Going crazy

Do what's best for you. That is my advice. A long time ago, I took out student loans and was saddled with payments that I had a hard time making. I finally paid them off and was determined never to take them out again. I made my decision based on that experience. I will be debt free when I finish school. That is what was very important to me, along with the quality of the education I would get. Figure what's important to you and go from there.

@memphismom what university just started a new BSN program?

I'm referring to UTHSC and their "new" BSN program. I know the had a direct MSN before, but I think the traditional BSN will attract more people.

I'm referring to UTHSC and their "new" BSN program. I know the had a direct MSN before, but I think the traditional BSN will attract more people.

They have a traditional program? I thought they only had an ABSN program?

Well, you dont need a bachelors for their BSN program, you just need 60 units of college coursework. Well, so not totally "traditional" I suppose. :-)

Since 2009, the BSN is mandatory for RN licensure in Canada. The US is heading in the same direction. Invest in your future and get your BSN now. Many employers are going to stop offering tuition reimbursment and incentives in this economy, but they are going to expect that nurses have a BSN. Too many applicants, few positions. Make yourself as marketable as possible.

I wonder if my friend's situation was different because she did not graduate (i.e., if that was why the loans were payable immediately rather than after the 6 month period). It has made it hard for her to reapply for programs, because unless she can borrow again, she can't afford to go. Anyway...

I think the ADN would be the quicker and easier way to get a RN. A BSN at a university would be long, dragged out with extra science coursework, take longer, cost more, more hoops to jump through and in most cases more competitive to actually get in the program because so many people want to be nurses these days. Usually you need a very high GPA and yet your tough college science classes will be in a big overcrowded auditorium taught by foreign TA's who may be difficult to understand. I think a smaller community college would offer cheaper classes and more individual attention with 20-30 people max, not 100+ in a college General Chemistry for instance. I think universities are overrated and cheat the students out of a real education since the first year or two is basics taught by TA's in very crowded auditoriums! Why not get your ADN, then you can go where ever you want to get your BSN and there are now many online options available! You may even get some tuition reimbursement from work!

Also I would not be in a hurry to buy a house! You don't know what your income will be, what your expenses and student loans will be and who knows if you'll want or need to relocate for work or family. I would advise renting for now, getting the ADN, taking out minimal student loans and once you're graduated and working and settled then consider getting a house. What is the rush? The economy is not doing very well, unemployment is still high so I don't think home prices or interest rates are going anywhere in the near future! If you buy now and need or want to move whether for a job or better schools for the kids you may have a difficult time selling and even have to take a loss.

Economists have noted that homeowners have a higher unemployment rate in general because they sometimes find themselves trapped with a house they can't sell when they need to move for a job! I've also seen a couple coworkers struggle with exactly this issue when they decided to relocate down south. One took close to a year to sell and took a loss, the other still has her house on the market with no approved buyers because loans are really difficult to get approved today! Both of them only lived in their homes for a very short time had little time to build equity or even break even on closing costs! Other coworkers rushed to buy a house and had bad credit and ended up in predatory subprime loans that left them with very high interest rates and even in danger of foreclosure, lots of stress and sleepless nights! When you are ready to buy a house consider a credit union and attending a first time home buyers seminar to learn all you can. I would stick with a credit union and not with a broker. A broker might have more mortgages to choose from, but they have financial incentives to steer you toward a higher interest mortgage where they literally take a kickback at your expense! A credit union is open, fair, non-profit and you are a member!

I'm currently a RN nursing student. First clinical rotation on OB now. I'm also trying to decide between BSN or Masters. I will have my ADN and AA in November of 2014 at 49 years young! We were told by our program director to plan at the very least on getting our BSN due to the changes they are trying to make in trying to get nurses to get their BSN. Demographics is not an issue for me. I'm in school in Iowa but am planning on moving, possible to Arizona upon graduation. Being a nurse is the most rewarding job ever and I'm really happy that I went back to school. Any suggestions on going for Masters or even further possible? Thank you for suggestions.

Just because you have BSN it still might take the same amount of time as a ADN to find work. It just makes you more marketable but doesn't guarantee a job neither !. Id do the ADN route, but I know after 10 years of being a fulltime nurse they will get rid of your student loans that's a loan repayment plan option .

im doing adn because previous debt from first bachelors and adn is free and I need tuition reimbursement to be able to afford more education from an employer /a real paycheck lol

In my hospital (and from what I hear it's the same in all hospitals around here) they will not hire you without a BSN, regardless of how much experience you have. Even charge nurses who have been here since the year I was born are having to go back and get their BSN (and we only get $1500/year tuition reimbursement, so the hospital doesn't "pay for you to go back to school." This is why I'm choosing to go straight into the BSN.

On the other hand, my sister in law is a nurse in a different state and she said her hospital prefers ADNs because they can pay them less. So, it really all boils down to what the outlook is for your specific area.