sandiegotrish

Yes that is the path I was suggested to go, in order to not come out of my second bachelors degree with a ton of debt. Unfortunately there are no jobs for ADN nurses in San Diego so it sounds like I'll have to do my RN to BSN/MSN without a job. :/

The whole nursing degree situation makes MY head hurt. I'm just trying to navigate the best route here. I don't have the luxury of taking it one step at a time, I need to figure out whether to get my ADN (cheaper, city college) and have no prospect of a job until I get a further degree (which in itself is the weirdest setup I have ever seen in any job field), or spend 10x that on a full BSN program. I mean, this is "worrying about my RN" first - it's a path. Less wasted years and $$ is one of my goals, I'm not about to just apply willy-nilly to any nursing program without weighing my options. If my logic is flawed then I'm okay with that, I just want to get some insight that a college advisor isn't going to be able to give objectively. Thanks for your comments so far.

That is exactly what I have mentioned I want to do, in both my OP and comment: get the more advanced degree after my RN, obtain general floor nursing experience, either way, before moving on the management positions. The MSN seems to serve the purpose that a BSN in my state will do, which is open doors for general nursing jobs (since the ADN doesn't) but then already have the masters under my belt for later on down the road when I am ready for a more senior management position. The question comes about to figure out if my logic is sound.

$650 taxable wages plus $1000 weekly stipends comes out to $41 an hour for 40 hour work week, or $46 an hour for a 36 hour work week. (the average nurse in CA makes $36/hour. Plus, she doesn't have to pay taxes on her "non taxable" income, which means even more in-pocket than the average nurse making $46/hr with all her income taxable. Unless your friend expects a lot more per-hour pay than that, I would say it's a pretty fair trade, especially with the added bonus of getting to travel for free. Am I missing something here?

But the ADN makes you an RN ready to get a nursing job on the floor, no? Why then go for BSN only to have to get an MSN later still? The cost seems outrageous. Not to mention you can get a general MSN. In my state an ADN doesn't get you a job so you have to continue on and get more degrees before you get your experience anyway. Why not Do the more advanced degree? I'm not sure why this has to be so much more complicated than any other masters degree and I'm not sure you answer has helped me learn anything more than I did before I posted. I would love some real insight here, not just calling me insane for considering doing something that is offered by schools and obviously done by students. I'm trying to get a picture of what is the best path, not avoid earning experience.

I ask because I don't know, and would like some insight. Can getting an MSN preclude a BSN for a nurse who wants to work like any other nurse and gain experience in the trenches, but wants to have her degrees under their belt up front? Reason I ask: I have a bachelor's degree in a non-related field and so I have the choice in front of me to go for a second bachelors (BSN) or go for ADN>MSN (among other choices). The ADN>MSN sounds like the best choice, no?. Please understand I have no intention of jumping right to management or NP out of the gate, just to obtain up front the degree I would prob get eventually anyway (MSN). Is there added value? Are their obvious cons?

So, are you like one of those people who doesn't need to sleep? Lol - I mean how do you even get your studyin done?!

I am very sad to hear that you are going through such a negative experience at National University. I know a couple of people looking to get into the nursing program there, and reading this doesn't bode well for them, to me. It's a very expensive program so it's last-LAST on my list for where to apply. I will be watching this thread to see what others have to say.

Well. I'm 36 and I'm doing prereqs. So.

So I'm currently taking prereqs and staring down the gun of 2-4 years of nursing school, a place where you are fiercely advised NOT to work. I have been saving fiercely and hoping for selection in a CC nursing program, in hopes of being able to keep a roof over my head once I dive in. So, for those of you don't have mom & dad or a rich spouse, how are you making ends meet while you get through school?

The way I have set it up it will cost me 1/4 of the money to do the RN > MSN route than to get the BSN. Not sure where you are getting the idea of "graduate level debt." And with the toughness of finding jobs, isn't it better to have the higher degree??? It is so for other professions, maybe nursing it's not so. A new grad is a new grad, I can't see why a new grad with more learning under her belt would not have an advantage. Please do explain if this is not so. Moreover, the dean of the college that suggested MSN was at a college that doesn't offer such a degree and only has a BSN bridge program so I was able to rule out "job security."

I'm not just leaving my job I am leaving the profession altogether. I am doing it because I am burnt out, because I'm at the top of the game with no gain left, not learning anything. And most of all, because I want to be a nurse. I realize the job market is tough for new grads. Are you suggesting that I just give up??? I'm sorry, I didn't come to a nursing website to be discouraged out of going to school to become a nurse.

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I needed to hear, to cement my decision to go the ADN-first route. It just seems so much smarter to me, but everyone I know who is a nurse or is trying to become one tells me I am crazy for the idea of going ADN first.

Well, because the outcome I decide on will change where I start. I am a planner. I don't want to go get an ADN and then find out I can't get a job with the ADN. But there is certainly room for me to choose to go ADN>BSN, so your advice is valid! You're absolutely right, I need to figure out whether nursing is right for me, and I suppose going ADN first is the most cost-effective way to do so. I guess what I'm the most worried about is making sure I have the BEST credentials I can to secure a job I love in the end.

I wasn't going to go MSN until a college dean suggested it to me. Why get a second bachelor's degree? she said to me. It's not a guarantee but it's one path that I can do. An MSN opens a lot more doors than the other degrees, and in San Diego I need the most I can get, since it's so competitive here. I would want to get a regular RN hospital job either way at first (same as if I was at BSN level), but I was led to believe that the MSN would get me there with better certainty. I realize experience is necessary, and I would try to get a job with my ADN while I am working on MSN, but in San Diego, with an ADN you're lucky if you can get a job at a Skilled Nursing Facility, let alone a hospital. I appreciate your advice!

I wasn't sure where to post this topic. Here it is: I am taking prereqs to go into nursing school, in San Diego. I already have a bachelor's degree in graphic design, and 11 years experience in management in that field. My ultimate goals are: Complete nursing school in a timely as possible manner get a well-paying job once school is done not come out of school harboring more in debt than I need My choices: 1. Go to City College San Diego and get my ADN in two years (almost free) TRY to get an entry level job Immediately go back to school to get my RN>MSN (not too expensive) 2. Go to an accelerated BSN program (2 years) and have two Bachelor's degrees (expensive) Graduate and get a real nursing job maybe not be able to afford to get the MSN Considerations: I don't have anyone to support me while I'm in school, so I will have to borrow $ for living expenses because supposedly I won't be able to work I may not get into the ADN program because it is VERY impacted The accelerated BSN program is 1.5 hours away from where I live I guess I want to know if anyone can weigh in on those choices, because they both seem to have very good and very bad points.

I wasn't sure where to post this topic because I think I want some nurses with experience answer my question. Here it is: I am taking prereqs to go into nursing school, in San Diego. I already have a bachelor's degree in graphic design, and 11 years experience in management in that field. My ultimate goals are: Complete nursing school in a timely as possible manner get a well-paying job once school is done not come out of school harboring more in debt than I need My choices: 1. Go to City College San Diego and get my ADN in two years (almost free) TRY to get an entry level job Immediately go back to school to get my RN>MSN (not too expensive) 2. Go to an accelerated BSN program (2 years) and have two Bachelor's degrees (expensive) Graduate and get a real nursing job maybe not be able to afford to get the MSN Considerations: I don't have anyone to support me while I'm in school, so I will have to borrow $ for living expenses because supposedly I won't be able to work I may not get into the ADN program because it is VERY impacted The accelerated BSN program is 1.5 hours away from where I live I guess I want to know if anyone can weigh in on those choices, because they both seem to have very good and very bad points.