Help nursing degree associates or bachelors

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Aug 3, 2016

There are advanced placement bachelors programs for those who already have a bachelors degree in another field. Those programs I've seen are typically 18 months. The downsides to them are the price (very expensive), competiveness (you'd need at least a 3.5 GPA to be considered), and how fast paced the program is, you'd need practically no other priorities whilst in the program.

Looking at an associates degree program, those are typically two years, considerably cheap (my community college's program is ~10k in its entirety and that's with them counting books, uniforms, etc). The downside depends on where you live because some areas have stopped accepting ADN nurses in their hospitals. However, you'd be able to work in LTC, rehab, home health for sure while doing BSN coursework.

So, yeah. It's obviously up to you but try not to just jump into something, think of pros and cons. Good luck!

ScientistSalarian · Aug 3, 2016

Would it be possible to change your major or double major? That seems like the most efficient route if nursing is what you really want to do.

Taking two years to finish your health administration degree, then two more for an ADN program (assuming you get in right away), then another year or two for your BSN seems unnecessarily convoluted and insanely expensive. You say you don't want to "waste time and start over in nursing" but going the roundabout way seems like a really poor use of you time. Since you're already at a university I'd think getting your BSN now would be the simplest solution. Might add another year or so, but that seems way better than spending 4+ before pursuing the degree you actually want. Good luck with everything :)

roser13, ASN, RN · Aug 3, 2016

I really don't understand the concept of continuing on to finish a degree that you've already determined you don't want to use. That makes no sense financially or otherwise.

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 4, 2016

I really don't understand the concept of continuing on to finish a degree that you've already determined you don't want to use. That makes no sense financially or otherwise.

That's how people get into deep levels of debt. Unless you are wealthy, please reconsider your plan to pay for a degree you have no intention of using.

Don't become yet another person who squandered their money paying for education they didn't really want ... who goes on to dig themselves a deep hole of debt as they search for something they might like better than what they have ... and who eventually becomes a drag on the economy as they struggle with their indebtedness for the rest of their lives.

You'll be a happier person in the long run if you make wise financial choices now.

sadieelee23 · Aug 4, 2016

I was thinking in the long run with the health administration degree I could move up to administrative nursing job if the opportunity presented itself. I feel that the degree could become useful later in life if I want to move to an administrative job in a hospital/clinic?

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 4, 2016

I was thinking in the long run with the health administration degree I could move up to administrative nursing job if the opportunity presented itself. I feel that the degree could become useful later in life if I want to move to an administrative job in a hospital/clinic?

That's a definitely possibility. However, why not wait to finish that degree later -- when you can do it part time and maybe have your employer pay for it? Or go part time and pay for it with your RN earnings? Those options make more financial sense than going into debt now for a degree you may never use -- or at best, you won't be using it for several years and by then some of the things you learn will be out of date.

Note that if you only had one or 2 semesters left to go, I might advise you differently. But it sounds like you still have several semesters yet to go.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 5, 2016

The downsides to them are the price (very expensive), competiveness (you'd need at least a 3.5 GPA to be considered), and how fast paced the program is, you'd need practically no other priorities whilst in the program.

Another downside to an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program is the potential lack of federal financial aid for those who already have a non-nursing bachelors degree.

I was thinking in the long run with the health administration degree I could move up to administrative nursing job if the opportunity presented itself. I feel that the degree could become useful later in life if I want to move to an administrative job in a hospital/clinic?

Not really...a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree with a specialization in nursing administration combined with some hands-on nursing experience would be more beneficial than a baccalaureate health administration degree.

SNJS · Aug 5, 2016

I had a similar experience in college. I was studying biology, originally planning to go to medical school. After two years as a biology major, I realized that going to 4-8 more years of schooling after my bachelors (and taking on a lot of debt) did not sound appealing to me! I thought nursing was a good route because I could get a degree, start working, make money, then go back for NP, CRNA, ETC. However, I was already knee deep in biology and didn't want to let all of those credits and hard work go to waste. So I decided to buckle down and complete my biology degree in 3 years (I know this may not be possible for you depending how far along you are), then applied to an accelerated, 2nd degree BSN. As others mentioned, the 2nd degree was 15 months and extremely difficult with no possibility of working simultaneously. However, I ended up getting both done in about 5 years which I think was as efficient as possible..??

Neither of the three hospitals I have worked at hire ADNs so I would definitely keep that in mind with making your decision. Nursing school, ADN or BSN, is hard work and you do not want it to be a waste! I feel that your first degree could definitely have value in the future. But I can definitely see other's point of view that if money is a concern, two more years of loans THEN nursing school might be intimidating!

Another thought, start looking at prerequisites for some of the nursing programs. If your health admin degree allows, you could take some of those courses over the next two years. Sorry my advice isn't very straight forward but maybe my similar experience will give you some insight!

sadieelee23 · Aug 5, 2016

Another thought, start looking at prerequisites for some of the nursing programs. If your health admin degree allows, you could take some of those courses over the next two years. Sorry my advice isn't very straight forward but maybe my similar experience will give you some insight!

That's exactly what I have decided to do! I'm going to be taking prerequisites for the nursing program as I work on finishing my other degree! Thank you all for your comments, it really was a great help!

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 5, 2016

Good luck to you. If you can take a lot of the nursing pre-req's while finishing your other degree, that's not so much of a waste. However, be sure to thoroughly investigate all of the financial aid implications. For some undergraduate sources of financial aid, you can't have a degree in another field. Once you get a BS or BA in one field, it disqualifies you for some types of aid. If that financial aid is of interest to you, don't actually finish that first degree.

But finishing that first degree would make you eligible for a 2nd degree nursing program. If there is such a program that interests you, then finishing it makes more sense.

matthdrn · Aug 16, 2016

Associate program at a community college is much cheaper and in retrospect, would be the way I would have went if I had a complete do over of my education. There are plenty of online associate to BSN programs out there. One of the hospital system in my area actually runs a health science college and produces their own nurses. Honestly, I worked with associate degree nurses and they were no better/worse than BSN prepared nurses.

However, if you are close to finishing your 4 year degree I would opt for the accelerated BSN (that is what I did) at a state school if you can get in. It is three semesters (summer, Fall, Winter).