Magnet status? Hospitals choosing BSN new grads. Important!!!! over ADN??

Published

So, I have been accepted into TCU's nursing program and into El centro college of nursing in Dallas tx. I am having a hard time deciding which route will be better for me. TCU has been the school of my choice since day 1, i believe that it is a very competitive school and i was accepted as a transfer student ( which is really hard to get in nowadays since they first take their own students). I will earn a BSN with them and it will open me a lot of other doors. What i am not really looking for is the high private tuition they carry ( 14,000 per semester) i really have my heart in to this school, but im scared of the debt. On the other side i also got into el centro's program which leads to a ADN and its much cheaper. I've been doing some research that will give me strong conclusions and will help me decide which way to go, since I don't have that much time and i came across a lot of articles stating how many hospitals where switching to a magnet status, where they no longer hire new ADN, this makes me wonder if really there is such a shortage of nurses how is it that they are switching to this new reform, i mean if the shortage is real, they would hire an ADN without experience and train them their way. This leads me to think.. How real is this information? will ADN nurses really have a tough time finding a job, and if so, should that make an impact in my college decision, because i don't want to have to spend 4 semester and be unemployed for a while , while i go back for my BSN, while in TCU in 5 semesters i can graduate with my BSN and have absolutely no problem. Tough decision, please help me with your suggestions and opinions! it is greatly appreciated!!!

Anyone else take offense to the post that stated that an ADN is the equivelent of a high school diploma?!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't take it personal, I'm sure they didn't exactly mean that! An RN is a great experienced person to have around, I'm just really torn about what will I be doing for now if my ADN or my BSN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Really?? That's great!! I've never heard of that. I wish I come across one of them later on!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.
Anyone else take offense to the post that stated that an ADN is the equivelent of a high school diploma?!

I did at the time before I realized the poster isn't a nurse or even accepted to a program. It's easy to speak on things when you have no idea what your talking about. It's been almost a year since I last worked as a nurse and as I remember that nite (actually was July 4th) was h*ll and the guy I took care of that was shot 5 times never asked me what degree I had. To the person that posted that I suggest you educate yourself by talking to some nurses and not whatever garbage the local university or private BSN offering school is spilling out. Consider the source before you post it as gospel.

Another thing I'd like to point out is something I've preached for almost 20yrs now, anyone taking out 20-50k in student loans to pursue nursing is just plain off their rocker. I'm sorry, it's insane to saddle yourself with that much debt to working in a field that some areas may only pay 40-50k per year starting out. I understand financial obligations, trust me I know, but I entered PA school with a sound financial plan and with adequate savings to ensure that my debt would not outreach my earning potential. Some in my class are gonna hit 150K in debt, mine will be 60K now due to me selling some property recently but I was looking at 80-90k all total. I don't worry too much with it due to the fact that Nation Health Service Corp will cut me a check for 60K if I sign a 2yr commitment to practice in a under-served area.

So in short, my answer to the OP is do what fits best for you but consider the earning potential in your area to the debt you will be taking on. Student loans come due so you better have the income potential to cover that cost plus whatever you will need to have a life. I went to community college, no real debt to speak of because I paid as I went, so consider all your options and whats best for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You're right. Taking out that many loans would make each semester miserable and very stressful. Im also thinking about doing CrNA, and the army offers a great program where they pay for everything and at the same time you're getting paid. The only catch is the 4.5 on active duty which is mandatory. I really would hate to join the army in that aspect, I'm scared of that, or maybe I don't have enough info.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Anyone else take offense to the post that stated that an ADN is the equivelent of a high school diploma?!

Yes.

I gotta say, I make damn good money (at a magnet facility, no less) with my "high school diploma."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I am a huge proponent of getting one's BSN, especially in this job market. However, I can't in good conscience recommend it at $14K a semester. That's just crazy.

In that situation, I would either find a cheaper BSN program, or go for the ADN and then immediately get into an RN-BSN program (many of which can be completed in less than 18 months, and for under $15K total).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care.

