samsonite_mary
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I was trying to decide this for myself recently. What I found is that in most areas (at least in my state), most hospitals will hire both, and the pay for the first couple of years is just about identical (with BSNs making maybe 500-1000 more each year). The real difference I have found is in opportunity for growth. If you are going to want to advance in rank, or go into a specialty, I have found that most hospitals look for the BSN over the ADN. That seems to be the general consensus everywhere I've looked. So really, it depends on what your career goals are, and of course, your location. Also, the difference in pay seems to come once you're hitting around the 5 year mark, with BSNs making a decidedly larger income than ADNs (in some hospitals in my state, the difference is between 5 and 8,000/year!). I would advise doing the same thing I did--sit down and figure out what you want from your nursing career right now, and what you think you MAY want down the line. If there is even a slight chance that you will want to advance, I would advise completing the BSN now. You CAN always go back and do the RN to BSN track later on down the line, but in the end, that will actually cost more money and time, whereas if you complete the BSN track now, you get it all done with in one fell swoop. I hope this helps! These were all the things I took into consideration and decided on the BSN track. It was a little daunting for me at first, realizing that I had 3.5 years of school ahead of me instead of 2 (which allllllmost made me decide on the ADN track, mostly because I actually already have a Bachelor's degree I finished in 2007, and the idea of 3.5 MORE years of school was kind of a turn off), but I'm really glad I chose the path I chose. It will be more work on the front end, but the payoff is great down the line!
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Hi! I used the official ATI TEAS V Study guide, and the McGraw Hill Study guide with practice tests. I found that the ATI book most closely followed the format of the actual test, but that the McGraw Hill book supplemented the ATI study guide's practice tests VERY WELL. I was actually really glad that I used both instead of just the ATI book, because the practice questions in the McGraw Hill book were harder than those in the back of the ATI study guide; the harder practice tests prepared me more for the the caliber of questions on the actual TEAS test. This is what I found: The information in the ATI study guide was the most all-encompassing, and the most directly related to the material covered on the exam. The format definitely annoyed me every now and then, because it seemed to jump back and forth quite a bit, but it's worth it because the material prepares you very well for the exam. The practice tests were almost IDENTICALLY formatted to the actual exam too, which I felt prepared me very well. A friend of mine actually sent me the McGraw Hill book because he said he liked the practices better because they were harder...and he was RIGHT. They were definitely harder, and covered some material not even in the ATI book, and a lot of that material actually showed up on the actual TEAS V exam. I was SO glad I went thru both books. I took a total of 4 practices tests before I took the real exam, and spent a month studying (I am also returning to school after having completed my first degree in 2007, so it had been a while since I had seen any of the math or science. I'm SO glad I reviewed everything that much). But I would definitely recommend both of those books. Each fills in the holes the other has, and in the end, I felt very prepared for the exam. (I scored an 86, and a 73 was needed for my program, so I was pretty happy).
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I spent a month (just under 30 days) preparing for my TEAS test. I studied between 2 and 3 hours every day, and the last week before my exam, I studied a bit more (about 4 hours a day), because I have been out of school for some time (I am a returning student, and got my first bachelor's degree in 2007, so it had been quite a while since I've done the math and science!). I found that studying for a month was just right; by the time my test came around I felt fully prepared, and felt that if I had kept on studying, it would have been more of a hinderance than a help, because I needed to just get the test over with. I was pleased with my overall score (I got an 86, which for my school was actually pretty high, as the average of accepted students for my school is 73). I was aiming a little higher (I wanted to break 90), but I was pleased. Most people I have talked to have also said that they studied for a month, and felt it was just the right amount of time. After having taken it, I would definitely say that studying for over a month would just be overkill. But I would also advise not to study for too much less than that, even right out of school. Also--don't be anxious! I went through that myself--it's such long process, and can DEFINITELY wear on the nerves. But just remind yourself to take deep breaths and not let nerves get in the way, especially while you are studying. I can't tell you how many times I would sit there while studying and get totally overwhelmed and an hour would have gone by and I got nothing done! The time and effort you put in now will pay off, and you will find that you really have nothing to be anxious about Hope this helps!