Starting Over

BSN is the way to go. You're at an advantage in that you won't have to take so many pre-courses so take advantage of that.

You have gotten some good information here, but something jumped out at me from your original post--the idea that hospitals aren't hiring ADN/ASN nurses. I don't know what your immediate area is like, but I swear I've never heard any such thing! Once there's an "RN" after your name, I haven't found any that wouldn't hire someone with this degree or that one. Even, actually, I've seen a preference for ADN grads from a particularly good nursing school over BSN grads from a less-preferred college. It had to do with the program, not the degree. Just food for thought.

I'm sure you wouldn't find yourself being slighted for a BSN, coming from good schools such as you've named. But don't assume that ADNs aren't in similar demand. Or, I should say, in just as poor a demand as the BSNs, as the market has tightened and anyone with experience, regardless of degree, is preferred over ANY new degree.

Not sure where you live (assuming from the OP that they live in Boston metro area) but not a single major hospital in the Boston or suburban area will even consider hiring anything but BSN/MSN entry to practice nurses (Partners and Steward being the culprits).

Wow, that's very restricting...unless, of course, there's such a wealth of RNs that they can afford to be so choosy. I'm in NYS, and that's certainly not the norm I've seen or heard of. Obviously wherever there's a greater number of RN's, they'll likely choose as you've described.

Still, I *have* seen the scenario in which WHERE a new grad was educated factors in, regardless of degree. I personally benefitted from that--my ADN school was more highly ranked than the one where BSNs were prepared, and so we were preferred. Sounds like Boston isn't the same, though.

You have gotten some good information here, but something jumped out at me from your original post--the idea that hospitals aren't hiring ADN/ASN nurses. I don't know what your immediate area is like, but I swear I've never heard any such thing! Once there's an "RN" after your name, I haven't found any that wouldn't hire someone with this degree or that one. Even, actually, I've seen a preference for ADN grads from a particularly good nursing school over BSN grads from a less-preferred college. It had to do with the program, not the degree. Just food for thought.

Definitely depends on the region, but the same is true in my area. I've actually heard from floor nurses from more than one department at a local magnet hospital that they prefer nursing students from my community college ADN program over the BSN students from the local university, simply because the ADN program offers more hands-on training and those students actually *do* more.

It pays to check around in the area where you're going to be looking for work, as it is a very regional thing.

BSN accelerated program.... if you want it bad enough anything is doable for a given period of time... I worked full time and went to school full time to become a NP. Had my eye on that calendar everyday and i bet if things weren't working out you could switch... they want to keep you and your money ! Just the same I wish you the best.