I know this has been discussed before but my situation is a bit different. Quick back-story:
Wanted to do ADN '12 but CC lost paperwork so that was on hold
Applied and got into BSN Spring '13 while waiting on CC
Applied for CC summer '13 and got acceptance on Tuesday :) and clinicals start January
I asked a few RNs which to choose and they all say BSN
Our hospital has no preference or pay diff but I get that maybe they want me to get the BSN now vs RN then BSN because life throws curve-balls. Well life threw me one and that's why I applied for the CC...
Im 25, married, mortgage, and mom will have to come live with us until she can work so I have to cover her bills... so I wont be able to afford my BSN.
But why are RNs advising me to get into debt for school despite knowing my acceptance to a good school? (hospital has partnership with them). Im not in a BSN preferred area either and my hospital will pay 100% RN-BSN.
I have re-read through this thread & also looked at the last 2 threads you have posted ("CC as plan A or B" & "Did I make the right decision?"). It sounds like you want validation towards getting your associates in nursing. We can't provide that for you. At the of the day, you have to choose what you feel is right in your situation. Either way, someone will disagree.
It's your life and you have received a lot of good reasons why you should get your BSN instead of your ASN. Do what you wish with this advice. It's your decision to make and not ours.
A lot of us regret not going straight through for a BSN. Myself included. I went back and got my BSN but boy I didn't feel like going back to school again. Now I'm back in school for another degree and trust me I'd rather be at the beach versus studying. But in the end I'm bettering myself and making myself more marketable. If I could go back about 7 or 8 years I would have stayed in my BSN program instead of switching to my ASN program because it was faster.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
The RN then RN to BSN rout has huge advantages over the strait BSN rout for nurses. I think the advantages are so overwhelming that it makes many nurses who went strait to a university for the BSN jelous.
For example here in the sate of Wisconsin the associates degree programs can be, and very often are, done in two years. Total cost for a community college ADN for a state resident is around $6-7K. Our programs do not have college class pre-req's. Many people have managed to complete their RN to BSN in a year, or even less. For example I know a number of nurses who completed their RN to BSN at WGU in a year or less. Think about that. A smart kid out of high school could compete their ADN RN program in two years, then in one more year complete their BSN through WGU or a number of other BSN programs. WGU costs about $6,400 a year to attend. So a $6,500 ADN plus a $6,500 BSN in a total of three years. In addition that RN is not only an RN, BSN but has a year of real world, paid nursing experience, got health insurance for a year, was paid around $50K, and likely got to take advantage of their employer's tution assistance program for their BSN.
Hmm, $7K for a BSN in three years at the end of which you made $50K, have that critical year of experience under your belt, maybe even have obtained CCRN or other certification. I actually know a number of nurses who have done this exact route in the recent past. Heck they can be qualified to apply to CRNA school.
Compair that to the same student who decided to attend the local State U for their BSN. It took them a minimum of 4 years at a cost of around $40-50K. They graduate after 4 years with no experience, have yet to make their first dime, and are competeing with the first nurse for jobs.
The one huge factor is the getting of that first job. None of the advantages apply if you can't get that first job right out of nursing school. If there is any question about your abiliety to get hired as an ADN RN then go directly for the BSN. If you have reason to know that you won't have trouble getting that first job, for example you have it in writing that you will be opffered a job from a place where you currently work as a CNA or something, then do RN to BSN.
All 4 of my most recent ADN student preceptee's have managed to get acute care nursing jobs within a couple months of graduation. Two of them at my hospital where my recommendation assited them. One already had a contract from the hospital where she worked as a CNA and they were paying her way through the ADN program.
For me there is little point on going for an ADN as I am older, and it would just add to the time - many places where I live want RNs with BSNs or they may hire you with the understanding that you will enroll soon in a BSN program while you work. It is going to cost me way more than going the CC route but I have a plan for that, which doesn't involve going further into debt. Basically I will be paying a bit more to eliminate an extra step. Myself, I need to get cracking and get the darn thing so I can start working. I'll worry about the details later. Like a lot of other posters noted, life doesn't remain static - this perfect conjunction of events and conditions you (and I) seem to have might not last - things are so fluid in this field of work.
My hospital is now requiring that all RNs have a bachelors to do patient care and a masters to go into management. They are giving them 2 years to get their degrees. I'm currently in an ADN program. I was told by my DON that I had to go directly into a bachelors program once I finshed. I'm lucky because when they 1st decided this, they were not going to hire LPNs or nurses with a ADN. A lot of these big medical corps are taking over hospitals and looking for that magnet status. That's pretty much what's happening where I work.
The RN then RN to BSN rout has huge advantages over the strait BSN rout for nurses. I think the advantages are so overwhelming that it makes many nurses who went strait to a university for the BSN jelous.
For example here in the sate of Wisconsin the associates degree programs can be, and very often are, done in two years. Total cost for a community college ADN for a state resident is around $6-7K. Our programs do not have college class pre-req's. Many people have managed to complete their RN to BSN in a year, or even less. For example I know a number of nurses who completed their RN to BSN at WGU in a year or less. Think about that. A smart kid out of high school could compete their ADN RN program in two years, then in one more year complete their BSN through WGU or a number of other BSN programs. WGU costs about $6,400 a year to attend. So a $6,500 ADN plus a $6,500 BSN in a total of three years. In addition that RN is not only an RN, BSN but has a year of real world, paid nursing experience, got health insurance for a year, was paid around $50K, and likely got to take advantage of their employer's tution assistance program for their BSN.
