Should I get my RN first and then bridge to BSN or should I get my BSN?

[lindseynicole12]

So my first year of college, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. So I was just taking basics at a community school and exploring my options. I've decided to do nursing. My plan is to, eventually, get my masters degree so I can practice as a mental health nurse practitioner or a women's health nurse practitioner (where I specialize is flexible, I'm still trying to decide.).

So my question is, should I start the two year nursing program at my community school (it would actually take three years, because I spent a year taking basics that I didn't necessarily need) and then do an RN to BSN bridge program or should I do my BSN at a university right now?

[adc85]

I say apply to both types of programs, ASN & BSN, and make your decision based upon where you get accepted. Take into account the cost of tuition for each program and decide. I am starting an ASN program soon, and plan to bridge over after graduating. But there is a program at a nearby university that offers an RN-MSN, I think it is 3 yrs long, where one will earn their BSN and MSN concurrently. If there are programs like that in your area, that could be another option for you if you attend an ASN program now.

[zoe92]

If you can do a BSN right away & want to eventually get your masters, I say go for the BSN now.

[juan.ramirez0426]

I'm doing the RN-BSN route. I always answer this question the same. If money is not an issue and it is feasible, go directly to a BSN and save the time. Unfortunately it would cost me 4x more to go straight for my BSN.

[Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN]

I agree with the first person; Apply to both if you can.

For me, I'm doing the RN-BSN route, because it's about 30K cheaper than just BSN where I live. However, I'm not going to stop taking pre reqs for the BSN program, given that I don't get into the ASN.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

My advice is similar to others here. If you can afford both programs, take the prerequisites for both programs and apply to both programs. Whichever one you're accepted into first, go there. If you're accepted first into the ADN program, do it, get the RN and take the RN-BSN coursework. If you're accepted into the BSN program, do it and make sure that you've got all the prereqs done (along the way) for entry into an MSN program. Always do your best to lay the foundation for continuing your education. It's far better to be ready to start another program when you make the decision that you want/need to than to have to take prereqs first...