I think I've decided to go the ASN route

[ryanalice]

I already have a Bachelor's in another field and have been trying to decide between getting an ASN at a local community college, or an accelerated BSN program.

I went to an info night at a school tonight for their accelerated BSN program (Umass Boston). All they talked about was how intensive it is, how you can't do anything else for those 15 months, how you usually don't qualify for a lot of financial aid for a 2nd bachelors, etc. etc. Sigh.

There were some things I liked about it. The campus was gorgeous, the professors seemed caring and smart, and of course I'd love to be able to get my Bachelor's in the same amount of time (since I already know I want to go on to advance practice nursing.)

But it sounds like it would just be too crazy. Maybe if I was 22, and could live on my parents' couch for a couple years. But I'm 33 - with 2 kids - and bills. I guess I need to be smart, and pick the option that will allow me to have some sanity, and some balance in my life. So I think I'm going to go the ASN route and then hopefully I can find a job and start working towards the bachelors at that point. I think I'm making the best choice for me.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Good idea. Considering your situation, I support you doing the ASN route, then doing the "RN to MSN" Bridge route but only if you are confident that you can use your ASN in the area you plan to work in while pursing a MSN.

P.S.: Keep in mind that this plan would take at least 6 years to complete if you do a 2 year ASN program followed by the standard 4 year "RN to MSN" Bridge program; however, if you can afford to take 6 years to get your MSN, go for it.

*** FWIW I personaly several people who have done RN to MSN in two years or less. They did it while working full time and having other responsibilities too. Some of them are advanced practice nurses, and some got their MSN in education or leadership or infomatics.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

okay so on the flip side, if you have a bachelor's degree, it's logical that if you are going to go to school for two years, you might as well get your rn/bsn, right? why go get your rn (associates) and then have to do another 1-2 years to get your bsn after that?

*** why should anyone with a previous bachelors degree obtain a bsn in addition to their asn? better i think to go directly to msn. only a few msn programs require the bachelors degree to be in nursing. a person with a non nursing bachelors degree and an asn can spend that 1-2 year earning a msn and be money and time ahead.

plus many schools will make you wait for one whole year (to gain experience) before you can then enter into the bsn program. so there's something to think about too.

*** ya and plenty do not.

[emcadams]

I know at the local University here, you can get a MSN in family practice or acute care using the ASN-MSN bridge (and holding previous bachelors in another field plus a few years of nursing experience under your belt). However, if you want to be a CRNA, then you MUST have a BSN. So I would check out what the requirements are at the schools around you. At least know in advance how long + time/money it would take to do those programs. Also, most public (and private!) schools charge you double for graduate level credits. For example, and my local Uni, the BSN is about $12k in tuition for both years, and then almost $29k for two years of grad for a CRNA.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

However, if you want to be a CRNA, then you MUST have a BSN.

*** I assume that you are speaking only for that one local university. It is absolutly NOT required that a nurse's bachelors degree be in nursing for CRNA. A majority of CRNA programs will accept various other degrees. About the only CRNA programs that require a BSN are the minority that are based in large university schools of nursing.

I personaly know RNs who have recently gone to or been accepted with bachelors degrees (plust as ASN & high qualiety ICU experince) in forestry, dairy science, mortuary science, biology, chemistry and music.

[bcandygurl]

I honestly feel you should do what works for your pockets..you can't stress out about it now (I know easier said than done :)) ..as only time will tell how things will be 2 or 3 years from now...worst come to worse they phase out all the RN to MSN programs..although I highly doubt it...in any case..you would just have to get the BSN..but in any case it wouldn't hurt your pockets..as you still would be able to work going the ASN route and there is alot of financial aid available so you shouldn't have that much debt and if the RN to MSN programs still exist you saved yourself alot of money!!! If not, then you paying the same amount as if you hadn't gone that route.

[DTWriter]

ryanalice,

what type of nurse do you plan to ultimately be? about how long do you plan to practice as a nurse (ex. 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, etc.)? do you plan/hope to go into other career fields? plus, which region do you live in (ex. if us - northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest)?

i think that answering some these questions might help others help you better because the answers given so far are dependent on your strength, the type of nurse you plan to be (ex. rn, fnp, gnp, anp, school nurse, nurse educator, nurse administrator, etc.), whether you plan to be a nurse or something else career-wise, and where you live or plan to live.

side note: there is a rumor (?) going around that nurses that do not hold a msn by 2015 and want to practice as a nurse practioner will have to get a dnp. on the bright side, there are people saying that the dnp requirement willl unlikely take into effect by 2015. then again, these same people are guessing about when a dnp degree will be needed.

https://allnurses.com/pre-nurse-practitioner/how-should-i-579487.html

[bcandygurl]

American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Frequently Asked Questions just in case you have any questions about the transition in 2015..