TCU is SO expensive, I would go to El Centro and then do RN-BSN through UTA, which is I think who they are "partnered" with... you can go right from El Centro into the RN-BSN program... I've heard if you get a job while you're in school, that really ups your chances of getting a job with that hospital since they'd rather fill a grad nurse position from the inside than the outside. Plus with El Centro you have that break during the summer that you could use to get some solid experience... that's just my advice :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

All else being equal, I would recommend getting your BSN. I got my ASN with the intention of finishing my BSN after working a year or two. Six years later, haven't started. I can do my present job just fine with an ASN, had no trouble at all (six years ago) getting hired, and am paying $150/month in student loans for four more years. I will get my BSN eventually because I don't think I'll be able to do bedside forever, but for now it sure is nice not having to deal with classes.

I note that not all else is equal. The point of getting a paycheck two years sooner may or may not be urgent. A great difference in tuition is likely to matter a lot, though. If you can offset the difference with grants and scholarships, great. If it means taking on a lot of debt, that's a tough call in this economy. How much debt can your repay if you don't get hired right away? One poster mentioned $70,000 at TCU. Does that mean you'd have 5 semesters in the program? That's no longer than my ASN program, but paying back 70,000 over ten years (If you had to do it all on loans) would be a big chunk of your income. I borrowed 15,000 for my entire ASN, and could have taken less (the interest rate is so good, it's almost free money, but you do have to pay it back).

Really hard to predict the job market. The mythical nursing shortage is real. Sorta. There are plenty of nurses, but in the past many have preferred not to practice, and the need is definitely growing as boomers age. But boomers won't keep aging forever. And it looks like it could be some time before people can afford to become stay-at-home nurses, again. I don't know how many licenses got reactivated when husbands got laid off. Probably quite a few. And there has been a bit of a rush to enter nursing school by second career students. The supply/demand curve is apt to swing back in our favor, but not as far as in the fairly recent past.

As a new nurse, I was getting an average of about one recruiting letter a month. Lately, it has been more like one every 3-4 months. So there are jobs. Just not as many.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in None Yet!!!.

I know many students in the TCU and El Centro program. El Centro is very "hands on" and an excellent program. If you can afford it- TCU. If you can't- don't sweat El Cenro- it's a great program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Surgical ICU.

I say find a different BSN nursing school. Your goal in the next 5 years will be to become a proficient/spectacular RN,.. not spectacular former TCU student. You need a school that will support you and lead you to passing your boards. Many schools will do that for less than 14,000 per semester.

I would STRONGLY recommend NOT doing your ASN. In this job market, whether fair or unfair, they are looking for BSN nurses. Forget skill, theory, yada yada,.. the fact of the matter is that they don't want to have to PAY BIG BUCKS for you to take time off, disrupt the working schedule, to go get your BSN either because you just want to for personal gratification or because you are FORCED to because of magnet dreams.

If financial is the only reason,.. go to a cheaper BSN school. If you have kids, need a more flexible schedule, night classes, etc, then think ASN. There are a lot of people out there still looking for jobs and just like anything else,.. its a business. The less money and time they have to spend on you with pretty much the same output,.. the better for them. In the end you WILL be able to pay back reasonable loans.

I know you are in love with the idea of TCU, but in the end the greatest factor contributing to your education will be YOU. You put in the effort, you do the extra studying, you ask the questions,.. you will succeed.

GOOD LUCK!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.
Ive been told that nowa days, having an ADN is almost equivalent to having a high school diploma.

I'm sure you were, and how much was the cost/credit hour where this Program Advisor spoke to you...? :icon_roll Sorry, couldn't resist, since I heard the same shpiel when I was school-shopping.

I would like to go back for my BSN, but it will wait awhile. School costs family time, as well as money.

micrl88sl, I replied in your other thread, so you probably know which direction I'm headed.:D I've heard many younger people talk about the "fantatstic education" they've received at Such and Such University. Strangely, I find none of them better prepared to work in clinical research than people with BS degrees in Biology, Biochem, or (in one case) Business. Perhaps public education has finally reached the level where essential reading comprehension and primary epository essays are considered the pinnacle, in higher education. I'm probably deluded, but I'm hoping this isn't the case. IME, most nursing programs, and higher ed in general, are more concerned with teaching one "how to think properly" (they call it "critically"- it isn't) and are grossly inadequate in teaching the practical application.

Everyone else has said it- do it, if you can afford it. Don't be so set on The Name that you make poor financial choices that will carry into the next 10-15 years of your life.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion