The difference between ADNs and BSNs

In my estimation there are many differences. When I used to ask this question, some would say "nothing really, just management stuff". Wow was I in for a learning curve in the BSN program. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

The difference between ADNs and BSNs

I don't understand why there aren't real, substantive answers as to why it seems that more hospitals and nursing in general are moving to all BSN status as a minimum.

First, allow me to just say that there are some really GREAT ASNs out there. Their experience, caring and thoughtful nursing skill sets are invaluable. I know of quite a few myself whom I would have care for me or any of my loved ones, due to the fact I know they care and are extremely good at what they do. Secondly, the field of nursing is a great, well respected career path. Any degree in Nursing is indeed a good choice, but why not make a great choice? There are many career paths within the field of nursing and different areas of nursing one can follow or get into. The major two types are the ASN and the BSN. How does it differ from a nurse who has an associate degree in nursing? Are there any differences other than being in school a little longer? Is the pay different? Is it only for a "managers job?".

The associate degree nurse is commonly called the "associate of science in nursing" or ASN degree nurse. An associate degree nurse has commonly completed approximately two years of nursing school training. However before entering any nursing program the student must have completed the prerequisites in order to be accepted into that program. Many times this entails having completed one to two years of education in order to meet the requirements for nursing school. Many students finish much more quickly but not without, arguably, hard work and a lot of time and energy. The latter being true for nursing education in general. ASN nurses take courses in, most obviously, nursing. However, the curriculum includes many other facets of learning. ASNs take courses in psychology, nutrition, microbiology, chemistry, physiology as well as social and behavioral sciences. One thing all nursing schools and curriculums have in common are hours of supervised clinical experience. While the course is technically only two years long, many students, young and old alike say it's one of the toughest programs they have ever encountered.

The baccalaureate in nursing program adds to the educational development of the registered nurse by including several other aspects of nursing. Baccalaureate or commonly called "bachelor" nursing programs contain all of the course work taught in ASN and diploma programs plus a more in-depth treatment of the physical and social sciences, research in the field of nursing, public and community health, nursing management and supervising, as well as the humanities. The additional coursework can continue to enhance the nursing student's professional development It also prepares the new nurse for a broader scope of practice, and provides the nursing student, whether already an ASN or not with a better understanding of the economic, political, cultural, and social issues that affect a patient and influence health care delivery. Throughout the last decade, policymakers and nursing practice leaders have recognized that education makes a difference. One of the major differences is in the area of "people". That is to say, BSNs' learn more on how to deal with people and the dynamics of the people in the workplace as well as effective management and productivity of those people. Also, registered nurses with a BSN possess a substantial chance for advancing their careers. As an example, a bachelor's in nursing degree is needed for acceptance into a master's nursing program, which could result in a career in healthcare administration, health services, or on to specialty nursing roles like nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse leader. A BSN is also favored and frequently necessitated for military and public health nursing and other more specialized jobs.

Now, with that said. Education is a great way to become enlightened on even more nursing information and for creation of change in the profession. All one has to do is look up Linda Aiken, RN and the information from her years of research on nursing will enlighten and brighten ones' thoughts on this matter -of magnet hospitals and/or facilities. Dr. Aiken and colleagues found (in over a decade of research) that hospitals that employed a higher percentile of BSNs had lower surgical patient mortality rates than hospitals that staffed with fewer BSNs (Hanink, 2014). The study was done in 2003 and other studies are continuing even now. All point to a need in a BSN. The study in 2003 was done on 168 hospitals. In addition, hospitals with RNs holding a bachelor's degree or higher ranged from 0% to 77% across the hospitals. a 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding a bachelor's degree was associated with a 5% decrease in both the likelihood of patients dying within 30 days of admission and the odds of failure to rescue (JAMA, 2003). I would strongly recommend that any and all nurses read Dr. Aikens' research paper on this. It can be found in the link below.

