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My sister and I were discussing my education again yesterday. -she is the Director of Nursing Admissions for a school, not mine- One of our cities hospitals (just rated one of the top ten in US) just expanded their edu. programs and one of them happens to be the, well, what they explained as the "upper division BSN" I think. And were it is a program where you go straight to BSN more or less skipping your ADN. There are a few more pre-req's, but not too many and the core classes are obviously more intense. Although, someone once told me that the ADN is the hardest degree of the nursing field. Anywho, my sis brought this up to me to see if I would be interested. Ofcourse-problem is, I don't have a lot of time for trial and error. I looked at the cirriculum and some admission pre-req's and ofcourse there is Algebra 1 and statistics and micro-biology. Now, I know some of you are laughing b/c you have to have some of these for your ADN but w/ the program I have been working w/ you don't need those. Just a "basic algebra" and chem, and biology. Doing this program would be a bit of a set back as I am just a one class away from my pre-req and three away from my general course work. I just know going through the BSN program could be too much for me right now. With the babies and all. Luckily I don't have to work. I was just wondering if any of you have done it.
Actually, that's not true. You do not need a BSN to get a Master's. There are quite a few ADN-MSN programs out there, you can totally skip the BSN if you want too
If you read the fine print, you get your BSN a few semesters into the bridge program, so no you don't totally skip the BSN. You can, however, totally skip the ADN.
JBGC4, are you talking about the Upper Division Program at Barnes Jewish College of Nursing in St. Louis? If you are, that's what I'm planning to do! I already have a Bachelors in Business and could do an Accelerated pragram and be done in a year, but with 3 kids and a husband, I feel that would be taking on too much. This program is a little slower paced over two years instead on just one...much more managable, I hope!
My initial plan was to do ASN, but when I started checking into programs, I found I could get a BS in the same amount of time. True, there are more prereq's, but I've been taking them 1-2 at a time for the last year, with 2 more semesters to go and will be starting nursing school in Fall of '08--perfect for me since I'll have two kids in school and one starting preschool.
So, that's what's working best for me. I felt that it was worth it in the long run to get the BSN and be done, plus I'm hoping it'll help me get the job I really want when I'm finished!
If you are in STL, where are you planning to go?
KJ
There's even a whole forum on here devoted to ADN vs. BSN, and you might want to go there and learn a little more about the differences. One thing though - getting your BSN as an entry-level nursing degree isn't "skipping" anything. Both BSN and ADN RN candidates take the same NCLEX at the end of the program. BSN programs usually just require a few more general requirements, possible a few more prereqs, and may include additional research, leadership, or management classes. The core nursing curriculum is usually approximately the same, since we all take the same exam at the end. For me, not a mom but a married 2nd degree student, getting my BSN made the most sense - then we can take a few years to have kids, and when I start taking masters classes after I can jump right in. For anyone else with a previous degree, BSN programs can actually be faster. Research what's available in your area, apply to a few ADN programs if you have those prereqs done, and if you have to wait a few semesters use the time to knock out any additional BSN prereqs. Then you can apply to those programs too, and see which road becomes available first. Good luck!
I was looking at several ADN programs around here, because I wanted to just get in and get it done as quickly as possible. (Mostly due to fears of something coming up and getting in the way of finishing, but that's another story.) Most ADN programs here have massive wait lists or you're much, much more likely to be accepted if you live in that county. (County residents get priority, and there are no CC's in my county. All schools are an hour or more away, but I have several to choose from.) Anyway, I started crunching the numbers for time it would take to finish given the classes needed, the schedules, the way the programs progress, etc. I found that it would only take me a semester longer to get my BSN, so that's the direction I'm heading.
I have two living children, a 9 year old daughter and 2.5 year old son who has some special needs due to being born prematurely. He needs a lot of time every day and has therapy appointments, doctor's appointments, etc. he attends regularly. I returned to school literally about a week after he was released from the NICU. It hasn't been easy, and I've had to sacrifice things (like sleep! lol) but I believe it's going to be worth it. As it stands now, if something were to happen to my husband or his job, I couldn't support us. I want that security, and nursing is what I want to do.
