Does an ADN look bad?

sandman1 · May 14, 2005

As long as you have a BSN when you apply, it doesn't matter. Most schools will accept people with an ADN as long as the BSN is completed prior to beginning the program. Community College RN's are just as good or better nurses as BSN's, especially at first. The BSN is supposed to improve your critical thinking skills. Whether it does.....who knows. All we know for sure is it gets you into graduate school. Most of the program directors today, started out as a diploma or ADN nurse and worked their way up so I couldn't imagine an initial ADN degree hurting anyone. In my opinion, if an initial ADN is frowned upon at any particular institution then there is a probability of other "off the wall" policies and I wouldn't want to go there anyway.

Hi everyone. I'd like to persue nurse anesthesia. I graduated from an ADN program in the spring of 2004, and I'm currently working on a 16-bed med/surg unit. I've taken a year off from school entirely. I've always had the intention of going back for my BSN, but I really wanted to focus on my first "real job" for a good year. This summer, I'm going to take some chemistry and math classes at the community college at which I went to nursing school, and I hope to start the RN to BSN program at Oregon Health Sciences University via their distance learning program. While I was in my ADN program, we had an instructor, a practicing nurse practitioner, who had the attitude that nurses shouldn't practice with "just" and ADN degree, and she had made comments that the more prestigious schools weren't impressed with applicants who earned an ADN. She pretty much made some of our class feel like scum because we attended a community college. We were baffled as to why she was there and continued to teach since she didn't believe in us...but whatever... That made some of me wonder if others within the nursing community felt the same way. It'll be a few years before I'll actually apply; I need more critical care experience, more certification, GRE completed, and, oh, my BSN. Heh. But at this time, the schools that interest me are Samuel Merritt and Columbia. Would earning an ADN from "just a community college" be a dealbreaker Columbia, as it's ivy league?

BENNETTRN · May 15, 2005

Just remember you passed the same state board exam to obtain your nursing license as your fellow BSN nurses did, you are no lower than them. Pursue your dreams!

z's playa · May 15, 2005

I know I'll regret asking this but if its the same exam...whats the difference in the courses? Why call it anything different. I'll look up all other threads but just wanted to know right now. Sorry guys.

Z

stklgs · May 15, 2005

ADN-BSN here, no problems!! The issue was never brought up in the interview.. Accepted for this fall..

Hi everyone. I'd like to persue nurse anesthesia. I graduated from an ADN program in the spring of 2004, and I'm currently working on a 16-bed med/surg unit. I've taken a year off from school entirely. I've always had the intention of going back for my BSN, but I really wanted to focus on my first "real job" for a good year. This summer, I'm going to take some chemistry and math classes at the community college at which I went to nursing school, and I hope to start the RN to BSN program at Oregon Health Sciences University via their distance learning program. While I was in my ADN program, we had an instructor, a practicing nurse practitioner, who had the attitude that nurses shouldn't practice with "just" and ADN degree, and she had made comments that the more prestigious schools weren't impressed with applicants who earned an ADN. She pretty much made some of our class feel like scum because we attended a community college. We were baffled as to why she was there and continued to teach since she didn't believe in us...but whatever... That made some of me wonder if others within the nursing community felt the same way. It'll be a few years before I'll actually apply; I need more critical care experience, more certification, GRE completed, and, oh, my BSN. Heh. But at this time, the schools that interest me are Samuel Merritt and Columbia. Would earning an ADN from "just a community college" be a dealbreaker Columbia, as it's ivy league?

jewelcutt · May 15, 2005

Heres one time when nurses don't really discriminate. That's because ADNs have a little more clinical experience then BSNs. The difference between the two is that BSNs have one (only one) extra year of nursing theory, research, community health, leadership. ADNs usually have one year of prereqs and two years of nursing school, BSNs have one year of prereqs and three years of nursing school. I went the ADN-BSN route because it was the fastest way to finish from where I was and gain experience, it took a year off of my anesthesia pursuit, granted that it was a lot of extra work and if I was starting from the beginning I definitely would just go for BSN to begin with. Actually, most ADN-BSN programs take two years to complete, so you end up with a total of a five year pursuit for your BSN going that route. Plus, look at it this way, you'll have the best of both worlds because you got both an ADN and BSN. I agree that entry level for nursing should be a BSN in order to gain more respect in the professional world, but the ADN offers a very attractive option for those in second careers or those changing majors (me) along the way. I used to worry also about the appearance of an ADN when applying to anesthesia school, but others don't see it like that.