Everywhere nurses look, other professions are taking on additional responsibilities, given more credibility and even more respect (PTs, OTs, Pharmacists, RTs etc) while nurses are seen as the pill pushers, IV starters etc. We need to educate ourselves and be proactive in all areas of patient care. That would include management, and lobbying congress for better nurse ratios as well.

On a personal note, if you are someone in nursing school or are considering nursing. Consider going for the BSN. The ASN is good if you are considering working and THEN going for your BSN, however as most nurses will tell you. It's hard to stop then start again, and sometimes expensive. Just keep going. Don't stop.

I like to write as you can tell. So what do you think?

If there are any issues with the link below I have included it here as well. Simply cut and paste into your browser. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/197345

References

Linda Aiken's Research is Changing the Nursing Profession, The Magnet program for hospitals is directly related to Aiken's work, Elizabeth Hanink, RN, BSN, PHN 2014 retrieved from http://www.workingnurse.com/articles/Linda-Aiken-s-Research-is-Changing-the-Nursing-Profession

The Journal of The American Medical Association, Educational Levels of Hospital Nurses and Surgical Patient Mortality, Linda H. Aiken, PhD, Et. Al, 2003 retrieved from http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=197345
26 Posts

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elkpark

14,633 Posts

Oh, no, not again ...

RN403, BSN, RN

1 Article; 1,068 Posts

Lots of threads on this topic. Both ADN and BSN nurses have something to bring to the table.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN

3 Articles; 10,428 Posts

Thread on countdown to self-destruction in 3.........2........

OP, while it's clear you like to write, do you also like to read? What I mean is there is A LOT of information readily available on this website, hundreds if not thousands of posts on this very topic, just waiting for your perusal :)

Compagnox2

26 Posts

LOL! sorry for the long write up and no need to be acrimonious or bombastic in your writing. I meant no wrong. If you do not wish to read my write up, simply dont read it and/or do not reply. In regards to RN403, as i said in my write up here, all nurses have something to add. ASNs are invaluable, but by 2020-they will all have to be RNs if they want to have a good job/position.

Nurse-Prestige

37 Posts

I think BSN being the minimum requirement for the entry level for nursing seems to be what these trends (more hospitals hiring only BSN nurses) are indicating.

MallysMama

281 Posts

Specializes in ICU.

First off- it bugs me when people say there are already lots of threads out there about a certain topic. If no one was allowed to start a new thread on a topic previously written about- there would no longer be any new posts. It's okay to start a new thread about a topic already hashed and rehashed! It gives new people the chance to share their opinion.

Okay- with that off my chest! ;) I got my ADN first and then went back for my BSN. I felt the BSN was a total waste of time and money. I learned nothing new or spectacular that would change the way I worked as a nurse. I felt it was a lot of common sense stuff that a good nurse should already know. The only thing my BSN was good for was that it was a required stepping stone to continue on for my masters.

Though you have some great points- I just didn't feel like the BSN was beneficial to my practice.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Compagnox2 said:
I don’t understand why there aren’t real, substantive answers as to why it seems that more hospitals and nursing in general are moving to all BSN status as a minimum.

I have a few disclosures about my educational background: I worked as an LVN prior to earning an ASN degree. I am a few credits shy of earning a BSN degree.

Hospitals are hiring baccalaureate-prepared (a.k.a. BSN degree) RNs because they can. The current surplus of nurses in the employment marketplace is allowing this to transpire. When hundreds of nurses are applying for each job opening, a minimum BSN degree requirement effectively eliminates the number of applications that HR must sort through.

In addition, the current surplus of nurses ensures that hospital systems can obtain BSN-prepared nurses for the cost of an experienced LPN. Yes, wages are remaining flat or deflating. It makes no sense that an RN with a BSN degree can earn $18 to $23 in many employment markets.

