Why ADN is Better Than BSN for CRNA.. For Some

[PMFB-RN]

This is just one person's story but I think it may apply to others. A very good friend of mine just left for CRNA school in MN. He was a cheese factory worker who lost his job. He did extensive research as to what field would best to go into and discovered nursing, and through it CRNA. The state of Wisconsin had a program to re-train factory worker who lost their jobs, but the training had to be at one of Wisconsin's 16 Technical Colleges. He chose ADN RN and finished in two years with no previous college (Wisconsin's ADN programs are desinged to be finished in two years). He then went to work in the same SICU where I work and enrolled in an online RN to BSN program and used the hospital's education assistance program to pay for it. It took him two years to complete the BSN while working more than full time in the SICU. He applied to several CRNA schools and was accepted to four, La Crosse WI, St. Mary's in MN, University of MN, and Rush in IL. He graduated in May with his BSN and left for CRNA school this month (June). His ADN RN took two years and cost about $6,000, paid for by the state, his BSN took two years and was paid for by the hospital, while earning the BSN he made around $120,000 over two years as an ICU nurse and got two years of very solid ICU experience at the same time.

Had he chosen to go directly to a university and do a BSN program it would have taken him 4 years and he would just now be a new grad RN with a lot of education debt to pay back. Even had there not been a state program to pay for his ADN the $6,000 community college RN program would have been much more managable for a laid off factory worker with a family than the $40,000 four years at the UW would have cost him (probaly should also take into account the $120,000 in pay he would not have made over two years).

It would seem to me that for those who can actually complete an ADN in 2 years, the ability to gain two years of real world nursing experience (plus RN pay & benifits) in one of the many hospitals that have programs to pay for or help pay for nursing degrees, while at the same time doing one of the many BSN program desinged for working nurses, would put one at a significant advantage for CRNA school over a traditional univeristy BSN.

[RN Boston]

this is exactly the route i am hoping to pursue... its inspirational to see he was so successful!

[JStyles1]

I want to know what hospital pays their nurses $60K/yr starting out with no experience and an associates degree

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I want to know what hospital pays their nurses $60K/yr starting out with no experience and an associates degree

*** Lot's of them I know of. However the nurse I wrote about made about $55K his first year and about $65K the second year. I know because we started in the SICU together are where paid the same. Actually I grossed about $83K my second year by working a lot of over time. The nurse I worte about wasn't abailable for as much overtime R/T his BSN program.

[kbm318]

I also have been thinking about going this route recently. I'm a junior in college and still can't seem to get into our BSN since it is really competitive. So I have been thinking of going somewhere else to get my ADN.

And Amferreira5 I don't think it will look bad. I think they will just see how determined you are to get into CRNA school. And I also think they may not care how you got your BSN just that you have it as well as your ICU experience. I don't know though that's just how I feel about it.

[BunnyRN]

My education is somewhat similar to his. I graduated from an ADN program, took 3 years, with pre-reqs and clinicals. After graduating from my community college, I worked for a couple of months, and applied to a private school to earn my BSN.

Guess what, it did not cost me a dime to attend the BSN. Now I will work awhile, before I go for my MSN. Now I am loan-free, working, and saving every dime.

If anyone can go that route - GREAT!!!

[kittykatty]

*** Lot's of them I know of. However the nurse I wrote about made about $55K his first year and about $65K the second year. I know because we started in the SICU together are where paid the same. Actually I grossed about $83K my second year by working a lot of over time. The nurse I worte about wasn't abailable for as much overtime R/T his BSN program.

And you guys work where? What state are you in?

[PMFB-RN, RN]

And you guys work where? What state are you in?

*** Well I work there. My buddy I wrote about is off in CRNA school. I live and work in Wisconsin. Starting wages in some of Wisconsin's larger hospitals are over $30/hour for new grads plus, in some places, $4/hour for night shift diff. Most new grads are hired into rotating day/night positions so figure $32/hour average. 36 hours/week X 52 weeks = 1872 hours/year X $32 = $59,904/year gross.

[Inspired By Silence]

A very inspiring story. But I wonder, if he was capable of such intelligence, why did he waste so many years in a cheese factory? He could have been a brain surgeon, had he started earlier.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

A very inspiring story. But I wonder, if he was capable of such intelligence, why did he waste so many years in a cheese factory? He could have been a brain surgeon, had he started earlier.

*** Well I don't think he has more than average intelligence. I guess if one if not familiar with Wisconsin's dairy farm culture your question would make sense. Also I think he, like many people, didn't fully realize their potential until later in life.

As a person who works with neurosurgeons every day at work I have to say that it's not so much intelligence that allows one to become a neuro surgeon, but rather a combination of opportunity and dedication.

[charlitsweb]

I received my ADN 11 years ago at age 38. I will be 50 this year, I have had a lot of experience, raised my children, and made decent money as a nurse in various different areas. Next year I will graduate from an online/ distance learning program facilitated by Kaiser ( I am per diem so they don't pay for my studies) along with 10 of the most wonderful class mates I could possibly have. We range in age from 27 - 60. Two of us are in our 50's - most are in their 40's. 23 is absolutely NOT too old. I agree - that getting the hands on experience is vital, and really adds a new dimension to your insight while studying for the BSN. Also in the hospital - I notice that the ADN students are SO much better prepared clinically than the BSn students. If you want to go into management - the best way to do it is to understand what nurses go through - in order to be a good manager.

[Getting To Great]

this is just one person's story but i think it may apply to others. a very good friend of mine just left for crna school in mn. he was a cheese factory worker who lost his job. he did extensive research as to what field would best to go into and discovered nursing, and through it crna. the state of wisconsin had a program to re-train factory worker who lost their jobs, but the training had to be at one of wisconsin's 16 technical colleges. he chose adn rn and finished in two years with no previous college (wisconsin's adn programs are desinged to be finished in two years). he then went to work in the same sicu where i work and enrolled in an online rn to bsn program and used the hospital's education assistance program to pay for it. it took him two years to complete the bsn while working more than full time in the sicu. he applied to several crna schools and was accepted to four, la crosse wi, st. mary's in mn, university of mn, and rush in il. he graduated in may with his bsn and left for crna school this month (june). his adn rn took two years and cost about $6,000, paid for by the state, his bsn took two years and was paid for by the hospital, while earning the bsn he made around $120,000 over two years as an icu nurse and got two years of very solid icu experience at the same time.

had he chosen to go directly to a university and do a bsn program it would have taken him 4 years and he would just now be a new grad rn with a lot of education debt to pay back. even had there not been a state program to pay for his adn the $6,000 community college rn program would have been much more managable for a laid off factory worker with a family than the $40,000 four years at the uw would have cost him (probaly should also take into account the $120,000 in pay he would not have made over two years).

it would seem to me that for those who can actually complete an adn in 2 years, the ability to gain two years of real world nursing experience (plus rn pay & benifits) in one of the many hospitals that have programs to pay for or help pay for nursing degrees, while at the same time doing one of the many bsn program desinged for working nurses, would put one at a significant advantage for crna school over a traditional univeristy bsn.

this was just what i wanted to hear...i'm tried of hearing the adn vs. bsn debate; and how employment would be more difficult for an adn prospect vs. a bsn. from my understanding the nclex-rn for both degree seekers are not at all different. one may prefer to pursue an adn to gain the knowledge, understand, experience and money. everyone's individual circumstances are different, personal and professional. pmfb-rn, i just wanted to say that your thread added a great deal of hope in what direction i wanted to start with, i've been searching for information about the 'specifics' and i found it! nothing is impossible and man cannot opinionate what the future holds for prospective nurses and/or nurses.

kudos!!!