Posted: 4/3/2014 1:57:54 PM EDT
| I'm enrolled in a CC nursing program that begins in the fall of 2014. I may have the opportunity to do a joint degree with Drexel University to simultaneously earn a BSN. A lot of the course work is done over the internet. I will have clinical experience through the CC nursing program. The brochure claims the Drexel degree is the same distinguished degree that their on campus students earn. Does this sound like something good? I've heard that online degrees are useless, this is my main concern. I'm meeting with the transfer office next week to talk about it. |
| Most ADN to BSN degrees these days are online. The university I got my BSN from had a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program and an ADN to BSN program that was mostly online. If Drexel has a traditional BSN program I wouldn't hesitate getting an online BSN degree. |
| I'm an ADN nurse. Most of the nurses I work with who have gone for their BSN or MSN have done it online. I really think most employers are just concerned with the credentials and don't really care where you got them. If I ever decide to go for a higher degree, I'll most likely do it online. |
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Is your CC ADN NLN or CCNE accredited? If it isn't, that should be a major red flag because many BSN programs will not take graduates of nursing programs that aren't accredited by one of the two major bodies I mentioned. If you can get hired somewhere that will offer some kind of tuition reimbursement with an ADN/ASN, let them pay for your BSN. |
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As a new grad, your BSN will make you MUCH more competitive in making the first HR resume cut for many hospital jobs, as in some jobs (and new grad residencies) won't even look at an ADN new grad. You'd be a fool not to do this. That said, if there is a reputation difference between the new grads from Drexel (a good school) and your CC (??), employers will still consider that. But at least you'll make it past the "BSN required" or "BSN strongly preferred" job reqs.
To another poster, NLNAC is now ACEN. CCNE does not accredit ADN programs. |
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I agree with g8rgunner. My hospital doesn't seem to care where your degree is from. For that matter, mine doesn't seem to dislike ADNs either though. There are still hospitals out there that hire ADNs. Unfortunately, many hospitals aren't hiring anyone right now. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Hospital I work at has one BSN program and two ADN programs all within 30 miles. They hire both, our last boss preferred BSN over ADN for new hires with no experience. Our new boss doesn't seem to have a preference over ADN or BSN. I do know of some hospitals that prefer someone with their BSN over a person with their ADN. All of those hospitals are in the DFW metroplex area. Luckily I live in a more rural area, about an hour and a half outside of DFW. I would say more of the rural area hospitals are happy to have RN's. For what it's worth all the local hospitals within an hour of me pay .50 to 1.00 more an hour for someone having a BSN.
Is the online degree a transition/bridge program? |