To BSN, or not to BSN

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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I need expert advice from all you nursing grads! I'm confused as to whether or not I should pursue an ADN or go straight for a BSN. If I choose the ADN route, I'll start in the fall semester of this year. If I wait another semester, I can start at the junior level at a four year institution. Either way, I'll have my degree in roughly two years. What is the smartest option? I only have a handful of pre-BSN nursing courses left to take; one of which is required for admission to the upper division nursing program in the spring. I've heard the ADN to BSN bridge programs can be costly because you're not granted as much financial aid while you're working as an RN. However, ADN means you gain experience and better income sooner. Suggestions??? Thanks!

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

There are hundreds of threads on this very topic. What did you glean from reading those? Countless others have been at this exact crossroads. You may find those threads insightful

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Sigh. Wake me up when this very near future of REQUIRED BSN degrees happens. We've all been waiting for years.

Please listen to what this OP wrote.

And now I'm going to reiterate what I've written about here before. Why is nursing the only profession that does not require a graduate degree? (Digressing a little)...A bachelor's degree is not the same as an associate degree except that they both meet the nursing course requirements for the BON. The additional courses are beneficial for the professional nurse, just any more education is. Why some people do not want a bachelor's degree for their profession is mind boggling to me, especially since the BSN is going to be encouraged/required in the very near future. I don't like stirring the pot, but I am passionate about this and have been my whole life.

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Why some people do not want a bachelor's degree for their profession is mind boggling to me, especially since the BSN is going to be encouraged/required in the very near future.

I come from a lower class family and was given little direction regarding education. My mother was a secretary and my father was an unapologetic, high-school drop out. Although I did manage to graduate from high school (barely), I was content to work at minimum wage jobs as a young adult. I worked a lot of hours, had a decent life and never considered doing anything differently.

After fifteen years of doing "OK", my husband developed some major medical problems that we couldn't afford to pay for- even after selling everything we owned of value, losing our house and giving up our cars in exchange for bus passes. I had never considered how expensive health care was, but at that point, I knew I needed a job that offered good health insurance. My solution was to become a nurse, because I figured they probably had good health insurance.

I lived in a slum for about three or four years while I made my way through community college and earned an ASN. I'll spare you the details, but it was not cheap and it was not easy. In fact, I'd say it was a minor version of hell on earth.

I actually have a good life now, but I'm also slightly over 40. I would like to obtain a BSN, but it's just not my top priority. I haven't had any difficulty finding work. I am happy with my pay ...and realistically, I'm not sure how long I'll be able to continue to work as nurse. I also have a young son. I would rather spend time with him than spend time studying. I might even decide to have another baby before that window completely closes.

I do believe that education has value and I do believe that more education is better than less education- I'm just not sure it makes sense for me in as an investment. My four month old son already has a small (and growing) trust fund for his future educational endeavors. I imagine (and hope) that his path will be less complicated than mine.

I'll leave the "BSN as an entry point" debate to others ...but hopefully this helps "unboggle" your mind as to why some people "do not want" a bachelor's degree for their profession.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.
I come from a lower class family and was given little direction regarding education. My mother was a secretary and my father was an unapologetic, high-school drop out. Although I did manage to graduate from high school (barely), I was content to work at minimum wage jobs as a young adult. I worked a lot of hours, had a decent life and never considered doing anything differently.

After fifteen years of doing "OK", my husband developed some major medical problems that we couldn't afford to pay for- even after selling everything we owned of value, losing our house and giving up our cars in exchange for bus passes. I had never considered how expensive health care was, but at that point, I knew I needed a job that offered good health insurance. My solution was to become a nurse, because I figured they probably had good health insurance.

I lived in a slum for about three or four years while I made my way through community college and earned an ASN. I'll spare you the details, but it was not cheap and it was not easy. In fact, I'd say it was a minor version of hell on earth.

I actually have a good life now, but I'm also slightly over 40. I would like to obtain a BSN, but it's just not my top priority. I haven't had any difficulty finding work. I am happy with my pay ...and realistically, I'm not sure how long I'll be able to continue to work as nurse. I also have a young son. I would rather spend time with him than spend time studying. I might even decide to have another baby before that window completely closes.

I do believe that education has value and I do believe that more education is better than less education- I'm just not sure it makes sense for me in as an investment. My four month old son already has a small (and growing) trust fund for his future educational endeavors. I imagine (and hope) that his path will be less complicated than mine.

I'll leave the "BSN as an entry point" debate to others ...but hopefully this helps "unboggle" your mind as to why some people "do not want" a bachelor's degree for their profession.

