Help with Choosing?

[seeyouinberlin]

I moved this from General Nursing...

Hello everyone.

I am planning to apply to several RN programs (ADN, ABSN, and BSN) in my area. I have a Bachelor's Degree already, and I'm trying to figure out which is the best route for me to take. Eventually I would like to have a BSN.

The main problem I have is that I need to work part-time. I am not sure how I will be able to make ends meet living off of student loans only, and I really don't want to do that anyway. However, I am open to hearing feedback/experiences about not working during the ABSN programs.

I have the following options (I live in South Florida):

FAU - ABSN, public university, they do not permit students with a BA/BS to apply for their generic BSN track. I love the idea of being finished with a BSN within about 1 year, but I will not be able to work at all. I also wonder how much student aid I would qualify for having already earned a Bachelor's Degree. Campus is nearby home.

Broward College - ADN, significantly more affordable than both the private and public universities in the area, offers a hybrid (online didactic/in person clinicals) program, and eventually I can choose to do their online RN-BSN program. Earning a BSN will take longer than the other options obviously. Campus is nearby home.

Nova - Traditional BSN, expensive private university, I will have some flexibility with working and come out with a BSN rather than an ADN. But like I said, expensive! Campus is nearby home.

FIU - Traditional BSN or ABSN, public university, less expensive than Nova, but the campus is very far from me (at least an hour, maybe more depending on traffic).

So, the ADN program at Broward College is very appealing to me right now with the location, cost, and flexibility as to working, but getting an ADN concerns me considering how valuable having a BSN seems to be these days. Does anyone have any insight? Assuming I am even accepted into all of these programs...ha!

[Niknik123]

I had the option between palm beach, broward and Nova. I ended up going with broward for a couple different reasons, the biggest being their high NCLEX pass rate.

Nova is a one stop shop getting your BSN up front but you graduate with roughly $65,000 of student loans (assuming you do not get aid, scholarship, etc). Some hospitals offer tuition reimbursement but only a certain amount. So let's say it's $10,000 they will reimburse... You'd still be left with $55k in debt from nova where as broward college tuition debt would be paid in full (their program is roughly 10k).

With BC you graduate in 18 months and begin working as an RN. From my research, the hiring rate difference between ADN and BSN is $1-$2 which isn't much because at the end of the day, both are new grads (experience brings income). The RN-BSN is designed for the working nurse and is online. Generally the hospital you work for will again aid in tuition or offer some sort of reimbursement.

By time you graduate with the BSN, you could have virtually no debt and 1-2 years of expense. At this point you could find a position with a sign on bonus (which generally requires 2 years experience) of anywhere from $5k-$10k. So it may take a tad bit long but financially there are great options.

Ps: with broward, the ADN program is no longer offered online. Only the RN-BSN bridge is. I am able to work 20 hours with BC and soon will be increasing my hours to 30. I think it's different for each person.... How demanding is your job and do the hours work with school hours... Study habits... Family life... Etc.