When is the "best" time to do an RN-BSN program?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 18, 2015

I completed a fully online RN-to-BSN program approximately five years after earning my ASN degree and RN license.

Why did I wait so long? Two issues worked against me. First of all, the ASN program I completed was nationally accredited by ACICS instead of ACEN, and the school lacked regional accreditation. Therefore, many reputable RN-to-BSN programs would require me to retake multiple courses at great expense.

Secondly, I needed a college-level math course, but my math skills were too weak to ever successfully complete college algebra or statistics. I had been in the remedial/developmental level math courses on and off for nearly a decade and was never able to escape that vortex.

It took several years to find a CCNE-accredited RN-to-BSN program that would grant credit for my previous nursing coursework and treat me with leniency regarding the needed math credits. I was able to get away with taking a very introductory statistics course.

To keep a long story short, I completed the BSN program in 10 months while working full-time 12-hour night shifts.

eggyweggy, MSN, RN · May 18, 2015

I also have a non-nursing baccalaureate degree and completed my ADN in 2013. Passed my boards in June. Didn't get a job until August and a huge barrier was not having a BSN combined with zero healthcare experience. When I first started looking for jobs the language on the postings was "BSN preferred." Within a few months it became "BSN Required."

That was the point where I wished I had bit the bullet and gone straight into a RN-BSN program instead of waiting. I ended up taking a job in home care, which didn't have nearly the same learning curve as an acute care job would have been, and it would have been totally doable under those circumstances.

I spent that semester researching programs and applied to the one I could start right away the following semester. It took me 4 semesters, but I just finished my program and landed an acute care job this month. I would say that having the BSN in progress made a huge difference in my marketability.

I took 6-10 credits most semesters in order to get it done. There were times when it was a little overwhelming, but I told myself I could do anything for 17 weeks at a time. And I survived.

I did a hybrid program, so it offered a combination of structure and flexibility with online courses. Because the content is theory-based, you can absolutely do the program without nursing experience. I didn't have the same breadth of knowledge about healthcare as some of my classmates, but I also wasn't jaded going into it.

Whether it's doable for you right off the bat will largely depend on your work schedule, your family support, and how well you manage having multiple things on your plate. Most programs can be done either part-time or full-time. I started off with 2 classes at a time to make sure I could manage, then hit it hard my last two semesters and took 10 credits at a time. I decided that I could work moderately hard for three semesters and graduate in the fall or really hard for two and graduate in the spring instead. It was a tough 8 months, but I'm glad I knocked it out and got it done.

AJJKRN · May 18, 2015

As soon as I passed the NCLEX and landed a job I was enrolled into an RN to BSN program. I had already researched what program I wanted just as I had my ASN school which had an excellent reputation with the local hospitals. It was a full time, 22 month program that was six weeks per class with one class being online and the next (for the most part) meeting once a week in a classroom and the professor/university coming to my town as opposed to me having to drive all the way to the brick and mortor school. It was totally doable for me because I was focused on achieving a personal goal and job security! As a new grad you won't know how hard everything really is because you simply just don't know any better so you don't second guess and you just do it.

blah_blah_blah · May 26, 2015

I did my BSN program right after I got out of my ADN school, but that's because the schools were partnered and that's how the program worked. There were also quite a few experienced RN's getting their BSN's.

I don't know about other schools, but my BSN program was a cake walk compared to my ADN program. in the BSN program I wrote a lot of papers. I would personally suggest going right into the BSN program after you finish the ADN program. A lot of my classmates including me did this and we were fine. This way you won't lose momentum.

I know if I waited to get my BSN, I might have waited a long time to go back but that's just my personality. I have to get it all done at once or I'd never finish.

I also know the CA job market for nurses is really tough, so I suggest doing everything you can right from the beginning to improve your marketability.

pearlypearl · May 26, 2015

Daynuh, did you also work while in the program? If so, full time or part time?

blah_blah_blah · May 26, 2015

Daynuh, did you also work while in the program? If so, full time or part time?

I worked part time at a grocery store. I didn't want to start a nursing job while in school full time because I wasn't sure if it would be too much. I live at home with my mom (im only 22) with no kids so getting a full time nursing job right after the boards wasn't that big of a deal. Looking back I probably could have gotten a nursing job sooner. A lot of my classmates worked part time and full time as nurses during school and they were fine