The Advantage of an ADN Degree You have decided you want a career in nursing, but where do you start? There are so many options for degrees and certifications-LVN, ADN, BSN etc. How can you decide if it’s best to get an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor of science in nursing? The following are three advantages to getting your ADN nursing degree: it is more cost effective, less time consuming and starting pay is about the same in both programs.
Cost Effective Because an ADN program is two years instead of four years, it is half the price of a BSN. This is especially promising information for those who are interested in getting their degree but don’t want to take out large loans or who can’t afford to pay tuition for four years straight. It is also a good option for those looking for go back to school and get their degree but who don’t have the assets to make schooling a large financial investment. Whatever the reason, you will come out with significantly less costs than you would in other, longer programs.
Less Time Consuming As mentioned previously, an ADN program is only two years long. There are even accelerated programs for those who already have their bachelor degrees. The lesser time commitment is ideal for those who work full time and can only go to school at night or on the weekends. Instead of keeping up that schedule for four plus years, you will have your schooling completed in two. Less time also means you will be able to start earning an income as a nurse sooner than if you were to be enrolled in a longer program. If, in a few years you decide you want to earn your BSN in order to get a masters or a doctorate in nursing for administration or education purposes, an ADN allows you to work until you decide your long term plans.
Pay is Comparable to BSN One would think that more schooling equals higher pay. In nursing, this often isn’t the case. Employers are looking for graduates who have a degree in nursing specifically and are less interested in whether or not you got your bachelors degree. For this reason, they often hire ADN graduates at the same pay scale as BSN graduates. A recent study shows that in California, the median salary of a nurse with an ADN was $70,804 while the median salary of a nurse with a BSN was $75,017.
Although the BSN prepared nurse did get paid a little bit more, the amount was not significant. This is a huge scale tipper. Why spend more money and more time going to school if you are going to get paid almost the same amount to do your job? With so many options, it can be difficult to decide the best route towards a nursing degree. An ADN degree is a cost effective, quick option that provides you with comparable starting pay. Make sure to do your research and find a program that will fit your lifestyle in terms of location, tuition, and accreditation.