Importance of finishing with a BSN vs ADN nursing degree

April 17, 2023 1:20 PM

I'm planning to get a nursing degree, at least an ADN, and become an RN. In order to get started as a nurse, must I immediately continue on to getting a BSN? Or would an ADN be enough?

When I graduate, I plan on looking for work in the LA/OC area. I'm also planning on applying for nursing residencies after I graduate regardless of the specific credential I end up with. There are bridge programs available to me in the process of getting the ADN which I can avail myself of, but they will extend my time in school by at least 9+ months.

posted by miltthetank to Education (8 answers total)

Best answer: If the hospitals you are applying to have an ADN to BSN program, then you could try to take advantage of that program, but all hospitals are moving toward requiring BSNs for all nurses. In 2-4 years I wouldn't be surprised if those ADN to BSN programs are mostly sunsetted. Those ADN to BSN programs are largely for nurses with experience.

If I was in your shoes, I would definitely plan on getting a BSN. Maybe after you finish your first two years, you could apply for those programs to see if they exist, but I would hold the 4 year degree as a very-likely-plan-B to the idea of getting into the bridge program.
posted by bbqturtle at 1:29 PM on April 17, 2023

If it is of interest or more appealing - some nursing masters degree programs (for example if you wanted to become a nurse practitioner) will accept RNs with a non-BSN bachelors degree and an ADN. (I investigated this when considering an ADN program a few years ago.)
posted by needs more cowbell at 2:00 PM on April 17, 2023

Best answer: I can only speak for NY, but it really depends on where you want to work. ADN's (especially new grads) rarely get hired at hospitals, especially in larger cities where there are plenty of applicants - I imagine the same would be true in CA. However, most nursing homes, rehab centers and outpatient offices will gladly take ADN's with little to no experience.
posted by bahama mama at 2:25 PM on April 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

Nthing that if you want to work in a hospital, you will need a BSN sooner or later. Having a BSN will only open doors for you in your career. A lot depends on your career plans and your age/money/life responsibilities- how do those balance against staying in school for an extra 9 months now or going back to school later?
posted by MadamM at 4:50 PM on April 17, 2023

Best answer: I have found in my academic medical center-rich city in PA that any hospitals that are academic-affiliated will only accept BSN prepared nurses as an entry requirement; others need not apply. Community hospitals and nursing home/rehabs might be different. The pay and benefits offered are usually substantially less, and then you have to fit BSN-completion classes around work. If at all possible, I would try to go straight for a BSN, though I understand that is a formidable goal for many. I myself started with an ADN at an absolutely excellent community college program, but the nursing boards have been relentless in their pressure to make BSN a baseline requirement, and they are succeeding. I think now, 30 years later, obtaining an ADN would prove frustratingly limited; the times have really changed. I believe that most ADN programs have direct BSN transfer options included in their programs, and this might significantly reduce the cost of a 4 year BSN degree.

BSN is also a baseline requirement for more and more certifications, Certified school nurse, for example. But like most nursing requirements, they are state-based so your state might operate slightly differently. Good luck, whatever your decision, and welcome to nursing!
posted by citygirl at 5:44 PM on April 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

To illustrate citygirl's point, I live in the south and I do NOT think that there will be any national move to sunset out the ADN. It may be the case in large metros like Philly or NY or LA, but the nursing shortage is only getting worse outside of large metros. Many hospitals prefer BSN and board cert'd nurses to keep up their magnet status, and there certainly is a large push for people to get those things, but having staff on the floors comes first. Here, ADNs are hired at .50 less than BSNs and that difference is made up when the next degree is awarded. They also have to agree to start a BSN program within two years.

If money is an issue, start on the ADN, save up some money, pay off your debts, get yourself established, take care of yourself, and then go back to school. Often your hospital will pay for some of it. You will find that the BSN is largely liberal arts classes where you learn about ethics, legal issues, systems of care and as long as NP school isn't in your long term plans, doing it online at some random college suffices.
posted by sibboleth at 7:57 AM on April 19, 2023

I am an ADN and I think it's fine to be an ADN. I have been hearing that ADNs are 'phasing out' since I started over 10 years ago. There's a nursing shortage. The main thing though is getting your first job. Once you have experience you will be fine. But the first job you may have to cast a wider net than your BSN peers. I don't recommend going to a SNF or something - but rather go out a bit geographically to a semi-rural hospital if you can to get a year of experience. Then you can be hired anywhere.
posted by latkes at 3:55 PM on April 19, 2023

(For context I am at a County hospital/health system in California but I have also been hired by a local hospice agency and Kaiser within the last 5 years)
posted by latkes at 3:57 PM on April 19, 2023