RN or BSN

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all. I just need a little advice. I have a BA in psychology and have been working in publishing for the past 15 years. I like my job well enough, but I've always been interested in health care and am looking for a way to get into it. I live close to 3 different community colleges that offer the ASN degree, but then I see that there are schools that offer a BSN as well and an accelerated program for those that already have a Bachelors in another field. Unfortunately, those programs require full-time enrollment and I can't afford to quit my job to go to school. So I think the ASN is my only option.

My question is, does it make sense to get the ASN now and then go for the BSN eventually or is the ASN enough? One of the programs is having an open house in a few weeks that I'm going to check out and I want to have some idea of some good questions to ask. I graduated from college in 1988 so it's been a long time since I was in school!

Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.
As a Health Psychology Grad and Accelerated BSN student, I have simple advice:

GET. YOUR. BSN!

You'll have way more options for career development, and frankly will look better to most hospitals and care facilities.

Best of Luck!

B

I agree completely. I already have my B.A. in another field, and will be applying for an Accelerated BSN program next fall. The program will be intense, but I'm determined to do it and then move on to my MSN.

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I don't know if you've checked into what the requirements are for getting into either program, but here's what my situation was. I had a BA and an MBA in another field. If I wanted to go to ADN route, I would have to take A&P I & II, Chem, Microbiology, psychology and nutrition in order to apply to the community college where it was offered. If I chose to get a BSN, I still had to take those exact same classes because all of the other pre-reqs (i.e. history, government, stats, etc.) I had already taken for my previous degrees. For me it was a no-brainer, get the BSN. Same amount of time and a better standing educationally. Check out what the requirements are, it might help you make a decision, and you might find that you've already taken those classes that you would have to take to make the move from ADN to BSN (even if they are online).

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I don't know if you've checked into what the requirements are for getting into either program, but here's what my situation was. I had a BA and an MBA in another field. If I wanted to go to ADN route, I would have to take A&P I & II, Chem, Microbiology, psychology and nutrition in order to apply to the community college where it was offered. If I chose to get a BSN, I still had to take those exact same classes because all of the other pre-reqs (i.e. history, government, stats, etc.) I had already taken for my previous degrees. For me it was a no-brainer, get the BSN. Same amount of time and a better standing educationally. Check out what the requirements are, it might help you make a decision, and you might find that you've already taken those classes that you would have to take to make the move from ADN to BSN (even if they are online).

As I said in my OP, I'd like to do the BSN, but the only BSN programs around here are full-time and I can't afford to quit my job. I have a BA in psych so I won't have to take any of those classes so I only need the nursing classes and science. The community college is having an open house in a few weeks so I'm going to go to that and see what my options are. I'm also going to contact the school that does the BSN just for the heck of it and see if there's some way I could do that.

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You do not need a BSN or an ADN to pursue a master's in nursing. There are many direct-entry programs at the master's level for non-nurses with bachelor's degrees in other areas. Students are eligible to sit for licensure after completing the first year. Many students find it feasible to complete that first year, then work as RNs while completing their master's degrees.

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You do not need a BSN or an ADN to pursue a master's in nursing. There are many direct-entry programs at the master's level for non-nurses with bachelor's degrees in other areas. Students are eligible to sit for licensure after completing the first year. Many students find it feasible to complete that first year, then work as RNs while completing their master's degrees.

OMG, you're right! I have to get some pre-requisites out of the way though, so I will have to work on those before I apply (mainly science courses). There are some others they list that are similar to courses I took in college, but I'm not sure if the classes I took back then will transfer. It also says it's possible to do the program part-time, although some of the practicum experiences are during the day. I could always take time off work to do that though so that shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for letting me know about this!

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As I said in my OP, I'd like to do the BSN, but the only BSN programs around here are full-time and I can't afford to quit my job. I have a BA in psych so I won't have to take any of those classes so I only need the nursing classes and science. The community college is having an open house in a few weeks so I'm going to go to that and see what my options are. I'm also going to contact the school that does the BSN just for the heck of it and see if there's some way I could do that.

You should definately check out the BSN programs, because if you have all those other classes (i.e. gov't, stats, etc.) you would basically be going to the community college to complete the degree (BSN) like I am. My program is essentially a 2 year nursing program; however I found out that once you're accepted you don't have to take the classes at the "recommended" pace and they also offer a weekend program. Check out the BSN because as I see it once you will have completed the RN at a community college you essentially have completed the BSN requirements because you've already gotten the other non-science courses out of the way with your previous degree. It might be difficult later to do a RN to BSN if you've already taken the courses they will want you to take by taking them for your previous degree. Does that make sense?

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I also have a B.A. in psychology, and I'm hopping to get into ADN in a nearby community college. I would only take the nursing courses in the program because I already have the general eds from my B.A.

I don't want to do an entry level MSN because the first year the program recommends students not to have a job. I must have a job!

In the entry level MSN you still have to take the BSN courses on campus paying the graduate level tuition.

I'm not in a hurry. I'll do the RN in the community college. Take the rest of the BSN online and later appy to a MSN.

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One more question for you, have you made sure that the community college you're interested in will let you take the courses in the evening and at your own pace? The ones where I'm located recommend not working and do not offer an at your own pace or evening option. It's basically the same program as the upper level nursing courses that I will be taking for my BSN only they can't offer the 4 year degree part of it.

Good luck in whatever you decide, it's great that you are researching it now.

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I also have a B.A. in psychology, and I'm hopping to get into ADN in a nearby community college. I would only take the nursing courses in the program because I already have the general eds from my B.A.

I don't want to do an entry level MSN because the first year the program recommends students not to have a job. I must have a job!

In the entry level MSN you still have to take the BSN courses on campus paying the graduate level tuition.

I'm not in a hurry. I'll do the RN in the community college. Take the rest of the BSN online and later appy to a MSN.

Sounds like we're in the same situation! I can't quit my job either, but I did find a BSN program that said you don't have to be a full-time student and can take classes at your own pace. But I like your idea. Taking the ADN at the community college is more convenient for me and then I can do the BSN online. The same college also offers the MSN option and those courses can be taken at the same time as the BSN. Sounds like it might be the best option for both of us.

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The community college I'm interested in doesn't have a flexible schedule. You're scheduled with the program. I just will be taking the nursing courses and not the general ed.

It's a two year program, but I just got a job as a medical assistant that pays really well, and it's flexible.

I'm an adult now! Going full-time without a job is definately NOT an option.

My sister is an RN and worked as a CNA while going through the same program. She was hired at the same hospital. Two years after, her classmates are still looking for a job!

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I also had a BA in psychology when I went into nursing. I went to an ADN program mainly due to time constraints (the BSN programs expected me to be available all day and I had to work). While some employers give advantages to BSNs, being an ADN won't necessarily cut off your advancement chances.

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