To become or to not become a RN that is the question.

N. Maren · Mar 24, 2017

Hi there! I completed a biology degree and worked in the field a bit before considering nursing so I can kind of relate!

I ended up pursuing an accelerated BSN program (15 month) and am at the tail end of it right now. You are someone who is familiar with university-level work and seem to be a strong student to boot so I think that the accelerated program would be great for you. I would only advise against it if you feel that you have a precarious grasp of the sciences and would then encourage you to take your time.

Having gone through my 15 month program, I can say that the most challenging aspect is the pacing. Due to the way things are condensed, if you are someone who is not always able to keep up with the readings and assignments, it would be a struggle. However, if you are confident in your ability to digest the information thrown at you, you will do great. Our program was actually open to both students with previous degrees and those without them -- those who had previous degrees (didn't matter which subject) would consistently stand out as being the top performers in the program largely because they knew what to expect from university-level work.

Unfortunately, I don't really have any recommendations for your state (assuming New York) but I hope that considering these points will help guide you to your choice. Please let me know if you have any questions!

PS: Love your avatar :laugh:

Simplistic · Mar 24, 2017

I would pursue the masters option, that way you become a nurse faster. It also looks like you are more than capable of handling the intense work load.

FutureNurseInfo · Mar 24, 2017

It is no brainer, go for the accelerated program! Or at least a generic BSN.

verene, MSN · Mar 24, 2017

I'd also suggest looking at traditional and accelerated BSN programs. An entry level MSN doesn't really put you ahead at all (and since you already have graduate degree will likely not confer a financial aid advantage) unless you are doing direct-entry to NP program. Most of the accelerated BSN programs are 12-18months in length and maintain more of a grad school like pace to the coursework. They may also be a little cheaper (though not cheap) compared to direct-entry MSN because you are paying for undergrad credits and not graduate credits.

Not sure of your potential job market but that would be one thing to consider in looking at ADN vs BSN/ABSN schooling. In major metropolitan areas it is becoming more and more common that BSN is preferred for acute care setting (e.g. hospital) employment. That being said if your area is hiring ADNs or you don't have the desire to work in a hospital or leadership position the ADN can be a good place to start if for no other reason than affordability.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2017

I second others' advice that at a minimum a BSN is the way to go. If you find that the accelerated route is the way to go, then do that. Doing a traditional 4-year BSN will make you insane, especially since you clearly are good with things that are very fast-paced (and, an accelerated BSN is about as fast as you can go). There are some drawbacks to consider the aBSN route, though. For one, because the pace is fast, some students feel like they miss out on a lot of building their knowledge base, particularly the fundamentals. I've heard from some seasoned RNs that they aren't too thrilled when the aBSN crowd comes around to clinicals because they seem to be missing a lot of the foundation they would have otherwise gotten in a traditional ADN or BSN education. So, if you can figure out in the 15-18 month span how to make up for the deficiencies inherent in blasting through nursing school, you're golden. I was precepted by someone who went through an aBSN program and she is positively brilliant -- she would have only been wasting time doing a trad BSN. Me? I'm kind of a dip so I needed to go back for my 2nd Bachelors. And, as others have said, an ELM is just more work to still end up as an entry-level RN.

Oh, and one more thing -- you likely know this better than anyone but finding a job as an RN can be extraordinarily competitive (as, essentially, most jobs are these days). So, with working on an aBSN you'll have even less time to network, find a job in a hospital you might want to work at (as a nursing assistant -- this is a pretty good way to get the foot in the door in an acute care setting) and shop around for a good work environment (this, above anything else, is paramount and is entirely possible to do -- you don't have to settle unless you want to!).

Good luck!

Winry · Mar 26, 2017

If I were you, I would start out with a 2 yr program at a community college. Depending on where you are from ( I am from western New York) community colleges tend to give the best bang for your buck. Not only is it MUCH cheaper than a 4 year state school, but you can get out and get some experience relatively quick while you finish your Bachelor's and Master's. I went to SUNY Brockport for 2 years for Medical Technology, and had a change in heart. I am now accepted into Genesee Comm. College's nursing school and will be started in the fall. I am saving so much time and money (and will be making money/ getting experience sooner) by going to a community college and then getting my BSN online while I put that RN license into use!

Many of your SUNY schools are coming out with online RN to BSN programs. I highly suggest looking into your local comm. college or 2 year tech school (like Alfred State for instance) and then RN to BSN programs.

Another thing I found helpful was transferring SUNY credits to another SUNY school. However, be concious that many programs require you to have taken specific courses within a 5 to 7 year time period upon applying for a nursing program. At GCC, they require us to be updated on A&P 1 and 2 within 7years.

A lot of this though you will need to research and crunch numbers to see what option is best for you! Good luck

NYCtrader · Mar 26, 2017

Hi N. Maren,

Thank You so very much for the detailed answer. It really helps!

Wow when you right that most students without any nursing related backgrounds(majors) outperformed there peers that surely encourages me! :)

Yes, I absolutely understand about the workload especially in the accelerated program. Few things that I think would be helpful to me is that I have taken plenty of Science courses whilst I was a pre-med major, eg. Microbiology, Organic Chemistry, Intro to Pathology etc. Then as I go on Wall street I worked at an IB, tracking stocks for Biotechnology and Medical related companies for which I had to delve more into understanding the intricacies of how the drugs work and how are patients evaluated. Its just a small thing but it surely drove me more and more towards the field of nursing!

Surely now I'm pretty certain to take the accelerated route.

PS. Once a trader always a trader. LOL

NYCtrader · Mar 26, 2017

Hi N. Maren,

Thank You so very much for the detailed answer. It really helps!

Wow when you right that most students without any nursing related backgrounds(majors) outperformed there peers that surely encourages me! :)

Yes I absolutely understand about the workload especially in the accelerated program. Few things that I think would be helpful to me is that I have taken plenty of Science courses whilst I was a pre-med major, eg. Microbiology, Organic Chemistry, Intro to Pathology etc. Then as I go on Wall street I worked at an IB, tracking stocks for Biotechnology and Medical related companies for which I had to delve more into understanding the intricacies of how the drugs work and how are patients evaluated. Its just a small thing but it surely drove me more and more towards the field of nursing!

Surely now I'm pretty certain to take the accelerated route.

PS. Once a trader always a trader. LOL

NYCtrader · Mar 26, 2017

Hi Simplistic,

Thank You for encouragement and helping me out of this dilemma. I appreciate your help! :)

Aye Aye, Sir! Thank You!

NYCtrader · Mar 26, 2017

Hi Verene,

Thanks for the detailed input. Its really helpful.

The only reason I was considering Masters was to that it could give me some advantage over the ADN's when it comes to hiring.

The idea is to basically finish Masters attain a position as a nurse, get some clinical experience then move on to finish the coursework for Nurse Practitioner . The end goal is to join the army after pursuing Nurse Practitioner. Some may ask why even think about becoming a Nurse Practitioner, one can just join the army as an RN. But its after certain point lets say years from now on an honorable discharge, one can still pursue this passion. At that being an NP would have its own advantage over just being an RN.

NYCtrader · Mar 26, 2017

â€‹Hi La_chica,

Thank You for the detailed input. I really appreciate your help.

Yes, I concur the traditional route would surely make me thing over and over which would lead to insanity! Therefore, considering the accelerated program over ADN.

You're spot on with what was worrying me -> the clinical aspect in the accelerated area. That's the only reason which makes me at times to incline towards pursuing ADN over the accelerated program.

Thank You for your advice on the networking bit, it gives me some rare insight on which I had not pondered upon.