RN first or BSN first?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Specializes in ICU RN.

im 17 going on 18 soon. I became a CNA when I was 16 because I decided I wanted to go into nursing. Now I am almost done with high school, I am actually graduating early to go on a service trip to Cambodia to care for HIV positive children (super super excited). So I already applied to three universities to go straight into starting my BSN, but I am starting to think maybe I should just go to my local community college, get my RN in two years, then transfer over to a four year and finish up my BSN in 9 months...Im just not sure which would be the smartest path. Thanks.

(PS i want to go into pediatric or oncology nursing)

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Specializes in Public Health.

Just get your BSN now. You have no reason to cut corners.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Start with the BSN unless there is some strong personal not to. Get the most out of the whole college experience that you can.

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I think you might be missing an important piece of knowledge: it's not that you can get the RN in two years, it's that the core nursing program for an ADN is two years, which usually comes after a year or more of pre-requisite courses. So.....more like three years. If you can get accepted in a BSN program now and have the time and resources, it would be a better plan for you in the end.

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BSN. At your age, no question.

(CNA at 16? And 3rd world at 18? I have no doubt about you finding gainful employment.)

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Unless finances are super important to you I say go the BSN route, just be careful not to rack up too much debt with loans.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

Just go straight to a BSN. I started my 4 year BSN program at 17 and including the year I took off for personal reasons I graduated at 22 with my BSN. I actually finished before or after some of my friends who went to a JC. They had to reapply in to the nursing program after finishing their pre-reqs. From what I've seen, with a lot of community colleges it can take the same amount of time for an ADN vs. BSN depending on the program.

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Specializes in Pedi.

Go the BSN route. I entered my BSN program directly out of high school and was an RN with a BSN by 23 (had to take a year off for medical reasons). You can't enter an ADN program directly out of high school because you won't have the necessary pre-reqs for the program. Just go to a 4 year college for the BSN and be a normal college student. Many universities have opportunities for international service as well- I did half of my community health clinical in Nicaragua. Pediatric oncology is an especially competitive specialty. Your profile doesn't say where you are located but I can say with absolute certainty that the pediatric hospital I worked at as a new grad did not and does not hire new grad RNs who did not have BSNs. In fact, their new grad RN program was specifically advertised as being for "newly graduate baccalaureate prepared RNs."

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I got my BSN young at 22 as well, that is one choice I have never regretted.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Choose a school for your BSN where the tuition is least expensive, and/or with the smallest amount in student loans. Unless you're planning on becoming a partner in a law firm or a state senator, going to a super-prestigious private university DOES NOT MATTER.

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