Why does USA allow 2 year degree for RN's

[PinayUSA]

Why would the USA allow US trained nurses to only have to go to college for 2 years to get an Associates Degree and then become a RN.

I think most American who are not in the health industry believe/think that a RN requires a 4 year college degree.

Going to school for only 2 year verses 4 years produces a not so well educated product.

Was this done for the nursing shortage, or has this been common practice for many years in the USA.

[Raviepoo]

A 2 year Community College is like going to High School but just a tad bit harder, It not like going to a average 4 year college where the course are tougher.

You know, I can't really fault you on this because I thought that way once. I just assumed that community college courses were watered down versions of "real' college courses. The I took sociology from a professor who teaches at a community college and a four year college. She teaches the same material at both institutions with the same standard for grading. There is no difference. The classes I took for my bachelors degree in another field were not any more difficult than the classes I have taken for my AD in Nursing. In fact, the opposite has often been true.

Students at two year and four year colleges get similar training in the job of being a nurse. They are held to similar standards. They take the same licensing exam. What students get in a bachelors degree program are roughly 30 credits of nursing related classes which may include more in-depth pathophysiology, pharmacology, management, research, chemistry, maybe a writing class, and roughly 30 credits of core or elective courses. The graduates of the 4 year colleges might be better prepared to be managers, public health nurses or even engaged citizens, but they aren't better prepared to function as nurses. Art history and nursing informatics don't help you take better care of patients.

[RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN]

My 2 year ADN program (private school) is actually harder than the local BSN programs. There are few pre-reqs; you can take the required non - nursing courses along with the nursing courses and be finished in 5-6 semesters. We have more required clinical hours than the BSN programs here. We are allowed to do a lot more in clinicals than other schools. Our first time NCLEX pass rate is consistently 96% and higher. Our main hospital -- which is a magnet hospital -- prefers hiring grads from my school over the BSNs. I graduate in December and will be proud of my ADN!

[MidLifeRN2012]

Wow. I thought the OP was just joking to stir a hornets nest but just went on to prove his ignorance

I would have MUCH rather have gone to a 2 year ADN program because the attention to clinical skills is much higher than a BSN program at least where I went. And it would have saved me $20 K. The only reason I went BSN was it was the only school in my area offering a night and weekend program . This was a 2nd career and needed to keep my day job. The ADN programs are harder to get into near me than the 4 yr colleges

OP....who would you rather have working on you. An ADN nurse who was rigorously trained in IV placement or someone who could write a good AP paper but who was never trained on IV insertion in school and is just learning on the job...on YOU?

[Fiona59]

Why do I care? First and foremost I am American Citizen and I demand top quality healthcare, I want the most educated and best care that I can afford.

I am on this forum to learn about Nursing in USA due to my fiancé to hopefully arrive in November from Philppines and learning about requirements for RN's in USA.

I have learned in my area of Texas where the economy is pretty good , that hospital are taking 4 yrs degrees over 2 yrs RN in hiring.

I was told that Baylor Health which is a major chain in my area will only hire BSN Rn's now of days.

And after reading how nurses are in low demand especially in places like California, I was shocked how they offer 2 year Nursing Degrees for low cost at a Community where taxpayer bear the a lot of the expenses instead of the students

Ah, this post explains a lot. He's a visajourney forum member.

We haven't had one of these guys post for a couple of years. Used to have a couple of regulars from there (long time users will remember the infamous RedRanger). They are guys who have gone offshore to find women to marry, who just happen to be nurses. When they find out that the women may have problems getting jobs with their educational qualifications they get all defensive and insulting towards nurses (and women) educated in first world countries.

Good times.

If you really want to have your eyes opened go read visajourney.

[elkpark]

Ah, this post explains a lot. He's a visajourney forum member.

We haven't had one of these guys post for a couple of years. Used to have a couple of regulars from there (long time users will remember the infamous RedRanger). They are guys who have gone offshore to find women to marry, who just happen to be nurses. When they find out that the women may have problems getting jobs with their educational qualifications they get all defensive and insulting towards nurses (and women) educated in first world countries.

Good times.

If you really want to have your eyes opened go read visajourney.

Ah, yes, of course. It's all coming back to me now (fortunately, it's been a while ...)

[BridgetO]

I will never understand why an RN/ADN degree is not counted as a 4 year degree? Not only do they take 4 years to complete, but they have all that clinical as well. It really doesn't make sense. Just to get in the nursing program you need above average grades. So many students drop out because of they didn't have the mental and physical fortitude needed to get through it. It's far from easy, even grades are held to higher level than most majors. It's not like doctors or social workers could do our jobs despite their higher level of degrees. Comparing us to the other professionals in the medical field is grossly unfair.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I will never understand why an RN/ADN degree is not counted as a 4 year degree? Not only do they take 4 years to complete, but they have all that clinical as well. It really doesn't make sense. Just to get in the nursing program you need above average grades. So many students drop out because of they didn't have the mental and physical fortitude needed to get through it. It's far from easy, even grades are held to higher level than most majors. It's not like doctors or social workers could do our jobs despite their higher level of degrees. Comparing us to the other professionals in the medical field is grossly unfair.

Because only 60 college credits are needed for an ASN whereas 120-128 credits are needed for a BSN. The number of years to complete is not relevant

[emmy27]

When an ADN nurse enters a BSN completion program, there is usually no clinical component- they have already been prepared for and passed the same licensure exam that a direct-BSN nurse must pass, and have the same clinical and patient care competence.

The difference in curriculum is in areas like research skills, management/leadership, and possibly specialty preparation. My BSN completion program taught me some useful things about statistics, public health, and healthcare management principles. It did not teach me anything new about providing hands-on care for the patient populations I had already been caring for for years.

[RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN]

I will never understand why an RN/ADN degree is not counted as a 4 year degree? Not only do they take 4 years to complete, but they have all that clinical as well.

My ADN program was 2 years.