I currently work in the defense community and am looking to change my career path. I have already attained my bachelor’s degree so I am at a loss for the best path for me in becoming a nurse. I have done some research and I know I can either do an accelerated BSN program or get my ADN through a local community college. I am leaning towards the ADN for a few reasons:
1. I already have student loans from my bachelor’s and would prefer to change my career to nursing in the cheapest way.
2. I work in corporate management and deal with personnel issues and bureaucracy on a daily basis; ideally I’d like to move away from management long term and focus my life on helping people.
3.I believe I can attain the ADN and get into the nursing world faster.
While I would like to move forward faster, I also don’t want to set myself up for failure. Are RNs that got their ADN vs BSN looked at differently? Negatively? I do still have a bachelor’s…just not in nursing. I just want to make the best decision for my situation so anyone out there with advice or that went through a similar situation, I am open to hearing everything!
-Jennifer
Note: This video may be helpful:
S.L. Page says
Hey Jennifer! Welcome to the site and thanks so much for your question!
I will give you my opinion and experience with this. I will be posting a video later today that talks about this in depth so that is funny you had this question at the same time I made a video about it. This is a very common question and I think a legit question about the ADN and BSN programs.
I think you should go for the ADN degree because it is faster and cheaper. Since you already have a bachelors degree and this will be your second career and you don’t plan on pursuing management, I would most definitely get an ADN. The BSN is more for people who want to do things other than bedside nursing and become nurse managers, Nurse Practitioner, CRNA etc. If your goal is to work as a nurse in a clinical setting with patients and you don’t want to do the things I listed, the ADN is the best route.
Now regarding your question about if ADN nurses are looked negatively upon. My answer is no. As a nurse you don’t know who has what degree unless you ask and some of the best and smartest nurses I have worked with have ADN degrees. Really people care more about how much nursing experience you have. The number one question I see is not what degree you have but “how long have you been a nurse”. Also, don’t worry about patients asking you because most people are unaware there are two different nursing degrees.
You should not have a problem getting a job because you are a desirable candidate given you already have job experience (your corporate management experience is a plus) and a bachelors degree. Nurse managers will want you!
I hope this helped and great question. What does everyone else think? I will be posting that video a little later so don’t forget to check it out.
Sarah ๐
Anonymous says
Thank you so much for the advice. It is extremely helpful and encouraging/.
A follow up question I have to this is; will getting my ADN limit what units I can work in. I heard that to work in oncology, NICU, PICU, etc that you had to have a BSN. Is there any truth to this?
S.L. Page says
You are very welcome and I’m glad it helped ๐ Now regarding the other question, it depends on the hiring manager and facility you work. I know where I work, nurses who work in the ICU have ADN degrees and I work at a very large hospital that is level 1 trauma (meaning if you are really sick you come to us). But some places may be a little picker. If you go to your local hospital’s website and look at the jobs on their website, there should be a job description listed and it will say if it requires a BSN.
I looked at an active job description for an ICU position at a level 1 trauma hospital and this is what it says:
“The RN is a graduate of an accredited school of nursing with a minimum of an AD degree and is currently licensed to practice as a professional nurse in the appropriate state. Must be able to complete job related competencies as deemed necessary to the performance of the RN role in the nursing department of employment.”
So if you are an ADN it is just as good as a BSN to get hired. As I said earlier it really depends on the facility. Hope this helped ๐
-Sarah
Tiffany says
I have an ADN and I’m not treated differently and nor have I ever been. I worried about the same things while I was in the program but in the end a nurse is a nurse (bachelors or associates). Like Sarah said years of experience is what matters to people. No offense to bsn nurses but it is over rated and takes too long to get. Associates is the way to go and besides if you want to go back to get a bsn later you can through online programs.
Chuck says
If you plan on climbing the ladder go for the bachelors. If you don’ want to climb the ladder go for the ADN. I don’t think anyone cares what degree you have as long as your a good nurse and work hard.