Yes, master's nursing education will continue. The position statement on the DNP is a vision for the future of specialty nursing education. As specialty nursing education transitions to the doctoral level, the DNP Roadmap Task Force recommended that institutions consider reconceptualizing their master's degree programs to prepare generalists. The Clinical Nurse Leader, a national demonstration project launched to introduce a new master's level role into the health care system, is one model for master's education. This change in master's programs is consistent with the position statement endorsed by AACN members which states: "As the education of the generalist nurse is elevated to the master's degree level, it is reasonable to assume that specialty education and the education of those individuals prepared for the highest level of nursing practice would occur at the practice doctoral level." The transition date of 2015 for the DNP was set far enough in the future to give programs enough time to make a smooth transition and address the role of master's education.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Side note: There is a rumor (?) going around that nurses that do not hold a MSN by 2015 and want to practice as a nurse practioner will have to get a DNP. On the bright side, there are people saying that the DNP requirement willl unlikely take into effect by 2015. Then again, these same people are guessing about when a DNP degree will be needed.

*** LOL! I often wonder how these crazy and false rumors get started? FYI there is no "DNP requirment". It is a (in my view a misguided) recomendation by the nurse haters at the AACN.

Even though it is a recomendation it carries a lot of weight. For example all of the public universities in my state, and the neighbor state to the west fell all over themselves to charge nurses the much higher tution of doctorate education and did away with their MSN NP & CRNA programs. How nurses, and our patients will benifit from greatly increasing the cost of educating what is supposed to be a cost effective provider of health care (NPs & CRNAs) i just don't get?

[cjr2619]

Do you live in Sacramento, CA? I am in the same boat! The lottery system with the CC are ridiculous, but Samuel Merritt is $60,000.

[cjr2619]

Waldon University is accredited and has a three year RN to MSN bridge program. It is all online and you take one class every eight weeks. I shadow at a hospital with an RN and that is what she is doing.

[DTWriter]

Getting a DNP degree may not be required of those planning to be nurse practioner now, but it may be in the future. Given the OP's age, if she plans to stick with nursing as a career for several decades, it is likely that she will find herself competing for jobs more with nurse practioners with DNP degrees than with nurse practioner with MSN degrees since more and more MSN programs are being removed. For example:

Before 2015:

1 (OP w/ MSN) vs. 10 MSNs vs. 1 DNP for 10 nurse practioner positions at one hospital

Some time after 2015:

1 (OP w/ MSN) vs. 1 MSN vs. 10 DNPs for 10 nurse practioner positions at one hospital

^Yes, the OP may not run into such a scenario, but there is a chance that she may some time in the future, and yes, there are hospitals who look at various factors when hiring a new employee; however, similar to how there are colleges that care more about an applicant's GPA than anything else, there are hospitals and other health care corporations that care more about a job candidate's education level than anything else. Hey, the OP may be lucky enough to find work with a health care corporation that would allow her to stay as a BSN or MSN until she retires over a younger nurse who has a DNP, has several years of experience, and can continue to work for the corporation for a decade or so longer than the OP but that if the OP is lucky.

Several years ago, being a LPN was just enough to get by. Nowadays, that is not the case. Now, being a ASN is just enough to get by but that is likely not to be the case in a few years time. If nursing is her ultimate career choice, the OP will eventually need to get a BSN or a MSN and, for job security, should anticipate going back to school to get a DNP.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Getting a DNP degree may not be required of those planning to be nurse practioner now, but it may be in the future. Given the OP's age, if she plans to stick with nursing as a career for several decades, it is likely that she will find herself competing for jobs more with nurse practioners with DNP degrees than with nurse practioner with MSN degrees since more and more MSN programs are being removed. For example:

Before 2015:

1 (OP w/ MSN) vs. 10 MSNs vs. 1 DNP for 10 nurse practioner positions at one hospital

Some time after 2015:

1 (OP w/ MSN) vs. 1 MSN vs. 10 DNPs for 10 nurse practioner positions at one hospital

.

*** I would give the advantage to the MSN NP. NPs are often hired by physicians. Lot's of physicians dislike the DNP for good reason. Also the MSN is likely to be seen as the more experienced provider. The other thing to remember is that it is only certain NURSES who feel the education level of MSN NPs is inadiquate. The rest of health care thinks we are just fine with a masters. The only way I see the DNP prepared NP having an advantage is if s/he is applying for a job with the AACN, or for an academic job.

The effect of the DNP is going to be to give a massive advantage tp PAs. They will have, compaired to DNP NPs, a much shorter and cheaper education path. PAs are typical taught at the bachelors or masters degree level. They will have less time and money invested and will be seen at the more cost effective mid-level provider. Another thing that I think will happen is that many of the best and brighest of our nurses who wish a career as mid-level provider will ask them selves why they should spend a year or more longer in college, paying doctorate level tution, only to compeat with PAs for the same jobs at the same pay. I predict that PA will be seen at the more attractive education path.