I need opinions! I will be finishing up my pre-requisites to apply to the RN program at the Community College at the end of this month to possibly start in August if accepted... BUT Im also only 1 class away from having all pre-requisites done to apply to a University BSN program. If I wait, I will be finished with that in August. From the perspective of some of you who have already been down this path, which is better? I ultimately would like to have my BSN, which is why I have been taking those pre-requisites as well. My dilema is being out of work for so long. Does it make sense to take the RN program first, get hired, and then go back and take the BSN transition program? Or is that too much to handle once working? Right now I work full time and go to school part time in the evenings, so it wouldnt be out of the ordinary for me to do both at one time. Im just not sure if I could handle it while nursing... Not to mention, the difference in cost. Also, whats the difference in the amount of time? Obviously if I can get a bachelors degree for the sake of a few months, that a no-brainer. So, someone, please, gimme your . I would really appreciate it. Im so nervous! Too many decisions, too much on the line. Its driving me crazy!
first off, i have my bachelors. my mom has her associates and wishes she had gone all the way to get her bachelors. there are institutions out there who prefer to higher a nurse with a bsn more than a adn. you said in your first post that you prefer to get your bachelors. there is your answer. go get it! you'll regret it if you don't and you never get a chance to go back. take the time you have now to get what you really want!! good luck!!
Specializes in ICU, Med-Surg, Post-op, Same-Day Surgery.
Ultimately, you should make your decision based on what you want to do. If you are able to apply to either school, you'll have to examine what it is you want out of your nursing degree.
If you goal is to become a nurse then your decision should be based off of things like pre-req's, enrollment size, school reviews, NCLEX pass rates, student satisfaction, program length, cost, and other neutral criteria. NOT necessarily ADN vs. BSN.
However, if your goal is to become a nurse and move into educational and management positions, as well as fulfill a dream of getting a bachelor's and/or master's degree, then you may want to consider the BSN program. Personally, when I am on the floor I don't go around asking if the nurse I'm working with got a BSN or went to a 2-year program. If they are good at their job, who cares? However, if they aren't, I question the school they went to and their personal drive, not whether it was a 2-year or 4-year program.
I am a second degree student, and I chose to get a BSN because it was the same length of time as the ADN programs and it gave me the flexability and ease to get a master's degree in the near future. Trust me, I looked at ADN programs despite already having a bachelor's degree because some of them were way cheaper than my program. Ultimately, you have to look at your goals and decide what's best for you. And as several poster's have stated, you can always work full/part-time and get your BSN. Your job may even pay for it!
. I would really appreciate it. Im so nervous! Too many decisions, too much on the line. Its driving me crazy! 
Lauren07
9 Posts
first off, i have my bachelors. my mom has her associates and wishes she had gone all the way to get her bachelors. there are institutions out there who prefer to higher a nurse with a bsn more than a adn. you said in your first post that you prefer to get your bachelors. there is your answer. go get it! you'll regret it if you don't and you never get a chance to go back. take the time you have now to get what you really want!! good luck!!