Nope, doesn't unboggle my mind. What it does say is that you have your reasons. And they are practical and realistic. Your story is not unusual. I applaud you for doing what you wanted and needed to do for you and your family. My father also lived in a slum, didn't have enough to eat as a child and worked very hard too. He valued education highly and pursued it, getting a BS, MS and then a PhD in chemistry. I dare say it was just as difficult as your journey was. His teachings had a huge influence on me, as you can probably tell!! The fact is that some nurses may not be able to get hired without a BSN in the near future. I encouraged both my daughters to get a BSN, which they did. And one went on for her master's. Not easy.I also think that older nurses with an ADN should be grandfathered in and not be forced to go back to school later in life, especially when they may be facing difficulties such as children going to college and aging. What age that is I don't know.

I did not mean to come across as attacking you or anyone and/or making you feel defensive. Not my intent at all. I stand by my original voice that I am perplexed that education is not pushed and valued more by some in nursing. Nursing is light years behind other professions. And so it goes....

Best wishes to you, and I did enjoy reading about your experiences.

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Nope, doesn't unboggle my mind. What it does say is that you have your reasons. And they are practical and realistic. Your story is not unusual. I applaud you for doing what you wanted and needed to do for you and your family. My father also lived in a slum, didn't have enough to eat as a child and worked very hard too. He valued education highly and pursued it, getting a BS, MS and then a PhD in chemistry. I dare say it was just as difficult as your journey was. His teachings had a huge influence on me, as you can probably tell!! The fact is that some nurses may not be able to get hired without a BSN in the near future. I encouraged both my daughters to get a BSN, which they did. And one went on for her master's. Not easy.I also think that older nurses with an ADN should be grandfathered in and not be forced to go back to school later in life, especially when they may be facing difficulties such as children going to college and aging. What age that is I don't know.

I did not mean to come across as attacking you or anyone and/or making you feel defensive. Not my intent at all. I stand by my original voice that I am perplexed that education is not pushed and valued more by some in nursing. Nursing is light years behind other professions. And so it goes....

Best wishes to you, and I did enjoy reading about your experiences.

I don't feel attacked, at all. And I do believe I would have been capable of achieving more if my father had the same beliefs as yours did, whether I grew up poor, or not.

Like most young people, I once had an amazing amount of energy ...but since I got started so much later, it was easy to allow practicality to stomp out desire.

***I will make sure my son gets a BSN (at least) if he decides to become a nurse.

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Nope, doesn't unboggle my mind. What it does say is that you have your reasons. And they are practical and realistic. Your story is not unusual. I applaud you for doing what you wanted and needed to do for you and your family. My father also lived in a slum, didn't have enough to eat as a child and worked very hard too. He valued education highly and pursued it, getting a BS, MS and then a PhD in chemistry. I dare say it was just as difficult as your journey was. His teachings had a huge influence on me, as you can probably tell!! The fact is that some nurses may not be able to get hired without a BSN in the near future. I encouraged both my daughters to get a BSN, which they did. And one went on for her master's. Not easy.I also think that older nurses with an ADN should be grandfathered in and not be forced to go back to school later in life, especially when they may be facing difficulties such as children going to college and aging. What age that is I don't know.

I did not mean to come across as attacking you or anyone and/or making you feel defensive. Not my intent at all. I stand by my original voice that I am perplexed that education is not pushed and valued more by some in nursing. Nursing is light years behind other professions. And so it goes....

Best wishes to you, and I did enjoy reading about your experiences.

Bottom line, not everyone wants a graduate degree. Many people would rather invest time and money in their families or hobbies. Especially when you consider the high cost of tuition - it's a racket! Nurses used to only need a diploma; now it's an ADN or BSN to do the same job. More and more nurses are functioning as doctors. If you decide on a medical career early in life and plan to attend college for 6-8+ years, you may as well go to med school. It's a big commitment.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.

Just to clarify, a BSN is not a graduate degree. And true, not everyone wants a graduate degree.

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Technically, no. But you can easily invest 5-6 years to obtain a BSN depending on what path you take and the prerequisites that are required. ADN/ASN is typically only 3 years total.

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

To me this is a no brainer...go for the advanced degree. I had been accepted into both 20 years ago. My friend went the associate route and I went the BSN. She had an awful time getting her BSN and it took a lot longer than if she had just done it with me. Family, life, all that stuff gets in the way and once you have it and get a job it's always tomorrow.

Having the BSN opened doors that the associate couldn't. It's the smarter move in this healthcare frenzy world where MAs are replacing nurses and soon to be licensed at state levels (not just certified).

State and Federal jobs like the BSN.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.....

The 'straight-line' approach would entail earning your BSN. The 'stair-step' approach would entail earning the ASN, then returning for the BSN. My advice is to select the route that will result in more options career-wise.

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