Looking for advice from working nurses on adn vs bsn

[rene76]

I know this topic has been discussed quite a bit, but I'm at a crossroads and was hoping to get advice from nurses already in the field. I've been in school two years and have all the coursework done to go in the adn or bsn program. I know it seems like bsn is a no-brainer, but I keep hearing how much better prepared the adn program gets students to work. Around here, apparently it has a better reputation amongst the hospitals because they say the nurses with the adn run circles around the bsn students. I want a bsn, but mostly I want to be a good nurse. Also, Ive heard the adn program is less competitive to get in to. If I go the associates route, I could go in the bridge program but then it would take me a year longer. And then another thing I have to consider is that my husband is military so we move every few years, so the bsn may help with the job search. Anyways, I'm obviously conflicted and would love to hear any feedback or insight you may have. Thanks!!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I did some prereqs at a community college, and I found that a lot of the students there were very biased against the main BSN program here. I heard all kinds of crazy rumors about the BSN program. People said that it was on probation with the Board of Nursing, that new grads from there were actually paid less than ADN grads at local hospitals, that no one wanted to hire them, and on and on. I did a little investigating, and none of it turned out to be true. It was all made up by people who wanted to feel like the program they chose was better than the other program. I went with the BSN program and it was wonderful.

QUOTE]

I think you make a really good point here, diamondmeadowsRN. If the people bad-mouthing the local BSN program are all ADN program graduates, their opinions may be biased and not very accurate. The OP needs to be sure that she is getting unbiased information about the quality of both programs.

[Wens823]

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[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Moved to Registered Nurses: Diploma, ADN, or BSN? forum.

Carry on! :)

[rene76]

Thanks for all your replies guys! It's been a huge help to me. I think I'm going to pursue the BSN. I've already been taking pre-reqs for two years so I've got everything done to go for the ADN or BSN next fall. And the BSN is actually 2 months shorter! I haven't really heard bad things about the BSN program-it's actually at a pretty well-known university-I've just heard that the grads aren't prepared for clinicals as well as the ADN graduates. And that does make me nervous. But I know that with time I'll pick that stuff up, and the BSN will help me find jobs in the long run! Thanks again for your feedback!

[jkpowell23]

I just wanted to say, I work with several nurses that are ADN prepared (I am BSN) and they are brilliant. I have NO DOUBT that you'd get a wonderful education. HOWEVER, most of the ADN's I work with are back in school. First to complete the necessary pre-reqs and then to get their ADN to BSN and THEN on to MSN. Do yourself a favor... get the BSN. Save yourself some time. We all learn floor nursing on THE FLOOR. Most things are learned hands on. I think it is much more important to work somewhere that supports learning than to listen to the 'ADN students work circles around the BSN students' rhetoric.

If necessary, you should apply elsewhere.

Good luck!