Should I "waste" my time getting an ADN?

johsonmichelle · Feb 5, 2016

If you feel like an ADN is a waste of time then don't bother with it. I'm in a ADN program that is very competetitive and has maintained atleast a 90 percent first time n clex pass rate for over a decade. Many students that attend a bsn program in conjunction with the adn programs said that they had to work 10 times harder at the ADN program just to pass. It's people with the mentality like yours is why we have a high fail out rate, many people underestimate the effort needed to pass the adn program.

phamg · Feb 5, 2016

It depends on what you want to do when you graduate! I know that a lot of hospitals are requiring a Bachelors degree for new grads coming in, or at least it really helped me when I was applying for jobs :) The money issue is something that you'll have to figure out on your own, if you're willing to pay more for a BSN rather than taking a longer route with the ADN program, it's up to you. Personally, I'm glad I chose the BSN route. It's a vigorous 2-3 years (depending on the program), but then you're done. I'd look up the kind of job you want and see what requirements they have. :)

Also, there's a lot of scholarships out there to help you pay for your schooling! Just a matter of putting in the work for it :)

Good luck to you.

Purple_roses · Feb 5, 2016

I'm assuming that by saying "waste of time," you're referring to the fact that the ADN-BSN route would end up taking longer? In that case, I think I would apply to the program of your choice as well as the CC. It couldn't hurt. You should check out the requirements for the CC ADN program pretty quickly--make sure you take all the pre reqs they require, get any referrals turned in, take/study for entrance exams, get all your immunizations/drug screens out of the way (some schools require that before you find out if you made it in; mine did). Check to see what GPA the CC accepts and how many seats they have open. Just get all your ducks in a row. Applying to an ADN program isn't easy-breezy.

beingthankful · Feb 6, 2016

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.

Short answer: Apply to both. But don't think that you can "start working on an ADN" & then just transfer out to another school. Many times nursing courses are NOT transferrable.

Word of caution...don't get caught up in the "competition" of a school. Choose a school that best fits your lifestyle, personal situation & area. Also does the CC have a concurrent BSN program? Then it would take even less time. Ask different questions, not just "who's more competitive".

But apply at the ADN program soon. Contrary to popular belief they ARE difficult to get into AND they move FAST. Case in point, my program had a supposed 2 year wait list. I only waited 6 months. And we finished in 18 months (we take NO breaks). And don't believe the hype about ADN's NOT getting hired. Do your own research on that.

Good luck!

mrsboots87 · Feb 6, 2016

It is not a waste of time to get a BSN unless there are literally NO jobs for ADN nurses, which I would find hard to believe. In BSN preferred areas ADN's can still get jobs, just maybe not the most wanted hospital jobs.

I went to a CC to save money and my sanity by not taking all the extra writing courses in the BSN programs right away. I graduated in December and will be starting training soon in a very high end Long Term Care facility with a good reputation. It's not my dream, but I am in a metro area that hospital jobs are harder to come by these days as a new grad. I also worked there as a CNA and I do like the people I work with a lot so it will be a good job to have until I get a job in a hospital I want to work at. I don't regret my decision because I will be done with my BSN in December and have almost a year of experience at that time. The facility I work for is also higher paying then most of the hospitals in my area. So it's going to work out pretty well.

If you are in an area where ADN's can still get jobs within a few months of graduation, then apply to both. If you don't get into the BSN program you want right away, you may at least get to start am ADN program. By the time you graduate, you can have your BSN less then a year later, so there won't really be any time wasted. But If you don't get into your desired BSN program, then wait to apply again, what if you don't get in a second time? You will really have wasted time because you could have potentially had a year of nursing school under your belt by then. Just weigh your options carefully.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2016

In our area, hospitals will hire A.D. RN's who are enrolled in a BSN program. Since A.D.'s tend to be economical AND BSN's typically do not add anything new clinically, why not go for an A.D. first?

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Feb 7, 2016

It really depends on the part of the country the OP is in. A ADN can be a "waste" in California if your unable to find work resulting in going for the BSN and then being considered an "old new grad." I know more than a few this happened to ad they were eventually able to find case management work but hospital employment appears to be permanently out of their reach now.

i would apply to both. I actually think a 25% acceptance rate is fairly reasonable in the competitiveness of nursing programs. ADN programs tend to be worse because they are cheaper and lead to the NCLEX much faster than a BSN program. I would apply to both until one accepts you.

Mini2544, ASN, RN · Feb 9, 2016

You are so right! I am going to go the ADN route first, and finish my BSN online. (I am actually taking the additional pre reqs for that the semester before I start the ADN program) One of my former professor's wives is a instructor at one of our C.C ADN programs, that also has the concurrent BSN option. She told me to NOT go that route because often times the students fail the ADN portion because they think BSN is more difficult because it is a higher level of education and do not prepare themselves for the work involved in the ADN portion. You simply cannot be a nurse without the ADN-RN, so anyone who thinks that is a waste of time is talking to the wrong people! (Or reading the wrong posts ) :)

Sarah

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Feb 12, 2016

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.

Unless your city is populated by hospitals whose openings are tagged with "BSN only" or "BSN preferred" then you absolutely should go after your ADN.

What you need, far more than a degree at any level, is a NURSING LICENSE. The degree is froth, the license is core. (Please note that I am not disparaging degrees, I'm just putting them in their appropriate secondary ranking of importance.)

I presume that you need to work and that you need to work as soon as you can. Each month that goes by in which you're not working is costing you both money and opportunity to secure a position that may be filled by one of the thousands of other people graduating for nursing school every quarter.

Get your license as soon as you possibly can, regardless of the degree which accompanies it.... UNLESS your community is one of those in which the hospitals give preference to those holding degrees higher than the one which will be granted in the pursuit of your licensing education.

lindygirl · Feb 13, 2016

An ADN to BSN (or RN to BSN) takes the same amount of time as just going straight to BSN (At least where I'm from it does). You take the same nclex. And you could go ahead and start working while you finish your BSN online. I don't see how that's a waste of time.

whatwasithinking75 · Feb 13, 2016

Why not?

I'm currently "wasting my time" in a PN program.

No matter what route you take the same goal is attainable. Just more time consuming.

If you've got the time and are financially stable go for a BSN program. But I assure you there will be no time wasted if you "settle" for an ADN program.

You might be surprised at the challenges you'll face with a "lesser valued" education

::Rolls eyes::

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2016

Incorrect, a RN to BSN program can take as little as 3 to 6 months longer than the AD at places like WGU. Money saves galore.