Returning student needs advice regarding NS program differences...

stressgal, RN · Sep 18, 2005

As an "older" student I chose to go the ADN route. That way I can get back to work sooner. ADN's and BSN's, in my area, make the same amount of money to start. I have found a school locally that offers an ADN to BSN/MSN transition. The program allows you to work on your masters at the same time as your bachelors. This will be the route I take. Also, all of the local hospitals offer tuition assistance. This matters to me as I pay entirely for my education.

As programs are highly competative, I would apply to both and see what you get accepted for. This may make the decision for you.

Only you know what is right for you, I wish you luck!

Paula7 · Sep 19, 2005

i am/was in the same dilemma as you. eventually i would love to become a crna which you need a bsn for but i realized that i just want to take the adn route at a community college, save myself the money of going to a private university, get a job as an rn and hopefully my employer will have tution reinbursement where i can utilize that and go for my bsn. i already have a bs in marketing and i guess should go straight for the bsn but i think i'm going to stick with the adn route.

good luck. let us know what you decide!

SchoolRN,BSN · Sep 23, 2005

Hey guys, thanks for the responses.

I have been studying for a physio test & haven't been back on to check the board. Sorry it took so long.

I am an "older" student as well :rolleyes: I really would prefer to do the straight BSN, but am too afraid to take the math to get in. It's been soooo long since algebra! The only way I'll do it is if my gpa isn't high enough to get in the ASN.

So do I take math spring semester just in case or just hope my grades are good enough?? That would be the question of the day! I wouldn't know if I was accepted until March or so & classes would start in Jan.

What to do, what to do...

Good luck to you both. I admire your determination to go back to school. :yelclap: It isn't as easy (logistically) as it was the first time around, but it's certainly worth all the effort.

Heather

mattsmom64 · Sep 23, 2005

Hey guys, thanks for the responses.
I have been studying for a physio test & haven't been back on to check the board. Sorry it took so long.
I am an "older" student as well I really would prefer to do the straight BSN, but am too afraid to take the math to get in. It's been soooo long since algebra! The only way I'll do it is if my gpa isn't high enough to get in the ASN.
So do I take math spring semester just in case or just hope my grades are good enough?? That would be the question of the day! I wouldn't know if I was accepted until March or so & classes would start in Jan.
What to do, what to do...
Good luck to you both. I admire your determination to go back to school. :yelclap: It isn't as easy (logistically) as it was the first time around, but it's certainly worth all the effort.
Heather

Hi Heather,

I'm a second degree older student as well. I also DESPISE math. I had the same concerns you do, but I elected to go the ADN then RN-BSN-MSN route. It will take more time, but it will be easier for my family if I do it this way.

You mentioned a MSN...You may want to look into the prereqs for that. Most MSN programs require a higher level Math (Statistics.) Although it is not a prereq, I'm taking College Math this semester along with Patho. I (keeping my fingers crossed) should be admitted into the NP this spring. I figured it would be better to take the Math and get it over with before I have clinicals Nusing Process etc....to worry about.

Mary

mattsmom64 · Sep 23, 2005

Hi Heather,
I'm a second degree older student as well. I also DESPISE math. I had the same concerns you do, but I elected to go the ADN then RN-BSN-MSN route. It will take more time, but it will be easier for my family if I do it this way.
You mentioned a MSN...You may want to look into the prereqs for that. Most MSN programs require a higher level Math (Statistics.) Although it is not a prereq, I'm taking College Math this semester along with Patho. I (keeping my fingers crossed) should be admitted into the NP this spring. I figured it would be better to take the Math and get it over with before I have clinicals Nusing Process etc....to worry about.
Mary

Heather,

I forgot to ask....do you still need to take chemistry? I took it over the summer....it was all math! That was a stressful 8 weeks but I maintained an A average. It also helped to clear my math anxiety (I still hate it though)

Mary

SchoolRN,BSN · Sep 24, 2005

Hi Mary,

We aren't required to have a separate chem class, but I did take it with my first degree. However, the whole first section of our physiology class has been chemistry. Yuck! We had a test last Thursday for lecture & our lab exam is this Thursday. All formulas & math. Double yuck. I got an A on the lecture exam, but we'll see how the other goes.

