Transfer student, Ex Military, ADN to BSN or straight to BSN?

[Drod915]

Well as I have read there are other posts out there with the same question, but we all have different situations and I would like to get some opinions from anyone with some worthwhile experience.

Well I am 26, re-married and have two kids with my ex wife and looking to transfer out of my 4 year university (University of Texas at El Paso) where I was a pre engineering student, and instead enroll at a local community college (El Paso Community College). I have many of the "basic" courses done but none of the science and math courses that are required to rank into the program. I was in the military and have my post 9-11 GI bill available so the cost will be paid on whichever I chose. If I do go the ADN route I would then begin working, hopefully as an RN in an ICU enviroment, and then get my BSN through the four year state college. I thought that may be advantagious since I can begin working as an RN while I do the "fast track RN to BSN" option while working in an ICU setting. The reason I want that is so I can eventually become a CRNA. On the flip side I can chose to stay at UTEP and just transfer majors to the BSN route, but im not sure if that will just take an extra year to finish (given that both routes are considered in their respective entirety).

Now question number 1: Have many of you seen an RN with an ADN working in the ICU? That is pretty important part of my plan, and if this doesnt work out I would have to get my accute care experience after my BSN.

Question 2: Are there other advantages to ADN-RN that I have missed or am not aware of? Are there other advantages to just going straight to the BSN route that I am not aware of?

Question 3: Regarding CRNA school, is there a difference in selection if I chose to do either one of these vs the other?

Thank you all for your time and advice! Good luck in your studies and/or careers!

Cheers,

Drod915

[princesax11]

1. It really depends on where you live. Call around the hospitals you plan to work at after you graduate and ask. In big cities they usually only hire BSN nurses in the hospital, but some rural areas will hire ADNs.

2. The advantage to getting your ADN, as you already mentioned, is that you can be a nurse sooner. The advantage of going straight for your BSN is that you will be done school sooner.

3. CRNA schools will only care that you have a BSN. It won't matter to them if you do ADN-BSN. They will look at gpa, icu work experience and probably a few more factors.

Go for which ever works best for you. Good luck! :)

[Drod915]

1. It really depends on where you live. Call around the hospitals you plan to work at after you graduate and ask. In big cities they usually only hire BSN nurses in the hospital, but some rural areas will hire ADNs.

2. The advantage to getting your ADN, as you already mentioned, is that you can be a nurse sooner. The advantage of going straight for your BSN is that you will be done school sooner.

3. CRNA schools will only care that you have a BSN. It won't matter to them if you do ADN-BSN. They will look at gpa, icu work experience and probably a few more factors.

Go for which ever works best for you. Good luck! :)

I just want to say thanks for the response, your info was helpful in many ways! :)

[mmw90]

My personal opinion is for you to do the RN through EPCC and then your RN-BSN through UTEP. I actually just transferred out of EPCC to PSU (hubby ETS'ed). Everyone that I've spoken to in EP says EPCC's RN program is MUCH better than UTEP's but again personal opinion here. An added plus with EPCC is you will basically be paid to go to school at EPCC because of your GI-Bill and an added bonus if you qualify for your full Pell Grant. I wasn't able to use any sort of GI money but my pell grant alone was much larger than the tuition at EPCC.

[Drod915]

That you or your feedback mmw90, I am 98% sure that is what i am doing now. I really liked the whole idea of being able to work a lot sooner compared to if I go to UTEP.