I know all about the Aiken research, but it is from 1994. Why did hospitals barely start demanding BSN-prepared RNs in 2009? Because, due to the ever-increasing glut of nurses, now they can make this demand. Prior to 2009, most hospital systems were not requiring BSNs as a condition of employment.

Compagnox2 said:
ASNs are invaluable, but by 2020-they will all have to be RNs if they want to have a good job/position.

ASN-degree nurses are RNs. Furthermore, the acute care hospital is not the only workplace in town that offers so-called 'good jobs.'

Nurse-Prestige

37 Posts

MallysMama said:
First off- it bugs me when people say there are already lots of threads out there about a certain topic. If no one was allowed to start a new thread on a topic previously written about- there would no longer be any new posts. It's okay to start a new thread about a topic already hashed and rehashed! It gives new people the chance to share their opinion.

Okay- with that off my chest! ;) I got my ADN first and then went back for my BSN. I felt the BSN was a total waste of time and money. I learned nothing new or spectacular that would change the way I worked as a nurse. I felt it was a lot of common sense stuff that a good nurse should already know. The only thing my BSN was good for was that it was a required stepping stone to continue on for my masters.

Though you have some great points- I just didn't feel like the BSN was beneficial to my practice.

Respectfully, BSN degree is a 4 year program, where an ADN is two year program, so i disagree that those two years of additional classes are not helpful.

Classes such as research evidence based practice, management, leadership, and obviously more in depth core nursing courses, etc.. should be included in any nursing curriculum because it involves the daily job role of a nurse, and that is why there is a trend to have a BSN as the minimum requirement for the entry level in nursing.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Nurse-Prestige said:
Respectfully, BSN degree is a 4 year program, where an ADN is two year program, so i disagree, that those two years of additional classes are not helpful, and definitely not waste of time.

MallysMama states that the BSN degree was a total waste of time and money. Her perception is her reality, and we must respect that. Who are we to invalidate her reality by stating that the BSN degree was NOT a waste of time and money?

Nurse-Prestige

37 Posts

TheCommuter said:
MallysMama states that the BSN degree was a total waste of time and money. Her perception is her reality, and we must respect that. Who are we to invalidate her reality by stating that the BSN degree was NOT a waste of time and money?

I did write "respectfully" (that i respect her opinion, even though i have completely different opinion on the topic) before i started my post.

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Nurse-Prestige said:
Respectfully, BSN degree is a 4 year program, where an ADN is two year program, so i disagree that those two years of additional classes are not helpful.

Classes such as research evidence based practice, management, leadership, and obviously more in depth core nursing courses, etc.. should be included any nursing curriculum because it involves the daily job role of a nurse, and that is way there is a trend to have a BSN as the minimum requirement for the entry level in nursing.

Respectfully, I have yet to see a Two year associate degree nursing program containing all of the items required for graduation for someone that has no previous college experience. In the vast majority of cases, the credit hours required are more consistent with three years of college courses not two.

Second, many associate programs require those very same courses that are claimed to be the difference between a BSN and an ADN/ASN. I studied research, did leadership, etc. The case studies that I did as an ASN were longer and required to be more in depth than what I am required in my RN to BSN program at a well respected university. They were also graded more strictly in my associate program.

I am almost finished with the program, and have yet to have found it overly useful nor containing much new information. Things that are different, is use of APA format which was not used in the 80's,. My class in computer use was helpful, as my previous papers had been done on a word processor, where there was no spell or grammar check. And an Informatics class - a field which did not exist when I went to school.

Otherwise, my BSN is being done merely to allow me to get "credit" for the work/teaching I do every day of my life, by allowing me to move up in the clinical ladder. Otherwise, I feel that the majority of the course work has been redundant and a waste of time and money.

I really wish that people would get over the idea that there is some grand difference between ASN and BSN practice. Most nurses will never practice in an environment that will utilize many of those differences. I practice in a major teaching hospital known worldwide, and I have a significant number of clinicians and patients that assume that I have a BSN or a Master's.