Ok this may be a rant but....

Nursing Students General Students

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Why does it seem that most people believe that ADN programs are not as good as BSN programs?! Do we not all take NCLEX? Do we not all have the same goals...to be good caring nurses? Why is there such a distinction made amongst us?? I do not understand why there is not more compassion among nurses!! I just would really like to know what makes one program better than another?

Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Okay first this is a rant that as tired as the 60 year old hooker at the end of my street. Second, no one ever says this and from my experience 9 times out of 10 its the ADN students or grads that are going on and on and on about how they are so much better then BSN grads. That they have more clinical time (not true at least in my state) that we only have more gen ed classes not true either we have more nursing classes, how relevant are they, I don't really know. And no one at my school or in my program as ever said that we are better then adn schools, ever. I think everyone goes to which ever program or school that works out the best for them, plain and simple.

Not only that, there are courses you will get specific to nursing for your BSN that you won't get with your ASN. I have an undergrad degree already. I still would need at least a year of course work to get my BSN after my associates. Their knowledge base is better. They are more well rounded as individuals usually because they do take extra gen eds. Our patients will come from all over. The more world wise we are, the better we can treat.

Secondly, with many hospitals in my state moving to only hiring BSN, there stands a chance that I will not get a job with just my ASN. However, NOTHING is going to make us a better nurse, barring experience. None of that will happen until we have years vested in patient care.

Specializes in Neuroscience.
Their knowledge base is better. They are more well rounded as individuals usually because they do take extra gen eds. Our patients will come from all over. The more world wise we are, the better we can treat.

I don't want to start a debate, but from my experience, you usually get more "world wise" from actually being in the real world, not from sitting in a classroom. There are 50 year olds in ADN program - some going to college for the first time ever. I would not make the mistake to think they don't have wisdom from actually having LIVED because they don't have a bachelor's degree.

That is not what I meant, but thanks for asking me to clarify. Let me try to re-word it. There is world wise from life experience like you said, but I'm referencing the larger vocabulary that comes from the extra gen eds and the critical thinking that comes from it. Perhaps world wise wasn't the right word. I find those that have at least a bachelor's are more ready to accept view points that are not their own, than those without any higher education or an associates. I'm doing this as a 36 year old that's lived abroad. I'd say I come at it with world experience as well, however, I also know my bachelor's was undeniably essential for me learning to relate to other ideas. Obviously, I am generalizing, but I am a strong advocate of the mantra "education is never a bad thing".

The only difference I can see between the programs is the theory that attaches to BSN and more time. I personally didn't have the time so I went for an ADN and will continue for the bachelors after graduation. More and more hospitals are requiring a BSN so if I had the option to do it all over again I would go for the BSN to be in a better position for hire but the type of nurse that you are going to be is not going to be determined by the degree that you receive prior to NCLEX :twocents:

Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Both kinds of degrees are sufficient. I think it's important to judge each program by how well it will prepare you to pass the NCLEX and work as an RN, not by the letters on your degree at the end.

For my part, the community college I'll *hopefully* be attending has something like a 93% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX, so that was encouraging. I visited a four-year university offering a BSN pgram that I really liked as well, but in the end it came down to what I could afford. I think this is what happens for a lot of students, especially those returning to school for a second time, who have families, etc. On the other hand, a BSN does seem to have slightly better prospects for advancement, but maybe not so much actually getting the job. The BSN program I liked also had some awesome service learning/study abroad opportunities for nursing students as well. So there are advantages to both. It just depends on which is more affordable, which has a timeline that works better for you, and what you ultimately want out of your education and career.

I'm mostly asking this because time and again when people come on these boards asking for advice everyone says go BSN. I am in a program that has a 98% NCLEX passing rate vs. the 4 year college I considered that has a 85% passing rate. I just wonder am I missing some classes that may help me later? I have taken, statistics, chemistry, nutrition, ap I and ii, micro, English comp I and ii, college algebra, speech, and 12 hours of electives. I am taking pharmacology this semester. I just am trying to find out what I am missing...sorry if you felt the need to be rude over a simple question!

You are no less of a nurse, as an ADN- but I think it's important to acknowledge the BSN. I think thats the issue for people with BSN's. People are so quick to say "A nurse is a nurse" (true), but there is a "difference" in someone spending 2 or 3 years in an ADN program vs 4 or 5 for a BSN. Yes, everyone takes the NCLEX. Yes, everyone can provide care. But in general, they took more classes.

When ADN's were graduating, BSNs were still in school for years getting more credits. Yes some BSN's have less or the same clinical hours as ADNs. Yes, some of them did the same clinicals together. Whatever. They were still in school taking some sort of class- leading to a Bachelors- which people label as "higher education". Nursing is one of the few fields were having "just" an associates degree will cut it. You can't do this in social work, teaching, library science, counseling.. pretty much nothing, but nursing.

I think thats the issue for some people. Don't act like their BSN isn't "important", and they won't act like your ADN isn't "important". It goes both ways.

The same way ADNs want a distinction from LPNs. The same way LPNs don't want to be called CNAs. The same way CNAs don't want to be called dietary staff who just pass trays or whatever else.

Just my thoughts.

Specializes in rural, camp, telephone triage, abstraction.

I think the reason you see "go for the BSN if you can" so often is because it leaves you with more options down the road, especially if you eventually want an advanced degree or some kind of leadership/management position.

I think thats the issue for some people. Don't act like their BSN isn't "important", and they won't act like your ADN isn't "important". It goes both ways.

The same way ADNs want a distinction from LPNs. The same way LPNs don't want to be called CNAs. The same way CNAs don't want to be called dietary staff who just pass trays or whatever else.

Just my thoughts.

THIS is an excellent point. We are all in this together and there is no need to try to one up each other. I come at this as an EMT and it frustrates me knowing that with my 6 months of education that basically prepares me to merely package a patient for safe delivery to the people who CAN actually help them, that my fellow EMTs think they know more than doctors. Why? Because they aren't in the field? WHAT? I try to explain, most ER docs get their start in EMS. EMTs are a dime a dozen in med school. We don't get to play that card. And please don't come to work telling me that your last shift you proudly went off on a doctor and told him his course of action in the emergency situation you delivered to him was stupid or "idiotic". Last I checked he knows much more about the human body than we do.

It all boils down to respect for your fellow co workers. I am blessed to work in a facility where we have it from the director of nursing down to the CNAs. Yes there are a couple bad apples, but we don't let that ruin us. When I was accepted into nursing school, my DON danced in the hallway for me and gave me a big hug. People I didn't even know at the time came up congratulating me. It was surreal. Our charge nurse does not stay behind the desk. She is often on the floor helping when things get stressful. My nurses that I work with on a nightly shift respect the knowledge base I come into the hospital with and they trust me to do my job and inform them when things change. As a nurse's aid, I could say "I have more experience in the medical field than that new nurse over there", but so what? My job is to be her aide. My job is to insure she is able to do her job. As such I do everything in my power to support them even if it's a matter of holding open some legs so they can get a better view of the urethra.

They teach me something new daily. I sometimes come up with something good to teach them. It goes both ways and if we have mutual respect, the job will run much smoother and our patients will have a better experience.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Why does it seem that most people believe that ADN programs are not as good as BSN programs?! Do we not all take NCLEX? Do we not all have the same goals...to be good caring nurses? Why is there such a distinction made amongst us?? I do not understand why there is not more compassion among nurses!! I just would really like to know what makes one program better than another?

Curious, have you read the IOM report? What are your thoughts on it?

I honestly think posts from people looking for the fast, easy, and/or cheap way is what gives ADN programs a bad rap (outside of the IOM recommendations).

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