[grannynurse FNP student]

Nursing is one of the few 'professions' that has three entry way levels of education. OTs, PTs, STs all require a miminmum of a BA or BS. And a PT requires an Masters for entry level. We have been having this debate since the 50s. And it is unlikely to ever change. Why, because of the proliferation of associate degree programs (they far out number BSN programs); the growing shortage of nurse educators; the growing graying of nurse educators; the growing need for nurses. And I did not start out in a BSN program but a diploma one, graduating from an associate degree program and getting my BSN two years after graduating. And I did it without the assistance of my employer.

Until one settle on one entry level, no one will respect us as a profession. And I cannot honestly blame them.

Grannynurse

[mcorrao77]

Originally Posted by grannynurseFNP

Nursing is one of the few 'professions' that has three entry way levels of education. OTs, PTs, STs all require a miminmum of a BA or BS. And a PT requires an Masters for entry level. We have been having this debate since the 50s. And it is unlikely to ever change. Why, because of the proliferation of associate degree programs (they far out number BSN programs); the growing shortage of nurse educators; the growing graying of nurse educators; the growing need for nurses. And I did not start out in a BSN program but a diploma one, graduating from an associate degree program and getting my BSN two years after graduating. And I did it without the assistance of my employer.

Until one settle on one entry level, no one will respect us as a profession. And I cannot honestly blame them.

Grannynurse

I totally agree. We are the only profession that has so many entry levels. Why is that? I feel that every other person in the health care setting needs at least a BS, why should the nurse be any different? But, I also understand that with the nursing shortage how can a BSN only status be implemented? I also feel that why should the ADN go on and get a BSN... the pay is relatively the same, there is no incentive. I will be graduating w/ my BSN in August, but I will complete my program in one year. If I didn't find an accelerated program, I would of went to my local community college and gotten my ADN, since I already have a BS in another field. However, I am glad that I am getting my BSN because I do feel the more education you have, the better! And eventually I want to go on and maybe get my NP, I just want to work first and pay off some schools loans and get experience.

[ELKMNin06]

Originally Posted by mcorrao77

I totally agree. We are the only profession that has so many entry levels. Why is that? I feel that every other person in the health care setting needs at least a BS, why should the nurse be any different? But, I also understand that with the nursing shortage how can a BSN only status be implemented? I also feel that why should the ADN go on and get a BSN... the pay is relatively the same, there is no incentive. I will be graduating w/ my BSN in August, but I will complete my program in one year. If I didn't find an accelerated program, I would of went to my local community college and gotten my ADN, since I already have a BS in another field. However, I am glad that I am getting my BSN because I do feel the more education you have, the better! And eventually I want to go on and maybe get my NP, I just want to work first and pay off some schools loans and get experience.

me too! I am looking into some loan forgiveness programs...I really love school...if it wasnt sooo expensive I would always take classes

[foxfire65]

Originally Posted by grannynurseFNP

Nursing is one of the few 'professions' that has three entry way levels of education. OTs, PTs, STs all require a miminmum of a BA or BS. And a PT requires an Masters for entry level. We have been having this debate since the 50s. And it is unlikely to ever change. Why, because of the proliferation of associate degree programs (they far out number BSN programs); the growing shortage of nurse educators; the growing graying of nurse educators; the growing need for nurses. And I did not start out in a BSN program but a diploma one, graduating from an associate degree program and getting my BSN two years after graduating. And I did it without the assistance of my employer.

Until one settle on one entry level, no one will respect us as a profession. And I cannot honestly blame them.

Grannynurse

I respect all nurses, because either route you go..the training is intense. Some of the best nurses I have worked with as a nurse assistant were out of the old way, the diploma schools. They don't have those around here now, but I thought that was the best way. You learned right on the floor instead of out of a book. Toledo used to have one but they recently went ADN also.

Your right about ADN schools far out numbering the BSN schools. Here in Metro Detroit there are several CC's. Most have long waiting lists though. So in the long run here in Detroit, it's really not that much longer to go to get the BSN. I had started school many years ago and don't remember so many people wanting to become a nurse. Now the schools are flooded with applicants. Most are younger than me, but it seems there is a great deal of people wanting in the nursing profession. I had to tell you though that the older RN's I worked with were awesome nurses. They mostly went through the Diploma programs.

[ZASHAGALKA]

Originally Posted by grannynurseFNP

Until one settle on one entry level, no one will respect us as a profession. And I cannot honestly blame them.

I see nothing wrong with making ADN the ONE entry way into nursing.
It is, after all, the most common route into nursing and the route with the greatest success rate at NCLEX - so it obviously prepares nurses better than any other route.

Right? Right.

~faith,
Timothy.

