BSN or Associate? Which one to go for?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Hi everyone. I'm married with 3 children and attend college part-time. The last two years while I was taking pre-requisite courses at my community college I've been going back and forth as to whether I should go to my community college nursing school or a State University nursing school. Both schools run a quality program and both are near enough to me that distance won't factor in. To go to State I will have to take out student loans but I'm not much worried over that as I figure once I'm employed I can pay it back. At first I chose the community college nursing school because that is where I go now and I would be in my comfort zone. But I just learned recently that their waiting list went up to two years. And I still have another year of pre-requiste courses before I can even apply! :o I have just one more general ed course to take before I am qualified to apply to State. They are impacted so I would apply as a pre-nursing major. The nursing school is impacted too but they go by a point system. The better the grades, the more points you get and the more likely you are to get in. I'm generally a B student but am focusing more on trying to get A's now. I just keep going back and forth as to which school and for that matter which degree would be for me. I am anxious to start soon! I almost want to run over to the adult ed LVN program and just start there! I am also thinking about when all my pre-requists are done that I will do just that and actually become a CNA just to see what I can learn. So is a BSN pretty good to go for? Or the associate?

If I were younger I wouldn't care about the time it takes but I"m 43 now.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Welcome to the website. Personally, I always advice people to go for the BSN if they have the opportunity to go for it.

I had to go the ADN route because there was no BSN program in my town. Many years later, I'm no going for the BSN.

The ADN provides many opportunities in direct patient care. The BSN graduates start out there but can have more opporunities later on in many more areas, so it's best to get a BSN because who knows what you're going to want to be doing 20 years from now when you still might have a few years left to work.

Good luck in whatever you do. :)

Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
Welcome to the website. Personally, I always advice people to go for the BSN if they have the opportunity to go for it.

I had to go the ADN route because there was no BSN program in my town. Many years later, I'm no going for the BSN.

The ADN provides many opportunities in direct patient care. The BSN graduates start out there but can have more opporunities later on in many more areas, so it's best to get a BSN because who knows what you're going to want to be doing 20 years from now when you still might have a few years left to work.

Good luck in whatever you do. :)

Ok I think I will go for the BSN. It will cost a bit more and it takes 3 years once you are accepted but I think it will save me in the long run. It's so hard to wait. You know I didn't even consider what I want to be doing 20 years from now because I've just been so focused on today. yeah I do want more opportunities later on too. Thanks for your input. I need patience! :rolleyes:

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Like Tweety - I say go for the BSN - good luck.

BSN

Hi everyone. I'm married with 3 children and attend college part-time. The last two years while I was taking pre-requisite courses at my community college I've been going back and forth as to whether I should go to my community college nursing school or a State University nursing school. Both schools run a quality program and both are near enough to me that distance won't factor in. To go to State I will have to take out student loans but I'm not much worried over that as I figure once I'm employed I can pay it back. At first I chose the community college nursing school because that is where I go now and I would be in my comfort zone. But I just learned recently that their waiting list went up to two years. And I still have another year of pre-requiste courses before I can even apply! :o I have just one more general ed course to take before I am qualified to apply to State. They are impacted so I would apply as a pre-nursing major. The nursing school is impacted too but they go by a point system. The better the grades, the more points you get and the more likely you are to get in. I'm generally a B student but am focusing more on trying to get A's now. I just keep going back and forth as to which school and for that matter which degree would be for me. I am anxious to start soon! I almost want to run over to the adult ed LVN program and just start there! I am also thinking about when all my pre-requists are done that I will do just that and actually become a CNA just to see what I can learn. So is a BSN pretty good to go for? Or the associate?

If I were younger I wouldn't care about the time it takes but I"m 43 now.

I think ultimately it's nice to have a BSN but not necessary. It depends on your status now and what you want to do. I would go for whatever tract gets you your RN first so you can get hands-on experience and get working. You can always get your BSN and the hospital where you work will probably pay for your schooling.

I have a non-nursing Bachelor's and have NEVER felt held back because I didn't specifically have a BSN. Go for whatever will get you to your specific goal the fastest. Best of luck!

I'd say if you have the time, money, and inclination - go for the BSN now rather than later. Good luck, whatever you decide. :)

+ Add a Comment