ADN vs. BSN for Entry Level Nursing

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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The new push is for all nurses to be baccalaureate prepared, eliminating the 2 year associate degree program. Given the current and future nursing shortage, what is your opinion?

Community colleges are

It's interesting how NYS structures their public higher education. It looks like it all post-high school programs are administered under the State University of New York, including technical colleges and certificate programs. So I think we're all correct. Community colleges aren't universities as the term is generally understood and in New York, community colleges are part of the SUNY system.

http://www.suny.edu/Student/academic_degree_certs.cfm

hey, thanks for taking the time to look into what I was talking about, it's appreciated :)

I guess, based on what I'm reading, it's not the usual system. Something I did NOT know, but learned when following your link, was that the "technical college" I keep hearing about as though it were dirt under the last rung of the educational ladder also has programs that award a bachelor's degree! I never actually knew of any technical colleges; there must not be any near me. There's a vocational school, but it's not a SUNY school; it has LPN programs, as well as cosmetology and automotive, computer tech, etc.

Anyway, I thought it interesting that bachelor's degrees are not ALWAYS "university" degrees, as most would assume (including myself).

I can only imagine that new debate, lol: "my university bachelor's is better than your technical college bachelor's"!

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My head is spinning after reading through some of the posts regarding ADN vs. BSN. I am seeking a bit of advice here. I am 30 years old with a B.A. in Journalism and a successful career in medical device sales. I am debating between an accelerated BSN program (16 months- and a lot more money) and a 4 semester nursing program (but I already have all the prerequisites completed through my B.A.- so is it just a one year program for me??) I am just beginning to research this career path so bear with me here. I am considering nursing because I like the idea of having a flexible schedule and the ability to work on a contractual basis. I am starting to think about having a family and I am not sure that I can be a full-time mommy-money and sanity wise! A career in nursing would allow me to work as I choose while kids are young, and perhaps return to medical sales (a lot more marketable to boot) at a later date. So for my purposes...

Does a 1-2(?) program in nursing allow me the same career options as a BSN pay-wise/responsibility (particularly in the first 5 years or so?) or put another way, will a BSN be worth the time and money given my intentions? Thanks for any help or suggestions!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
My head is spinning after reading through some of the posts regarding ADN vs. BSN. I am seeking a bit of advice here. I am 30 years old with a B.A. in Journalism and a successful career in medical device sales. I am debating between an accelerated BSN program (16 months- and a lot more money) and a 4 semester nursing program (but I already have all the prerequisites completed through my B.A.- so is it just a one year program for me??) I am just beginning to research this career path so bear with me here. I am considering nursing because I like the idea of having a flexible schedule and the ability to work on a contractual basis. I am starting to think about having a family and I am not sure that I can be a full-time mommy-money and sanity wise! A career in nursing would allow me to work as I choose while kids are young, and perhaps return to medical sales (a lot more marketable to boot) at a later date. So for my purposes...

Does a 1-2(?) program in nursing allow me the same career options as a BSN pay-wise/responsibility (particularly in the first 5 years or so?) or put another way, will a BSN be worth the time and money given my intentions? Thanks for any help or suggestions!

The accelerated programs ARE BSN programs. You would have your BSN from one of those programs AND complete it in the quickest manner possible for entry into nursing. In your situation, your first choice should be an accelerated BSN program. For you, that program would likely be the least investment in time and money. Those abbreviated programs are normally not alot more money when you consider that longer programs are going to cost you more money over the course of many more semesters. In fact, I would imagine that they would be cheaper, all things considered (books, fees over many more semesters, loss of productivity while in school, etc.)

~faith,

Timothy.

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Not so, DO's actually go to school longer than MD's . If you actually sit atnd look at class time , internship etc,,, DO's do more time. [/b][/i][/u]

Actually, the DOs just have slightly more class time in manipulation techiques, which many do not use after graduation. Internship and residency is the same as for MDs, at least according to the MD and the DO I work with. You'll find MDs and DOs doing the exact same residencies at the same location.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Actually, the DOs just have slightly more class time in manipulation techiques, which many do not use after graduation. Internship and residency is the same as for MDs, at least according to the MD and the DO I work with. You'll find MDs and DOs doing the exact same residencies at the same location.

We have a hospital here that takes only DO residents. However, where I work we take both, without differences in their residency.

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My mother has been a nurse for over 25 years...this debate and so called "push" to do away with ADN was going on when she went to nursing school in the early 80s. I understand the thinking of most people, that having a nurse w/BSN somehow means that he/she is better equiped than a ADN. I don't agree with this at all. Especially with the nursing shortage, which will only increase with babyboomers retiring and needing more medical assitance.

My step-sister is graduating soon w/her BSN, after working as a RN for a few years. They only thing she learned was how to do paperwork...this is coming from her! Her clinicals were worthless as far as learning new information, experiences, etc.

The wait lists for BSN & ADN programs as insane, and once you are accepted...2 year programs more times than not, turn into 2.5 or 3 years.

