Husband just got into ASN program -- should he pursue it?

[Mindylane]

Hello! I am currently an RN with my BSN and have worked in a NICU for 1.5 years. My husband just got accepted into an accelerated ASN program in the area (Northern Virginia). We are obviously very excited at his acceptance, but with the whole BSN/ASN debate, I'm wondering if he should even pursue it. I am not trying to downplay the abilities and experiences of associate's level nurses in any sense; I just know there are hospitals out there that have stopped hiring ASNs.

No hospitals in the DC area will hire ASNs, including the hospital system for whom I work. The plan would be for him to go right into a bridging program when he graduates, but I assume that he would no longer be eligible for "new grad" positions once he completes the BSN, because it would be more than a year since he got his RN license at that point.

The other plan we have would be for him to apply literally everywhere in the country, and then I would apply to jobs in the vicinity that he got a job, but that would obviously require that we both got hired someplace else.

He's planning on starting the program no matter what, which is fine, but I can't help but be incredibly worried that he's going to be sorely disappointed when he graduates.

Just wanted to see what you guys thought.

Thanks.

[AceOfHearts<3]

Some of the nurse residency programs will let any nurse with less than 1 year of acute experience apply (so a new nurse working in a LTC facility is still eligible), but others may have restrictions. It really depends on the program as they are all different, so it just takes some research.

[Libby1987]

Yes, in many cases...

A person who has been licensed as an RN for more than 12 months is no longer considered a new grad, even if (s)he has never worked one single day as an RN.

I would have thought that going straight into BSN without working would have been considered an alternative route to new BSN grad.

Is it the year lapse in clinicals that is part of the consideration?

In my recent experience, it's not ideal to get your first year as an RN, or even first year in a new field as a newer RN, while going to school. The learning curve for the first year is tough enough and any stressful/energy eating distractions take away from what should be in my opinion 100% dedicated learning. Unless of course you are capable of pulling it off, which I have yet to see done well. Mostly it's everyone hears about how hard it is going to school while having to work.

[LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN]

Here (Ohio) many hospitals will hire you as an ASN but within 5 years you must obtain a BSN, there is nothing like this by you guys? I am currently in my RN bridge program which will be an ASN. I plan to find employment after I pass NCLEX, work a year to get used to things, and then enroll in my online BSN course which will take me two semesters becuase I already have completed the pre-reqs. I agree with others that due to the compeitition of getting he should defintely stick with it. And, like you said, you can always move when he graduates!

[llg, PhD, RN]

If your husband is going to attend a Community College in Virginia ... there is a good chance he good get into the "dual enrollment" program at that Community College and Old Dominion University (in Norfolk). ADN students in any of the community colleges in Virginia are eligible, I believe. While getting their ADN at the community college, they simultaneously take online classes in ODU's RN-BSN completion program. They do their clinicals, etc. at the community college where they live. When they graduate from the community college with their ADN, they usually only have 1 or maybe 2 semesters left to finish their BSN. I know one student who is graduating from both schools simultaneously.

Because so many of the courses are being taken at the community college, it is cheaper than going to a university for all courses. And some of the ADN courses are replaced by the BSN ones, making it quicker than doing the 2 degrees in sequence. I live in Virginia and know of lots of people going that route. He should probably check it out.

[Mindylane]

Norfolk is rather far from us, but he'll be going to NVCC (northern Virginia) and they have something similar with George Mason... however, it's of course, incredibly competitive. He already has his bachelor's in health sciences, as well as his Nuclear Medicine certificate, so I'm hoping that will give him an edge.

Honestly, the more we've been thinking/talking (because yes, it's his choice ultimately but we are a couple & make decisions together, generally), it's kind of exciting, because we'll have a reason to get out of this area, which is know for low RN pay but high COL. I will start working a part-time, telecommuting job in December, so if we do have to move, I can do that for more hours while he gets experience with his ASN. Either way, I am very proud of him. This is something he has wanted to do for a long time and I am glad we are finally in a place that he can pursue it.

Thanks everybody :) It sounds like we have lots of options!

[DowntheRiver]

Here in Central Florida I find that there are still plenty of jobs for ASNs, both hospital and clinical.

[johsonmichelle]

I live in the dmv area and currently work at the hospital and they definitely hire ADN graduate. I'm also an adn student and have no worries about getting a job as a graduate. Regardless of degree, a new grad can not be too picky plus there are jobs outside the hospital.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

Indiana hires ASNs. I'm curious, are you not happy in the DC area?? What is motivating your husband to become a nurse? Has he even applied to a BSN program?

Also, an accelerated ASN program?? I e never heard of those. You know how hard the program is normally. The core program of an ASN and BSN are the same. But, if your area is only hiring BSNs why doesn't he just go for that? Why even do the ASN?

I honestly would not just move somewhere based on an ASN degree. Because what happens if that area changes in a few years? Are you guys going to pack up and move again? I feel like you guys are looking at this backwards.

Dc is a very face paced environment and very culturally diverse. The culture is much different. Places that you guys will be looking at will be much slower paced, the culture itself will be much different. My brother and sister live in Virginia around the DC area. I know what it is like there. I live in Indiana. My siblings love it there, I could not deal with it myself!! I need the slower pace of life living amongst the corn fields!!! Even Indianapolis our main city is a slower paced lifestyle. There's still corn in the city!!! Lol. But I truly love the mixture of city and country life. To me, it's a good balance.

Just make sure it's the best decision for the two of you. You don't want to move somewhere because your husband has toys got accepted to an ASN program instead of waiting for a BSN and you guys move somewhere you will hate.

[Mindylane]

We are originally from Long Island, not far from NYC, and we have decided that the fast-pace is not for us. Granted, we have always lived around big cities, so I don't know if somewhere like Indiana would be more our speed, but we know we aren't happy here. We knew what the "culture" would be like moving here; northern Virginia is basically just like Long Island.

He's doing the ASN, mostly because he can still work during the program. His core classes are online, and his clinicals and labs are in-person. We need his part-time income to make it here, and when he applied to accelerated BSN programs last year, he didn't get in.

This is a less expensive route (the ASN will cost about $6k, plus a bridging program will be around $10k; my accelerated BSN program was more than twice that). None of our families live anywhere near here, so we aren't tied down to really anywhere.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

My brother lives in Stafford and my sister lives in Alexandria. I hate how you can be on 95 and like 2 miles from your exit to get off, but it takes you an hour to get there. I also hate the beltway. I can barely deal with rush hour traffic on 465 out here when I go to visit my boyfriend, so you can imagine me out there!! I currently completely in the country where my neighborhood is surrounded by cornfields and my next door neighbor raises horses. I speed around on my country roads and that is my speed. I am moving to the city next year so it's going to be a change for me. But living 5 minutes from a Target instead of 20 will be great.

Good Luck on whatever you decide!! I hear Long Island is a great area. I've always wanted to go there.

[Wave Watcher]

Good luck whatever you guys decide!

[OnlinePersona, LPN]

Loll wow @ the first few post. I work two full time jobs and I go to school fulltime; graduating in 5 months. I don't need nor have my man pick up the slack anywhere financially ....im just saying ... but that's your family dynamics not mine, the first poster could have a similar dynamic like mine so no need to bite their head off (not referring to the OP).

anyhow, definitely go for it. Theres other places to work than the hospital--- I work at two its not that grandiose as it sounds. LTC looks just as good on a resume while working for the bachelors(in which its like another 8 months or so).