Please help me...what is an ADN

[nathalicap]

oK, my plan is to be a crna. im about to graduate HIGH SCOOL...i know i have a long way to go.

i know i must become a nurse (preferably a bsn) and then go to crna school...however im trying to cut time and money so i was considering the lpn or adn route.

which would do you recomend?

which one would get me to a bsn school faster (i would bridge into a bsn)

also, please would you care to elaborate on what an ADN is and what opportunities do they have.

is it true that when you take the adn exam,and pass it, you are considered an rn? (then i would just have to do rn-bsn?)

THANK YOU

GOD BLESS

[guiltysins]

An ADN is an associate degree in nursing. It's mainly a two year RN program. You have all the clinical education you get in a Bachelor's program (sometimes more) and all they do is not require some of the general ed and some of the non-clinical nursing classes (Leadership and Management). I would suggest getting the ADN and bypassing LPN. Since you will actually be a Registered Nurse with your ADN, LPN is a different kind of nurse. The exam you take is the same one people who graduate BSN programs take.

Most RN-BSN programs can be completed online since there's no clinicals required and the RN experience with your ADN while completing your bridge might give you a leg up on the experience required for the CRNA program.

[CRIMSON]

ADN is an associate degree in nursing and the BSN is a Bachelors of science in nursing. An ADN takes the same board exam and if passes IS an RN. The BSN is a requirement of a CRNA school acceptance AND usually requires 2-5 years of critical care experience as an RN to apply. If you are interested in advanced practice nursing (CRNA ect.) go with either RN degree and get some critical care experience to start with.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

There is some very helpful information in one of the staff blogs:

Entry into RN Practice (Part 1): Associate Degree Nursing (ADN).

Others to read are:

Entry into Practice (Part 2) – Baccalaureate Programs in Nursing (BSN)

RN-BSN Completion Programs

[Fermin Hernandez, ADN, ASN, RN]

ADN is an associate degree in nursing and the BSN is a Bachelors of science in nursing. An ADN takes the same board exam and if passes IS an RN. The BSN is a requirement of a CRNA school acceptance AND usually requires 2-5 years of critical care experience as an RN to apply. If you are interested in advanced practice nursing (CRNA ect.) go with either RN degree and get some critical care experience to start with.

RN-BSN does not require experience.

CRNA schools require 1-2 years critical care.

If your local school has an ADN program, then the LPN portion may be a requirement for 1st year. If it is, don't bypass the LPN boards, even if optional. It's best to grab every license as you go. Plus, the LPN boards will give you an idea of what to expect on RN boards, in process, not content. A nice intro into computerized adaptive testing.