Hmm, $7K for a BSN in three years at the end of which you made $50K, have that critical year of experience under your belt, maybe even have obtained CCRN or other certification. I actually know a number of nurses who have done this exact route in the recent past. Heck they can be qualified to apply to CRNA school.
Compair that to the same student who decided to attend the local State U for their BSN. It took them a minimum of 4 years at a cost of around $40-50K. They graduate after 4 years with no experience, have yet to make their first dime, and are competeing with the first nurse for jobs.
The one huge factor is the getting of that first job. None of the advantages apply if you can't get that first job right out of nursing school. If there is any question about your abiliety to get hired as an ADN RN then go directly for the BSN. If you have reason to know that you won't have trouble getting that first job, for example you have it in writing that you will be opffered a job from a place where you currently work as a CNA or something, then do RN to BSN.
All 4 of my most recent ADN student preceptee's have managed to get acute care nursing jobs within a couple months of graduation. Two of them at my hospital where my recommendation assited them. One already had a contract from the hospital where she worked as a CNA and they were paying her way through the ADN program.
I just assume "rout" was a misspelling and ignored it...but then I found everything you said after "compair" just difficult to read because I couldn't get beyond the mistake. I understand that spelling is not everyone's strength, but on a professional web forum, perhaps try spell check before posting?
As a student who chose a BSN over ADN, it took the same 18 months for me to complete as my ADN peers, as I completed an AA while waiting to apply to nursing school. It was only a slight difference in cost for me.
While cost may be a factor to OP, she has posted numerous times that her employer condones her getting the ADN and then going for BSN later. I'm not sure why she is still seeking validation all these posts later. She says she's made up her mind one day and not made up her mind the next. Only she can decide what is best for her.
In 18 months, her employer may change their mind and want BSN grads only and she could be jobless while completing her RN-BSN bridge program. Or it's entirely possible that she has the best situation and she can do her ADN now, work for her current employer and then bridge later. Perhaps she has no worry about her husband taking ill, or getting pregnant or other "life" getting in the way of completing the bridge. Terrific for her!
Ultimately, only the OP can make the decision of what is best for her life and her financial situation. I believe I have mentioned previously that she should get it in writing somehow that she will be hired with her ADN so that she has some guarantee for 18 months from now. Markets can change rapidly.
OP - regardless of what path you choose to take, only you can decide which is right for you.
I dont need validation for anything... The fact is over the past 6 months, my various threads have reflected the changes my life has been taken...
For example, I did ask my advisor to withdraw me from this semester (for other reasons that are irrelevant to list). She has authorized me to take these classes in the winter, but otherwise I have not posted definitively that I was going to the CC.
My own case is a little different. I have a Bachelor's Degree already. ADN and BSN would have taken the same length of time for me to complete. When first started applying to programs, I couldn't apply to the BSN program because they were not allowing 2nd Bachelor's students to attend the University in any program. I was limited to ADN only. It wasn't until I'd been accepted into an ADN program that the BSN programs were opened back up to 2nd Bachelor's students.
So, some of us really don't have a choice as to which program to get into. If I'd actually had a choice, I would have gone BSN because it would have been exactly the same length program and while only a couple hospitals say "BSN Preferred" in their job postings, it's obvious that I'd be generally more readily employable as a BSN instead of an ADN prepared nurse. Once I've graduated, I'm going to pursue BSN anyway. It's really only another year and there's a track in place already for students at my program to continue their studies at the University. I will also strongly consider attending as a Post-Bacc student so that I can take the coursework necessary to prepare me for a MSN program of some sort...
In any event, while a particular area may be OK with ADNs, the BSN is starting to really take hold and be the preferred degree. We can actually thank the Recession for such a strong push for that change. In the next few years, I also think that we won't necessarily see ADN programs going away. There may be a strong need for RNs to meet the needs of the retiring Boomers, and as the older Nurses start really getting old, they may be effectively forced to retire, and probably in substantial numbers. That's going to drive a whole new cycle of "can't get enough" nurse hiring.
I have generally consistently stated here that if you can go BSN, do it. Otherwise, take the ADN and upgrade when you're able to. As long as you have a strong desire to learn throughout your career, you'll make it a point to complete the upgrade.
I had hinted that I was interested in the CC when my grandfather got sick and wanting to make the sacrifice for my family to come be with him before he passes... Like I said, I still have both schools in mind or I would not have asked the questions here.
If I had already decided on the CC, I would not need justification nor validation because I have done my research and inquired with my job.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I just assume "rout" was a misspelling and ignored it...but then I found everything you said after "compair" just difficult to read because I couldn't get beyond the mistake. I understand that spelling is not everyone's strength, but on a professional web forum, perhaps try spell check before posting?
Typo's. Look further and you will see I spelled it correctly in another place. Mostly it comes from huge calloused farmer hands and tiny little keys on the tiny little key board.
Do you have any comments on the content of my post?
Elizabeth Renee
143 Posts
...really? *facepalm*
We've been giving you reasons throughout this 4-page thread...