help me choose

Whether you have to redo courses will depend on the articulation agreement that the 4 year university has with the CC. I'm in the middle of an ADN program right now. I don't recommend it... but then, I haven't been in a BSN program either.

I commend you on baby steps - not just to avoid overwhelming yourself, but to really focus on getting an excellent grasp of the material. Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, and Pathology have been the basis of my nursing courses - I have been head and shoulders above my classmates with half the studying simply because I have a strong background, instead of a fast skim.

It really depends on the college (the ADN/BSN thing). My ADN program (I'll enter hopefully in 2010 or 2011) has an agreement with an RN/BSN program - you complete four extra classes with a 3.0 or above (AKA, an Associates degree), and you get guaranteed entry into the RN/BSN program. It makes things a bit easier.

I would do ADN, just because of finances. As for financial aid, it's a hit-or-miss. My mom gets some, as do I, because...well, our living situation sucks. I'd go talk to the schools you're looking at and inquire about it. Good luck!

While you have one child a 1 yr old and another 4 months old and you are in the swing of things - go for the prize. If you slow down you may never achieve a BSN. Just remember when you do achieve your goal - everyone in the healthcare business and it is a business - the good ones always know where they came from and know the biggest blessing we can work and we all are indeed a team.

I would contact financial aid offices from both schools to get an idea of how much aid you can receive and I'd choose the most inexpensive route. With two kids and nursing school, you will not have a lot of free time to work. Nursing school can be overwhelming. They pack a lot into short periods and you have to stay on top of material. It is hard to work enough to pay for children and tuition by yourself and study adequately.

With pre- and co-reqs, an ASN will take you 3 years, while a BSN will take you 4. If the cost is the same, go ahead for that BSN. If ASN is cheaper, go for that for now. You will take the exact same licensing exam as those finishing BSN programs and you will be an RN just the same.

Good luck to you and kudos for doing something to be proud of and that your kids can be proud of. Stay focused, perservere, and you'll make it!

If it were me, I would go for my ADN. :)

Here's why:

You have 2 small children. Keep on trucking with your ADN and you'll be working as a nurse sooner. That's more money in your wallet sooner! :) My hospital does not pay any different for new grads with an ADN vs. BSN. My mother-in-law's hospital pays $.75 an hour more. Not worth it!

After you graduate, go to work. School is stressful! Take a year. When your kids are a little bigger - you can go back for your BSN online. There are many programs to choose from!

I graduated with my ADN in 2006. I had a 4 y/o son, a 9 y/o daughter and an 11 y/o daughter. When I graduated, I was 6 months pregnant with our last child - another little boy. If I was in a BSN program - I would have had to drop out.

I graduated in Dec of 06 and went back to school online Sept 08. I graduate next July with my BSN :) It's all online. I can still work and make money AND do the college thing. :)

Everyone has a unique circumstance. You have to do what's best for you and your family. A community college may be less expensive and you still get almost the same amount of money when you start out! :)

Good luck!

~Sherri

thanks for the info very very helpful. I am going to contact schools and see which one will be the cheapest route for me. Sherri, did you have to redue any courses

so I have sort of a follow-up question to this thread... I have not been able to find a program (LPN or RN) that isn't fulltime, M-F program... with twin 22 month-olds at home, I'm not sure how to make that happen...the cost of daycare a month would be close to $2k (yes, really!yikes) and I would have to pay for school... how do others work this out? I'm new to the area and my only relative close works full time - so I don't have any built in free/cheap care for the boys... I'm so curious as to how others manage this - I'm scared I won't be able to really do anything past CNA and pre-reqs until the boys are in school themselves... and I'm already old :) hellllp! thanks!!

No, I did not!

But, I chose courses that would transfer. We were only required to take a very low math. Instead, I took Algebra because I knew Algebra was a University level class.

Look at the classes on the University Roster that are required for your BSN. If you can, incorporate them into your ADN program. Don't necessarily take the easiest "humanity" class. Take the one that will transfer. :)

Talk to your community college. Many of them work together with Universities to help their graduates further their education. Let your counselor know you are planning to obtain your BSN and he/she will guide you in which courses to take!