Degree plan for Bachelors degree in nursing?

[dfrecore]

I don't really have anything to add to the great advice already given. But, this comment kind of seemed weird. It seems that you're stating that one must obtain an RN before entering a BSN program. While this is a path I would recommend -- as you can find many employers that will foot the bill for an RN-to-BSN program -- it's definitely not required.

The RN-to-BSN programs are really popular here in CA, I've never actually met anyone who went straight BSN. I didn't even know you could do this. My bad.

[clep3705]

I spoke to someone who flunked out of a 4 semester BSN program. She then went to a 4 semester ADN program. She did receive credit for BSN courses she did well in, so I don't think it took her 4 semesters to finish the ADN. Then she went back and completed a 3 semester RN to BSN program, the same school she flunked out of. I asked her if a semester of ADN was easier than a semester of BSN. She said not really.

Think about it. If you are going to spend 4 hard semesters in school, why would you get an ADN when you could get a BSN? It doesn't make sense. Granted, you will have to take statistics before starting any BSN program and probably not have to take it before starting an ADN.

Tuition is higher for BSN programs than community colleges. But, unless you attend an expensive private school, your biggest expense for school will be your living expenses, not your tuition. I don't think the tuition reimbursement for RN to BSN is that big of a deal when you consider all factors.

When there are many schools competing for clinical spots, the BSN schools tend to have the top tier hospitals and the community colleges don't. That's not always true, but one reason it tends to be true is that magnet hospitals hire BSNs instead of ADNs, which makes them prefer BSN students over ADN students. Why would they invest resources training someone they wouldn't hire upon licensure? In major metropolitan areas, ADNs are shut out of many opportunities. Why would you put the same effort into an ADN that could have yielded a BSN?

[dfrecore]

Our BSN degrees at the schools where I see are all 8 semester BSN programs. There are no 4-semester BSN's. How would it be a 4-year degree if you only went for 4 semesters? Strange.

When looking at my local CC, they have the ADN, which is basically a 2-year program for your AA/AS, and then an additional 2 years of the nursing component (you need to have all of your core courses graded and they count in a point system towards getting into the ADN program); the AA/AS costs roughly $3000 for tuition, with the nursing portion costing an additional $5,000. The RN-to-BSN at my local state college is an additional 14 months (accelerated online program) and costs an additional $11,500. Total $20k

If you want to go straight to the BSN at that same 4-yr state school, they show it being completed in 8 semesters, but it does not include 8 core courses that you need to complete before being accepted into the program. You need those courses completed with grades at an RA school, along with a TEAS score, to continue on in the BSN program. So it's more like a 5-yr program than even 4 years. And at about $16,000/year, it works out to $80k to get that degree.

Not saying that you have to get your RN first, but where I live this is the most common way to do it, for cost alone. You can get your RN and go start to work so you can pay your way through the BSN part-time program. 5 years straight through is an expensive and long way to go through the program, vs. having it broken up into different parts and being able to pay as you go. The nurses I'm friends with all paid their way through with no student loans by doing the ADN/RN route, or the RN-to-BSN route.

[clep3705]

In Texas where the OP lives, a BSN is 4 semesters of upper level coursework that begins after completing 4 semesters of prerequisites and core courses such as U.S. History 1 and 2. Some nursing schools only offer nursing courses, not other degrees, and none of the prerequisites. Other universities offering all types of degrees allow the student to take all 120 hours of a bachelor's degree at the same school.

As far as ADN programs are concerned, what Texas schools publish on their websites and what they actually do may not match. Some publish degree plans showing core courses interspersed with nursing courses, but the reality is that the accepted students have completed all but the nursing courses. The nursing courses are usually spread over 4 semesters. No one should take my word for this. That is why I encourage Sdh200818081143 to find prospective nursing schools and attend their information sessions. The OP needs to get the facts from the schools, not here.

You can complete all of the prerequisites by taking courses (A&P 1 and 2, microbiology, chemistry, others) at a community college, possibly using CLEP for history, sociology, and psychology. After that, take the HESI or TEAS test, go to school for 4 semesters which is $17k - $21k in tuition and fees at a state university. I asked a woman why she was applying to ADN programs. She replied that it was because she didn't get admitted to any BSN programs.

Go to allnurses.com and see what people think about ADN vs. BSN.

[dmjacobsen]

Ask 10 nurses what they think about ADN versus BSN, and you'll get 15 different answers. But, yes, allnurses is the best place to get good nursing-specific career and education advice.