air · May 15, 2005

Hi everyone. I'd like to persue nurse anesthesia. I graduated from an ADN program in the spring of 2004, and I'm currently working on a 16-bed med/surg unit. I've taken a year off from school entirely. I've always had the intention of going back for my BSN, but I really wanted to focus on my first "real job" for a good year. This summer, I'm going to take some chemistry and math classes at the community college at which I went to nursing school, and I hope to start the RN to BSN program at Oregon Health Sciences University via their distance learning program. While I was in my ADN program, we had an instructor, a practicing nurse practitioner, who had the attitude that nurses shouldn't practice with "just" and ADN degree, and she had made comments that the more prestigious schools weren't impressed with applicants who earned an ADN. She pretty much made some of our class feel like scum because we attended a community college. We were baffled as to why she was there and continued to teach since she didn't believe in us...but whatever... That made some of me wonder if others within the nursing community felt the same way. It'll be a few years before I'll actually apply; I need more critical care experience, more certification, GRE completed, and, oh, my BSN. Heh. But at this time, the schools that interest me are Samuel Merritt and Columbia. Would earning an ADN from "just a community college" be a dealbreaker Columbia, as it's ivy league?

I do not know what that instructors problem is/was. Anyway, I am a first year student in my program in PA. We have two students from Oregon. In my class more than 75% started out with an ADN or diploma RN, and eventually got their BSN. Infact, some of my classmates started out as nursing assistants and moved up.

I do not understand how that would create any issues.

I know for a fact that in maryland, in Johns Hopkins hospital in the early 90s and mid 90s there was a pay differential between four year RNs and not Four year RNs. Some RNs with MSN's worked the unit/floors and they were also paid a differential for their extra education.

Do not let things like that hold you down/back.

Good luck

sunnyjohn · May 15, 2005

Err,

Why was she teaching at a community college if she thought the ADN was a bad thing?

Pursue your dreams!!!

MistyDawnRN06, BSN, RN · May 15, 2005

In the town I live in, the ADN program is acutally widely considered to be better than the BSN program. Also, I've had friends get into the CRNA programs with no problems. They did the ADN to BSN bridge and then went to CRNA school. I also know of individuals that did the ADN to BSN to MSN with no problems.

We all pass the same boards. ADNs are awesome, BSNs are awesome.

Anyway, no matter where you go, you get out of your education what you put in to it!! Good luck, and happy nursing!

punnit_square · May 15, 2005

Hi everyone. I'd like to persue nurse anesthesia. I graduated from an ADN program in the spring of 2004, and I'm currently working on a 16-bed med/surg unit. I've taken a year off from school entirely. I've always had the intention of going back for my BSN, but I really wanted to focus on my first "real job" for a good year. This summer, I'm going to take some chemistry and math classes at the community college at which I went to nursing school, and I hope to start the RN to BSN program at Oregon Health Sciences University via their distance learning program. While I was in my ADN program, we had an instructor, a practicing nurse practitioner, who had the attitude that nurses shouldn't practice with "just" and ADN degree, and she had made comments that the more prestigious schools weren't impressed with applicants who earned an ADN. She pretty much made some of our class feel like scum because we attended a community college. We were baffled as to why she was there and continued to teach since she didn't believe in us...but whatever... That made some of me wonder if others within the nursing community felt the same way. It'll be a few years before I'll actually apply; I need more critical care experience, more certification, GRE completed, and, oh, my BSN. Heh. But at this time, the schools that interest me are Samuel Merritt and Columbia. Would earning an ADN from "just a community college" be a dealbreaker Columbia, as it's ivy league?

It is easier to transfer into a program when you already have a degree---you have proven your worth as a student. The one thing I am learning about nursing is the pecking order. The ones with the higher degrees ( forgive me for I am generalizing here and I know this is not always the case), look down upon the ones with the lower degrees. But the one thing to always remember, all of the licensed nurses are valuable . . . you cannot run a hospital or nursing home without us.

punnit_square · May 15, 2005

I know I'll regret asking this but if its the same exam...whats the difference in the courses? Why call it anything different. I'll look up all other threads but just wanted to know right now. Sorry guys.
Z

BSN has higher level of theory courses, ADN has a lot of patho and skills type courses. BSN has a seperate course (depending on your school) that is dedicated to community health nursing, rural nursing, alternative meds (like herbal medicines, accupunture). http://www.fgcu.edu/chp/nursing

This is the local university where I live. It can give you an idea between the two programs.

sunshine9 · May 15, 2005

Heres one time when nurses don't really discriminate. That's because ADNs have a little more clinical experience then BSNs.
When people are talking about that ADNs have more clinical experience than BSNs... are they talking about they gain more clinical experience while they are in school or they have more clinical experience because they are working as a nurse while they go on for there BSN. I know primarly the difference between ADNs and BSNs but is there a big difference in the clinicals that they go through while in school. For example, if a ADN student and BSN student both graduated at the same time would the ADN have more clinical experience? I was just wondering because I've been hearing the thing with more clinical experience a lot and I did not know if they have more clinical hours while they are in school.