Originally posted by adrienurse
I did neither. I have my 4 year degree in nursing (BN). I do not regret this in any way and even though I have no other experience to compare it to, I recommend it. The most important thing that it taught us to do is always challenge why things are done the way they are done. It's more than a hell of a lot of paper writing, it is teaching people to think critically. I believe that we have our own style of nursing-- and I can always spot the people with similar training, by the way they think and the way they work. I have heard other nurses say that people with my training can sure careplan! I suppose that makes up for the lack clinical experience (although it sure doesn't take long to catch up to people with different training).
Adrienurse......no matter what route of nursing a person chooses for themselves, if they have not learned to "challenge why things are done the way they are done" by the time they graduate from any choice of a college, and regardless of whether they are in the health profession or otherwise......they will be immature misfits in the workplace. Critical thinking is learned from birth to old age.......and no textbook can help one to improve on something that takes common sense to understand. I graduated from an Associate Degree College, and I have more critical thinking skills than a lot of people I know with much higher degrees than I. So.......while I respect your take on why you chose the BN route.....please do not think that those who do not go that route, are suffering from lack of having done so in the area of "critical thinking". We wouldn't want our nursing students who come to Allnurses to think they are not going to be properly prepared educationally to be the best dang nurses they can be upon their graduation from their choice of a nursing program, be it Diploma...AAS/ADN...BSN. Just thought I'd share that for our student population who frequent the board, and for those confused about which program is good, better; best.
Would you like to comment?
Which is better?
I mean...it's only fair for me to promote the Associates Degree Program at my old Community College eons ago since that's where a lot of my moo-lah ended up and all.......not because I really think that's the only good program although I would hold that college up to any other college any day...it was (is) without a doubt...THE VERY BEST COLLEGE FOR NURSES TO ATTEND AND GRADUATE AND PASS BOARDS FIRST TIME AROUND Oops! Sorry if I'm bragging too much.......it's just that it really is a dang good college. 
