Traditional BSN Vs ADN-BSN

[LIA_A]

About to open a can of worms here.

(You can just skip this part)
My roommate soul sister just got accepted into an ADN program and a traditional BSN program. The ADN program has a bridge affiliation with a state university and accepts direct transfers into its RN-BSN program upon NCLEX completion. The other program is your run of the mill traditional (slowly loose your hair/ get fat) major university nursing school program, that I attended. The end result is still a BSN, the ADN ends Fall 2020, BSN ends Spring 2021 and the RN-BSN ends Spring 2022... Yeah, yeah, yeah...new grad jobs, working while in school, done faster, finances...Blah blah...many pros & cons for both! She’ll still pass NCLEX and she’ll still be a good nurse. Either way, she’ll still pass NCLEX and she’ll still be a good nurse (way better nurse than me that for sure. She is also going to continue on to grad school (for some kinda ped psych ***).

(Skip this too)
Upon much research, my roommate did not find any data stating that the education that the RN-to-BSN receives is not equivocal to the traditional BSN education. However, she did find a dime a dozen RN-BSN and RN-MSN program advertised all over the country. I mean thousands!! Some RN-BSNs could even be done in 6mo if you wanted. Some didn't require “clinical or capstone.” Some online reviews even said it was the easiest thing they ever “paid” for. Others said that they passed tests using google, wrote bad papers and made-up final projects. One reviewer from a well known online school in the midwest stated, "I paid for my degree not really earned it, and now I am struggling in grad school because my BSN was MBS (major ***). Geez, where's the accreditation committee at? The more she researched it the more I was intrigued and this has now turned into a grad school research assignment nightmare that I deeply regret!!!!!!!!

Regardless of the route and the educational institution’s name and stamp, once acquired all BSN diplomas hold the same weight. Whether it is from MIT or ITT-tech.com it DOESNT MATTER!

(Ok, Start here: Here’s the can of worms I promised)
Does it really not matter where you got your BSN from? Traditional BSN vs ADN-BSN are they really meeting the same standards? Are the assignments similar, is the rigor the same. By the way, this is nothing to do with nursing care!!!! (NCLEX has already proven the RN part it. If you passed then you met THE standards, but there's no NCLEX-B.S.) I am strictly looking at it from a scholarship perspective. Does an ADN-BSN give you any more tools or knowledge that you didn't have? Are all BSNs the same, are we all just as prepared for an MSN/DNP/Ph.D.? (I know it depends on the nurse and the program! Some programs are way better than others!). Do graduate schools take your BSN source into consideration when selecting candidates for their programs. Should they? They probably don't because Becky over here, in my advance patho class completed her RN-BSN on her lunch breaks using quizlet and grammarly (yep, she told).

ADN-BSNs now in graduate-level programs I would like to hear from you. What was your experience in such programs? Did you feel prepared for grad school? Was your program legit and hard work, you probably know some Beckys does it make you mad? What do you recommend to do, the step-up ADN-BSN and then MSN+ route or is it better to just go balls deep straight into MSN?

P.S. Sorry guys! I guess I'm just salty about my student loans, and the weight I gained but never lost, and my GPA. It's forever! I just want my best friend to make a good decision. Also, Becky said she was just kidding but I know she is not.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

I don't feel like I gained anything much from my RN to BSN program, but it was from a school with a good nursing rep so it has probably helped my career along. (It wasn't at the Quizlet/Grammaly level, though. There are disreputable nursing programs at ALL levels, so she should be selective.)

One thing though, and I've commented on it before. People who haven't even started nursing school- let alone passed NCLEX- should probably not be focused on the programs they're going to go to for their advanced practice careers.

One step at a time.

[Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN]

I got my ASN from the community college and am currently in my second to last term at a state university for my RN-BSN. Both school hold accreditations as that was important to me. I chose this route for one very simple reason; no loans at the end. I had scholarships for my ASN so all in all I only paid for half of my schooling there. Now, I am reimbursed for my classes by my hospital as long as I pass each one.

Honestly, most the classes I've taken at the BSN level are a repeat of my ASN. My ASN program is well known here for it's high level of education and has an amazing reputation. I find the caliber of my BSN schooling to be lower than what I thought it would be. The writing assignments are spoon fed while the weekly tests are challenging. However, I have no idea why I need half these classes and if my ability to write a solid APA style paper makes me a better nurse. I was an English teacher and have a master's in English, so I do find the APA papers rather easy while it seems my classmates are struggling with this aspect.

Overall, I am only doing this because 1.) work is paying for the classes, and 2.) it gives me job security in case my hospital, which is a magnet hospital, ever says I need it or I lose my job. Also, if I as to transfer to anywhere else in the states, I already have it and have a few years of job experience so I am a stronger candidate. I am a long term planner and I like the idea of knowing that this will help keep me secure in a job.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

If a school is accredited, then to most employers, a BSN is a BSN is a BSN. But if you graduate from a program that a hiring person does not hold in high regard, you might make it past the HR filter, but not get the job. I think this is probably a regional thing, and your friend should consider the local trends. I think advancing to a BSN is important, but that whether one goes straight to BSN or bridges from ASN doesn't really matter if the school is properly accredited.

[WestCoastSunRN, MSN, CNS]

I'm an ADN to BSN now in grad school. Caveat: I completed my BSN bridge program over 20 years ago -- we didn't have online school. I went to the state university like everyone else. My BFF did the regular BSN route while I did the bridge. I was working before her, obviously, plus my employer paid for my BSN. We both graduated from the same university with our BSNs. Who got the better deal? No brainer.

I can't say I remember much from that program. Here's what I think -- I think it won't matter to an employer but it will matter to a university. If she has grad school in her future (or might) -- go to a decent, known-to-be-legit school. But then -- also just please go to a legit school...... regardless.

I'm a firm believer -- you gotta have your BSN. I won't go into the diatribe of why. It isn't because you will use better technique putting in a foley or IV or bringing jello to your post-op -- or even that it makes you better at recovering a fresh open heart -- but it's important, and I've seen enough in my time to have earned the right to say so.

BUT -- all programs are NOT created equal. Nurses owe it to themselves, the profession, patients, heck -- they owe it to Mother Florence -- to choose (and demand) the best programs.

[MyNameIsSammy]

This is such an I retesting thread! I am leaning more towards ADN the. Bridge because I don’t want to pay the $100k for a BSN program (private school) program. Forget Cal state cause it’s too competitive and I wouldn’t make the cut. I don’t want to be a prisoner to my student loans lol.

[Golden_RN, MSN]

If you go to a private institution and you are essentially just paying for the degree (like some of the programs you describe), hiring managers will know that. AND you would be stuck with big debt.

I did ADN at a CC, then did BSN and MSN at state universities. I feel that my degrees are respected by hiring managers. The ADN was the hard part for sure! It is all consuming! The BSN and MSN were challenging but not all consuming. I had clinical hours for both programs and difficult science classes. Tons of papers, discussions, power points, presentations and demonstrations of clinical skills.

I was working in a hospital with tuition reimbursement ($2K/year) when I did my BSN and MSN, plus I was making a decent RN salary, so all of that helped me avoid any debt.

[snurse2020]

Make sure that the ADN-BSN bridge program is not self supported. That means that you won’t be able to use ANY financial aid money because it is not state funded. You will have to take out student loans and or pay out of pocket.