Needs HONEST answer, huge dillema!

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I have searched high and low for an honest unbiased answer, to no avail. I need to get started on becoming a nurse. I've started at a community college last week, but was accepted to a real university the day after.

I have speant hundreds of hours since then looking for an honest answer and an honest person. Can somebody please tell me which is the right route?

Im going around in circles, everyone says how great and wonderful the AS program is, for the same reason, because you can work and pursue your BA at the same time. Well, if the AS program is so great and wonderful, than why would you even WANT to get a BA.

I have a day to decide. I dont know what to do. Why does everyone who have an AS want to get a BA?

Please tell me the secret behind the AS, what is so bad about it that everyone wants to change it? I have the chance to do either, but am completely lost. Im sick of hearing the same response, don't tell me that the AS is good because you can get a BA after. I want to know, if I get a AS degree will I find a good job?

I want to work at a really nice hospital, one of the best in the world. The hospital in question is Stanford. Would I need a BA for this? Do the nicer hospitals give more pay and more benefits?

And money is no option for me, neither is time. I am only 18, so I have plenty of time. I just want to get a GOOD job, and not be stuck with a useless degree.

Specializes in NICU.

Go to the university. You're 18 years old with no big responsibilities yet. People always say they'll go back for their Bachelor's later on, but if you can get it done now, DO IT. It's much easier to start now and have your degree at 22 than to wait and then try to balance a full-time job, a family, and school later on!

Don't be in such a hurry - you've got fifty years ahead of you to work!!! Take the four years and enjoy your youth a little bit, okay? College is a wonderful experience, especially if you live on campus. I'm not saying to go and party - I'm saying to go and immerse yourself if the college experience. If you have the means, it's something you'll never regret doing.

Good luck!!!

Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I would go to the university also. There will never be a better time, and will only get more difficult as you get older.

I've had to put off going back to school for a long time due to being a mom of 4, but I had to realize there will never be a great time. Yes, I'm going to miss out on things for a couple of years, but that's the price myself and my family have to pay for myself trying to better our lives.

Best of luck to you, in whatever you decide!

Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

For entry level nursing positions, it does not matter whether you have an Associate's or Bachelor's degree. Difference in pay $1.00 if at all. At least that's the most I've heard of.

I am going for my Associate's because if I could not afford to go for my Bachelor's. We have a very limited time that I can be working part-time and going to school because of a Mortgage and other bills. By getting my associate's first, I am able to work after two years. Also, I have a scholarship through a local hospital. After I finish my nursing internship at this hospital, I will go on and get my Bachelor's.

A Bachelor's degree opens a world of possibilities for other jobs in nursing, such as educator, case manager, and supervisory positions. It also enables you to go on for Master's level positions.

If I were 18 and it was affordable, I would go straight for my Bachelor's. It definitely depends on your financial situation. Do what is best for you.

There is absolutely no difference when it comes to getting hired as a staff nurse. Some hospitals pay a premium for a BSN (perhaps because they won't have to pay for this extra schooling later?), but it is minimal.

I was kind of in the same shoes as you--- except I was trying to decide between an LPN program at the local adult ed center and the BSN program at the state university. I am glad I went with the BSN program, because I got it all done.

If you had kids/financial issues I would say go for the ADN. I'm sure it is a good program.

Please do not listen to the myth that BSNs are mostly for people interested in "going into management". This is just not true. I did not know a single person who got a BSN because they wanted to make sure their options were open to management. In fact, I've never heard a BSN educated nurse say this. (That doesn't mean none do, it is just not as common as some would have you believe) I have heard a few say they wanted to go into community health or wound care and needed a BSN. Also, don't worry about clinical. You will get just as much as the associate's program or more.

But.. you can get into a master's program with an associates. There are many RN to masters programs out there.

True! It's usually easier to complete your education when you have less responsibilities.

Specializes in L&D.

Hi there,

Just like comparing any two programs, get information about them both. Which has more clinical hours? Who has the highest retention rate? Who has the highest NCLEX exam pass rate? I personally like being in a BSN program. I already have an AS, so that was one factor, the ADN program here has a few year waiting list, where the BSN program doesn't have one. My BSN program admits 64 students 3 times a year, I think the ADN program is only once a year and I don't know how many they admit. My program is outrageously expensive especially compared to the ADN program of course.

Well, good luck in your decision! Let us know what you choose!

Specializes in L&D.
Also, don't worry about clinical. You will get just as much as the associate's program or more.

QUOTE]

This is true. I have more clinical hours it seems than many adn students on this board.

Specializes in NICU.

I wouldn't worry about things like clinical hours and nursing classes - of course those things will vary a little bit. But those will always vary from school to school, whether the programs are BSN or ADN. The biggest difference is that with the BSN you're going to have a more rounded education that includes much more than nursing and science classes. When I went to college, I wanted to get right to the nursing classes, too, but now that I look back I'm thankful I did choose the BSN route. I have a minor in psychology, took a half dozen mind-twisting philosophy and theology classes, read some amazing literature, and dabbled in some minor computer programming. Probably the most interesting class I took in school was this history course that focused on the history of science - everything from the Plague to pasturization to antibiotics to nuclear weapons.

Look at the big picture, and go with your gut feeling.

Specializes in L&D.
I wouldn't worry about things like clinical hours and nursing classes - of course those things will vary a little bit. But those will always vary from school to school, whether the programs are BSN or ADN. The biggest difference is that with the BSN you're going to have a more rounded education that includes much more than nursing and science classes. When I went to college, I wanted to get right to the nursing classes, too, but now that I look back I'm thankful I did choose the BSN route. I have a minor in psychology, took a half dozen mind-twisting philosophy and theology classes, read some amazing literature, and dabbled in some minor computer programming. Probably the most interesting class I took in school was this history course that focused on the history of science - everything from the Plague to pasturization to antibiotics to nuclear weapons.

Look at the big picture, and go with your gut feeling.

Me too. I'm really happy I'm going the BSN route for some of the same reasons. I loved my literature classes, Anthropology, Psychology, Spanish...

At 18...definitely get your BSN. The whole college experience of living on campus and all that goes along with it can never be recreated. This is really the only time you will be able to do that. I will cherish those memories forever from when I got my Bachelor's degree (not in nursing though). I decided a few years later to go back to school and now I'm getting my ADN.

This is simple, I can't see why you haven't been able to fing an answer. The difference between an ASN and BSN is that with a BSN can come higher positions (and you can get a masters if you want), and in most places a BSN will also get you a higher income. A lot of people go for an ASN first because they can start working asap, so that y the time they get their BSN, their pay will not only be based on their degree but experience as well. If all you want to do is be an RN, and don't care aout the raise in pay go for ASN, but if you do care about higher pay and position gor for ASN then BSN. I have seen alot of people go straight for BSN and come out of school lost, so no matter what I would go for ASN first.

Specializes in L&D.
. I have seen alot of people go straight for BSN and come out of school lost, so no matter what I would go for ASN first.

What do you mean by this statement? I don't feel I'm going to be "lost" when I graduate with my BSN. Can you explain what you're talking about?:uhoh21:

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