Should I get my Associates or Bachelors in Nursing??

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I want to be a Registered Nurse and then find a good job. I live within the Chicago area. My question is, did you get your Associates or Bachelors in Nursing and how hard was it to find a job, and if you don't mind, what's was your current starting salary? I'm taking my general education classes at my local community college and applying to get into the nursing program there as well. It's a 2 year program. LPN at one year and RN when I graduate. Should I get my ADN or BSN? I'm married and have a baby on the way.

Thanks a bunch!

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i think you are in one of those "list making" positions......put the cons on one side and the pros on the other....

if you had no other obligations in your life, i would go with the BSN....but...you do have those obligations....i would be looking at the BSN as a goal, but maybe with the other things as intermediate goals.....and new grads of any type are having trouble getting jobs in this economy.....hopefully when you do graduate it will have improved.....good luck

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.

You also have to look at the total time line. I've had students who took 3.5 years to finish an ADN and in one more semester could have finished their BSN for not that much more $$$ (state schools with scholarships)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

If you have aspirations to go to graduate school, I would look into the BSN program. Everyone chooses their program for different combinations of reasons, you just need to figure out which would benefit you the most. My reasons for choosing BSN are that my husband and I can live off of his salary comfortable w/o me working, so it makes sense for me to get the 4 year degree now; I want to go to grad school later on; I didn't want to be on a 3 year ADN waiting list; a bachelor's degree is a personal goal of mine; the cost is fairly low at my college, and the NCLEX pass rate is very high.

I would try looking at the pros and cons of each and make your decision from there. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology, Tele, ICU.

It all depends on if you want to go to graduate school or not, I guess. I'm still considering getting my BSN and the only reason is that I'd like to go into the military; I have no notion of getting my MSN or anything like that so that would be my reason.

You just need to make a list of why you might want or might not want your BSN/ADN and then how much you may or may not regret getting the BSN and the benefits of getting out of school earlier with your ADN.

I dunno....tough choice to make, but good luck with it!:nurse:

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I don't have any marriage or family obligations but to take care of myself. So for my situation I chose to get my BSN instead of ADN. I live in the state of MD and all of the nursing programs are 2 years long after completion of pre-reqs for both ADN and BSN! Also it's not expensive about $7000 for each year. So before you make a decision list your pros and cons!

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Given the opportunity, one should get the BSN at the beginning of their career and get it over with. That would put you in a position to forgo further education if you choose with no adverse effects. You would be prepared if an employer later requires that their employees have BSNs and gives people ultimatums.

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