I've been in and out on these boards, mostly lurking, but the support here is incredible. The people here understand the things you face as a nursing student, and can help you get through.
Tiffany
If you read the fine print, you get your BSN a few semesters into the bridge program, so no you don't totally skip the BSN. You can, however, totally skip the ADN.
Then, you aren't skipping the ADN either, because don't you get your ADN a few semesters into the BSN program anyways?
But, the point I was trying to make, is that you went to school for your ADN, then you bridged to you MSN. You never had to go get your BSN.
JBGC4, are you talking about the Upper Division Program at Barnes Jewish College of Nursing in St. Louis? If you are, that's what I'm planning to do! I already have a Bachelors in Business and could do an Accelerated pragram and be done in a year, but with 3 kids and a husband, I feel that would be taking on too much. This program is a little slower paced over two years instead on just one...much more managable, I hope!My initial plan was to do ASN, but when I started checking into programs, I found I could get a BS in the same amount of time. True, there are more prereq's, but I've been taking them 1-2 at a time for the last year, with 2 more semesters to go and will be starting nursing school in Fall of '08--perfect for me since I'll have two kids in school and one starting preschool.
So, that's what's working best for me. I felt that it was worth it in the long run to get the BSN and be done, plus I'm hoping it'll help me get the job I really want when I'm finished!
If you are in STL, where are you planning to go?
KJ
I am not sure. I am guessing you are in the STL area as well! I am on the IL side, but I am about 15-20 minutes from downtown. I will most apply everywhere (lol) and see who seems to have the best options for me as far as my family goes. And, to also see who has openings in areas of nursing that I am interested in. I have some ideas on what field I would like to go into but won't really know until clinicals.
Where are you thinking? Will you stay w/ Barnes? Do you know what field you will go into? Have you heard anything good/bad about our STL facilities? Let me know.
Oooh, I wanted to add that I am going to stick to ADN. The main reason is b/c I am paying for this out of my pocket. I can't get a loan apparently b/c I have too many credit hours and have reached the limit. Even though I have NEVER received ANY aide throughtout my entire educational career, NO, I can not get aide. And, I don't want to tack on any more classes this year, meaning filling in the BSN pre-req holes, I am so close. I will bridge BSN however when I am done w/ ADN, and at that time one child will be in school (sniff, sniff) and one in pre-school. I just feel that this is the BEST route for me and my family, since they do take some of the heat from me going to school. LOL.
Thanks for all of your advice. It has been helpful and GL to all of those who went BSN route.
Then, you aren't skipping the ADN either, because don't you get your ADN a few semesters into the BSN program anyways?But, the point I was trying to make, is that you went to school for your ADN, then you bridged to you MSN. You never had to go get your BSN.
No, you don't get an ADN if you go straight for BSN. Read some ADN-MSN bridge program descriptions, and most will tell you at which point they award the BSN. Some will say that information is for enrolled students, but the point is that to get to postgraduate study you have to get a BSN at some point. All you do with bridge programs is skip a round of applications, and that alone is worth it.
I thought about ADN seriously, but I want to be a CRNA and the bridge options are limited. In my area, ADN is 3 years, and the BSN bridge is 3 semesters and a summer, so I would be losing time to take that route. On top of that, every desperate person in the state is trying to get in the ADN, so even though waiting lists are not maintained the odds aren't good for anybody. There has been quite a bit of negative press about the ADN programs in Mississippi and their huge failure rate on the HESI, so I'd rather avoid them for that reason as well. BSN programs, however, are realistically competitive and a good GPA and interview will get you accepted at the time you apply. It's what I need anyway, so why even think about the schools providing ADNs with questionable practices.
JustinTJ, ADN, BSN
224 Posts
My BSN school has a 1-2 year waitlist and much stricter entry requirements. My CC for ADN is points based and pretty much a lock if you have prereqs done and do well on the NLN.
I'm going ADN just because I want to bridge ADN-BSN. Everything, and I do mean everything, is online.