[vickynurse]

Has anyone heard anything about officially establishing a 3 year degree plan for an associate degree in nursing? It seems that almost no one can actually complete an associate degree in just 2 years. At our school we rarely admit anyone into the nursing program unless they have completed all of their support courses.

[barb4575]

Hi Vicky,

I have not heard it called a 3 year ADN program, but I have seen many ADN programs with a three year curriculum. Many request or encourage the applicant to take as many general education or support courses as possible prior to entering nursing school. I can't understand why anyone would want to take this track; why not go one more year and attain the BSN?

I do believe there needs to be a revision in nursing education. I would like to see the strength and beauty of the diploma program combined with the theory of the baccalaureate program. The first year would be purely general education and the sciences; then, begin the actual nursing program in the sophomore year. I know there are nursing programs that do start their theoretical content in the sophomore year, but I don't know anyone personally who has taught or attended such a program.

In the rural parts of our country, the BSN is not highly valued. I think much differently than I did a few years ago when I taught at the BSN level. After living in rural Missouri, I have learned why applicants are not interested in the BSN. Quite frankly, with the low wages and being able to serve in the role of nurse manager with an ADN, what motivation does this give them to seek the BSN? Therefore, management and leadership must be taught at the ADN level as well.

Have you noticed this in your area of the country?

Barbara

[VickyRN]

In my area, all ADN curricula are 21-24 months in duration officially. However, the demand to get into these programs is so great (usually ~ 10 applicants vying for each seat in the program), that co-requisites are almost always taken before entrance into the program. The applicant garners many more points by doing so and thus gains a critical competitive "edge." This makes the "2-year" program in reality take 3 or 4 years for the vast majority of students to complete. Thus, by this points system, co-reqs "on paper" become pre-reqs in actuality.

The area BSN program is equally grueling. Although this program is officially "2 plus 2" (2 years prereqs, then 2 years of nursing classes), many students take much longer than the official 4 years to complete the program. It is just too concentrated and rigorous. In the second semester, for instance, students are normally required to take peds, OB, pharmacology and a foundations course. There are also clinical requirements for both peds and OB.