Tell me if you are ADN or BSN please!!

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I have done plenty of research and feel pretty confident on my decision to do the ADN. But, I am very curious to know what some of you guys have chosen and why?? If you went with ADN do you plan to get a BSN? Thank you!

For someone who is young, with no children, straight out of high school, i can not imagine why anyone would choose to be an ADN, or an LPN, (or a non-BSN RN really).

Many of the older nurses did not have the choices that we have now that are so available to us.

To me, and i am trying extremely hard not to step on anyones toes, because i know some great non-bsn rn nurses this is how i look at it.

An ADN, LPN, or NON-bsn RN program is like a minor in college.

You can major in something, and Minor in nursing. You have all the technical skills, but might not understand the logic and reasoning behind them. You might know that a person has an elevated cardiac enzyme, but you wont really understand WHY (that is just an example, not to be taken literally).

I found it facinating when i started nursing school 3 years ago that in the state of missouri, in our Nursing Practice Act, the legal documents about what a nurse is, what requirements she must meet, and what she may be called, that an LPN may not advertise herself or clain that she is a "professional nurse", the title professional nurse can only be applied to RNs (all RNs, not just BSNs). The LPN can only legally claim that she is a practical nurse (skilled in tecnique, not in theory).

I was shocked that the state said that, but it made me proud in a way to, that i will be a Professional nurse, not a practical nurse.

I am not saying that years in school, credit hours, and extra letters behind your name makes you smarter, a better person, or a better nurse. to me it is a matter of Pride.

Be proud of yourself, and take it as far as you can go!

Go BSN

There are many schools of thought on ADN vs BSN. I have worked with many ADNs who understand the theory of why they are doing what they are doing as do the BSNs I work with. The thing to consisder is that in the future it does appear that for intermediate management positons a BSN will be required. There are some agencies/organizations that will not hire ADNs. A BSN is often required for Community Heath Nurses and I have been told that the Vetran's Administration only hires BSNs. This last is a rumor becuase I know our local VA hospityal has LPNs ADNs and BSNs all on the same units, the question is ihas there been a new policy on new hires. Check in to what ever area you think you may be interested in and and make sure what the requirements are. I personnally encourage a BSN entry level degree for RNs but as long as positions are avialbel for ADNs it is a quicker path into the field and you can always go back to school. EDUCATION IS SOMETHING THAT NO-ONE CAN EVER TAKE AWAY FROM YOU ONCE YOU HAVE IT. yOU ARE NEVER TO OLD TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL EITHER . I completed my nursing degree at age 45 and am returning to school for my FNP now at age 47 going on 48. You must do what is right for you and your situation.

I chose the BSN for many reasons:

1. Because of where I was at with my pre-regs, It was going to take me three years to do an ADN or 4 for a BSN. The extra year was worth the degree.

2. I have plans on upward mobility both educationaly and management wise. You need a BS for that.

3. If i did an ADN and then went on for my BSN, it would have taken me longer to get my degree. As once I finished my ADN, i would need many classes.....it would have taken me another two years at full time.

4. Job wise. I can go any where and work. I am not limited. The ad says "BSN required" I got that.

I chose the ADN program for 1 main reason, opportunity cost. I already have a BA, so I will be able to work as an RN and have my employer pay for further education.

The BSN program I applied to here (I was accepted) would have been ~$15,000/ year versus ~$1500/year for the ADN. It would take me an awful lot of hours to make that up! I will probably go right into a MSN program after working for a few years. We have a school here that will allow those with a previous degree to do so after working as an RN.

I'm also 42, If I was younger I would definitely consider a BSN program. Education is a great thing, and I encourage everyone to grab as much as they can. :D

It's amazing how many of my classmates already have degrees (some masters, one was a physician in Russia). I think the ADN program works particularly well for older students.

Good luck with school!

I am going for my BSN. I decided on this because I want to go back for my master's (CRNA maybe?) and I already had a year of pre-reqs completed before I decided on nursing.

