How soon after graduation would you start your ADN to BSN

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so i am currently in my second term of my adn program due to graduate in september of 2012. my initial goal was to obtain my bsn but due to economic reasons i chose to take the adn route. this option would give me the opportunity to work as soon as possible and possibly have my employer pay for me to continue my education. i have all of my pre-reqs completed for the bsn program and have already had my transcripts evaluated by the university. the admission person for the rn-bsn stated that all i would need to do is complete an rn-bsn application and take the nclex, i would be tentatively admitted dependent upon me passing the nclex and would be able to start as soon as spring 2013. i would have the option of taking classes once a week or online only, the rn-bsn program takes only 1 year to complete with 12 hrs fall/spring terms and 8 hrs summer term. the only clinicals i would have to complete is community nursing in which i get to pick my own clinical hours and preceptor. how soon after graduating from the adn program would you start the rn-bsn program....for some reason i feel like i should work for maybe a year or so before i start.....

Specializes in Perinatal, Education.

I did an RN-MSN program because I already have a BA in something else and am now teaching full time at a CC and loving it. My advice would be to wait a bit and as another poster said put all your brain cells into your orientation as a new grad and becoming competent before you stretch yourself with more school. I took a couple of years to feel comfortable on the floor before going back to school.

Another poster mentioned that the education won't make you better clinically and I would say yes and no. Having the higher level pathophysiology and physical assessment classes have definitely added to my clinical skills, but mostly the higher degree widened my view of nursing as a profession and prepared me for being nurse faculty.

Basically, you will have to see what is comfortable for you. I have a family and only so much time and energy to spread around. I might have done more if I were single.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I have worked with new grad orientees for many years as a staff development instructor. I have observed that many of those new grads struggle to adapt to their RN roles and need at least 6 months to "get steady on their feet" as a practicing RN. Just read some of the threads here on allnurses about the new grads struggling in their first jobs. There are plenty of threads about that subject.

One of the things that can make this transition from student to professional nurse more difficult is a lack of time, rest, and focus. New grads with too many committments create more stress for themselves that can get in the way of successfully adapting to the role of the staff nurse. You should plan on focusing on your new job and your role transition in that first year after graduation. If you spread your energy and your focus too thin, everything may suffer.

Therefore, I strongly urge all new grads to get oriented in their new jobs first ... and get comfortable in those jobs ... before they take on too many other serious committments. You don't want to find yourself doing a bad job at work and/or at school because you have bitten off more than you can chew. Get settled in your job, then start school. I recommend waiting a year, but I know many people who can handle it at 6 months.

Also ... I teach in an RN-BSN program ... and find that students with a few years experience perform better. The classes assume that the students have some experience and those that don't have it are at a disadvantage compared to the other students. If you are not entering the program at the same level of expertise as the other students, you will be at a disadvantage -- and that may effect your performance, your learning, and your grades.

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Thanks for the quick replies.....

The hospital that has offered me a job as a Patient Sitter while I am currently in school still gives out tuition assistance if you plan to stay as an RN after graduation ( of course I will be signing a contract to work for X amount of years) so the money wouldn't be the problem. I wouldn't go for my BSN but my long term goals (10+ years) are to become a Nurse Educator (MSN) and teach at the local CC or University. I'm just afraid that I will have every intent to go back and never do it.

This is like my hospital. They pay $5500 per year (or whatever portion you work, .6 time gets .6 of 5500) toward any BSN, and in return, every year you get the payment requires a year of work.

I think it's easier here to get hired with a BSN than ADN, so you might want to look at that oo.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am a couple of months in on my RN-BSN program. My orginal plan was to wait a year after I graduated, work and then have my employer pay for it.

However 6 months after graduation I still do not have a real full time RN job, every hospital is BSN preferred with some stating BSN required by 2015.

To even be considered for some internship positions I needed to be enrolled in a BSN program.

So here I am again, in school, it is not too bad, because I had not made a huge income jump after graduation I qualified for FASFA, and because I am in school I am able to delay the loans from nursing school.

My program is online so I can work, IF I can ever find work

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Specializes in LTC, Pediatrics, Renal Med/Surg.
I am a couple of months in on my RN-BSN program. My orginal plan was to wait a year after I graduated, work and then have my employer pay for it.

However 6 months after graduation I still do not have a real full time RN job, every hospital is BSN preferred with some stating BSN required by 2015.

To even be considered for some internship positions I needed to be enrolled in a BSN program.

So here I am again, in school, it is not too bad, because I had not made a huge income jump after graduation I qualified for FASFA, and because I am in school I am able to delay the loans from nursing school.

My program is online so I can work, IF I can ever find work

-To LovemyBugs.

May I ask what ADN-BSN program are you completeing? Some of the things your are saying sounds like my situation as well. I've just graduated in Dec. with my ADN but the job front looks really really bleak where I'm at and I'm starting to wonder should I just start working on my BSN cause my original plan is like yours, but if I'm not working I might as well go to school. Just trying to fund it is the issue I'm goint to run into...

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am at WGU.

RN to BSN Online | Bachelor of Science Nursing Degree Program | WGU College of Health Online

They are completely online, work at your own pace, and accredited. I had over 100 credits when I started, I have 3 assoicate degrees. It takes 123 credits for your BSN, the max you can transfer in is 97, so that left me with the core leadership and community classes to take.

There terms are 6 months, which in that time you have to complete a min of 12 credits.

I have finished my first class and it was a lot of research and paper writting.

WGU is not for everyone, some peopl have an issue with it because it is an online program, I was reading a thread here the other day, and some nurses didn't value the education one got if it was from an online program. However they are accredited and cost half as much as other schools, they are only $3,000 a term. In the end you are granted a BSN, and it works for me

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I might consider waiting until at least I was off orientation. I anticipate having to do a fair amount of outside studying as a new grad, so I'm holding on plans for further education (Master's or specialty certificates other than ACLS etc) until then.

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I'm graduating in June 2011 with an ADN/Diploma. I have a previous bachelor's degree in an unrelated field so I already have 120 credits there, plus the 75 from my ADN. I plan to start on the RN-BSN in Fall 2011, there is no reason to wait when hospitals want to see that you are committed to completing your BSN. One of State Universities of New York has an online program that is only $207/credit, as do many other state university systems (why anybody would pay more at an online for-profit is beyond me). I do not need financial aid so I don't have to wait to find a job and be there a certain amount of time for them to help pay for it, I can start right away.

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