RN or A-BSN Program?

If they take the same amount of time, then go ahead and get your BSN. I already had a B.A. and a master's degree when I went to nursing school. I work with someone that was in a similar situation to my own, but she just did an RN program whereas I have my BSN. Where we work, everyone is required to get their BSN within a particular time frame. Save yourself the trouble of being put in a tight spot. If you want an MSN, then take the path of least resistance and get the BSN starting out.

I have some free time so I'll answer your questions to the best of my ability. I'm a current nursing student in California who turned down an ABSN program in favor of an ADN program. I had a BS in Biology from a UC just like you. I'll explain why at the bottom.

1. If a MSN is your ultimate goal then I'd suggest doing an EL-MSN. It'll take 2.5 - 3 years to complete. Essentially, you'll complete your BSN within your first 12 months during the program.

2. In California, I have been told many hospitals won't even look at your applications without a BSN. This is simply not true. It might be difficult to get into a new grad residency program without a BSN, but jobs are still available for those who are not picky. I know some recent ADN grads who didn't have trouble finding a job and some who did, and the same for people with a BSN. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a friend of mine said that many hospitals in Florida are still hiring ADN nurses as long as they sign a contract to obtain their BSN within a certain span of time. I think the most important factor is networking/connections when it comes to finding a job post-grad.

3. Some hospitals give a small differential for having a BSN. In California, it's usually 50 cents - $1 more per hour.

4. I can't really answer this question yet as I am still a student

For me, it was either a 24 month ABSN program or 2 year ADN program + RN-BSN online or RN-MSN. I was tempted to do the ABSN program, but the cost kept me away from it. The ABSN program would've cost $80k which included tuition and cost of living. Meanwhile, the ADN was tuition free (I just have to pay for books, supplies, uniforms, etc) and RN-BSN costs $15k. The ADN to BSN meant taking an extra year but I will save over $50k to put towards my MSN education. There are a few RN-MSN programs in California that only costs around $40k tuition the last time I checked so that's a viable option too. I'm currently working as a CNA at one of the hospitals around LA. My "grand plan" is to have the hospital hire me internally once I get my RN then I'll do the RN-MSN while letting the hospital pay for a part of my tuition as I go. This route is more affordable and "safer" in my opinion. There are too many BSN grads with six figure debt who have trouble finding jobs -- I didn't want to be one of them.

I guess my point is: if you can afford to go EL-MSN then do it. If not, there's nothing wrong with going RN->BSN/MSN, especially if you have a family/need to work while going to school. I have seen plenty of single parents go the slow route and are able to find jobs at hospitals even in a competitive area like Los Angeles.

Thank you both for replying! You both gave me some important things to consider.

@jaderook01: I hadn't considered that eventually an employer may make me get a BSN...

@imtoonice: I didn't know about entry level masters programs for nursing. I'll definitely look into those now!