Please help me - ADN or accelerated BSN?

frann · Jan 31, 2004

I'd talk to your advisor. How many hours are you away from BSN.

Then talk to advisor at ADN school. How many classes/hours would you need there. If I had my BSN I would make 50 cents/hour more. I just don't want to do that right now.

Another option might be to go on to be a nurse practicioner or Physicians assistant.

Speculating · Jan 31, 2004

Originally posted by AnnaN5
Hi, while browsing through these posts I have seen a lot of posts on ADN vs BSN but my question is a little different.

I will be getting my Bachelors Degree in Human Biology this spring and have recently become interested in pursuing nursing as a career.
I know about the Accelerated/2nd Degree programs but was wondering are those better than just getting a RN? I will already have a bachelors in science and am trying to figure out if I should try to get into one of the accelerated programs or just go for the basic RN program.

I know that for management/higher level nursing positions you have to have a BSN or MSN, but I was wondering would they substitute my Bachelors in Human Biology if I just had the ADN?

My major problem is that all the accelerated programs in my area last 12-15 months but do not begin until May. I will not be totally done with my current degree until July so I would have to wait a whole year to begin one. Thats why I was considering just the ADN program since I could begin that in the Fall instead of spending a lot of time out of school.

Any ideas/suggestions would be great - Thanks!!

AnnaN5, one of the previous posters Fran makes a great deal of sense. I'm quite impressed with your imminent credentials. How many classes are you taking in order to finish your BS? Are they classes that you might be able to beg your Professors into letting you drop with an "I" incomplete or "W" withdrawal and finish them in the summer since most nursing programs don't run through the summer at least most? It's considered a break. What ever you do finish that BS either now or later!

It would serve you best if you take the accelerated ASN program if you have at least a small amount of healthcare background. But, I wouldn't let that worry you to much since it appears that in fact you're a very intelligent young person given the classes you've previously taken. I wouldn't put to much weight behind that - previous experience part.

The nursing program isn't hard and let no one tell you different. It is however very time consuming and a scheduling nightmare. It may be considered a white collar job, but everything below your collar is blue; however, your feet will black and blue - hey purple can pretty color. I know you'll make the right career choice for you, and what ever that may be you will accelerate in it - Good Luck.

PJMommy · Jan 31, 2004

Also check at the ADN program because *many* of them have waiting lists. I have a B.S. in the physical sciences and did a career change. I was able to get right into an accelerated BSN program whereas the wait would have been 2 years for either an ADN program or a traditional transfer BSN program. One other thing...check pre-reqs for the accelerated program -- there may be courses you need that you didn't cover with your Biology degree. I had to pick up two A&P courses, a nutrition course and an ethics cource before starting the accelerated curriculum. If you have to wait until next year to start...you can spend that time picking up pre-reqs.

Remember that an ADN really takes most people 2-3 years. I had to wait 6 months until an entry date into the accelerated program...but I also have a BSN after 12 months.

Finally, it depends on you. Accelerated programs are VERY fast-paced. If you are very organized, can handle an exceptionally busy schedule, and are willing to study ALL the time during the program -- go for accelerated.

Good luck!!

AnnaN5 · Jan 31, 2004

Thank you both for your replies.

I would be transferring to a totally different school to do an accelerated BSN program. I have all of the 'pre-reqs' needed to get into the accelerated programs, so then you just have 12-15 months of mostly clinicals and some lectures depending on the program. They sound like really great programs I just am afraid about taking almost a year away from school and getting out of 'school mode'.

And for the ADN program, I have all of the basics taken care of because of my previous degree - I would just have to take the nursing courses. So its pretty much 3 semesters of classes for the ADN program. I could start that up in the Fall and almost be completely done with that before i would be starting an accelerated program.

I have looked into PA programs but unfortunately they all require you to have at least 500 hours of health care experience, I have volunteered at hospitals but have no direct 'hands on' experience that is required.

