Should I go to community college and become an RN, or go to a university and get my BSN?

The question

I am currently on the waiting list at my local community college to be accepted into the Nursing program. Students are accepted on a rolling basis and I have spent about two and a half years taking the prerequisite courses, getting my recommendations, and fulfilling the supplies to get into the program. I handed in my attention and I an expect to start the 2 year RN program in the Fall of 2012. Fantastic! My financial aid covers most of my tuition costs, and I could make it by with payments for the rest.
But, I have been hearing a lot about RN becoming obsolete in the future, and that most hospitals want RNs to go fourth and get the BSN. Plus, the BSN is higher salary. So, I looked into some BSN programs in Boston and UMASS seems to be what I’m looking for. But, I would have to schedule and SAT test for myself since I’ve never taken one and it’s required by UMASS on their attention. Also, there might be one or two additional courses that I’d have to take before getting into their BSN program. And, if I wanted to be in the program by Fall of 2012, I’d have to complete my attention by February. Oh and did I mention that the BSN is a 4 year program?
I have no doubt that I could pull that off, but I’m torn on whether to stick to the community college and get the RN and then try to find a job, and continue my education and work toward the BSN while I’m working, or just bite down and get my BSN.
Another concern is money. Here I am disgusted with the financial situation in this country, and in order to go to UMASS and get my BSN I’d have to get student loans. The total tuition costs will be about $ 120,000 and I will be in a lot of debt. But BSNs start out at about $ 75,000 a year.
I’m just not sure what to do at this point. I need to REALLY reckon this over, and quick.

Best answers:

if it was me, I would get the RN then go for my BSN afterwards (you should only have to go 2 years for your BSN if you already have your RN). That way, maybe you can get with a hospital as a RN that will reimburse you for attending school.

Once upon a time it was highly not compulsory that an aspiring nurse get his or her BSN. That was before the economy went sour. In our current depressed economy the best way to go, in my opinion, is the one that costs less money both long-term and small-term. This would mean go to the community college and get your RN.

Suzie Orman, the financial guru, recently spoke on the subject of student loans. She advised against acquiring costly student loans, and suggested that people save their money rather than accumulating new debt. In your case she would probably advise you to go to community college, go to work and save your money. Case closed.

If, after working as an RN you still want to pursue the BSN, you can return to school, apply some of the community college credits and work towards attaining it. By that time you may have enough money to place towards some of the tuition costs or, conversely, you may choose you want to follow a different career path which does not include nursing.

Best wishes in whatever you choose. You seem intelligent and ambitious — all the more reason to get out there and place those skills to work as soon as possible.

Really nurse salaries usually range more like 40,000 to 65,000 starting out. I suggest applying to all the nursing programs near you and enroll in the one that you get accepted to first. You can always get an ASN then later get a BSN degree (RN to BSN degree which isn’t like starting all over again. You just do 2 more years and get the BSN degree after you are an RN).

It really depends on your long-term career goals. If you want to be highly involved in this, look at it as a career, and work full-time for the rest of your life (and go up into managerial positions), it may make more sense to get the BSN.

If, but, you simply want a excellent paying job, and don’t care so much about moving up, or being a nurse out of passion–then I would say go with the ADN. While some employers may pay more for a BSN, most will pay pretty much the same whether you have a BSN or ADN.

Plus, once you are hired, you can always take additional classes for more certifications and specializations. That’s what my wife has done, and she has a lot of area in cardiac health care (she did the BSN though).

I hope that helps!

Source(s):

http://www.RegisteredNurseRn.com/

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Needing help. Advice. College/acting/bills/etc…?

The question

Alright guys,
first and foremost i’m 19, and I live in a crappy small town. I got to a regular community college. It has always been my dream to become an actor. I despise small towns and I’ve always been a city guy. I want to become a film actor and be in movies, tv shows etc. (i know the chances blah blah blah don’t tell me about how there’s a 1 in a million chance, yadda yadda yadda lol i’ve heard it before)

Anyways, I’ve only extra’d in a few SCAD films, and been in a few stage plays. I know this has nothing to do with acting, but I’ve also been in Baltimore’s Fashion Week and am going again this year.

I live about 3 hours or less from Atlanta.

Currently I have about $ 3000 left on my car and about $ 5000 in loans I need to pay. I’m currently working three jobs and going to school full time. I live at home, so I dont have any “bills” (aside from phone bill, gym bill, doctor/medicine, weekend activies, etc), I still have about 1 more year here at the community college i’m going to and I’m trying to go ahead and pay my car off and my student loans off while I’m still in college.

My goal is to go to Atlanta with NO school loans and NO car payments. But to also have a few thousand in savings so that I wont be stressed with finding a job as soon as I land in Atlanta (But i will get one).

But what comes next? I was just doing a GENERAL STUDIES degree but now I just changed it to ENGLISH. But what kind of job can I get just by having a TWO YEAR ASSOCIATES in ENGLISH Degree?

My aunt is moving to California and says I can live with her. But I wanna get my feet wet in ATL and build up a resume/contacts and THEN go to Cali. Does that make sense? I just feel like I will have a better chance of getting an agent/projects if I start of in ATL first.

Nexy Spring (2012) should be my last semester at my current community college and I don’t want to continue my college education right after I graduate, I want to go to atl and start the audition process..

I guess I’m just basically looking for advice, opinions, thoughts, and other input I suppose..

VERY APPRECIATED!!!
Thanks.