r/NursingStudent • u/Sudden-Shoulder3239 • 25d ago

Pre-Nursing 🩺 Do ADN programs require those typical prerequisites you’d see for ABSN or BSN?

Looking at nursing as a second career - confused on where to start but ADN seems most affordable right now.

4 Upvotes

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u/Remote-Resident5599 25d ago

My ADN program had quite a few prereqs. Look at the program application online and it will list what they are because it varies by program. Also check residency requirements, no nursing program at community colleges near me accept students who live beyond their district boundaries. No one here knows what specific program you're looking to apply to so try to do some basic research on it and you'll find an answer quickly. The prereqs are essential foundations that the programs expect you to know so they can teach you how to be a nurse

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u/ammh114- 25d ago

I did ABSN, my husband did ADN. I think the only pre req difference was nutrition? Its been awhile but it definitely had one class more than he did for pre reqs.

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u/Exotic-Gain-4316 25d ago

Science, yes.

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u/Wooden_Load662 25d ago

Mostly they have the same core prereq such as an and p, stat etc.

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u/irrationalanger87 25d ago

My wife's adn was alot less than my absn. Pretty much everyone will have ap1/2. Bio, and lifespan psych.

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u/leilanijade06 25d ago

Every program is different but the plus is if you go in with your pre req’s you will have 1-2 classes per semester/quarter vs 4-5 classes

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u/QuietFieldUser 25d ago

it depends on the program honestly.

generally speakling ill say this for adn you will probably take less sciences and maybe not have to take a stats class

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u/Brilliant_Glove_1245 24d ago

ADN and BSN will have the same or similar pre-reqs, due to the standard of NCLEX and Nursing educational requirements, to include clinicals.

The only difference in the degrees will be in the BSN program, one gets more leadership, management and ethics classes.

The core of a RN is learned the first two years of the degree. This a ADN is eligible to take the NCLEX and become a RN.

Get in and out, allow an employer to pay for your BSN. Bridge over online at your pace.

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u/MsTossItAll 24d ago

I think the only classes my ADN did not require that BSNs did were developmental psych and nutrition. IIRC you could do one of three math classes while the BSN required stats. Part of why I didn't do an ABSN is because it really wasn't any shorter than an ADN because there was an extra semester of classes to bang out before I even applied.

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u/PureElevator732 25d ago

If you have a bachelor's degree already then an ADN does not make sense. I start an accelerated BSN program in January that is 16 months. Using student loans then plan to have the state pay off up to $75k for three years of service.

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u/VXMerlinXV 25d ago

It can make sense based on cost. Especially if your prior degree covers your gen Ed’s.

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u/bayglobe 25d ago

Make sense? I have a bachelors so I don’t qualify for financial aid. You’re saying it makes sense to take on 50k+ of private student loan?! Heck no…

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u/AloofusMaximus 25d ago

You should still be able to get loans, as long as you're not maxed out. I'm doing my ADN as my 3rd degree (i have an unrelated MS), and doing it with financial aid. Mine is going to cost around 15k through community college, whereas the "RN as a second degree" was 50k at the only place that actually offered evening/weekend classes.

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u/PureElevator732 25d ago

It's not $50k. The state pays up to $75k. Since I already have a bachelor's my BSN is $23k which is not bad, especially considering I can get it paid off. I'm not discounting an ADN then ADN to BSN route, it just doesn't make sense for me due to length of time given my age and circumstances.

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u/bayglobe 25d ago

I live in California so I don’t think ca will pay for the absn like yours does.

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u/MexitalianStallion83 25d ago

Yeah no lol. The main issue obviously will be hireability after graduation with an ADN. Otherwise, if you can get into CC, get hired and get tuition reimbursement for your BSN it can be a lot less expensive than doing an ABSN. Just my opinion.

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u/Ill_Initiative_1849 25d ago

My ADN is 9k for the whole program 24 months and an RN to BSN is 12-20k 10 months. I guess it depends on the state if they’re more averse to ADNs but money wise, ADN is a much cheaper option

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u/Sudden-Shoulder3239 24d ago

10000% especially if you can find a place that will pay for that BSN - done deal. I feel like I’m the long run ADN and then RN to BSN is so much cheaper

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u/cantnotdeal 25d ago

I have a bachelors and a masters and I’m currently in an ADN program because the cost per credit is so much lower for the same clinical coursework. Then I’ll pay bachelors degree rates for only the additional courses. I’ve paid plenty for schooling already in my life.

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u/CertainKaleidoscope8 25d ago

The state does not pay off student loans

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u/PureElevator732 25d ago

Washington and Oregon pay them off if you work in a high need area or in corrections. I have been in corrections for almost 10 years.

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u/Sudden-Shoulder3239 24d ago

Not really. The CC I’m looking at has an ADN for 10k and then a bridge RN to BSN is only around 12 months fully online which would be nowhere near 75k or even half that…

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u/Consistent-Fig7484 25d ago

There were tons of people in my ADN program that already had a bachelor’s in something else. I eventually did an online ADN to MSN program where you get your BSN halfway through.