Nursing Students General Students
Published Jun 25, 2007
Cls62011
76 Posts
What's the difference between a practical nursing AAS degree and a practical nursing diploma?
TheCommuter, BSN, RN
102 Articles; 27,612 Posts
The difference is substantial in academia. Basically, the person who earns an AAS degree in practical nursing is considered a college graduate, whereas the person who earns a practical nursing diploma is not regarded as a college graduate. I have a diploma in vocational nursing (LVN), so I am not considered a college graduate.
So, both are able to get the same jobs, do the same things, etc.? If I plan on going further than LPN, should I still get the degree instead of the diploma? Is one better than the other? Sorry, I guess I'm just not understanding.
What I'm trying to figure out is on an application i'm filling out it asks--what is your current education intent?
-certificate
-diploma
-associate of applied science
-associate in arts (not this one for sure)
-PSEO(not this one for sure)
I'm just not sure what to mark if I want to become an LPN.
Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN
1,472 Posts
tigger340,
There really isn't a pay difference as a new grad. I have AAS-Practical Nursing degree, and I'm glad I do, but you probably won't see much more in terms of $ until you get some experience. Hope that helped!
Sharon :wink2:
celery
62 Posts
If you are planning on continuing to get your RN, it might be a good idea for you to get your LPN from a community college. That way you would get into a RN program easier, especially if that program were at said community college.