Should I "waste" my time getting an ADN?

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I'm currently taking my prereqs at a university. I only have a couple classes left to take. The nursing school I want to go to has a 25% acceptance rate. It's not only competitive, but it's the only place in my city that has a traditional BSN program. I've done well grade-wise, but I want a back up plan, just in case.

There's another nursing school in my city that has an RN and an RN-BSN program, which would take longer. But this nursing school requires an ADN in order to apply. Should I go ahead and start working on an ADN at a CC while I attempt to get into the more competitive school?

Please don't say "Apply at nursing schools outside your city." My situation will not allow that.

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Specializes in ICU.

Waste you time with an ASN? You do know they both take the same NCLEX and will both be an RN.

Of course an RN-BSN requires an ASN. You have to get the clinical component in first. Both degrees do the same amount of clinical hours.

In my area, the ASN programs are much more competitive to get into. It's because the cost is much lower. Do not assume that ASN programs are easier to get into or that the ASN degree is somehow a consolation.

Apply to both programs and go from there.

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I agree apply to both places. I did my ADN first. It was a very loooonnnnggggg wait to get in. I did all my non-nursing classes that were required to graduate first while I was waiting to get into the program. Then once I was accepted in all I had to worry about were the nursing courses!

I later went back to school and got my BSN online while I was working. It was great!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

It doesn't hurt (much) to apply to both places. Go ahead and apply and then see what results you get from both schools. If you get into your first choice school, go there. If you only get into your 2nd choice school, go there. You only have a real dilemma if you don't get accepted into either school. Then you will have to search for "option #3."

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I feel like I joined this site just to share this video link.

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.
Should I "waste" my time getting an ADN?

Well I guess I wasted my time. It took me 4.5 years to go from nothing to my BSN. I first earned my ADN and worked while obtaining my BSN (which i graduated from a week ago). During the time while I was working toward my BSN I earned over $100,000 and moved up a couple positions at my facility. That money has made me nearly debt free because I spent only around $21,000 total for my education. So no, I don't think it would be a waste of time.

The questions you should be asking should be about the NCLEX pass rate of the schools in question as well as the attrition rate of each program. Then you need to determine if you can work as an ADN in your area. Answer those question and it will guide you towards the correct path. What does a more competitive school have to do with anything? Is their NCLEX pass rate better?

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It's not a waste on any type of schooling for nursing- LPN, ASN, BSN - as long as you can find a school to continue education and as long as the schools are accredited! I would apply to both! ;)

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Specializes in General Surgery Assist.

If u have the attitude of "wasting your time" on an ADN,

Please dont flaunt that attitude in school or in hospital because its not going to get u anywhere. I "wasted" my time on my ADN and im working on a dialysis unit and making enough money to pay part time tuition towards my BSN while gaining valuable knowledge. But if u want to spend $50,000 on a BSN at a university, by all means go ahead.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

How do you know the CC is "less competitive" to get into? Many times CC have many more applications because of the lower cost. Only you can decide if you are "wasting your time".

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Specializes in ER.

Seeking from talking to many graduates, most everyone thinks their school is number one. Only one very new program had graduates that said their program sucked. I know people who failed out of a BSN progrwm and rated the bsn program low. We had people fail out of our ADN program and went on to graduate from a BSN program.

MMA lot of people were on a waiting list and then went on to a BSN program. When they graduated, the ADN program called thrm to start their clinicals. Now that's why more are moving to points systems to limit that.

Apply to both. I earned my ADN and had a year experience by the time I had my BSN. Plan carefully to get extra classes you will need for your bsn

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I did my ADN and just got my BSN in May 2015 while working

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Specializes in None.

I choose to do ADN for several reasons. My program took two years. This means that you're in school (and probably a broke college student) for only two years. I figured i'd start making more money than being broke and then go back to college. Plus, my hospital will pay for my BSN if I agree to stay with them 2 years.

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