40 something wondering which program?

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I am nearing 50 and am trying to decide between entering a ADN or a BSN program. How long does it take a nurse with a BSN degree to advance to position open only to those with the BSN degree? I see no point in spending additional years going for a higher degree when it could take many of experence to progress to a higher level once I am a nurse.

I really want to know should I in my late 40's spend the additional money for advanced degrees?

Specializes in Educator.

as yet another older student I opted for a BSN/MSN program, as I already have a BA. I highly recommend it. Of course everyone is different, but I figured that if I am going to school I might as well do it altogether. Good luck!! :balloons:

Specializes in Educator.

as yet another older student I opted for a BSN/MSN program, as I already have a BA. I highly recommend it. Of course everyone is different, but I figured that if I am going to school I might as well do it altogether. Good luck!! :balloons:

As an older student myself, I chose to go the ADN route and get out there ASAP.

(Another reason for me was that I had two degrees already.)

All the best to ya!

I also have a degree. Will this degree in Computer Science take the place of a BSN.

I also have a degree. Will this degree in Computer Science take the place of a BSN.

For me, I have a Bachelor's Degree as well. The way it would work if I chose to get a BSN is that all the gen ed courses I took for my Bachelor's Degree would count and I would end up taking just the nursing courses, which would take about 2 years. So it would still be a BSN, it just would take about 1/2 the time it would take had I not already had a degree. The only courses other than the nursing lectures and clinicals I would have to take over the ASN program I'm in would be a nutrition class and a biomedical ethics class.

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

My humble advice would be to start college at a level that is comfortable for you -- whether that be Associate or Bachelor level -- and keep on going until you at least have your Masters. :)

While educating yourself and working as a nurse, you'll gain whatever experiece employers may require for a particular job in management or higher. Once you've gained the required number of years EXPERIENCE for a certain management position, you'll have the degrees to go along with it, and you'll be financially compensated to a level of satisfaction in order to take care of yourself, especially if you end up divorced with no one else to help you financially with your living expenses.:nurse:

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

Both degrees are going to put you on the floor working hard as was mentioned before. How far you advance from there is up to you, your skills, your comfort level, your ambitions, your future goals and when you want to retire. I've seen nurses with BSNs go into good jobs fairly quickly, but that was their amibition. Others take their time.

Personally, I'm going to have to work until I'm probably 70 as I was a late bloomer and unless I win the lottery or inherit big bucks I'm don't have much saved for retirement. I'm in my mid-40s and am going back for a BSN after working the floor for 15 years. I may yet work the floor for ten more, but not sure in my 60s this is what I want to be doing, so I'm going to give myself some more options by having the BSN.

I always recommend those who have the opportunity to go ahead and get the BSN right away and get it out of the way.

Good luck in whatever you do.

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

I'm thinking like Tweety. At 51 I'll be graduating from an ADN program. I don't know how many years of floor nursing I have left in me. The BSN should provide some options. Why not go the ADN to BSN route? You get to work sooner and can even get your facility to kick in for your education.

Specializes in Cardiac/telemetry.

I'm 47 - and in the diploma program of our hospital. When I am working as an RN (and getting experience), they will pay me to get my BSN. A good deal for me!

Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

I second looking for a direct entry graduate program if you already have an undergrad degree.

I'm doing it because not only 3 years of schooling will I have my MSN, but also it is the fastest way to get my RN through any other method. There are no more diploma programs at hospitals here, the community colleges have long waits and take nearly 4 years with all the classes I'd need to take, and getting my BSN would take forever as well.

The direct entry here is focused on the people who are deciding on nursing as a second career.

Thanks for the insight. I was looking at some of the posting in the NP section. There is a surplus of NPs and not many job openings for PAs. People who complete their degree often find themselves working as floor nurses waiting for openings. In addition there is and a heavy loan repayment for the MSN degree.

I am not interested in management so that pretty much makes up my mind as far as the route I should go. Nearing 50 and spending so many years in school (it's a requirement for Information Technology people) I don't want to spend the rest of my years in school.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
........ I don't want to spend the rest of my years in school.

Good luck to you. But I have to say nearing 50 is not old! Unless you plan on having a short life you won't spend the rest of your life in school. Just two more years to get a BSN.

But I hear you, sometimes I wonder why at 45 I'm going for the BSN. But when I'm really older and have to continue to work, say when I'm sixty or 65, I'm not sure I can handle what I'm doing now and need some options.

Good luck. As an ADN graduate of 15 years, I know there's plenty you can do with that and it's an honorable profression and degree to go for!

I'm almost at the end of my BSN program, and there are other students here who came in with the ADN (a few of them much older than you, too :)). I don't know how its done at other schools but here, when you do the ADN program you go directly into nursing courses and the program lasts about 2 years. When you do the BSN program you do what they call pre-nursing courses (all the math, composition, liberal arts, etc) before you go into the nursing program, and the whole thing lasts 4 years, but most people seem to finish it in 4 1/2 to 5 years. Unlike the ADN program, the BSN program offers courses in nursing mangement, and if you don't plan to spend your entire nursing career at the bedside the BSN definitely gives you an advantage to move ahead.

I recommend doing the ADN first since you can become an RN in a much shorter time. If you decide you want to continue with the BSN, you can easily do that part time or even online while you're working as a nurse, and you can probably get your employer to pay for it. I like stressgal's strategy. Taking the ADN courses at a community college is way cheaper than doing them at a university and you're getting the same education. If you already have a bachelor's degree find out if the college has a 'bridge' or accelerated program.

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