Please Help Me Decide Which Program to Attend (Deadline Approaching)

[starmickey03, MSN, RN]

I applied to 3 schools for Fall 2010 and honestly didnt expect to get accepted to any of them, but on the contrary got accepted to all 3. I already ruled one school out because of cost and distance, but now Im torn between the other two programs.

Background Info:

I'll be 22 in a few days, and will be graduating from Michigan State w/a BS in Health Science, meaning that I've already spent 4 yrs in undergrad. I choose NOT to look into accelerated BSN programs because I have 2 little ones and I dont want the extra stress that comes along with those programs.

So here's the deal:

I have narrowed it down to a BSN program that is 3 years long. I have completed all the pre reqs, but the actual nursing portion of the program is 3 years, which Im not fond of. The nursing courses are set and cant be moved around, so there's no way that I can speed up the process.

The other program is an ASN program and is only 4 semesters. Of course this is going to be cheaper and I will be able to finish school sooner, which is obviously a plus since I've just completed 4 years of another degree. If I take this route, I plan on either doing an online RN-BSN program right away or waiting a couple years after getting my license and doing an RN-MSN program. This is what Im really leaning towards because I have to keep my kids in mind, which is why the shorter route is looking better to me right now.

Oh and another thing that may or may not matter is the difference in grading scale. The BSN program has a higher grading scale, with 80% being a C. The ASN programs scale is lower with a 76% being a C. From my understanding both schools are highly respected in the community and put out great grads, but as far as the grading scale goes, I think that w/me having 2 kids that 76% looks better than the 80%. But thats neither here nor there, I just want to know what others think.

So, what do you guys think? Which do you think would be better for me in my situation and why? A lot of people disagree, but I feel like I am getting really old, so I need to hurry and finish school and get on with my life.

Oh, and the deposit for the ASN program is due next friday on the 23rd and that is also the day that my orientation for the BSN program is set. So I need to make my decision ASAP.

Thanks!

[srobb11]

First, congratulations on getting accepted to all 3 programs, that's a success in itself and you should be proud of yourself! As I read your post, it was obvious that you've already made your decision. I think you've made a good choice. Another benefit to the ASN is that you may end up working for a facility that will pay for you to proceed with the RN-MSN route. Go with what you feel is best for you and your kids.

[webstar]

i agree with the above post. i too am in a similar situation as you. i hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree and am married and expecting my first child. therefore, accelerated 2nd degree bsn programs are all out for me as well. i debated on asn or bsn for a while. ultimately, i've decided to do a special 12 month night & weekend asn program. this will allow me to work under my current degree (engineering) while going to school on the nights and weekends to obtain my rn status. after i’ve completed the 12 month program i’ll switch career paths from an engineer to an rn and work fulltime for a hospital (preferably in icu). while working fulltime for a hospital i’ll take a fully accredited online rn-bsn bridge program and hope i can get my employer to help fund the program. ultimately, i plan on becoming a crna. to be accepted into a crna program you must hold a bsn degree and have a minimum of 1 year of icu experience. within 2 to 3 years of the time i start i plan on obtaining my asn/rn degree, my bsn degree and have 1 year of icu clinical experience. this path allows me to work fulltime and support my family while still going to school :-)

as paeonia pointed out, i too am a fan of the asn route then bsn/msn bridge option. the sky is the limit! good luck to you! by the way, i'm 28 years old. time is on your side my friend...

[ShelbyP]

Well, CONGRATS to you! That is awesome to have so many choices.

Yes, it seems like you and other readers know that the cheaper, more flexible option is what would best suit you right now. My advice is to find some nurses in your town (assuming that's where you want to work when you're done with school) and ask if Associate and Bachelor's new grads are being hired with equal enthusiasm, pay, etc.

In my town (in Northern California), RNs (regardless of AN or BSN degree) seem to be hired equally and with equal pay. However, as new grads, not really either are getting hired at all. Hopefully, in 2-3 years when you graduate, that will have turned around some. Nevertheless, it's worth looking into.

If there are only a couple hospitals you're interested in working in, then it's worth it to find out if pay scales differ based on the degree/amount of education. And if they have a certain education-level requirement to get into specialties you might be interested in.

Given the current economy, spending the less money on your education seems wise.

Best of luck!

[vegas2009]

That's easy... flip a coin :) you'll get the answer. You'll end up in the school you're meant to be at.

You already did your part. Now, let fate and luck do their jobs. The more you think about it, the more you'll lose sleep. Either way, they're both good choices anyway.