[grannynurse FNP student]

Originally Posted by ZASHAGALKA

I see nothing wrong with making ADN the ONE entry way into nursing.
It is, after all, the most common route into nursing and the route with the greatest success rate at NCLEX - so it obviously prepares nurses better than any other route.

Right? Right.

~faith,
Timothy.

You are joking, I hope.

Grannynurse

[debcpedsrn]

Originally Posted by r_janice

I have currently made the decision between ADN vs. BSN being that I finish my prerqs at the end of next month (5 weeks of A&P II and Im done!!! ). I decided to go for the ADN. As others have said no matter which degree you have, for an entry level RN position you will basically get paid the same. The BSN, as was said already, is good for mamagement positions. I do plan to get my future employer to pay for my RN-BSN program that I plan on pursuing after my ADN, just in case I need to go into management or teaching in the far future. Im only 20 and I know that things happen so I wanna prepare myself and have something to "fall back on".

I received my ADN 8 years ago. 3 years ago I returned to school to obtain my BSN and recently graduated this past May. I did so because I realized bedside nursing was not for me and decided working in the community setting was where I wanted to continue my career. A BSN would open up many doors in nursing outside of the hospital walls. A BSN is necessary for other areas of nursing besides management.
Continuing my education even further is not out of the question....but I agree with many of you, someone else is going to have to pay for it.

[mcorrao77]

Originally Posted by ZASHAGALKA

I see nothing wrong with making ADN the ONE entry way into nursing.
It is, after all, the most common route into nursing and the route with the greatest success rate at NCLEX - so it obviously prepares nurses better than any other route.

Right? Right.

~faith,
Timothy.

The ADN program does not prepare student nurses better than the BSN level. How can you say having less education would be more beneficial than having more? Every other major in college is a BS or BA. Plain and simple. Why is nursing different? And why do nurses always want someone else to pay for them to go to college? Take out loans, get financial aid, just do it. School loans actually increase your credit rating and the interest rate is so low on them. Times are changing whethere you like it or not. Diploma programs are being phased out, the public wants to be taught in a university. They don't want nursing to be a technical program, they want it to be a profession and you learn a profession in college at universities. You need to have the knowledge base.... you need to have patho I & II, pharm, research classes, leadership classes. Also, my university has a 99% pass rate on NCLEX exams.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by mcorrao77

The ADN program does not prepare student nurses better than the BSN level. How can you say having less education would be more beneficial than having more? Every other major in college is a BS or BA. Plain and simple. Why is nursing different? And why do nurses always want someone else to pay for them to go to college? Take out loans, get financial aid, just do it. School loans actually increase your credit rating and the interest rate is so low on them. Times are changing whethere you like it or not. Diploma programs are being phased out, the public wants to be taught in a university. They don't want nursing to be a technical program, they want it to be a profession and you learn a profession in college at universities. You need to have the knowledge base.... you need to have patho I & II, pharm, research classes, leadership classes. Also, my university has a 99% pass rate on NCLEX exams.

Spoken like a true BSN student. You've learned your concepts well.

I don't feel entitled just because I'm a nurse to have someone pay for my education. But hey, the it's out there, and I'm not taking out loans to increase my credit rating when my employer is handing out $2200/yr to go to school. (I paid for my ADN in cash by working full time. I'm working full time now but the ADN to RN program is 100 times (literally) more expensive and I'm not going to turn down any help my employer offers).

However, I would not choose to pass on the BSN route if I had a choice. I would suck it up and go and find a way to pay for it get it out of the way. Rather than get an ADN for the sole purpose of getting an employer to later pay for it. But as was mentioned by many people above (myself included), the BSN is not an option for everyone at every point in time at every location in the USA.

Also "they", meaning the general public, are blissfully unaware of our debate. The patients I take care of seem quite content knowing they have a caring and competent nurse who meets their needs and don't ask, demand or expect that a BSN is better than an RN. Most of them don't know the difference. Just my opinion, of course I respect that yours is different.

[okie2]

It's great that you are in a good program. And that you have loans available. BTW I paid for my first degree as well- with hard work all during college and a lot of loans. For some of us who are second career students, loans are no longer available to us. I cannot receive undergraduate loans-period.
Most ADN programs are not "technical". The abbrev. stands for Associate Degree of Nursing / mine actually will be Associate in Applied Sciences. And with it and my first BS- I can move on to the MSN, NP, or CNS. My program is at a Community College not a technical school, or vocational school, these are different. I will have pharm, physio-path, leadership, and research, as well as many other. Please do not assume anything about individual programs. BTW--WE are not talking about "diploma" programs- these were hospital based training programs, more "hands on", on the job training. Yes these are being phased out.
As long as the professional designation remains the same- RN- we are all registered nurses. Even though I believe those had their place too.
This is my point of the OP- RN means RN, we all take the same boards. All programs are evaluated and accredited. One has to choose the best path for themselves.
Good Luck to you.