ADN or BSN if I already have a BS degree

[David1]

I am currently have a bachelors degree in Information Technology. I have decided that I didn't want an IT career after I finished my degree instead I stayed working as a Restaurant Manager. My wife is an LPN and is working towards her BSN. I have decided that I to want to be a nurse and even one day become a nurse practitioner. If I didn't already have a BSN I would without a doubt get one since you have to have a bachelors degree to get into a masters degree program. Since I already have a Bachelors degree I am taking any missing science classes that I will need to get into the ADN program, however I wanted to ask if I should spend an extra year and just get my BSN or if I should just stop at the ADN level. (the school I am wantign to get my ADN at has a BSN program and it would just be an extra Fall and Spring semister to get my BSN). The masters degree programs I have been looking have a BSN to NP track and a RN with a BS in another field to NP track. I was wanting to get some other options. If I do the BSN that is a year that I could have been working on my Masters degree, but it is also a year of additional education that my help me later on as well.

Thanks,
David

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[psychbender]

There is very little, if any, real difference between an ADN and a BSN. Additionally, there are several places that offer accelerated BSNs (~12 months) for those that already have a BS in some other field. One of these would probably be your fastest route to becoming a nurse.

 

[David1]

I have looked into an accelerated BSN program. OU has one but there are more prereqs to get into the program then the program at Rogers, so to take the accelerated program it would take me an additional year of prereqs to get in.

 

[gonj]

What classes do you take in that extra year? I've heard mixed reviews about how useful the education is beyond the ADN. Mostly I hear that it's busywork and things that a staff nurse will find useless on the job.

I also had a bachelors before starting nursing school. I went the ADN route to save money and to feel out the nursing profession before devoting any more time or money into more nursing education. It was a smart choice for me because I learned that I don't care for nursing theory and will not spend any more time on it. Philosophising over whether a patient has 4 basic needs or 10, and taking it seriously...not my cup of tea. But if you're going to be an NP, maybe you have to go through all of that anyway.

 

[David1]

I have decided that I will do the Accelerated BSN at OU. (thanks for pointing me to the accelerated program) It will add about a year of prereqs but will only add two months on to my total education. The ADN program is two years at Rogers, and the BSN at Rogers is an additional year. I can finish the ADN in May of 2012. Or I can hold off on Nursing school for a year (while taking the additional prereqs) and do their 14 months BSN program (if you already have a BS degree) and finish with a BSN in July of 2012.

After talking with my wife who is an LPN now we believe this will be my best bet. She is going for her BSN in the Fall of 2010 and will finish in May of 2011. This way I can work full time while she is in school and she can work full time as an RN while I am in school.

thanks for all the help.

 

[foreverLaur]

I found a school that offers an accelerated ADN program for those with a BA/BS already. It is 4 semesters and is only part-time so I will be able to work full-time while completing the program.

That's why I switched from the 15 month accelerated BSN (full time) to the 15 month accelerated ADN (part-time). Plus, the tuition is $370 per credit hour for the BSN and $80 for the ADN (different schools) and the school that offers the accelerated ADN has better hospital rotations and also has a PA program.