Thinking of ADN..Have M.S in Biophysics, B.A Biology Pre-med

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 11, 2012

Sorry - you'll need nursing degrees to advance in nursing. The other degrees will count for doodlie-squat. We are, in fact, a unique profession. Would you be asking the same questions about the law, architecture, engineering or medicine? Why do you think nursing would be different?

But I get what you're saying about doctoral education..... my experience also.

Powernick50 · Apr 11, 2012

HouTX,

Apparently it must be different. Hence the requirement of only 1 semester between an ADN to NP If you have a B.A. Which is what I'm basing my assumption on. This apparently is fairly common among NP school's I've seen. I was curious about nursing management positions ETC...in fact I've also just read that grabbing an MSN without a BSN is also a possibility.

Also, Pre-Medicine courses (At least at my undergraduate) were a degree higher than the nursing courses. I'd say that at least looking at the syllabi that a BSN had quite a bit of fluff coursework, and when you distilled it down to additional nursing coursework there is not a significant difference.

mindlor · Apr 11, 2012

If you can print me out something that shows where you can go from an ADN to an NP in one semester I will eat it....

Not sure where you are looking for your answers but I would suggest looking elsewhere....

I think the more likely case is that you are just trying to yank our collective chains........

Your previous degrees may get you out of a few prereqs but as someone else eluded to they wont count for diddly squat in nursing......

Good Morning, Gil · Apr 12, 2012

I have a bachelor's in another field, as well, and pursued a diploma in nursing (similar to ADN) because it was more affordable (half the cost actually) of the accelerated BSN program of which I was accepted and had originally planned on attending. As I compared the course work for both, it turned out that I was afforded much more clinical experience in my diploma program with not much having been sacrificed in the way of theory courses. I plan on attending an RN-MSN program tailored for people like us (previous bachelors) in the future, much more affordable that way.

Just depends on your circumstances. I actually think I ended up with a better education as I was better prepared to be a nurse since I had floor experience, but I'm sure I would have caught on even with the other degree. I do see a lot of posts on here saying they didn't really have valuable clinical experience, so I'm glad I went where I went now. I'm sure quality of experience just varies by school, though; it isn't an ADN vs BSN thing. There are quality/bad ADN schools just as there are quality/bad BSN programs.

Best of luck to you! I hope that you find the work rewarding! That is precisely why I became a nurse to have work that was fulfilling, and while the hours are rough, it's worth it. Night shift can be rough as far as being able to have a normal life on days off, but you get used to it, and if you don't acclimate to it, you just wait it out for day shift. I was just talking to someone about Phd work, and I just can't see how it would be fulfilling. You spend most of your career publishing articles that most people don't even read or that lead to any effective change (not true all of the time, but I'd have a pretty hard time publishing something, spending an inordinate amount of time on it, if it didn't actually make a difference somehow).

Good Morning, Gil · Apr 12, 2012

I don't think the OP is trying to "yank our chain." I think he/she was just asking a question because he/she is looking for information. Why the animosity? We want educated people in our field.

**CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN** · Apr 12, 2012

I think the main difference between an ADN and a BSN are job opportunities. There are many hospitals that are trying to hire more people with a BSN. But, as posted above, an accelerated BSN is (usually) much more expensive than an ADN. Granted, things didn't work out exactly as "planned" for me, and it took me a bit longer to get a job than expected (and right now, the job market is 'saturated' with new grads).

Financially, if you do a 2 year associate's degree program versus a 1 year accelerated bachelor's program, if you are not working while in school (For either program), you could start your nursing career a year sooner with an accelerated program (which would essentially negate the tuition difference). On the other hand, you have more of an opportunity to work while in an ADN program, since accelerated programs are essentially full-time (30+ hours/week of courses/clinicals) plus assignments and studying. That isn't to say that some people don't work in accelerated programs.

You can further your education using either degree, but many NP programs have the expectation that you are working as a nurse before applying.

MJB2010 · Apr 12, 2012

Ok, I'll bite! How can a premed bio major be a BA? Why is it not a BS? Woulnd't it have to have the science core? If not, how can it be pre med? For pre med with my undergrad I was required a year of Chem, a year of Calc, and Organic Chem. Otherwise you were a bio major, not pre med.

Anywho, I have a previous BS degree and went into an ADN program for my RN. So my options are as follows, I can get another BSN, or go into an RN-MSN program. Some of them award a BSN along the way and some do not. For me, I see no point in having a second bachelors since it will not do anything for ME careerwise. I live in an area where RN = RN. This is not true everywhere, the state I grew up in is a place where it is almost impossible to get a job as a new grad ADN all the hospitals require a BSN. It is very regional. My area now does not have a lot of hospitals that will not hire ADNS. For me it makes sense to go right into a Masters program. In my old state it would make sense to get a BSN first.

There are no options in which you could get your NP in one semester post ADN no matter how many non nursing degrees you hold. True dat.

In place of an ADN, if you hold no RN now you could do a direct entry MSN which awards the ability to take the NCLEX to get your RN if you hold a non nursing bachelors in another field.

There are also second degree accelerated BSN programs for people wanting to become and RN.

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

apparently it must be different. hence the requirement of only 1 semester between an adn to np if you have a b.a. which is what i'm basing my assumption on.

*** there is no requirement for a bachelors degree of any kind at all if one wants to enter a masters level nursing program. it can be only 1 semester from adn to np without a bachelors degree.

this apparently is fairly common among np school's i've seen. i was curious about nursing management positions etc...in fact i've also just read that grabbing an msn without a bsn is also a possibility.

