ADN or BSN? Which one to go for?

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Feb 24, 2003

Depends on how much money & time you have. The BSN takes longer to get......at least 4 years & the classes are more expensive, while the ADN takes approx 3 years (one year of pre-reqs & 2 years of nursing classes) & the classes are less costly.

The reason I chose to go for ADN rather than BSN (and I already have a Bachelor's Degree in Business) was because you get more clinical "hands on" time in the ADN program as opposed to the BSN which deals a lot more in theory than real world.

I wanted to make sure this was something I really felt comfortable doing & the best way to know that is by actually doing it. I'll pursue my BSN on a part-time online basis if I feel that is the direction I want to go in as well as the master's degree. By that time, hopefully my future employer will be reimbursing me for those expenses to become better educated.

Either way you choose will be a good decision because they are both good programs. You just have to figure out what is best for you.

Rootbear76 · Feb 24, 2003

For me the ADN will be much shorter than going for my Bsn, plus I can work as an RN and still go to school to pursue by Bsn and most hospitals will pay for higher education. I can finish my ADN in 2 1/2 years max then go to University of Oklahoma after I get my RN and enroll in the RN to BSN program which is only 9 months long full time.

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RN Zeke · Feb 24, 2003

Just Wondering In Oklahoma, Tell us more about thhe 9 month BSN. What college is this? I am very intereasted as you might have picked up on. Thanks, Cay

swtshyn20 · Feb 24, 2003

Thanks alot for your help. I'll have to do some thinking on this and then decide which way I want to go for now.

Rootbear76 · Feb 24, 2003

Originally posted by Cay
Just Wondering In Oklahoma, Tell us more about thhe 9 month BSN. What college is this? I am very intereasted as you might have picked up on. Thanks, Cay

Hello Cay,

The college is the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center. I think it's a very cool program. I know the program at the Universit of Colorado Health Science Center offers their rn to bsn program totally online (but the tuition is ALOT higher than Oklahoma's program). Anyho, here's the link:

http://nursing.ouhsc.edu/bsn/rn_bsn.cfm

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emily_mom · Feb 24, 2003

Thanks for the link! I'd like to get my BSN also, but at this point I am so burnt out with school. I'm still undecided.

Kristy

emily_mom · Feb 24, 2003

I just checked out the link, and you have to have an OK RN license to apply.

Also, the pre-reqs are too substantial to be done in 9 months.

English Composition I - 3 credit hours

English Composition II - 3 credit hours

US Government - 3 credit hours

Statistics - 3 credit hours

General Chemistry w/Laboratory - 4 to 5 credit hours

Microbiology with Laboratory - 4 to 5 credit hours

Human Anatomy w/Laboratory - 4 to 5 credit hours

Human Physiology w/Laboratory - 4 to 5 credit hours

Psychology/Sociology/Anthropology - 3 credit hours

Cultural Courses (e.g. "The American Indian")

US History - 3 credit hours

Elective Hours- As needed to total 67 credits

Additional General Education Requirements for those beginning college after the Fall 1990:

Western Civilization and Culture- 3 credit hours

Non-Western Civilization and Culture - 3 credit hours

Understanding Art Forms - 3 credit hours

3000-4000 Level General Education Courses - 3 credit hours

Foreign Language [Two (2) of a single foreign language in high school will fulfill this general education requirement.] - 6 to 10 credit hours

A place I might accept employment with after graduation offers BSN through a university and it's all on satellite and TV. You go at your own pace, it's paid for, and you get paid RN wage to do the clinical. That's a little more my speed.

Kristy

Rootbear76 · Feb 24, 2003

Kristy,

There is a program here that will let you earn your BSN through Satellite. It is Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City Extension, but you still have to have all those pre-reqs. Since I'm in the prereq stage I'm thinking about just getting all of those classes out the way. I haven't decided yet. I kinda want to just get my rn stuff only, THEN worry about my BSN prereqs later, but that's only because I'm anxious to hurry up and become a nurse. Do most nurses have time to go to school and work?

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essarge · Feb 24, 2003

Having to spend four years to get your BSN is really not that correct. I will be getting my BSN in 3 years but, that being said, I went full time year round the first year for pre-reqs. It is doable in 3 years if you are willing to go during the summer months also.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Feb 25, 2003

Right now I am just doing my pre-reqs, my youngest daughter is only 14 months so I am not in a huge rush to start working full time as a nurse.

I am planning on just getting my BSN, just to do it and get it out of the way since that is what I want. My fear with only getting my ADN now and then my BSN later is working full time as a nurse and trying to take classes for a BSN, I dont see that would be very easy....nurses work long hours and its tiring to be on your feet all day long like that I could only imahine and to have to come home and worry about classes? I'm not sure if I want to do that.

But then again if I got my ADN and went to OU and do the RN-BSN program is it *all* online? I guess I dont know how it works.

Does anyone know if their is a pay difference if you have your ADN vs BSN? Or is it all the same starting out?

I just have a lot of question as Im not really sure myself what to do...

Marilyn

Rootbear76 · Feb 25, 2003

Originally posted by marilynmom
Right now I am just doing my pre-reqs, my youngest daughter is only 14 months so I am not in a huge rush to start working full time as a nurse.

I am planning on just getting my BSN, just to do it and get it out of the way since that is what I want. My fear with only getting my ADN now and then my BSN later is working full time as a nurse and trying to take classes for a BSN, I dont see that would be very easy....nurses work long hours and its tiring to be on your feet all day long like that I could only imahine and to have to come home and worry about classes? I'm not sure if I want to do that.

But then again if I got my ADN and went to OU and do the RN-BSN program is it *all* online? I guess I dont know how it works.

Does anyone know if their is a pay difference if you have your ADN vs BSN? Or is it all the same starting out?

I just have a lot of question as Im not really sure myself what to do...

Marilyn

Every nurse I've talked to says their is virtually no difference in pay, and if so, it's usually about .50 or $1.00 an hour. I only want my BSN so I can go on to become a practioner.

I'm not sure if the entire program is online for OU. I know the University of Colorado Health Science Center has a rn to bsn program totally online.

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