Is it a waste of time to be in school for four years getting ADN/ASN degree?

[Jessicaeileen]

I am in a local technical school. I was planning to apply to the ADN program March of 2011 but my NLN score was not high enough to apply so now I am having to wait until March of 2012. While waiting I'll have 2 semesters and one transition quarter ( 5weeks), to fill up.

I was considering finishing up with my co-reqs so when accepted into the actual nursing program all I am going to have to do is take the actual nursing classes and focus all my attention towards those. However if I choose to wait then that would have be being in school for four years to get a ADN/ASN degree. By the time I actually apply to the program I would have like 3 certificates up under my belt, I already my CNA. In the mean time I could get my Phlebotomy one, and a Allied Health Assistant certificate.

There is a university near me that offers the BSN. The only problem with that is I have a GED, so I do not have my highschool classes behind which some schools require. With that being said when I applied there I was told that I needed more credits so I could be a transfer student. I know that some think that going straight for the BSN is better, which on some levels might be a wiser choice. The BSN school near me is apparently 3,000 a semester while my technical college is going to be like 1200 a semester. I get the HOPE GRANT/HOPE SCHOLARSHIP but I would hate to use alot of it up and wind up getting in debt.

With all that being said, is taking four years to get a ADN/ASN degree crazy or a waste?

And I am not sure if this helps or anything but I am only 20 so I've been told by many people that I am young and still have time. I know I am only 20, but I guess sometimes I feel so much older for some reason.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I'd say in this day and age, it would be a waste to get an ADN when many hospitals and nursing jobs are starting to require four-year degrees to even get a lower-level job.

Go straight for the BSN. Yeah, sure you'll be in some debt, but you'll have a better chance getting a good job.

[DarkBluePhoenix]

I agree with the above poster.

GO for the BSN, no one is hiring and if they are, its for BSN graduates only! If you have the time on you then do your classes so you can transfer and apply to that BSN program asap.

Yes it is more expensive but hey, at least you have a better chance at having a job to pay off the loans rather than paying off a little of the loans with no job prospect!

Good Luck

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

I wonder what the job climate will be like when the pre-nursing students are all graduating in 2013 and 2014?? Never base a permanent decision on a temporary situation!

[newRNstudent02]

BSN for sure.

[radicalsenseofhope]

I'm in sort of a similar boat, only I'm much older! Back in 1999/2000 I completed all my prereq classes and supporting courses, but never entered the nursing program because my husband and I started a family and I became a stay at home mom. So I have a few classes that I need to retake (due to age) and then I can apply to either an ADN or BSN program. Either way I go it will take me 3 years to graduate. I've been weighing the cost of the ADN program (about $7000) versus the cost of the BSN program (about 20,000). In addition to the cost difference, I've been encouraged to go the ADN route because of the strength of the clinical program, but it seems crazy to me to spend 3 years getting my ADN when in the same amount of time, I could have the BSN. The BSN program in my area is also highly respected with a very good NCLEX pass rate (ADN pass rate is 100%, BSN pass rate is about 97/98%).

I know in my area the ADN grads are very highly respected and employable, but many of the hospitals are going magnet status and preferring BSNs at this point.

So, if I were you, I'd take a look at the strengths of the programs you are considering (pass rates, reputation with hiring managers, clinical program, etc). Don't let the cost of the BSN scare you. If you add up the cost of the ADN and then a BSN completion bridge in the future it will likely be almost as expensive. For me that would be 7,000 for the ADN plus about 11,000 for the RN-BSN completion. Total about 18,000. So in the end it will cost about the same as just doing the BSN right off the bat. Weigh the costs in terms of the big picture of one day getting the BSN. Don't compare apples to oranges.

The way I look at it, better to get the BSN done now versus later. More and more employers seem to be preferring it (at least in my area).