How is it like to be an ADN then going to BSN?

[RockyRamona]

Hey everyone, I'm back! I did talk to my parents a few days ago after reading all the comments and advice. My dad assured me that where we live, nurse grads are hired. He told me there's now a shortage of nurses because the older nurses are retiring. the county that my parents work for, L.A. County, apparently hires new nursing grads. He told me that he's actually met some of them, which is great! That gives me a lot of relief, and more motivation to go straight for my Associate's. The reason I say Associate's instead of Bachelor's is because, I can't go straight to the Bachelor's program with the prerequisites I already completed. I'm almost done taking them. After I finish this semester, I'll have two classes left that I need to take to get into my top nursing school, and 3 others. The problem is that they only have ADN programs. I would definitely go straight to a Bachelor's program if the prerequisites were not only different, but more. It would basically make me start over, and I've been completing my prerequisites for a year, so I'd rather not do that. Basically, my plan now is to get my ADN then my BSN. I'm also going to be learning ASL while waiting to be admitted into a nursing school. I thank everyone on here who helped me make a better decision and also helped me have better communication with my parents, which was a little unexpected but nice. With all that said I wanted to ask you guys: How is it like to be an ADN going to BSN? Do you guys suggest working temporarily as an ADN then going back to school to get your BSN? Or, do you guys suggest just transferring to BSN after getting your ADN? How was it like to work as an ADN new grad then go back to get your BSN? How was it like just going back to school after getting your ADN? Again, I can't just go straight to BSN, because I'd have to start over with my prerequisites and it's just going to waste time. Thank you, again!

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

"Per diem"? As in everyday? Is it better if I can just work a few days and then go to class? I mean I could but I rather not. Going to school and going to work at the same time is very difficult for me. But you're saying that if I went back to get my BSN, I have to work and go to school at the same time?

Per-diem/PRN means "as needed." So yes, you could work 1 or 2 days a week and still go to school. Or work more than that if you're on a break. Or make yourself unavailable for a week or two while you deal with exams. That's the beauty of per-diem: you tell them when you are available.

Do per diem nurses chose the days they can work also? Do you basically get to choose went to work and get tk work on your own time?

You give them your availability, and they will schedule you depending on their needs. If they have enough staff that day, they won't use you. You can change your availability as needed: Mondays and Wednesdays might be good this month, but next month you can only work Thursdays. They'll use you if/when they need to.

[RockyRamona]

Per-diem/PRN means "as needed." So yes, you could work 1 or 2 days a week and still go to school. Or work more than that if you're on a break. Or make yourself unavailable for a week or two while you deal with exams. That's the beauty of per-diem: you tell them when you are available.

You give them your availability, and they will schedule you depending on their needs. If they have enough staff that day, they won't use you. You can change your availability as needed: Mondays and Wednesdays might be good this month, but next month you can only work Thursdays. They'll use you if/when they need to.

Wow that is great! I'm definitely gonna do that after I get my ADN!

[Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN]

Does online actually teach you the skills to be a BSN? I feel like the in person classes are more helpful. But wow it's nice that your workplace has tuition assistance! Yeah when the time comes I'll basically have to work part time then go to school.

The program that I'm in was a hybrid class originally of one day a week you would go to class and the rest of it online. The term that I started, they offered a fully online classes for the program. Since it more about APA writing and leadership classes I see no problem with it being fully online. The classes are not bad and I love that I don't have to drive 40 minutes each way just to sit in a class that I might not be fully paying attention to after working all evening. I love that when I'm home on my own time I can focus on my classes. The profs put up their lectures for the week and I can do it at my leisure which is nice. I love that I can rewatch the leature if I need to, and if I need to pause it because life happens, I can.

For my program and my tuition reimbursement, I have to stay at full time employment. I'm only taking one class at a time, so I can still work my 40, plus overtime and still make A's in my classes. It is doable.

[RockyRamona]

The only difference in terms of courses required for ADN vs BSN programs around L.A. county is literally 1 or 2 courses extra. Most CSUs want the 2nd semester of the combination chemistry and statistics in addition to the common prereqs. You can take both over the Summer. So, I'm not really sure what you mean by having to "start over." You can just apply for Spring 2019 while completing your 2 prereqs during the Summer semester since applications for Fall 2018 are already over. You'll need to apply around September-October for most ADN programs anyway.

I double checked CSULA and I'd have to literally transfer and take like more 6 university courses. I'm almost done with my ADN prerequisites. After this semester, I have like two more classes to ace and I can sign up for nursing school. The ones I have to take are Physiology 2, Anatomy 2, 2 Microbiology courses, a critical thinking course, and a chemistry course. Not to mention that those courses might have their own prerequisites. That's what I mean by practically starting over. At least when I complete my ADN, I'll be an RN, and I can work per diem as suggested and still go back to school. I'll still be living with my parents after graduation anyways. It's a lot more easier than me just taking another year to gather up more prerequisites when I already have most of my stuff ready to get into nursing school.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Wow that is great! I'm definitely gonna do that after I get my ADN!

The draw back to per diem is that you don't get benefits. If you don't work, you don't get paid.

Also not all hospitals will hire new grads into per diem roles. Mine only hired new grads into full-time roles because they wouldn't have viewed it as worth their investment to train a new grad who may only end up working a couple days a month. Also per diems are typically the first ones canceled or floated.