Returning B.S. Graduated -Conflicted on whether to get RN A.A.S or BSN

Slimlady727 · Aug 31, 2007

you dont need your associates before you get your bsn. the schools you are looking at that thave the rn-bsn programs are tailored for the students that are already rn's. there are plenty of schools here in ny that offer second degree programs and many of them accept transfer students without a rn license. you have to do your research, i've been looking into nursing schools for the past 2-3 years and know which school have those type of programs.

i also hold a ba degree and im currently going to apply to both adn and bsn programs. i just want to get in where i fit in.

you can look at www.allnursingschools.com to help you filter out some of the schools.

pm with questions...

alik · Aug 31, 2007

I have master degree and I am getting my AAS RN end of this year. I did my research and I found that to get AAS RN is easy. There is no big difference between AAS and BSN salary, you can start your work with AAS RN and most of the Hospital pay for your study, if you want to persue your BS or MS degree.

Just get in the program, which is more important.

Good Luck

nynurse! · Sep 1, 2007

Hi

I would definitely recommend getting your BSN over your ASN. I just graduated from NYU's 2nd degree BSN program, and I know Hunter College also has a BSN program, as well as Columbia. Have you looked into Malloy? I think they have one too. If you decide to pursue a graduate degree in nursing you will have to go back to school (again!) to finish your BS if you only do an ASN. Also, some hospitals do not hire ASN nurses anymore (NYU Tisch, Mt. Sinai, Cornell). Just my 2 cents.

:)

Chrissy12 · Sep 4, 2007

Thanks Slim,

Appreciate your reply. I knew there were a few private schools offering the Accelarated BSN program to Second Degree students... like Columbia/Adelphi/Molloy... I guess I should have been more specific. I was turning to SUNY schools first and was finding no luck... I can't really afford $60,000 but I guess I'll have to sit on loans for a bit.

Chrissy12 · Sep 4, 2007

Thanks NY Nurse,

Actually, I'm looking into Adelphi and Molloy. I will be speaking with advisors from both schools this week. Molloy seems to have a BSN-MSN dual degree program for Second Degree'ers but I think I'm leaning more towards Adelphi's program. All really depends on the aid I receive from Uncle Sam. :) Thanks for your advice though. I looked into Columbia, but the commute would have been a nightmare for me.

EmilyNY · Sep 4, 2007

Thanks Slim,
Appreciate your reply. I knew there were a few private schools offering the Accelarated BSN program to Second Degree students... like Columbia/Adelphi/Molloy... I guess I should have been more specific. I was turning to SUNY schools first and was finding no luck... I can't really afford $60,000 but I guess I'll have to sit on loans for a bit.

Chrissy,

Have you checked SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn? They offer an accelerated BSN program for second degree students, too.

http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/nursing/accelerated_nursing/index.html

Slimlady727 · Sep 5, 2007

thanks slim,
appreciate your reply. i knew there were a few private schools offering the accelarated bsn program to second degree students... like columbia/adelphi/molloy... i guess i should have been more specific. i was turning to suny schools first and was finding no luck... i can't really afford $60,000 but i guess i'll have to sit on loans for a bit.

nyu, stonybrook, college of new rochelle and pace also offer second degree programs. liu also has a bsn prog, im not looking into acce programs anymore because i need to work. my friend goes to liu and she is going part time and says its alot of work, so i could only imagine an accelerated program.

rnkim97 · Sep 7, 2007

Hi All,

I think that each program has its plus and minus's. I graduated from an AAS program 10 years ago. I was more than prepared for clinical nursing. I had done everyhting in clinical. I have friends that went to a BSN program and graduated never giving an IM or SQ injection. To me that is poor. We had a 97% pass rate the first ime with the NCLEX.

I am currently in school at Adelphi for my BSN- very easy this time around , no stree, papers to do, no tests in the "nursing " classes , alot of discussions. There are alot of people that have there associates. It have NEVER hurt me from getting a job. Actually I work at NY Pres. Experience counts for alot when you get to a certain level. I think that you should look into all schools. With the lack of faculty the amount of available seats are limited fro programs. It pays to keep an open mind and look into all programs that it is you really want to be a nurse. '

Feel free to email me with any questons/help needed.

[email protected]

Kim

Lilluv117 · Sep 27, 2007

I would recommend going for your ASN if money is an issue (I too cannot afford $60K in tuition and I have no desire to have to pay a rediculous amount in loans after I get my degree). Most hospitals will hire RNs with an ASN. I also agree that you get waaaayyyy more clinical skills in an ASN program - the nurses on the floors have told us themselves that they can tell which new grad came from which school when they start and the ASNs are more prepared, clinically. And a big perk that got me was that you can work as an RN, making pretty much the same as an RN with a BSN, and the hospital will pay for your schooling for your BSN so if you want to go to Adelphi for your BSN, it'll be free (they have a one year, one day a week accelerated RN-BSN program).