*** or any bachelors degree if you want. however going to one that requires a degree will make it feel less like all that time and money gaining the bachelors degree wasn't wasted.

also, pre-medicine courses (at least at my undergraduate) were a degree higher than the nursing courses. i'd say that at least looking at the syllabi that a bsn had quite a bit of fluff coursework, and when you distilled it down to additional nursing coursework there is not a significant difference.

*** yes you are correct. nursing degree are full of fluff, with the possible exception of associates of applied science in nursing degrees. even the associates of arts in nursing is full fo fluff.

my question this. is a person with so much non nursing education going to be happy doing such a blue collar job that requires so much hard physicial labor? will you feel adiquatly compenstated? in many areas new rns start at around $20 and hour. pretty good i think for a graduate fo a two year program but for all that education? nps make $70-$80k or maybe less in some areas.

certainly the protential of much greater compensation is there. i make well over $100k with an associates degree but i had to move twice, once half way across the country, to do it.

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

there are no options in which you could get your np in one semester post adn no matter how many non nursing degrees you hold. true dat.

*** that is true but one could enter a masters np program with only one or two semesters between associates degree and the graduate program.

in place of an adn, if you hold no rn now you could do a direct entry msn which awards the ability to take the nclex to get your rn if you hold a non nursing bachelors in another field.

*** i would carefully consider the area one wishes to practice in before going with this option. some areas do not like to hire direct entry masters rns. one of the large health systems i work for no longer considers them for hiring after experience with a number of them.

Powernick50 · Apr 12, 2012

*** yes you are correct. nursing degree are full of fluff, with the possible exception of associates of applied science in nursing degrees. even the associates of arts in nursing is full fo fluff.

my question this. is a person with so much non nursing education going to be happy doing such a blue collar job that requires so much hard physicial labor? will you feel adiquatly compenstated? in many areas new rns start at around $20 and hour. pretty good i think for a graduate fo a two year program but for all that education? nps make $70-$80k or maybe less in some areas.

certainly the protential of much greater compensation is there. i make well over $100k with an associates degree but i had to move twice, once half way across the country, to do it.

greetings,

first of all thank you for all the comments. i am really not trying to yank your chain. much as i have an outside bias concerning the nursing profession (which i am attempting to remedy by posting here!) you may have a bias concerning my profession and/or degree.

you see i am a lab manager at children's hospital. i currently make 16.35 an hour (ohio), and i am 28 years old. i have been offered a position at my local kroger starting at 17.02 an hour (with overtime and better benefits). you can now see my issue.

i actually enjoy hard labor...never really wanted to go to college either, however i was the only one in my family to graduate college (very poor rural area) because i recieved a full scholarship, as well as entrance into osu graduate school...the jobs aren't there and i almost commmited the death-by-ph.d act.

also i went to a liberal art's college that did not offer b.s in biology...even in premed.

my reasons for nursing are honest. i am immobile due to sick relatives...so i must stay in my area..i cannot move cross country for a job. i enjoy helping and caring for people (this is not a canned response..but real). i know that i can find a good job with decent pay..my work here in the lab is based off rapidly detorating nih funding... i have a child on the way...the list goes on..

at any rate. i appreciate all the help and advice offered.

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 12, 2012

[quote=Powernick50;6356450Greetings,

First of all thank you for all the comments. I am really not trying to yank your chain. Much as I have an outside bias concerning the Nursing profession (Which I am attempting to remedy by posting here!) you may have a bias concerning my profession and/or degree.

You see I am a Lab manager at children's hospital. I currently make 16.35 an hour (Ohio), and I am 28 years old. I have been offered a position at my local kroger starting at 17.02 an hour (With overtime and better benefits). You can now see my issue.

I actually enjoy hard labor...never really wanted to go to college either, however I was the only one in my family to graduate college (Very poor rural area) because I recieved a full scholarship, as well as entrance into OSU graduate school...the jobs aren't there and I almost commmited the Death-by-Ph.D act.

Also I went to a liberal art's college that did NOT offer B.S in Biology...even in premed.

My reasons for nursing are honest. I am immobile due to sick relatives...so I must stay in my area..I cannot move cross country for a job. I enjoy helping and caring for people (This is not a canned response..but real). I know that I can find a good job with decent pay..my work here in the lab is based off rapidly detorating NIH funding... I have a child on the way...the list goes on..

At any rate. I appreciate all the help and advice offered.

*** Wow, $16.35 an hour for a masters of science prepared lab manager? Just WOW! I understand and appreciate that you enjoy helping people. I don't doubt that one bit. If your heart is set on nursing then the associates degree would seem the best fit. However you expresed and interest in nurse practioner as well. I wonder, with your education back ground and longer term goals have you considered PA school? In the midwest most PA programs are masters programs with no requirment for hands on patient care experience (in contrast to the west like California where there are a number of associates degree and bachelors degree PA programs but they DO require a large amount of high level patient care experience). It would certainly be a MUCH shorter rout to your goal of becoming a midlevel provider. To do NP you will have to do a basic nursing degree, either ADN or BSN and then, after getting some work experience, apply to a 3-4 year DNP program (and pay doctorate level tution). VS a PA program where I would imagine that you have all or nearly all re-reqs done and could be a newly minted midlevel provider in only two years total and for vastly less money. You could also compete for a NHNC scholarship or loan repayment as a PA:Home - NHSC. Thier site search page is down at the moment but I remember seeing a number of scholarship sites in Ohio.

NPs & PAs are interchangable in the vast majority of midlevel jobs and are usually paid very closely to each other. though PAs have a greater role in surgery where they can make really good money. The CV surgery PAs at my hospital make $150-250K.

I see that Ohio has 7 PA programs ARC-PA / Accreditation Programs. My advice is to check them out.