How can a ASN program be 2 years if you have to take prereqs and nursing classes?

Everline · Jul 16, 2012

The school I am going to for ADN requires 14 credits in pre-reqs before you can get into the nursing program. Because of A&P I and II, you cannot complete the pre-reqs in one semester even if you wanted to if you have not previously completed one of them. So the pre reqs can easily take an academic year. The nursing program itself is five semesters long. So, that's at least 3 1/2 years if you keep on schedule with your pre-reqs and co-reqs. It's a 72 credit program. I already have my BA. I would need to take about 42 credits more in nursing classes if I wanted a BSN from the same school, which would be 3 semesters more plus probably a summer, going full time.

alex1987 · Jul 16, 2012

My ADN is a 72 credits program. 31 credits are pre-reqs and co-reqs that must be completed before starting the program because they give you extra points in your application if you have all those credits. The program is so competitive there is no way that you could be accepted without completing all those 31 credits before you apply. It took me a year yo finish all those classes.

The nursing program is 2 years long (4 regular semesters + 1 summer). It has a capstone course but no leadership classes which I will have to take when I enroll in the RN-BSN program.

brenay · Jul 16, 2012

You're EXACTLY right. It takes the same amount of time. That's why I'm going to get my BSN instead of the ASN because it takes the sam amount of time. The ADN programs requires pre reqs. At my school, it's a year of pre reqs then it's the actual nursing school which in reality is 2-3 years. Even if the BSN is longer, it's only by one year.

Midwest Mark · Jul 17, 2012

My ADN Program is 80.5 credit/hrs.

I've chosen to take ALL my pre/co requirements first.Then starting next fall, I will only have to take Nursing I - IV. This way, I can dedicate all my attention to nursing and not have to spread myself across any other classes not related.

Will it take me a bit longer to complete? Yes.

Do I feel that I will be better prepared to be a nurse? Absolutely.

For me, it's not about how fast I can become an RN, it's about how much I can learn while becoming one. Here are the major milestones for my schedule. Our school also has job placement after reaching each level so we can gain experience working while continuing on. Classes begin August 1st. of this fall.

After 1st Semester: CNA

After 4th Semester: LPN

After 6th Semester: RN

Total time: 3yrs.

Tragically Hip · Jul 17, 2012

Our ADN program requires 72 credit hours, including prerequisites. If you do it leisurely (at about 12 credits per semester rather than the usual full load of 15 or 16), it takes six semesters, which would be 3 years if you take summers off, or as little as 2 years if you can transfer some distribution courses (such as English composition). If you're very ambitious, you can even do necessary prerequisites (such as statistics, human growth & development, sociology, etc.) for a bridge BSN program as well.

Our program is set up not to have a break in the summer, though I suppose it would be possible to do if you insisted — as you would in a freshman-entry BSN program at a university.

The BSN bridge program at our local private university is 5 semeters (half-time) or 3 semesters (full-time) accelerated (no breaks). The bridge requires 60 credits, but you are awarded 30 credits for your RN license.

In other words, if you follow a not-terribly-strenuous path, and took the ADN-bridge-BSN path, you could do it in 4 years.

The difference is that you'd have to go to school in the summer, versus a freshman-entry BSN program. The per-semester course load would be lighter in the former, though, and working would be more practical. For me, it's an economic necessity, unless someone is willing to give me a hefty scholarship to attend a four-year program.

buttons93 · Jul 17, 2012

I am in an ASN program that can take 4 years (if you finish your pre-reqs. in 2 years, then its 2 years of nursing, but there is one semester wait, so it could technically take 4.5 years). I know what you mean about it being the EXACT same length as a BSN. It is hard but there are BSN programs that take 4 years as well (2 years pre-reqs, 2 years nursing). That is just something I haven't heard of someone doing though. I have heard of people getting into 4 year BSN programs that completed it in 5 years because of the way they spread out their pre-reqs or because they got waitlisted.

mee9mee9 · Jul 17, 2012

the asn program im applying to requires a&p I & II, microbio., 1 math, english, 1 humanities, gen psych, speech. which takes 2 semesters to complete. then you apply in the beginning of the spring and get accepted for the fall of that year. What im trying to figure out is how long the nursing portion is. I see clinicals and classes are taken in the same semester. I didnt know nursing courses and clinicals could be taken during the summer or that it can be completed withing a year.

MoniqueS · Jul 17, 2012

When it comes to nursing classes and clinicals, the colleges set the schedule.. not you. I am unsure how long a nursing portion is for BSN but its 2 years long for ASN (At least, that's how it was at the two colleges that I applied to) I wish I could pick later clinicals - because I have clinicals starting at 7am! LOL

A lot of office people do not tell students how long it will take LOL - plus you might have to wait to be accepted into nursing school as well. ---

I finished my pre regs in 2 years (plus a couple extra classes that I could apply towards my BSN)... I go to a 2 year nursing school in fall 2012.. 4 years for a ASN for me... and after that, my college offers 1 or 2 classses a semester towards a BSN. -

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Either BSN or ASN .. I would suggest to ANY pre nursing student to apply to more than one college. Some colleges only accept once a year and that can delay you greatly.

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Jul 17, 2012

the asn program im applying to requires a&p I & II, microbio., 1 math, english, 1 humanities, gen psych, speech. which takes 2 semesters to complete. then you apply in the beginning of the spring and get accepted for the fall of that year. What im trying to figure out is how long the nursing portion is. I see clinicals and classes are taken in the same semester. I didnt know nursing courses and clinicals could be taken during the summer or that it can be completed withing a year.

At my school, you can take all of those classes at the same time as your nursing classes, but you don't have to. I had everything done except A&P, I and II, micro, and med term when I started but I have several friends who are taking everything with their nursing classes. They are always stressed!

Cali_Nurse_209 · Jul 18, 2012

You're EXACTLY right. It takes the same amount of time. That's why I'm going to get my BSN instead of the ASN because it takes the sam amount of time. The ADN programs requires pre reqs. At my school, it's a year of pre reqs then it's the actual nursing school which in reality is 2-3 years. Even if the BSN is longer, it's only by one year.

Finally someone who understands. I agree with you. I'm starting the BSN program next month and it's a 3 yr (6 semester) program and my prereqs are done. A lot of people were asking me why I didn't just do the ASN program program because it was "only 2 yrs?" My goal has always been to get a BSN so even if I did go the ASN route, I would've did the RN-BSN transition which is about another yr here. Which is About the same amount of time it would take to get my BSN. Luckily, I was accepted to the BSN program. Guess it all depends on how long it takes a person to finish their pre reqs and if they get accepted into the program their first try.