The big question I have about these accelerated programs is pretty much you are just taking the same nursing courses you would in the ADN program, they just transfer in your previous science/general credit in to complete the BSN. I can see how it would be a good thing if your previous degree was in business or something non-related but I don't see how its any different for me to get an ADN than it would to go to the accelerated program and take the same classes and they transfer in my previous credits. Did that make sense?!

ADNRN · Jan 31, 2004

To get an RN liscense you have to graduate from an accredited nursing school, be that ADN, BSN or diploma. I'm surprised that you are so concerned already with how to get promoted into a "management" position.

Why doesn't anyone just want to be a nurse? Why must everyone be a manager?

In nursing there is a paradox: the further away from direct patient care you get, the more education you need and the greater status you get.

There is another paradox, this one from the Gospel, and it really applies to nursing more than any other job I can imagine: The person who would be first must become last. The greatest in the Kingdom of God is the least among you.

I strongly recommend you really think about nursing and whether it's for you. Perhaps with your previous education, working in the hospital lab might make you happier.

Why do you want to be a nurse?

AnnaN5 · Jan 31, 2004

Originally posted by ADNRN
To get an RN liscense you have to graduate from an accredited nursing school, be that ADN, BSN or diploma. I'm surprised that you are so concerned already with how to get promoted into a "management" position.

Why doesn't anyone just want to be a nurse? Why must everyone be a manager?

In nursing there is a paradox: the further away from direct patient care you get, the more education you need and the greater status you get.

There is another paradox, this one from the Gospel, and it really applies to nursing more than any other job I can imagine: The person who would be first must become last. The greatest in the Kingdom of God is the least among you.

I strongly recommend you really think about nursing and whether it's for you. Perhaps with your previous education, working in the hospital lab might make you happier.

Why do you want to be a nurse?

I am not concerned with management. I want to be a nurse so I can be on the floor with patient interaction, not in some office pushing papers. The only reason I am so torn between whether I should get the ADN or the BSN is whenever I talk to advisors, nurses I know, or people who do the hiring on hospitals say "oh you need the BSN, otherwise you will never be able to do anything besides be a staff nurse".

And quite frankly I don't know if I would ever want to do anything above and beyond just patient care, but they make it seem like if you just have the ADN RN you are "stuck" doing the same thing for the rest of your career.

Thats why I came on here to get people's opinions/advice because I want to know what truly goes on and what people think would be the better option.

ADNRN · Jan 31, 2004

Originally posted by AnnaN5
I am not concerned with management. I want to be a nurse so I can be on the floor with patient interaction, not in some office pushing papers. The only reason I am so torn between whether I should get the ADN or the BSN is whenever I talk to advisors, nurses I know, or people who do the hiring on hospitals say "oh you need the BSN, otherwise you will never be able to do anything besides be a staff nurse".
And quite frankly I don't know if I would ever want to do anything above and beyond just patient care, but they make it seem like if you just have the ADN RN you are "stuck" doing the same thing for the rest of your career.

Thats why I came on here to get people's opinions/advice because I want to know what truly goes on and what people think would be the better option.

I suppose I am a little biased on this issue. I think the greastest thing in nursing is staff nursing. But at the same time, I know that we need managers--I need a manager. We need NPs, CRNAs, MDS nurses, Legal Nurses, nursing instructors, case managers, ect. But, even as an aid and nursing student, I get such a kick out of caring for my patient that I can't imagine anyone coming into nursing who doesn't get that same kick, and yet out of 40 of us in level 4, there's maybe 3 who get a kick out of just nursing.

If someone said to me that I would be stuck as a staff nurse if all I had was an ADN, I'd say "Promise?" I actually fear that with my zeal for patient care and professionalism that at some point in my career they're going to want me to be a manager, and I will have to turn them down. There are plenty of BSNs out there who hate working with patients. By all means, get them off the floor and into management. That's what I say.

Speculating · Jan 31, 2004

Originally posted by ADNRN
...I'm surprised that you are so concerned already with how to get promoted into a "management" position.

...Why doesn't anyone just want to be a nurse? Why must everyone be a manager?

I'm still an ASN looking toward my BSN. ADNRN, I believe people look toward management for a few reasons. It's called 8-4 and holidays off.