Have BA. Get RN diploma then BSN?

VANurse2010 · Dec 18, 2015

This is kind of what i did (although my undergrad GPA wasn't bad). I wouldn't recommend it *unless* you live in an area that hires ADN nurses with little to no fuss. You have to do your research on the local job market. Start by calling HR departments and asking local nurses.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Dec 18, 2015

It is generally less expensive to go the community college route, enabling you to work as an RN while also completing a BSN. But definitely research your area to make sure that ADN graduates are able to find jobs. When there is an abundance of new grads, those with BSNs may be shown preference in hiring.

Have you given local cc programs a thorough look regarding competitiveness and any wait lists?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2015

Thoughts? I'm not sure if I'm missing something here.

You're missing one important part of the equation: associate degree nursing programs often have fiercely competitive admissions due to the lower tuition and fees associated with them. Even though a 2.5 GPA is the minimum required, applicants realistically need at least a 3.5 at many community colleges if they hope to be admitted.

In the area where I live, one can secure admission into a traditional or accelerated BSN program with a lower GPA range (2.8 to 3.4), whereas the GPA needs to be higher to get admitted into an associate degree program at local community colleges.

Has anyone else gone this route?

Not quite...I started as an LPN/LVN, then completed an associate degree nursing program (LPN-to-ASN transition), then completed an RN-to-BSN program.

**Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN** · Dec 24, 2015

Had a BA in English with a 3.0 GPA. After a layoff, decided to get my LPN at a community vocational school for $4000. It was a great decision for me. I worked full time in LTC and home health for a good salary. I then went for my RN at Excelsior for a low-cost degree. Now I am graduating in January with my BSN from WGU (another low cost degree). I would love to attend Drexel for my MSN, maybe in the future! I thought I was alone but since have met others who are LPNs with a Bachelor's in another field. If I was you I would apply for the accelerated BSN. I think it will be easier to get in and your job prospects will be better when you graduate. Best of luck to you!

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Dec 25, 2015

I had a BA in English when I started nursing school. I went for an ADN because it was half the cost of the cheapest BSN. I figured my employer would pay for my BSN.

I graduated, then the economy collapsed. No one wanted new grads. Even nursing homes wanted a BSN and a year of experience. It took me 10 months, a cancelled job, and a 250-mile move to land my first job, in assisted living.

When I had a year of experience, I started job hunting again. I was an RN with no BSN and no hospital experience. I landed a job in Nursing Home Hell, then ran screaming to home health. I couldn't afford a BSN (low pay plus very expensive local colleges).

Five years later I'm still in home health. Local hospitals will only hire BSNs. Most non-bedside jobs require hospital experience. I will only go back to LTC if my family is facing immediate homelessness.

If I could do it all again, I would have gotten a BSN from the start. It was more expensive, but it would have opened a lot of doors. Only 4 of my nursing school classmates got hospital jobs out of school, and all of them had to leave the state for it.

cecile9155, BSN, RN · Dec 25, 2015

I have a BA in English and French and chose to go the ADN route at a local community college. I did my research though. The community college had the highest NCLEX pass rate at the time. The local hospitals still hire ADN grads (the one with magnet status requires a BSN in 3 years). I graduated in December and am taking the NCLEX in January. I'll do my RN-BSN online from a state university starting in the fall. Cost wise both the ADN and BSN are going to cost me less than two years of my original degree (from a private 4 year college). I recommend doing your research--look at NCLEX pass rates and check to see what the job prospects are for ADNs in your area.

CiaMia, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Dec 31, 2015

Community seems like a sure thing.

Not necessarily; make sure you look into what the wait times are - a lot of CC programs in my area have a long wait time because they are popular, and have really quite high academic standards again because they are popular. For the CC I did my prereqs at (before my ABSN), there was over a year wait to even be considered for the ASN/nursing track, and then the people who got spots were those with a 3.5+. Good luck!!

csrn2011 · Dec 31, 2015

Check into all of your local school programs and options. My school has an accelerated BSN program for students who already have a bachelors in something else. It's 16 months and you finish with a BSN. Check with your local hospital(s) also. My hospital paid for my BSN, while I worked for them with an ASN.