Regrets about ADN?

kewlnurse · Apr 2, 2001

Originally posted by teresab_2000:
Does anybody have regrets about getting an ADN? Do you ever wish that you had gone for the BSN? Did you ever feel like you had to get a BSN out there in the workforce? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

I have only 2 regrets with regards to getting my ADN 1.) I should of done it when i was younger, and 2.) should of been single

CC NRSE · Apr 2, 2001

NO, I DON'T REGRET GETTING AN ADN. AT THE TIME, IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME MUCH LONGER TO HAVE GOTTEN A BSN. I ALREADY HAD THE PREREQ'S FOR THE ADN. I NEEDED TO GET THROUGH SCHOOL QUICKLY BECAUSE I WAS MARRIED AND HAD BILLS TO PAY. ME NOR MY HUSBAND HAD A GOOD-PAYING JOB. (HE STARTED NURSING SCHOOL 6 MOS AFTER ME.) I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE U.S. BUT THERE IS NOT A BIG DIFFERENCE IF ANY, IN PAY HERE IN THE SOUTH. I GUESS THE BIGGEST THING IS MOST PLACES REQUIRE A BSN FOR ADVANCEMENT(MANAGEMENT). ALSO IF YOU WANT TO GO ON TO SOMETING LIKE NP, CRNA OR OTHER ADVANCED PRACTICE MOST PROGRAMS REQUIRE A BSN. HOWEVER RN TO MSN PROGRAMS ARE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT. I THINK MOST ADN PROGRAMS GET MORE CLINCAL EXPERIENCE. BSN SEEMS TO FOCUS MORE ON MANAGEMENT. AT LEAST THAT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE. (WE GET LOTS OF STUDENTS WHERE I WORK)

I GUESS IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE. THEY HAVE MADE IT REALLY EASY FOR ADN'S TO GO BACK AND GET THEIR BSN. THE PROBLEM IS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!!!! I HAVE BEEN OUT NOW FOR 4 YEARS WITH EVERY INTENTION OF GOING BACK, JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT YET!!!!

justanurse · Apr 2, 2001

No regrets to having gotten "only" an ADN degree. I went straight out of high school, knowing I wanted to be a nurse. I received a full tuition scholarship to our local community college for my ADN. I told myself I would go back to school within 5 years to begin my BSN. It's almost 15 years later and boy am I glad I didn't do it. The degree isn't what is important to me, it's the nursing. I can do whatever *I* want to do with the degree I have. I like patient care, am a Charge Nurse over our CCU and PCU departments and am as high up on the management ladder as I ever want to be: just one rung below it, not on it. Now, don't get me wrong, if you really want the advanced education, GO FOR IT. To each his own. I don't think anyone is better than someone else just because of their degree. I work with some nurses who are going after their masters, God bless them, it's just not what I want in life. May be different one of these days. This degree started out to be a stepping stone to something else, just now I happen to kind of like this stone & maybe even looking for a different path.

teresab_2000 · Apr 4, 2001

Thanks everyone for replying. I just wanted to say that I am young(only 18) and feel like I wanna get my hands dirty in nursing and then decide if being a manager is what I want. I have already completed a year at a $ year school, but those credits will transfer when or if I go back for a BSN.

Thanks Justanurse because I just wanted to hear from somebody that was an ADN that had the ability to work in whatever area in the hospital that they wanted. Thanks for the advice. If anyone else wants to add their 2 cents than feel free!!!

sejohnson1 · Apr 4, 2001

I don't regret having an ADN, I see it as having a stepping stone in my path to furthering my career. With my ADN I was able to come out of school making almost the same amount of money as the BSN (BSN made 25cents more an hour) I could go into any area I chose ( I chose oncology) and I was immediately employed. I have been a nurse for 11 years and I am currently enrolled in a BSN program. To look at things from a personal view I do sometimes wish that I had gone for the BSN first, but professionally, I don't feel that I was hindered one bit. I am currently pursuing an oppurtunity to open my own fitness and nutrition center. With my knowledge as a nurse, I feel I will be more capable of helping clients who are hypertensive,diabtic or who have oncological related problems attain and maintain healthy lifestyles while dealing with their current disease processes. I also believe that having the BSN would have better prepared me for this technology age and for the changes forthcoming in the nursing profession. I am even considering continuing on to ge an MSN.

klwestbarry · Apr 4, 2001

Originally posted by teresab_2000:
Does anybody have regrets about getting an ADN? Do you ever wish that you had gone for the BSN? Did you ever feel like you had to get a BSN out there in the workforce? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

klwestbarry · Apr 4, 2001

I made a mistake and sent the quote back! FIRST TIME USER! I will never regret getting my ADN first, I was 30 when I went back and wanted to finish fast. Now I am pursuing my BSN through a program at the local university RN/BSN completion. I attend classes on Thursday nights for 4 hours. It's tough with work and family but my new job as Nurse Coordinator requires me to get my BSN. It will take about 2 years. In the long run it will open up more opportunities for me.