Need Guidance Re: Nursing School

Nurses Career Support

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I am in the process of a career change and am shopping for a nursing program in Chicago. It seems the schools around the Chicago area are doing away with the BA-BSN option and are now pushing the MSN as the option for people with a previous degree other than a BS. Now I have nothing against more education and I do plan on continuing my education throughout my career,but I am a realist. I know that just because you attain a Master's degree there is no guarantee that you are going to have employers lined up outside the school waiting for you to graduate. In addition, I have learned over the years that the American school system is a business just like any other business and is there to make money. They would much rather sell you a graduate degree at a graduate degree price. So now the options in Chicago are an ADN, RN-BSN or an MSN degree. I have read numerous threads by people struggling to get jobs after completing their BSN while others with a GN are able to get their foot in the door right away. I personally would think that saving some money by getting my ADN and then proceeding with an advanced degree once I have a job in nursing would make more sense.

Does anyone have a different opinion on this? I am truly looking for some guidance and would really appreciate the input. Thanks.

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Hi there,

I'm in the same boat as you... I have a BA and am also making a career change. The most logical thing to do would be to get your BSN, but I've asked the same question on a different thread and the majority of the people have said to do the ADN route (including those who did the ABSN route).

Hope this helps a little bit!! Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

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Thank you for the reply. This helps considerably. The schools have been absolutely no help. I think I will look further into the ADN route. Thank you.

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In Virginia, students can earn their ADN and then apply for either an RN-BSN program (one weekend a month for approx 18 months) or an RN-MSN program that allows you to earn an accelerated BSN and then move directly into the MSN program. Perhaps your area has similar programs. As you pointed out in your post, one great benefit to this route is the opportunity to gain practical experience as a working nurse while further pursuing your education. In addition, many employers do offer(as an employee benefit) to reimburse at least part of the costs for continuing your education. It can be one of those truly win-win situations. :)

Best wishes on your journey!

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I'm in the same boat as well- I have a B.A. in anthropology and decided to change over into nursing. I also plan to go on to a DNP program after I am licensed as an RN, so I have a lot of school ahead of me and I've been looking into the shortest and most economical routes. The university that I'll finish up at has an accelerated program for the nurse practitioner degree in which you get your RN in 5 quarters and then proceed on directly into the grad program. The only problem is (and Chicago may feel similarly, so be sure to check program costs) is that the state sees this as getting a second bachelors and doesn't subsidize the program. The result is that the 5 quarters for the RN cost over $38k and tuition actually DROPS for the DNP portion of the program. As a result, I'm going the ADN route and will apply separately to the DNP program afterwards. Hope this helps, and best of luck!

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Specializes in ED, Trauma.

I also have another degree unrelated to nursing. I went the ADN route because in TN we can get the BSN portion online at several of our state colleges. I am a mom of three and have a military husband (who got deployed my senior year of nursing school @#*!) and needed to start working asap after school. I am very happy that I went that route--I had no problems in the workplace--and I get paid the same as the BSN grads because we do the exact same job. Getting my BSN will be a stepping stone to MSN not an endpoint. I weighed the two options and the cost difference was pretty big between ADN and going all four years through a BSN program--especially if you count the lost wages from not having the RN sooner.

Just my two cents!

Good Luck!

Oh, another huge plus to going this route is that my hospital pays for 9 hours per semester of my education now that I am a full-time employee--so that saves even more!!

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Two of the biggest problems with the ADN route in Chicago is the extensive waiting lists to get into the programs and the lack of night time and weekend classes. I do need to continue working, like most people. This ultimately is going to be the deciding factor. Although the BSN and MSN programs are more expensive they do make it fit a variety of schedules. Thanks for all the help.

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