STLCCSTUDENT

I think it depends on the person and there situation. My ADN only cost about $10,000. But for me to get my BSN it would of been at least $50,000-$80,000 and i would of had to get loans. It was easy for me to work and pay for my nursing degree out of pocket. Plus i didn't qualify for any financial aid.

It seems like there is a war between ADN's and BSN's. Be kind, because everyone you meet is fighting their own battle too.

I think it might be different in St. Louis because before I decided whether to get my RN or BSN i spoke with a lot of ADN nurses who had recently graduated from my school and they said pretty much everyone has found a job soon after they graduated, especially if you get a nurse tech job before you finish. I do know a few of the hospitals prefer BSN nurses but most will hire both.

i applied in May 2010 to all 3 campuses and i got into Flo this fall. I wave my acceptance because I didn't have A&P finished. I got a letter from Forest Park and Meramec about a month ago.

I'm not saying you shouldn't get your BSN. Im sure eventually a BSN will be the minimum requirement for a registered nurse. I think depending on your situation, its smarter to get your ADN then bridge to your BSN and let the hospital pay for it. If you go straight for your BSN, and have a bunch of debt its going to be a LOT harder to find a hospital that will pay off all your loans then it would be to have the hospital you work for pay for your bridge program. While at the same time your getting experience while earning your BSN. Not to mention the fact that a lot of people go into nursing then realize its not for them. Especially now in this economy when it seems like everyone is going into nursing so they can find a job. If you go for your BSN and then realize its not for you, then what?

Im not saying it doesn't open more doors then that. But for a new nurse a lot of the benefits of having your BSN won't make much of a difference until you have some experience. My friend actually already looked into that. The problem is she's now on maternity leave because she got married and is having her first child so she can't work for a while. So now she's basically stuck with these loans and just accumulating interest. I don't know where your from but in St. Louis hospitals seem to be A LOT more willing to help pay for your higher degree then to do any type of loan forgiveness.

I live in the St. Louis area and from what i can see some hospitals prefer BSN but that doesn't mean you can't find a job with only your ADN. I am getting my RN, i have a friend who just graduated with her BSN. She has $50,000 in student loans and i will have no debt when i graduate, and starting pay is about the same ADN-$20.00/hr BSN-$20.50. Is 50 cents an hour more really worth $50,000 in loans plus interest? I didn't think so. Yes, BSN are first in line for promotions and can manage a floor, but if your a new grad, its not like you'll be doing that anyway right out of college. Plus if you want your BSN a lot of the time you can get the hospital to pay for it. From what i've seen the #1 thing hospitals look for is experience! Yes, if a new grad RN and BSN apply for the same job the BSN will probably get it. But if an RN with 2 years experience applies for a job vs a new BSN the RN will get it. But nurses are needed so bad that probably both will get a job! I'd say if you have plenty of money to put toward your education, go for the BSN. If not get your ADN.

I live in the St. Louis area and from what i can see some hospitals prefer BSN but that doesn't mean you can't find a job with only your ADN. I am getting my RN, i have a friend who just graduated with her BSN. She has $50,000 in student loans and i will have no debt when i graduate, and starting pay is about the same ADN-$20.00/hr BSN-$20.50. Is 50 cents an hour more really worth $50,000 in loans plus interest? I didn't think so. Plus if you want your BSN a lot of times you can get the hospital to pay for it.

Crazy....im quitting my job in December. A&P2 plus the nursing program is all my time.

Yea I am definitely nervous about it but the only a semester Im taking any other classes is first semester. (which I hear is the easiest semester) I have microbio left after that and I'm taking it in the summer. I definitely plan on quitting my job. Did you work while you were in the program? Thank you so much for your help!

I'm definitely getting scared! All people keep telling me is that its so hard and Im planning on taking A&P2 along with first semester nursing classes. Did you take any other classes other than nursing while you were in the program?

Good! Im going to attend Forest Park because it is closer, i live in Illinois. I am going to try and take A&P2 first semester as well. I will be at the orientation tomm too!

oh ic. Sounds like tech jobs would be pretty hard to get since Im sure a lot of nursing students apply. Do you have to have any other experience other then nursing school to be a nurse tech? I've never worked in a hospital before.

thank you guys for your help! i was thinking about quitting my job, did both of you hold jobs while in the nursing program? Im very lucky in the fact that i don't have children and i have financial support so i don't have to work while in the program. Did you take any other classes along with nursing? i still have A&P2 and Micro and i was debating doing both over the summer or one first semester. thanks again!

Anytime! I applied to all 3 campuses. I got on the waitlist in May 2010, i was accepted into Flo's programs to start this fall, but i waved my acceptance because i didn't have A&P finished yet. So as of right now its been about a year and a half. I'm having a hard time trying to decide between Meramec and Forest Park for this Spring.