As for wondering why someone would choose an ADN program over a BSN program when they're both 4 semesters -- it's because they're not. An ADN program, on average, is 2-3 semesters of pre-req's (depending on if you go full-time or part-time) plus 4 semesters of nursing and general education courses. A BSN program, on average, is 2-3 semesters of pre-req's (depending on if you go full-time or part-time) plus 8 semesters of nursing and general education courses. So, your average ADN program is about 3 years and your average BSN program is about 5 years.

The employment potential of ADN nurses varies widely on geography. There are major metropolitan areas with plenty of opportunity for ADN nurses, mine being one. There are other areas that are over-saturated with nurses, with ADN's going back to get their BSN just to remain competitive in the job market. An ADN can even get a job in a Magnet hospital, depending on the nursing market in the area, as Magnet only requires BSN for 75% of nurse managers and leaders and not for bedside nurses.

When deciding on ADN or BSN, I would urge anyone to check out their local job market and interview some local nurses. If there are decent opportunities for an ADN, it's definitely better to get the ADN and have the employer foot the bill for the BSN.

[rebel100]

One might also find that the schools offering ADN are much cheaper than those offering a straight BSN. You can reduce your total cost by completing the RN/ADN at say a Community College then transferring out to a four year school.

I have a buddy I went to paramedic school with who took advantage of bridging to RN, then knocked out his BSN at the local state college (all free because his wife teaches there). In Fla. State Colleges are our old CC system which now offers limited 4 year degrees. He worked as an RN while he completed that BSN and upon BSN graduation was accepted into a Nurse Practitioner program in the next big city over from where he lives. He's had an impressive run...

[clep3705]

A BSN program, on average, is 2-3 semesters of pre-req's (depending on if you go full-time or part-time) plus 8 semesters of nursing and general education courses.

There is no one answer for everyone. Different people have different needs. Different job markets make one option better than another. I agree with all of the divergent opinions. However, the OP is in Texas. A common but not universal model in Texas is taking all of the nursing school prerequisites and academic core courses (equivalent to 4 semesters) prior to admission to nursing school. After that, BSN nursing school is 4 semesters in this common model. UTEP http://nursing.utep.edu/wp-content/uploa...b-2016.pdf look under traditional BSN. Prerequisites and core courses are all done before entering nursing school with nursing school being 4 semesters of courses. UT Houston https://nursing.uth.edu/prospstudent/bsn/ only offers 4 semesters of nursing school courses. All prerequisites and core courses are completed before starting nursing school there. UTMB Traditional Degree| UTMB School of Nursing in Galveston, Texas only offers 4 semesters of nursing courses. Complete all prerequisites first, then take 4 semesters of nursing courses at those schools. The latter two schools only teach nursing courses.

The OP needs to research the schools where she/he lives or is willing to relocate to. The OP needs to do the same for job markets where he/she wants to live. The OP needs to visit the schools and get answers from them, not us.

[sanantone]

There is no one answer for everyone. Different people have different needs. Different job markets make one option better than another. I agree with all of the divergent opinions. However, the OP is in Texas. A common but not universal model in Texas is taking all of the nursing school prerequisites and academic core courses (equivalent to 4 semesters) prior to admission to nursing school. After that, BSN nursing school is 4 semesters in this common model. UTEP http://nursing.utep.edu/wp-content/uploa...b-2016.pdf look under traditional BSN. Prerequisites and core courses are all done before entering nursing school with nursing school being 4 semesters of courses. UT Houston https://nursing.uth.edu/prospstudent/bsn/ only offers 4 semesters of nursing school courses. All prerequisites and core courses are completed before starting nursing school there. UTMB Traditional Degree| UTMB School of Nursing in Galveston, Texas only offers 4 semesters of nursing courses. Complete all prerequisites first, then take 4 semesters of nursing courses at those schools. The latter two schools only teach nursing courses.

The OP needs to research the schools where she/he lives or is willing to relocate to. The OP needs to do the same for job markets where he/she wants to live. The OP needs to visit the schools and get answers from them, not us.

What you're leaving out is that you need a lot less coursework to start an ADN, so an ADN and BSN in Texas are not the same length. IIRC, the OP said she has zero college credits. The degree plan you posted for UTEP says the program is eight semesters, total.

Program: Nursing: Generic, A.A.S. - San Antonio College - Acalog ACMS