In order to go past the ASN, I will need to take a stat class. I hear it's pretty awful, but I may take it this spring. Depends I guess on if I decide to take the algebra. I won't do both at the same time. Why did you decide to take the algebra now? Future req's?

Another question...Why did you choose the ASN then RN to BSN-MSN route? Just wondered what your reasoning was b/c I am trying to decide myself. I have heard the ASN is a bit more intense & have been told that it is a slower pace in the BSN. I have four kids, so I am a little concerned about that. I will apply in Feb. for this fall, so I have to decide which program soon.

Good luck to you. I hope your math class goes well. You'll have to let me know if it's really bad. :eek:

Heather

mattsmom64 · Sep 24, 2005

Hi Mary,
We aren't required to have a separate chem class, but I did take it with my first degree. However, the whole first section of our physiology class has been chemistry. Yuck! We had a test last Thursday for lecture & our lab exam is this Thursday. All formulas & math. Double yuck. I got an A on the lecture exam, but we'll see how the other goes.
In order to go past the ASN, I will need to take a stat class. I hear it's pretty awful, but I may take it this spring. Depends I guess on if I decide to take the algebra. I won't do both at the same time. Why did you decide to take the algebra now? Future req's?
Another question...Why did you choose the ASN then RN to BSN-MSN route? Just wondered what your reasoning was b/c I am trying to decide myself. I have heard the ASN is a bit more intense & have been told that it is a slower pace in the BSN. I have four kids, so I am a little concerned about that. I will apply in Feb. for this fall, so I have to decide which program soon.
Good luck to you. I hope your math class goes well. You'll have to let me know if it's really bad.
Heather

Hi Heather,

I don't envy you your last exam! I think that A&P starts out dry but gets really interesting towards the middle and the end.

The current program that I'm in requires that you have at least intermediate algebra. The RN-BSN-MSN program requires that you have at least College Mathematics. I'm taking it now because I have finished all of my prereqs for the ASN program and I am waiting to get in (it's usually a one semester wait.)

I was really torn btwn the ASN and the regular BSN programs. However, when I looked into the schedules of both programs, I had to go the ASN route. With the ASN program I will only be in school/clinicals 3 days per week because I have finished all of my co-reqs....With the BSN program I would have been in school 5 days a week from 0700-1530. That would leave me n o time for "mom" stuff......At least with the ASN program, I will have 2 free weekdays for homework, housework, etc...which will give me more quality time with my son. I know the program is only two years, but two years to a child is a like a lifetime....

The RN-MSN program is another 2 years but it is only 1 night a week for 1 year for the BSN then another year combo 1 night a week/internet program for the MSN......If you think about it, If I went straight to the BSN program it would take me 2 yrs, than an additional 2 years for the masters. It would take the same amount of time for the ASN-RN-MSN route but with a little less stress (or so I hope!)

Try taking a look at wht the class schedules are like for each school, then ask yourself "Can I do this without having a major impact on my kids lives?"...that is how I finally made my decision......Also, one other thing to remember, NS requires alot of school work on your own time. Some of the girls in Block 2 at my school told me that when they attend clinicals, they have to go to the hospital the day before the clinical, pick out their patient, do their write ups etc....before ether actual schduled day.......

ttyl,

Mary

SchoolRN,BSN · Sep 25, 2005

Mary,

Is the ASN program 3 full or half day/week? Mine will be four half days (until 1:30 or so) I think. I just hate it though b/c my youngest is 3.5 & that is a long time to her. I also hate it that I won't get to pick her up at preschool next year. How old is your son? My older kids are totally supportive, but it's hard for her to have me gone so much.