If money is not an issue and you just want to get into the nursing program and finish with a BSN then go to a private school like Adelphi or Molloy. Most ASN programs have long waiting lists or are extremely competetive (4.0 GPAs are pretty much a must). Most BSN programs will accept you easier, as long as you pay the tuition. So you'd be able to start right away. But if you have a good GPA, you'd probably be able to start right away in the ASN program too.

Also, most schools take people with degrees already. You don't need to be an RN to get your BSN.

Whichever path you decide to take, be sure to pick whatever works best for YOU. I wish you all the best! Good luck!!! :)

olivia28 · Oct 4, 2007

Hi All,
I think that each program has its plus and minus's. I graduated from an AAS program 10 years ago. I was more than prepared for clinical nursing. I had done everyhting in clinical. I have friends that went to a BSN program and graduated never giving an IM or SQ injection. To me that is poor. We had a 97% pass rate the first ime with the NCLEX.

I totally agree with the poster above. Most of the Accelerated programs are designed just to get you to pass the NCLEX, not to be a good clinician also. That was important to me. I also could not afford the tuition that most of the schools charge. I have a Master's degree as well.

In the end, you have to do your research and decide what is best for you. With the amount of competition just to get into nursing school, I would go to the first place that accepts me. Getting a job will not be a problem once you pass the boards.

Good luck!

wayunderpaid · Oct 8, 2007

I totally agree with the poster above. Most of the Accelerated programs are designed just to get you to pass the NCLEX, not to be a good clinician also. That was important to me. I also could not afford the tuition that most of the schools charge. I have a Master's degree as well.
In the end, you have to do your research and decide what is best for you. With the amount of competition just to get into nursing school, I would go to the first place that accepts me. Getting a job will not be a problem once you pass the boards.
Good luck!

I find it offensive that people would say that accelerated programs lack in quality, or that they are designed to help you pass the nclex, without helping you become a good clinician. If you never attended one, you don't know what you are talking about. As a graduate of an accelerated degree, I guarantee you that we had clinicals more often and more hours than many community colleges. The only "accelerated" portion of the program is the fact 4 semesters of nursing school are compressed into three (there are many accelerated programs that are still 4 semesters long, but include both summers). I have many colleagues that were new graduates with ADN's and we have comparable skills, so I am not going to put anyone down. Someone commented that accelerated nurses never gave sq/im injections. I would seriously doubt such statement. Who knows in which context it was said...

Be aware that there are many nurses who resent the fact that someone else went to school "for a year" to get their RN (BSN), when it took many the CNA-LPN-ADN path, which could be several years. What many fail to notice is that people who come in from other professions have a 4 year degree behind their backs, plus all of the prerequisites. Can you imagine the kinds of things unhappy or resentful people can say about others? There are a few generic MSN programs which give entry level nurses a masters degree. Instead of putting down people, we should be helping them succeed! Help the MSN prepared nurse give an enema.... He/She needs to experience it if school did not provide them with that experience. Instead, other nurses would whisper: "let him/her fail..." Then the old adage "nurses eat their young..." becomes the nasty truth.

On another note, wouldn't you want to attend a school that helps you pass the NCLEX? I know of a tech that works in our hospital who went to a community college and took the NCLEX several times. She has been working as a tech and does not plan to continue taking it anymore. A great concern in deciding which school to choose should include both passing rates and attrition rates. It does not help you to be an excellent clinician if you can't pass your boards (hint, NCLEX boards are meant to weed out people who might not be so good clinicians, or who have certain deficiencies). Attrition rates would let you know about how helpful are schools in making sure that once you are enrolled, you succeed in your program (truth, there are some people who cannot be helped).

I highly recommend an accelerated program, especially if you want a quick entry into practice, relatively easier admission process, are motivated, especially if you would ever consider graduate education.

Accelerated programs are extremely time consuming. The criteria for graduation set by the NLN and CCNE are applied equally to any program, so the "criteria" has to be fulfilled in less time, hence, you are busy....

Money and debt are a big concern to many. A SUNY school such as Downstate, Buffalo or Binghamton should not break your bank. Most of all, be careful that you make a sound choice that you can be happy with. I personally quit my job, moved 5 hours away, took some loans (not as many as one would think), stuck it out, and did really well. My first job in nursing does not pay nearly as well as my previous job, but I am a happy person, and that is what matters!

Good luck in your efforts.

Wayunderpaid