Would you choose an Associates OR Bachelors in nursing? need your opinions, please.

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been a pre-nursing student for the past 2 years, and have been diligently taking all of my pre-nursing classes and have been getting all "A's".

Just this month I was faced with a dilemma that has me choosing between 2 programs. I received letters from both the Associates degree program from a community college and also I received an acceptance letter from a university for the accelerated 18months BSN in nursing program. My dilemma is that I don't know which on to choose.

I have saved up about $22,000 for nursing school. The associates program cost about $8000 for the full 2 year term and the BSN nursing program cost about $20,000 full term.

The associates program starts in January 10th 2006 and I will graduate in December 2007. The BSN nursing program starts in May 2006 and I will graduate the same time like the associates in December 2007. Now the catch is, I am accepted to the accelerated BSN program on a provisional basis, meaning that come around March 2006, I will have to be interviewed by a panel of directors and then they will decide if I will be fully accepted to the BSN accelerated program. But with the associates program I am already accepted with no provisions and will start immediately on January 10th 2006. If I don't get in into the BSN acclerated program I am guaranteed a spot in the August 2006 regular 3-year BSN program but I am reluctant to take the 3 year because I am getting older, I am currently 29 and want to start a family.

I do plan on going further in my nursing career and eventually get my Masters and become a Nurse Practitioner or some where down the lines of Pediatrics.

I was hoping I can get some feedback from you folks and please give me some sound advice because this will affect my life and the decision I make today can make a huge impact later in my life. I come to you guys for help and want to know what is the right thing to do and yet I do understand it is my ultimate decision but it does help to see other people's perspectives.

Do you want to buy a house? A few thousand might get you in depending if your city/county/state has a first time buyers program, some with 0$ down, especially if you're low income. that would be nice for your future family, too.

I'd go for the adn and buy a house with the money. But my experience comes from the bay area, where you can pay for all the rest of your education and your kids education and get a couple of new cars on one house turnover, if you're smart/lucky.

From a pure career standpoint, I'd go for the BSN. A career counselor once told me when I was bitching about being in debt for student loans years ago, "Well, how much do you believe in yourself?" That shut me up and off I went to kick some ass in another BS program. So if you believe in yourself, you will convince the panel to let you into the BS program. Best of luck to you!

Since you have the money to do it and don't have a family yet I would definitely choose the BSN.

Specializes in Adult SICU; open heart recovery.

I had a B.A. in another field, but chose the ASN, and then started an RN to MS program about 7 months after graduation. I don't regret my choice at all, but each of us has different factors to consider. For me, the ASN allowed me to start working as an RN at least a year earlier than if I'd done the 2nd degree BSN, because I would have had to take several extra prereqs before I could start the BSN program. The RN-BSN at my current school is 31 credits, most of which can be taken online, and 10 of which I can take at the graduate level to go toward my MS. My employer has a great tuition reimbursement plan, paying up to about $8,000 per year. I've never bothered to do the math, but I know that doing the ASN first saved me quite a bit of money. The catch is that now I'm stuck working full-time and taking classes.

$12,000 is a lot of money. I think you just have to decide whether it's worth it to you to spend that money now and get the BSN done all at once. Of course, you also have to worry about turning down the ASN program without a guarantee of being accepted into the BSN program. It's a tough call. Good luck!

If you're single and don't have any children, then, I would do the BSN program. Although I haven't applied yet, I'm in a similar situation. I have a BA already so I only need to do my science prereq's. Because I've maxed my financial aid I'd have some difficulty financing another BSN, so my option would be ADN or the entry-level MSN. I'm leaning toward the ADN because of cost and I could apply sooner(without taking Chem!!) and hopefully begin sooner than the MSN. Plus, I'm married and am trying to start a family. Here in Cali there are some RN-MSN programs. So with this in mind, for me, the BSN is not essential. Hey, I think I just solved my own problem!! But for you, I would advise the BSN since you have the money and your circumstances would allow you to do so. The time is really about the same. Good luck in your decision.

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
Since you have the money to do it and don't have a family yet I would definitely choose the BSN.

:yeahthat: :nurse:

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