Laura

I am going for an ADN for one reason--ECONOMICS. It's unfortunate but where I live, new grad BNS make only 0.50 more on the hour then an ADN! Why would I want to spend twice the time and twice the money for fifty cents. I do plan on getting my BNS but I'll let my employer pay for it.

Well, I have a BS in Meteorology and I am returning to school in August for the ADN in Nursing. I could not decide between the weather and nursing so I'm doing both. B/c I already have a BS, I already have all the gen ed. stuff for the ADN and I can return to school for my Masters in Nursing without have the BSN.

I can understand your questioning which direction to go. A lot will depend on your needs and resources.

I have an ADN (got it at the age of 40). I originally was an LPN (age 30). When I first started in Nursing the need was great and where I lived the LPN program was FREE. Absolutely no tuition. You only had to pay for books and uniforms. As I was raising 3 children this was the best route for me. I then continued my education on a part time basis as I worked full time.

Am I going to get my BSN? Probably, but only for my own satisfaction.

Good luck making the decision and welcome to our world. We need all the help we can get LPN, ADN, BSN, Masters, PhD. We will welcome you all.

Before starting nursing school, I felt that the way to go was to obtain your ADN, then maybe go back to get your BSN after working for a few years. This was my plan, but sometimes things change!:)

I worked very hard to complete my prerequisites for the ADN program in my area, then applied to the program. I was listed as #86 in the lottery (!), out of 50. There was no way I was going to get into the program that year, so I called the university to see what they required. I needed 10 extra classes (not to just start, but to finish all the general eds required), had a year with nothing to do but wait, so took all 10 that year. It was tough, but when I finished them, I was accepted into the BSN program without having to wait. The way I saw it, Chico accepted me first, so that's where I was going. Also, the actual program is only one semester longer than the ADN program I was going to go into!

I just finished my second semester in the BSN program (out of 5), and I have to say that I am very pleased it turned out this way. Most of the RN's I talk with during clinicals tell me this is the best way to go - more advancement possibilities, etc. The pay is no different for BSN vs ADN to start, but in my area the BSN prepared student will make more money within about six months. Also, once you have been working, I'm told it is more difficult to cut back on your hours to go back to obtain your BSN, and that it will take longer because it is difficult to go to school full-time while you are working. For me, going for my BSN is a shorter process in the long run. As for the money, it is costing a bit more ($3000/yr. instead of $1600/yr.), but I feel it is worth it for bachelor's degree. I would have had to bear the cost of the ADN program, then gone back for the BSN, spending almost as much for the whole program just to upgrade!

For me, the BSN program is working. Everyone has to decide for themselves, so only you can say what will work for you. Good luck!

:p

Personally, I chose to go for a BSN. The options as far as carreer mobility are much greater, from what I understand, and by obtaining a bachelor's degree I will have fufilled a personal goal. I also am strongly considering futhering my education by working towards a master's degree in either Nursing education or Hospital Administration. Also, because I am single with no children, and relatively young, I really don't have anything holding me back from going for the BSN.

Good Luck in your future endevours!!!

I went ADN due to a combination of situations. First, I was not lucky enough to be able to go to college after high school (I'm not going to give you my sad story, don't want to make you sleepy), I have been able to get my education at night. Even though I have gone to college for a combined 7-8 years, I still do not have a college degree (I went from education major to medical assistant to x-ray tech to RN student). All of the BSN programs are in the daytime, so I chose the ADN program and I do not regret it one bit. I don't want to start anything with BSN students (because I will be one myself in the near future), but I'm sick of being suggested directly or indirectly, with soft or insulting words how less-educated you are with an ADN. I'm not going to post my GPA or my class rankings, because nobody cares. What matters are three things and three things alone: that you know what you are doing (if not, ask, read, research, and learn), that you honestly care for your patients (even those who make you change their diapers like there is no tomorrow), and that you love what you do and take pride in it everyday (even if you changed diapers all day long).

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