Your opinion on degrees.

JoseQuinones · Feb 26, 2015

Do you have a family? Do you have a life outside of work?

Consider that nursing school is incredibly time consuming and involving, and if you get a new job as an ADN it will be some time till you have the seniority to ask for favors that will let you go back to school. Unless you go the online BSN bridge route, it will be very difficult to balance a newish full-time job and a family life with school. Bear in mind that, fair or not, fully online BSN's still face considerable prejudice and are often seen as "not as good." Consider that maybe you want to get married or have a kid or something. It's easier to factor that in if you have a very solid graduation date in mind, as opposed to somewhere between "someday" and "maybe."

In my opinion, it's like taking off the bandage. Do it quickly and get it over with. It might be more painful in the moment, but after it's over, you can get on with your life (and your MSN!).

jj224 · Feb 26, 2015

Here in the Chicago land area, its nearly impossible to land a hospital job with an associates degree. I agree getting an associates and having someone else pay for the RN - BSN portion, but depending on where you live that may not be possible. My cousin got her associates in nursing and is working at a nursing / rehab center while living at home and paying for her BSN as she goes. That's another option rather than taking loans for a BSN.

DogWmn · Feb 27, 2015

One size doesn't fit all, it will depend on your finances, time, age and a lot of other things. Look at all your options, what's available in your area, sit down and run the numbers. Only you can decide, for me I wouldn't want to go into mega debt - not a good way to start out. It's a hard decision to make and good luck

ixchel · Feb 27, 2015

My rural area has two programs - one ADN, one BSN. Most of the local nurses do the ADN program. I wanted to have an advantage, and I didn't want to spend extra years in school bridging to BSN. Also, if you rely on federal aid, having your income as a nurse will decrease what you're eligible for. If you have the support to start at BSN, do it.

Chesterton1 · Feb 27, 2015

if you rely on federal aid, having your income as a nurse will decrease what you're eligible for. If you have the support to start at BSN, do it.

Huh, I never thought of that.

TeeKay12 · Feb 27, 2015

Depends on what the market in your area is leading to. In my area, there are multiple universities offering BSNs and some community colleges offering ASNs. The ASN nurses end up with the lower level positions at times, often working nursing homes, doctor offices, schools, etc. They make less money at those than RNs employed in the hospitals. If they are able to get into the hospital nursing field, they make the same pay an equally experienced BSN RN does, but have little or no chance of advancement.

Another thing to think about: many hospitals/employers offering tuition assistance require a commitment of employment. This means you'll work for that entity for a certain amount of time (the hospital I currently work in offers assistance of $2000 a semester, each semester requires a year commitment). This does NOT mean the hospital WILL hire. We've had techs use tuition assistance to get through university and not be able to get a position at the hospital. They are then required, by the terms of their contract, to pay everything back, immediately. They have to take out personal loans, costing more in the long run than a student loan would have. Also, the hospital will not keep them as a tech because they are now over-qualified.

I would go for the BSN. Sometimes it only takes slightly longer. In the scheme of things, an extra year or two will not matter, whereas your earning potential may be increased substantially.

(I completed my BSN, taking 4 years - at 40 years old! The year before I graduated, the university graduated the last ASN class, they went to school for 3 years. Most of those women I've kept in touch with are now back to school for their BSN and say they should have just done it then)

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 27, 2015

Go straight for the BSN. Nearly all the hospitals in my area require or "strongly prefer" a BSN. Plus, what if you want to go into management/non-bedside nursing? Most of those jobs are going to want a four-year degree. A Master's? Yeah, there are some that will accept a non-BSN candidate, but by and large, the best schools are going to want a BSN.

I am seeing nurses who didn't get their BSN struggling to get them or just can't. These are older nurses who are wanting to leave the bedside but can't because they don't have the degree.

Also, not all people who graduate with a four-year degree are in a lot of debt. I graduated with zero student loans, as did another one of my friends.