? I went from AA to BSN and had to spend time taking pre-requisites for the bachelor's degree at the university I ended up at--a lot of extra fine arts, math and humanities that were required since the BSN program was in the college of liberal arts. Not only that, but the BSN program did not take our nursing classes from the junior college in transfer. We had to take and pass a written and clinical test designed by the BSN program before we were accepted into their program. If you go AA first, have an idea of where you want to do your BSN and get the university catalog so you know what classes they are going to require to get in. Most universities require that you take a certain amount of your credit hours at their university before granting any kind of bachelor's degree. Look into all that before making a decision. I will also tell you that depending on where you are in the country, some hospitals can be picky about hiring only BSNs, particularly if there are a lot of BSN programs where you live. So, check out the job market in your area as well to see if hospitals by you are hiring new graduate AA degree nurses into the acute hospitals or turning them away to find work in LTC and other places.

Tweety, BSN, RN

34,248 Posts

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

BTW, saving that much money for college is an awesome accomplishment! Congrats on that!

Tweety, BSN, RN

34,248 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
These two semesters are two 14 credit hour semesters offered through online or web-enhanced classes. They wanted you to have most of your pre-req's, ex. A&P, 2 English classes, etc. before you get in to the ADN. (My english classes were online and so were humanities.) That is mostly because the program is so competitive. I am married and want to start a family soon, so two years going and one at home was a better choice for me.

That makes a bit more sense to me. So it's 3 years of full time nursing school. But more time before that for pre-reqs and co-reqs. So in reality you're going more than just 3 years. Thanks for clearing that up.

That sounds like a good program, getting the 28 hours over in 2 semesters. I'm taking just six hours a semester. But for me that works just fine, especially with car payments and a mortgage that won't go away.

Specializes in ICU.
Well, to get a master's you first have to have a bachelor's...

Just to clarify......You do not have to have your bachelors to get a masters. Many universities are now offering accelerated ADN to MSN, with NP after that.

With that said, I personally would go for the accelerated BSN if you have the time and money.

Wio

NYRN05

60 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg /Cardiac Step-Down/CICU/CTICU.

i too was faced with that difficulty but unfortunately i didn't get into the bsn program and i got into the adn....so thats what i did...but hon-if you got the money and no kids right now...definately do the bsn...next year i want to go back for my bsn and i know it will take about 2 years....and i eventually want to get my masters in nurse anesthesia or NP. so since you have the time and money...go for the bsn if not adn is not a bad route. good luck in whatever you do.

Shanna

MIA-RN1, RN

1,329 Posts

I guess I might be the odd man out but I would choose the ADN, save the money, and let your future employer pay your way thru your bachelors. (Its what I am doing)

I am getting my ADN from a community college with a great rep in our area, and I will get my bachelor's from a school that I would never be able to afford otherwise, fully funded by my future employer and with only a one-year work committment after finishing it. You might find a program like that in your area.

In my area, BSN and ADN all start at pretty much the same pay rate. You might look into the hiring wages in your area of interest and see if its worth it.

Jerico, BSN, RN

298 Posts

Specializes in ER, NICU.

Most definately the BSN.

Reasons:

1. If you are competing with an equally experienced/non-experienced "less than a BSN" YOU will get the job 9/10 times. Hospitals, agencies, etc want BSNs nearly ALWAYS before the other types of RNs. This is because in order to gain national "Magnet Status" they must show how many BSNs - the ratio must be higher for nursing standards.

2. JCAHO is now pushing BSNs being the nurse "of choice" whenever possible.

3. A BSN is best route if you want to continue to "higher" education levels.

4. The military requires officers to have BSN.

5. The educated public realizes the time and money you have spent to become a BSN therefore, more prestige.

I spent the $ for the BSN because it opens more doors. More painful to spend the money, but less pain in the long run when it comes to a successful career.

Tweety, BSN, RN

34,248 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I guess I might be the odd man out but I would choose the ADN, save the money, and let your future employer pay your way thru your bachelors. (Its what I am doing)

I am getting my ADN from a community college with a great rep in our area, and I will get my bachelor's from a school that I would never be able to afford otherwise, fully funded by my future employer and with only a one-year work committment after finishing it. You might find a program like that in your area.

In my area, BSN and ADN all start at pretty much the same pay rate. You might look into the hiring wages in your area of interest and see if its worth it.

The more common scenerio is that employers reimburse up to a limit. My employer pays $2,200.00 a year, without commitment. (The will pay for ADNs or BSNs to go to school those last two years 100% for a two year commitment, but not RN to BSN). I'm very greatful for that, but it doesn't cover it all. It's a very good way to go though and something the OP should consider.

Fun2, BSN, RN

5,586 Posts

Specializes in Operating Room.

I am getting my ADN, and concurrently working on my RN ADN-BSN core classes, but this is only because I have a scholarship for the ADN.

(If I hadn't received the scholarship, I'd probably be working at a call-center or some other dead in job wishing I could follow my long-time dream.)

I am very appreciative of my ADN scholarship, but it has only "possessed" me to finish my BSN that I started to get right out of high school. I'm almost finished with the core classes, but I'll let my future employer pay for the actual RN-BSN nursing courses. :)

Therefore, if you can, try to go straight for the BSN because you already have thoughts of pursuing a higher degree. You might as well go for it! :)

Only you can really decide which is best for you. I wish you luck with making your decision, and I wish you luck in getting your nursing education!

+ Add a Comment