Which path to choose?

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So I have posted my dilemna multiple times on this site and get mixed advice. I am a second degree student with a previous Bachelor's Degree wanting to transition to nursing. I acquired debt to the tune of 60k from that first degree and it has gotten me nowhere :(. My ultimate goal is to become either a Family Nurse Practitioner or Psych Nurse Practitioner, but first I want to work as a nurse and pay down some of that debt. I just relocated to Western NY with my significant other, so I applied to the community colleges as well as an accelerated one-year BSN program. The accelerated BSN is insanely expensive (60k). I was lucky enough to get hired at a local hospital affiliated with that university though as a PCT, so they would offer some (not a huge amount) of tuition assistance. I have many people telling me that the ADN is a waste of time and that I need to just go for the BSN. They also tell me time is money and I should go the quickest possible path in order to start working sooner. BUT I honestly think the smart thing to do to avoid anymore debt is to just stick with one of the community colleges while working at the hospital, acquire no new debt, and then become a nurse at the hospital I am already working for. Then maybe they would pay for my bridge RN-BSN AND eventually maybe my MNP too. I feel like this is the mature decision to make and I am only 23 with no family, so I don't think I should rush it and take on more debt! 60k is enough already! What do you all think? Am I doing the right thing?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Seems to me that you have a very well thought-out plan for yourself. You're very wise to avoid incurring any additional debt. A nursing salary does not justify the expense. You didn't say whether you had actually been admitted to a nursing program or not... this may turn out to be a factor also.

I DO NOT recommend an accelerated program for anyone who is not already in a health care profession. Our hiring managers are no longer hiring ABSN graduates because of a lack of professional enculturation & clinical preparation compared to traditional students. Quite simply, they have not proven to be a good fit.

I would advise you to take it one step at a time. Dip your toe into patient care first with an entry level job (Aide or PCT). Don't make any additional investments unless it turns out to be a comfortable place for you. There's absolutely nothing wrong with going the ADN - BSN route as long as there are jobs for ADNs in your area. After graduation, it will take you a couple of years to actually become competent and figure out what specialty area you really want to pursue. You're very young yet... there's plenty of time to get it right!!

I wish you the very best of luck.

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I've also posted several times about my similar dillema. Ultimately, only you know what's best for you. I would not pay 60k school. I have 80k of debt. My goal is to be a nurse and acquire as little debt as possible. My local BSN program isn't that expensive but it is still almost 2x the cost of the community college. There is no point having 120k in debt. Time is money. So spend more time learning and less time paying off debt. If you want to be a NP or other grad nurse, you will pay out the nose for that anyway. Might as well go the cheap route at first. I talked to my nurse practitioner at my annual yesterday. She said she prefers students from the cc. I have many good reasons to choose the asn over the bsn at this point in my life (previous degree, debt, cc is close by and less money). So, I am choosing the cc route. I am 27, married, no kids. I plan to get my bsn and msn also. But I want to work in my community and pay down debt.

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emcadam- sounds eerily similar haha! Glad to hear your story and that I am not alone in this struggle! Thanks for the advice.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Sounds to me like you know what you should do. I just wanted to point out a couple things. Hospitals willingness to hire associates degree RN is HIGHLY dependant on the area. Where I live there is no preference for BSN vs ADN. In some areas there is little chance of an associates degree new grad finding a job. You live in NY and I know nothing about that area.

Also if your end goal is to be an NP there is absolutly no need for you to ever earn a BSN. You can go from associates degree to NP school without a BSN.

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I'm in a similar situation. I graduated a few years ago with a bachelor's degree and after a lot of time volunteering in a hospital I decided I wanted to be a nurse. My ultimate goal is to be a family nurse practitioner too. I started applying to accelerated BSN programs and I'm currently applying to these programs for the 3rd time!! I'm also in a lot of debt from my first degree but I decided to try the ABSN route anyway because I knew I also wanted my masters degree and I wanted to do it as quick as possible. My problem is the programs are so competitive in my area I can't get into a ABSN program. I am now going to apply to a community college. Supposably, the hospitals like students from the community college because they get a more intensive clinical experience compared to the ABSN programs around here.

My advice is go the community ADN route if you would feel better about the cost. I'm 26 and knowing what I know now I wish I would have done that back when I was 23! I know it always seemed weird to me to go back and get an associates degree when I already had a bachelor's degree but in the end I just want to be a nurse and I'll do whatever it takes to start that path.

Good luck!!

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It seems like you have a good plan and you have thought it through. It is wise to not take on 60K in debt to add on top of what you have. If there is not a huge rush to get the BSN, then it sounds like the ADN program would work for you. There are pros and cons to both sides. You just have to do what is best for you. Good luck!

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Thank you everyone :)

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
My ultimate goal is to be a family nurse practitioner too. I knew I also wanted my masters degree and I wanted to do it as quick as possible.Good luck!!

*** The masters degree seems like a huge waste in your situation. Since you will almost certainly have to do DNP (Doctorate of Nurse Practice) for the family nurse practitioner I don't really get why you wish to aquire an additional masters degree?

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