Nursing & Your Path of Education

szeles23 · Jul 29, 2011

I have an A.S. from a CC and I am pursuing my BSN from a 4 year university. I originally was going to get an ASN but had to move and could not start my nursing program at my former CC. I would have also completed an rn-bsn bridge if I would have been able to complete my ASN. I don't necessarily think one is better than the other, you learn different things in each, mainly how to pass the NCLEX and become licensed. I know I just wanted to eventually get my BSN anyway because I want to go to graduate school in the future.

mamayogibear · Jul 29, 2011

My long term goal is to get my BSN but I can not get additional daycare funding for my kids if I go to a BSN program. I have done the prerequisites for BSN programs in my area and spent too much money on daycare all ready. However my state will pay for daycare for my kids if I go to a community college or tech school so I will start a ASN program this fall. Once becoming an RN I plan to continue on to my BSN.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 29, 2011

1. Graduated high school at age 18

2. Went right to college and got a BSN at age 22

3. Worked as a staff nurse (serving on a unit-based committtee and serving frequently as a charge nurse) for 2 years.

4. Entered graduate school at age 24

5. Graduated with MSN at age 26

6. Worked in Clinical Nurse Specialist and Staff Devevlopment positions for 10 years

7. Entered grad school again at age 36

8. Graduated with PhD (Nursing) at age 42

It worked for me. I had scholarship help of some kind for each level of education ... but I also lived very frugally and didn't spend much money on cars, fancy home furnishings, etc. I also worked part time during both of my stints in grad school. So, I was able to graduate with my PhD with only a small student loan that I paid off in 3 years.

Now certified in Nursing Professional Development -- working for a hospital. But I also teach an ocassional class at a local university. My hopes are to ease into retirement in my early 60's by either quitting my full time hospital job and teaching a little more part time ... or by talking my hospital into let me work there just part time.

Student4_life · Jul 29, 2011

I am starting a BSN program in 3 weeks. I chose BSN over ADN for a variety of reasons.

1. I really wanted a bachelors. I joined the military right out of HS and the quality of life between HS and College grads was immense. So that was a big driving factor.

2. I noticed the troubles that ADN prepped students have with running into BSN only need apply job ads

3. The ADN students in my area spend about 2 years doing pre-and co-reqs (the schools admissions awarded more points if a student completed all non-nursing courses), so either way I would have been in school for 4 years.

4. My BSN program was in the USWNR top ten when I started my journey (now top 15) and no one out of my area had ever heard of the local ADN program (networking and alumni ass'n are valuable tools in today's society).

5. I found some scholarships that resulted in my BSN program being cheaper than the local ADN program (the ADN program is thru the CC that I did my pre-reqs thru).

6. The BSN program is closer to my house and I can get there without using major roads, where the ADN program requires me to take two interstates, and in my region traffic is a

monster so that is a huge factor.

7. Related to 6. Parking is free and easy to find at the BSN school, not so much at the ADN.

8. The BSN campus is in a great area, has alot of security and awesome amenities, where the ADN is in a urban location, has had alot of issues with crimes against students by non-students, and is no-frills.

I know some of those reasons aren't the most glamourous but sometimes nursing isn't so glamourous either.

virgo,student nurse, CNA · Jul 29, 2011

I went right into LPN school after I graduated high school, and had to stop because I became very ill, as well as my grandmother had cancer. I then went on to work as a aide in the nursing home, and had other jobs. I then came upon developmentally disabled citizens, and I love it. I worked in a direct care position, and got promoted to a management position, and have been there for 4 yrs. I love it but want to do it as a nurse.

I got tired of doing the same thing at work, day after day, and made it my duty to go back to school to do nursing like I always wanted.

I have my LPN school paid for by VESID, and after that I am going to attend a LPN to BSN bridge program.

Everyone has to come to terms, with what they want to do with their life, and make it happen. Sometimes you have to go all the way around to see that you should be doing something very different with your life.

I think everyone's path is different and, one path is no better than the other as long as you get there.

O.Nato · Jul 29, 2011

See Im trying to find out the same as you are..which path to take

I have been researching CC colleges here in san jose as well as private colleges and I am so confused. I know the private colleges are way more expensive but they are faster! I am looking to do the LVN program and then continue to do the LVN-RN program and just have no clue which school to chose!!!

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2011

I had a previous degree. I took 1 1/2 years of prerequisites while applying to schools. I was accepted to a community college program that would be another 2 years and an Accelerated BSN program that would be another 1 year. My area has a heavy preference for BSN prepared nurses, so I picked the shorter, more expensive, better local job-prospects degree.