Need your help! Deciding Between adn vs absn

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 26, 2015

Have you looked at job postings in your area? Do they specify a preference or requirement for a BSN? This may help you make a decision, although that's a rather steep price. I'd say make a pro/con list of both programs, tying it into the job market, and go from there.

Dexterosa · Mar 27, 2015

Exactly! I would first check job offers. Even though it might change - when I was looking for it was great to have BSN, they wanted BSN everywhere even for home health! That made me laugh. Now I see posts they would accept nurse without BSN as long as she has certain skills or experiences.

It might be easier to land job with BSN... but you will get paid plus minus what the ADN would. But you will have to pay extra. Or you can simply do ADN, get the job for year of two, finish BSN while you making money.

I went for ADN. Coworker after five years working still owes 35 000, but she is BSN. If I imagine I would owe so much, I am not comfortable with it.

I do not know your circumstances, so I would ask myself: can you pay 50 thousands and not worry about it? Plus you will study longer... thus you will have costs for living. Compare two years of ADN and working.

But again, if you have the money, then BSN would be more comfortable, if you do not have to worry about financial sources.

After all, you will be living with the decision, so pick what makes you happy

LessValuableNinja · Mar 27, 2015

I would recommend looking around your area for BSN programs for those with a prior undergraduate degree. There are some in my area (not California) that are referred to as "2nd degree BSN" programs. May be worth some googling and phone calls.

I don't understand the job market in California at all, other than what I've seen on these boards. But from what I understand, it is bloated with new graduates. In that sort of situation, I'd probably go for a BSN, but I'd also talk to people in the industry: nurses, hiring managers, and so on, about what they think is a good course of action.

I found a "2nd degree BSN" program that's going to be faster than and about the same cost as an ADN LVN-RN bridge program would have been. Fingers crossed that you have one of these in your area too.

SweetPotatoes · Mar 27, 2015

I'm not a nursing student yet but I have been accepted...I only applied to BSN programs because the jobs in my area seem to prefer them. However, I applied to state schools whose tuition is around 16k for the whole program (not including fees and living, of course). ADN programs in my area are about 9k-10k so I decided to just go for the BSN. And these are 2nd degree BSN programs, so they range from 1.5 yrs-2yrs. If you can't make a choice maybe you can reapply for spring? 50k is an awful lot but I am not a nurse so I dunno how easy that would be to pay off. Are there loan repayment programs in your state? Any workforce scholarships for nurses where you can work for X amt of years in service? Do the schools offer scholarships? Do your senators and delegates offer scholarships?

dcwang · Mar 28, 2015

Been accepted to nursing schools as well. It depends on your situation, how much debt do you currently have, do you have kids/family to support?

California is very saturated with new grads. I've heard that the job market in norcal is even tougher than socal.

Personally, I considered the option of doing ADN then RN-BSN, but that takes longer, even though it may cheaper so I decided to go with ABSN. I looked up job postings and almost every single employer says BSN preferred or required. Since it's so competitive, I would think the end goal would ideally be BSN, whether you go through ABSN or ADN program is very important. However, getting the experience needed as a new grad is very difficult.

a second degree BSN might be an option at a public state school if there are no ABSN programs at a public university. State schools are way cheaper than private schools. since you'll getting a second bachelor's degree, federal loans will be limited, especially if you have previous debt.

TYHK1 · Feb 5, 2016

Been accepted to nursing schools as well. It depends on your situation, how much debt do you currently have, do you have kids/family to support?
California is very saturated with new grads. I've heard that the job market in norcal is even tougher than socal.
Personally, I considered the option of doing ADN then RN-BSN, but that takes longer, even though it may cheaper so I decided to go with ABSN. I looked up job postings and almost every single employer says BSN preferred or required. Since it's so competitive, I would think the end goal would ideally be BSN, whether you go through ABSN or ADN program is very important. However, getting the experience needed as a new grad is very difficult.
a second degree BSN might be an option at a public state school if there are no ABSN programs at a public university. State schools are way cheaper than private schools. since you'll getting a second bachelor's degree, federal loans will be limited, especially if you have previous debt.

Hi, i am currently accepted to ABSN program in CSU San Marcos but the tuition is 55 k ,and now I am considering doing the ADN and bridge program for 22k total.

CSU San Marcos ABSN takes 2 program and the ADN + bridge program takes three years

What would you do?

thanks!