ADN versus BSN

nursemike, ASN, RN · Jan 26, 2010

I am currently a Sophomore at VSU mahoring in Psychology... after I graduate in July of 2011 I wanted to go directly into our advanced standing BSN program, but it starts in May so I would have to wait a year...
Should I wait that year before starting the BSN program OR should I just do the ADN program at Southwest Georgia Technical college??? I could essentially almost be done with it by the time the BSN started... ideas? Opinions?
Should I wait and find a job in the psych field for that year break and then do the Bachelors program? And as my electives for my Psych degree I am taking the required Anatomy 1 and 2 and Chemistry 1 and 2... if you think I should wait a year, would you wait and take those AFTER I was my BS degree--- so there is no possibility of it lowering my GPA for that degree? and just take 2 classes in the fall and 2 in the spring before the program starts in May of 2012?
I am at a loss as to what to do and opinions and advice are more than welcomed!!!

It depends mostly on your situation. If you need to go to work as a nurse ASAP, an ADN might be your quickest route. That was my situation, but I was 46 when I started nursing school. I'd recommend to anyone with the time and the means to go straight for the BSN. My program was actually a 2+2--2 years to get your ASN, then 2 more (not necessarily done right away, or in two years) for your BSN. And I still plan to do that, but my original plan was to have that done by now, until I realized how much I liked being out of school. (I liked being in school, too, but not so much having to plan my life around it.)

It sounds like you're thinking of finishing your psych degree, then doing an accelerated BSN. From those I've met who've done them, it sounds like they can be pretty intense. That was true of my associate's program, too. You had to learn a lot of the same material as a traditional, 4-yr BSN, in less time. (Which is not to suggest that a 4 year BSN is by any means leisurely. All nursing students work their butts off.)

Still, if you're only a sophomore, is it feasible to change your major to nursing as an undergrad? It seems like the only real advantage to finishing the psych degree would be to get into an accelerated program for people who already have a non-nursing bachelors. Even losing some time for pre-req's, you ought to be able to graduate as quickly with a traditional BSN.