Is a BSN mostly theory/lecture? Difference from ADN?

kaycedee · Mar 9, 2012

I have been told that the difference between an ADN and a BSN is pretty much the ability to advance into administration, get promotions, and go for advanced nursing degrees. I don't know if that's true everywhere. The BSN program I looked at had a community health component that the ADN pathway didn't have. I'm sure there were other differences.

I chose to go ADN myself, mostly because it will get me into the field faster and the difference in price was staggering. I may do an RN to BSN completion program later on down the line if I find that having a BSN will benefit me enough to justify the cost of the program. There are even RN to MSN programs out there. Hope that helps! :)

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2012

I think the lecture time vs clinical time in ADN and BSN programs is very comparable. In four years of nursing school, I spent well over 1000 hours in clinicals.

The biggest difference between BSN and ADN programs are the "extra" classes. I took classes in leadership, management, research, theory, and ethics as well as a several non-nursing electives such as literature, sociology and foreign language. It's the management and leadership component of the education that allows for the bachelors degree and gives BSN nurses more appeal and ability to move into management positions.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2012

that alleged difference in willingness to "get hands dirty" is a function of individual preference and aptitude, not program. the generalization that adns are more preferred by hospitals for that reason is not reality-based. the fact is that accredited programs have to have a certain number of hours for clinical, and if any program has more, it's more likely to be the longer one than the shorter one. most bsn grads spend their careers they way they choose, and many choose to stay at the bedside or in other patient-care situations.

i think the thing that "bsns all want to be in management" is also overstated. this, too, is more based on individual skills and competencies. some want to be in management sooner rather than later, some come to the realization that they'd be good at it later in their careers, some find that their broader-based nursing education leads to paths they never knew existed in school that may never involve a management job. however, no one knows of any career path in any profession that doesn't have better prospects with better education.

ckh23, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2012

I did my RN to BSN and I still feel it is just a bunch of crap. Pharmacology and Pathophysiology aside, unless I was going into management or publics health, I found the classes to be useless. It's all apart of the "higher education" scam that is designed to make universities richer.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Mar 12, 2012

You can get an RN-to-BSN degree completely online. That should tell you how many additional hands-on hours the BSN gives you.

As for ADNs getting their "hands dirty" more than BSNs, I think that's a combination of several factors, with the main factor being the structure of the individual programs. I've had several nurses tell me that they prefer students from my community college's ADN program vs. the local university's BSN students, because our program teaches us more hands-on stuff. But that's just related to comparing those two particular programs -- I'm sure there are ADN programs that don't do as well and also BSN programs that do much better.

Another factor I believe is the makeup of the student base. Of the 80 people who started the ADN program when I did, I don't think there's a single one who is a straight-out-of-high-school, wet-behind-the-ears kid. Almost everyone is living independently (not with mommy and daddy) and they are almost all working at least part-time (and many full-time) and the vast majority of us have kids and/or spouses. The mindset and work ethic differences between a 20yo party-girl and a 30yo mom can be quite vast, and that could account for a large part of the difference that nurses see between students who are willing to "get their hands dirty" and students who hang out in the break room gossiping.

Are all ADN students industrious go-getters? Are all BSN students lazy gossipers? Of course not. But when looking at the overall populations of the two groups, there are many commonalities within each subset which can affect how each is perceived in general.

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Mar 12, 2012

I have been told that the difference between an ADN and a BSN is pretty much the ability to advance into administration, get promotions, and go for advanced nursing degrees. I don't know if that's true everywhere. The BSN program I looked at had a community health component that the ADN pathway didn't have. I'm sure there were other differences.
I chose to go ADN myself, mostly because it will get me into the field faster and the difference in price was staggering. I may do an RN to BSN completion program later on down the line if I find that having a BSN will benefit me enough to justify the cost of the program. There are even RN to MSN programs out there. Hope that helps! :)

I have been in both programs and have the experience to comment on whether there is a difference between ADN and BSN nurses. Other than the additonal education BSN prepared nurses receive, in my experience there is no difference between the way the two programs are structured. I have personally heard BSN instructors belittle the ADN education stating that BSN nurses are better educated, etc. However, the ADN and BSN lower division classes are exactly the same...same writing, research requirements, care plans, pharmacology and same hands-on skill requirements. I have advised those seeking their RN to go the ADN route and work some before considering the BSN route. Many hospitals are considering magnet status and BSN nurses are necessary.

ShaynaSmart · Apr 9, 2012

All the comments were very helpful! Thank you!