Getting an associates degree when you already have a Bachelors Degree in another fiel

squantojones · May 5, 2011

I have a business degree as well, so before I went back I was asking the same thing. With the way the industry is going, I would HIGHLY recommend sucking it up and getting a BSN vs an ADN. I found an accelerated program, so it is only 16 months straight through - it ends up being quicker than getting an ADN. There are a lot of these programs around the country, so I would just look for one in your area.

soxgirl2008 · May 5, 2011

Check your job market, it really depends where you live. Some areas won't hire ADNs in hospitals, other areas of the country really don't care as long as you are an RN.

I'd check into accelerated programs since you already have a degree, it may be faster than getting the ADN. It also depends how much you are willing to spend, some BSN programs might be pretty pricey, but if you are in an area where BSNs are highly preferred it's probably worth it.

Having an ADN with the 4 year degree would look good, but some hospitals might prefer you have that 4 year degree in nursing. Look into ABSN programs though, the main difference between the ADN and the BSN are a lot of pre-reqs you probably already have from the first degree.

DawnMP3 · May 5, 2011

Thank you for the information. I do have so many credits already. I have 185 credits plus another 26 including the prerequisites for the nursing program. So I can't see what difference a BSN in nursing would make for me since I already have so many credits already taken and have a Bachelors degree. When I do my resume in the future this will all be on the resume so they will see that I do have a 4 year degree plus a RN.

Moogie · May 8, 2011

Dawn, look at the job market in your area. Having a bachelor's degree in another field plus an ADN is NOT the equivalent of a BSN. On paper, yes, it does look the same. But these days, it's an employer's market and you want to be as competitive as possible in landing your first nursing job. New grad ADNs in many parts of the country are having difficulty finding jobs. Magnet hospitals and hospitals seeking magnet status prefer to hire BSNs.

Accelerated BSN programs for second degree students do tend to cost more than ADN programs. However, they may take the same amount of time, if not less time, to complete.

Some states are also considering legislation that would require RNs to obtain a BSN within 10 years of initial licensure. If you will end up getting the BSN anyway, why not go for it right away? Again, unless cost and/or family or other obligations are a factor, do consider an accelerated BSN.

DawnMP3 · May 8, 2011

I am in Westchester County NY. I was thinking if I do the 2 year nursing degree my future plans would be to get a job and then in the meantime go to PACE University for a Masters degree in Nursing because there are schools that will accept the 2yr RN with a Bachelors and allow you to go on to the Masters Program.

Moogie · May 8, 2011

You're right. Many schools have ADN to MSN bridges and many also allow persons with bachelor's degrees in other fields and ADNs to go into the MSN program. I think in either case you have to take a few BSN level courses (i.e., community health) but you should be okay.

Just be prepared for a tough job market. It has been difficult for any new grads to find work but if you're flexible, you might be able to find something. Also, by the time you finish school the job situation might be different and you won't have any trouble at all. But please do remember that while you can get a MSN with an ADN and a non-nursing bachelor's, you still don't qualify for jobs that are BSN only. It's very confusing and seems contradictory but that's how hiring is these days.

Best wishes in whatever you decide!

DawnMP3 · May 8, 2011

Thanks Moogie. I appreciate the info. I will keep this all in mind. So I could get a MSN and not be elligibe for BSN jobs. This has all been very frustrating.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 9, 2011

Another option is to do an ADN program, and then a BSN upgrade. Sacramento State has exactly this option. 6 courses, 26 units...

Moogie · May 15, 2011

Thanks Moogie. I appreciate the info. I will keep this all in mind. So I could get a MSN and not be elligibe for BSN jobs. This has all been very frustrating.

Dawn, I am so sorry! This has been a crazy week for me and I might have misstated what I meant.

With an MSN, you would indeed be eligible for any job that required at least a BSN. You would not be eligible with an ADN and a bachelor's in a different field.

Many people think that you have to have a BSN in order to get into an MSN program. That isn't necessarily true. There are bridge programs that will allow nurses with diplomas or ADNs, with or without previous bachelor's degrees, to bypass the BSN and do the MSN. There are also direct-entry MSN programs that allow someone with a previous bachelor's in any field to become prepared as a clinical generalist or an advanced practice nurse.

My best advice to you is to get the most education in your pre-licensure nursing program that you can afford in terms of time and cost. If you can afford a accelerated BSN or direct entry MSN, I strongly encourage you to try. If you can't afford it, you can still get the ADN but just be aware that you might have difficulty finding a job when you're done. (Then again, although right now new grads have difficulty finding jobs, when you finish it might be a whole 'nuther situation, regardless of which program you choose.)

I hope that this helps clear your confusion! Again, I am sorry if I mislead you in my earlier post. Please feel free to get in touch with me if you have any other questions.

Wishing you the best in whatever you decide,

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · May 17, 2011

You're right. Many schools have ADN to MSN bridges and many also allow persons with bachelor's degrees in other fields and ADNs to go into the MSN program. I think in either case you have to take a few BSN level courses (i.e., community health) but you should be okay.
Just be prepared for a tough job market. It has been difficult for any new grads to find work but if you're flexible, you might be able to find something. Also, by the time you finish school the job situation might be different and you won't have any trouble at all. But please do remember that while you can get a MSN with an ADN and a non-nursing bachelor's, you still don't qualify for jobs that are BSN only. It's very confusing and seems contradictory but that's how hiring is these days.
Best wishes in whatever you decide!

I think I'd revise this to say that as a second-degree MSN you MAY not qualify for some jobs that specify "BSN required" - I've been told this is the case for some employers (and it may also be the case for the military) but don't know that for sure.

I'm in a similar category, though with both a BA and MBA. I went the ADN route to get my RN with the thought that I would work as nurse for a while, then return for my MSN. As it turns out, I've found that it's next to impossible for ADN-RNs to get jobs in my part of the world.

Since all the MSN programs require "bridge" courses for non-BSNs - usually 3 or 4 courses that will take a year or so to complete and for which you often pay graduate-level tuition - I decided to find an inexpensive RN-BSN program instead. After completing that, I'll look for a nursing job and start on my MSN, with no real penalty, either in cost or time.

YMMV. but this one option.

mkjh · May 18, 2011

I was in your sitch. I looked into the programs in my area (moving wasn't an option) and there was an ADN and an accelerated BSN. The acc. BSN was 3 semesters long and 16-19 credits/semester. The ADN was 4 semesters with 9-10 credits/semester. The ADN tuituion was almost half the price of the BSN tuition. I talked to nurses that work in my area about the programs and the grads that they have seen, and they all said that the ADN program produced better nurses than the BSN.

I was very interested in the BSN, but weighing all the factors (and the intensity of the programs was a big one, I have two little kids at home) I went with the ADN. After starting the program, I found that a solid 1/3 of our class of 140 students had a previous bachelors degree.

I recently graduated and had no problems getting a job (and in the area I prefered!).

I plan on doing theRN to BSN bridge to get my BSN, and then continue on to a DNP, after working for a few years. I'm very wary of programs that will let you start a MSN/DNP towards an ARNP, I think that level of practice needs more experience than school can provide.