My point being here....nurses are needed and will continue to be needed. The best experiences and learning takes place after nursing school...this is what the 5 nurses in my family have said...so I tend to take their word for it. Additional time in an undergrad DO NOT make a better nurse.

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The new push is for all nurses to be baccalaureate prepared, eliminating the 2 year associate degree program. Given the current and future nursing shortage, what is your opinion?

I do believe RNs should have a bachelor's degree, specifically in nursing, however if they have one in another field, an ADN is adequate until they can complete the BSN degree, but I believe they should have to eventually complete that too. We already have a level for "practical" or "technical" or "vocational" nurses and that is the LVN/LPN which is also a nurse, and a perfectly reasonable option for those who can't afford or can't complete a bachelor's level program.

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My head is spinning after reading through some of the posts regarding ADN vs. BSN. I am seeking a bit of advice here. I am 30 years old with a B.A. in Journalism and a successful career in medical device sales. I am debating between an accelerated BSN program (16 months- and a lot more money) and a 4 semester nursing program (but I already have all the prerequisites completed through my B.A.- so is it just a one year program for me??) I am just beginning to research this career path so bear with me here. I am considering nursing because I like the idea of having a flexible schedule and the ability to work on a contractual basis. I am starting to think about having a family and I am not sure that I can be a full-time mommy-money and sanity wise! A career in nursing would allow me to work as I choose while kids are young, and perhaps return to medical sales (a lot more marketable to boot) at a later date. So for my purposes...

Does a 1-2(?) program in nursing allow me the same career options as a BSN pay-wise/responsibility (particularly in the first 5 years or so?) or put another way, will a BSN be worth the time and money given my intentions? Thanks for any help or suggestions!

Hey it's just my two cents but take the FASTEST path to a RN which would be the ADN program and THEN after you get yourself in the door of a Hospital or whatever facility you wish to work.. MOST of them have continuing Education programs whereby if you work there they will PAY to complete your education.. So the question is do you want to go back to school and just study for two more years , in which case you'll probably never want to actually work in the field .... or do you want to get a job and WORK?

Just my two cents not meant to be anything but what it is... an opinion

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I personally would have pursued an Associates degree if I was not accepted to a BSN program for the simple passion of wanting to be a nurse. I doubt anyone here is downplaying the intellect of ADN's. I know many nurses who graduated from a University with a bachelor's in hand, before pursuing a second degree in nursing.

I think people are comparing nursing to other professions, such as physicians. A PhD is required, nothing more nothing less. So should a Bachelor's be a minimum requirement and expected fulfillment to attain from all nurses? An Occupational therapist was required a minimal education of Bachelor's but in 2007 has changed to a Masters. It seems to me many of us are concerned about how other professions view nursing and though their input is important, how are we as nurses valuing ourselves?

The answer should be through continued education, which is already mandated by law. I think what would ease my mind as well as everyone on here is to continue bridging the gap and creating the pathway for ADNs to ease into a BSN degree while simultaneously working. The skill is already there, but to apply theory and place the critical thinking skills gained from a bachelor's education into practice puts the whole perspective of patient care under a different light. So of course I value higher education but as long as there is an easier route, people will take it. A Bachelor's at Yale is the same as a Bachelor's at a 4-yr college, but an Associates should not be under the same category or expected to receive the same treatment as a Bachelor's when we compare nursing in context of licensure, pay rate, and so forth.

ADNs no longer care for only stable patients, so times have changed and if your really concerned about the direction of nursing, then be active. A forum is not going to change anything, unless you allow it to open your mind, accept criticism, and put the opinions of others to good use. In the business world, no formal degree put the person to the top, continuous training and experience did, so there. You can argue that against me. Good night.

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I think people are comparing nursing to other professions, such as physicians. A PhD is required, nothing more nothing less.

Getting on the soapbox...physicians have a medical doctorate (or a DO). This is a clinically-focused doctorate. A PhD is an academic/research-oriented doctorate. Two different things. Off the soapbox now.

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Just wanted to point out that all 4 year programs do not get the summers off as state by previous poster. I am in a BSN program and I have to go straight through for 2 years including summers! I don't get a break. I go to Chicago State University.

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Hey it's just my two cents but take the FASTEST path to a RN which would be the ADN program and THEN after you get yourself in the door of a Hospital or whatever facility you wish to work.. MOST of them have continuing Education programs whereby if you work there they will PAY to complete your education.. So the question is do you want to go back to school and just study for two more years , in which case you'll probably never want to actually work in the field .... or do you want to get a job and WORK?

Just my two cents not meant to be anything but what it is... an opinion

Just to clarify, for those who already have a BA or BS, an ADN program is not necessarily the fastest route to RN licensure, now that there are so many accelerated BSN programs for people with other baccalaureate degrees ...

However, everyone's situation is different, and you can't just assume that an accelerated BSN is your best best, either. Best to talk to folks at all the nursing (RN) programs in your area and see what they have to offer you, and carefully consider all the variables (time frame, expense, etc.) in relation to your personal situation.

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