ASN vs Other Degrees? Help!

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Specializes in Health Education.

Hi everyone - I'm looking for some wisdom or advice.

I'm currently a health educator with a Bachelors in Health Sciences and a Masters of Education in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. I've been looking at nursing school since I've completed my Masters (just 1.5 years ago). I'm in my mid-twenties and worried about taking on more debt. I still have quite a bit of loans (all federal and on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program - will be relieved in 8/9 years).

I've applied to an ASN program, two accelerated BSN programs, and one directy entry program where you do acquire your BSN after 16 months. I'm worried about taking on 60+ more in debt. I may be starting a new job soon and may defer schooling for another 10 months. That being said, I could most likely do the ASN program along with the new work schedule...as well as pay for it out of pocket.

Would I be wasting my time? Or would it be a smart move? It would take two years and then I would do a RN-BSN program immediately. I live in a major city so I doubt I'd get any jobs with just an ASN.

Thoughts? Anyone?!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

If you have a non-nursing job to support yourself ... and you understand that you probably won't get a good job with an ASN ... and the ASN school is fully accredited ... then that sounds like a reasonable route. It will take longer to go that route to get a good nursing job, but if you don't need to worry about that because you are OK with your non-nursing job, then that might be your best.

Just be sure that the ASN program is a good one and that your expectations remain realistic.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

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Specializes in ER.

Look at your job market around you. I have had no problems getting a job with an ADN but other classmates have. However, the ADN may add unnecessary length of time to getting a degree. It usually is 3 years including pre-reqs and then it'll usually be another 9 months to 18 months for the RN to BSN. If you have good grades, look at a direct-entry MSN or an accelerated BSN.

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I would go talk to a university that has a BSN program or even a Nurse Practitioner program to see if they will take your BS and MS degree credits and how many they would apply to the program. You might already have the first two years of a BSN done. The University of California, SF will accept people that have a masters degree in another subject directly into the NP program, you take nursing the first two years and finish the advanced part the last year. They may accept you into their regular master's of nursing.

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Specializes in Health Education.

Thanks everyone!

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just saw your post here... have you considered going directly from ADN-BSN? Would it be possible at all to finish the ADN in an accelerated pace? i have heard of someone getting employment because they actually enrolled directly into RN-BSN program. one of my physiology teachers says that yes, there are still jobs for ADN but you need to move where there are jobs, since we are still hiring foreign grads.

I know many nursing students coming out with a huge debt and do not find a job immediately. it is a huge burden.

i am lucky that i went to an in-state tuition, so I am debt free from my undergraduate education. That being said, I am avoiding going to a private school for more than a year so I will not be burdened with debt.

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i'm not sure, but do hospitals ok a non-nursing bachelors with an ADN?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
i'm not sure, but do hospitals ok a non-nursing bachelors with an ADN?
An ADN with a non-nursing bachelors = ADN

To hospital recruiters and HR, a person with an ADN and a non-nursing bachelors is not equivalent to a BSN degree for all intents and purposes.

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Have you considered community college for your ADN? The community college I went to cost me no more than 4,000 for my RN.(completely paid for with scholarships) Then the RN-BSN program only costs 10,000 which I've applied to many more scholarships for. It's possible to do it without being in debt at ALL. Just don't forget to apply to as many scholarships as you can find!

Also does your job offer tuition reimbursement? The hospital I'm working at is covering 25% of my BSN.

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Go for the BSN, improve your chances especially that you live in a major city, don't settle for the lower degrees.

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