[time4meRN]

Originally Posted by SmilingBluEyes

Many have 4 year degrees besides and other than BSN. In addition, I know of many 2nd or 3rd degree RNs who have ADN plus BA pr degrees in related fields like biology, chemistry or psychology/social work, yet "they" just tear them down as "only AD nurses". I wish we could just respect everyone's educational accomplishments period.

Well said, thank you !

[Myxel67]

I have a BA in English & Secondary Education. When I attended this particular school, they granted BA (Bachelor of Arts) and BS (Bachelor or Science) degrees. The difference? To get the BA required 2 years of college level foreign language. School was also associated with the Floyd County Hospital School of Nursing. Nursing student could leave after 3 years and test for RN, or stay 4 years and graduate with BS.

[Athenas83]

Originally Posted by LaborNurse1

I'm not going to argue whether RN's should be diploma, 2 year, or 4 year, but what I have a complaint about is that for those of us with a BS with a major in nursing get left out of the loop. Many times we are just given the title BSN because we have the 4 year degree, but in fact, these two are slightly different.

I have seen my name with someone else adding the title BSN and it really aggravates me!

Anyhow...my understanding of the difference is that the BS with a major in nursing is a 4 year degree awarded by the university/college, not a college within the university system, and therefore requires a few more credits for graduation. The BSN is awarded to students who attended a College of Nursing school within a university. In other words, its a separate division within the school that has different graduation requirements, albeit not much different than other divisions within the university but different none the less.

Am I alone on this one?

Wow, I've never heard of this. I would think they'd give you a BSN. What if you wanted to go on and get your MSN. Would there be a difference when applying to the school over someone with a BSN degree?

[LaborNurse1]

Athena,
that's a good question. I am currently in school for an MSN, and the BS with a major in nursing was never an issue. Makes sense given that many graduate programs are now accepting non nursing bachelors.

[donster]

I had no idea of the difference. I learned something. Thanks!

[carolinapooh]

Me too.

At Duke, I've seen nurses on the floor who are "BS, RN" and others who are "BSN, RN". Come to think of it, I've seen it in every hospital I've ever been in.

Now I know.

I'm a bit of a cop on this sort of stuff myself. Yes, it's petty, I'm sure - but I understand the point of people being upset. You are what you are, you earned what you earned - so you want it given that way. I don't blame you a bit.

[arciedee]

You know, I never knew that... But I looked at my school's program and realized that I'm earning an MS. Just an MS. Actually I never knew that there was such a thing as a real BSN or MSN. I thought it was just shorthand for nurses to know that the person's bachelors or masters was in nursing and not, I dunno, sociology or something.

Degree stuff is interesting. My undergrad degree is technically an AB, not a BA. I only know of one other university that does that (Harvard, FWIW). But I never write AB on anything because I assume that most people will think that AB stands for associate's in business or something... I usually just write the words out, because I'm kind of a stickler about accuracy and don't want to say that I have a BA if that's not actually what my school considers me to have. Yeah, I know it's not important in the grand scheme of things, but it can be a bugaboo for some of us.