ASN definitely sounds like the better choice. Do you have to sit for your boards before you get to a certain point in the RN-BSN-MSN? For the RN-BSN we have "pods" of one night a week for three 8 week semesters. Prior to entering pod 2 we have to pass boards. I am wondering if it will be difficult to take classes at the same time as studying for boards.

Is there a particular area of nursing you are interested in? What made you decide to go back to school?

Heather

mattsmom64 · Sep 25, 2005

Hi Heather,

During Block 1 I'll be in school 2 full days and one half day which isn't that bad. I think after that it will be 3 full days. My son will be 8 next month. The class times fall within his school hours. The only thing I'll have to worry about are clinicals, but i'll cross that bridge when I come to it. They either run 600-1430 or 1400-2000.

I plan on taking my boards before I go for the MSN. Actually I'd like to take them as soon as I can after my ASN so: 1.) school will still be fresh in mind, and 2.) just to get them over with lol!

As for why I went back to school....I was employed by a really great company for 17 years but I wasn't happy with what I was doing. I always wanted to be a nurse but was too afraid to go for it because I was afraid of the Math and Chemistry. When I was 39, I decided that it was time to grow up and try to do what I always wanted to do. I quit my job in November and started school in January. Btw....Math and Chemistry weren't really that bad...I ended up with an A in both of them.....

I have no idea what I would like to specialize in. I figure that I would get a better idea once I go through clinicals...I love old people, babies and kids...but then again, I am really fascinated by the cardiovascular system so I may want to do something with that....surgical nursing.....Who knows? That's the beauty of Nursing....the possibilities are endless.....

ttyl,

Mary

SchoolRN,BSN · Sep 25, 2005

Mary,

Wow! A's in both math & chem...What a great role model for your son. That took some guts to quit a good job to go back to school too. Good for you on both counts!

One of my daughters is 8 as well & she doesn't like it too much when I am gone. But, I have always stayed home with them, so it's a big change for me to be gone so much. Even studying keeps me from them. I have been a stay at home mom for 13 years, so this has been an adjustment for all of us, hubby included.

I too, want to get boards over with as quickly as possible!!

I think I am interested in trauma or transplant nursing, but that may change. As far as hours, school nursing would work best for the kids, but there aren't many per school. Ours has one for three buildings.

Best get back to biomolecules...I don't find it the least bit interesting & I'm procrastinating.

Heather

mattsmom64 · Sep 25, 2005

Mary,
Wow! A's in both math & chem...What a great role model for your son. That took some guts to quit a good job to go back to school too. Good for you on both counts!
One of my daughters is 8 as well & she doesn't like it too much when I am gone. But, I have always stayed home with them, so it's a big change for me to be gone so much. Even studying keeps me from them. I have been a stay at home mom for 13 years, so this has been an adjustment for all of us, hubby included.
I too, want to get boards over with as quickly as possible!!
I think I am interested in trauma or transplant nursing, but that may change. As far as hours, school nursing would work best for the kids, but there aren't many per school. Ours has one for three buildings.
Best get back to biomolecules...I don't find it the least bit interesting & I'm procrastinating.
Heather

IKWYM abut school nursing. I thought about it as well but there aren't many opportunities. Have you thought about involving your 8 yo in your schooling?

My school has an on site Children's Center and I have taken my son there over the summer. He loves it because they go on "field trips" on campus. His favorite is when they go to the Bio labs to see the animals. I would also involve him when I studied for A&P. He is the only 2nd grader I know that can identify all of the bones and orifices in the skull! I am amazed at the amount of things he can grasp and retain. I also have this great interactive physiology cd (you can access it online at interactivephysiology.com) that he loves to watch. Like me, his favorite is the cardiovascular system......

Are you taking Micro this semester? If it is like class it will get better during the 2nd half of the semester. If you'd like, I have some good Micro links I can post.......

Have fun studying!

Mary