Difference in ADN vs. BSN within your state and compared to other states

Woodenpug, BSN · Jun 23, 2008

I think the issue is one of arguing apples and oranges.

BSN as enrty level would improve the public's perception of Nursing. That's true, and a good argument.

BSN and ADN prepaired nurses are equally competent as caregivers. That's also true and valid.

The rest of the debate seems to be about which is more important.

I also think that even in your area, there is at least one ADN program which is every bit equal in core nursing content as is your BSN program.

elkpark · Jun 23, 2008

I agree that it's hard to tell whether one is comparing apples and oranges, or apples and apples. You can't make a judgment simply on the basis of the names of the courses at one school or another, without knowing what content is in what courses. If the ADN program you're referring to didn't cover the same required basic, "core" content as your BSN program, it wouldn't be approved by your BON for its graduates to be eligible for licensure. I've taught in an ADN program, which was not a particularly outstanding ADN program by my state's standards, and a well-regarded BSN program at a state university, and I can tell you with confidence that the ADN students were getting a better nursing education. The BSN program looked good on paper, but the students graduated knowing shockingly little (to me) about nursing, and poorly prepared (again, IMHO) to enter practice. Another university BSN program in my state was recently put on probation by the BON because of problems with the program. Having read the BON bulletins consistently over years, I would say that, over time, BSN programs in my state get into trouble with the BON for various reasons at about the same rate as ADN programs. In fact, there was a flurry of excitement several years ago when several of the well-regarded BSN programs in the state all got put on probation by the BON at the same time because of really low NCLEX pass rates. Your BSN program may be a much superior program to the local ADN program in your area, but that is not the case everywhere.

There are good and bad, strong and weak, ADN and BSN programs anywhere you go. While, as Woodenpug pointed out, there are some good arguments for preferring BSN education for nurses, the idea that all BSN programs are better than all ADN programs is not one of them.

greygooseuria · Jun 23, 2008

Your BSN program may be a much superior program to the local ADN program in your area, but that is not the case everywhere.
There are good and bad, strong and weak, ADN and BSN programs anywhere you go. While, as Woodenpug pointed out, there are some good arguments for preferring BSN education for nurses, the idea that all BSN programs are better than all ADN programs is not one of them.

That's the point I was trying to make. I do not view one as better than the other, but I was wondering if because of the marked difference in some programs if this is where someone would get off with saying, "Oh ADN is better than BSN" or vice versa.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2008

There's a difference here in Florida in the cirriculum, but not in the basic nursing and clinical hours, since after all both graduate take the same NCLEX.

Also note that in ADN programs a lot of topics are covered under titles such as "Med Surg IV" which might include some topics that you take separately, such as pharmacology.

But evidentally that's not the case everywhere, as this poster notes there's only three classes different between an ADN and BSN where she/he is: https://allnurses.com/forums/f283/associates-bachelors-131860-3.html#post2919296

live4today, RN · Jun 29, 2008

The "public's perception" of nursing was just fine for MANY MANY years. The public only knows what the nurses are putting out there by way of the nurses perception of "who is the better nurse, etc....diploma, adn, or bsn".... In 21 years of nursing, I've only had one patient ask what my educational background was. I've had TONS of bsn students tooting their own horns about being "better" and "deserving more pay because they paid a LOT of money to get a four year degree...blah, blah, blah." Well...I paid a LOT of money to get my aasn degree, too. I suppose I should toot my horn about needing much more pay because it cost me through the roof to get my education, too.

We decide in life what education we wish to take after looking at the various options available to us. It is NOT the employer's responsibility to reimburse us for "said educational choices" WHEN in becoming a licensed RN, the BON only requires each graduate nurse (regardless of where we chose to educate ourselves) to pass the NCLEX. The NCLEX and THAT alone is what takes us into the career path our chosen educational path prepared us for.

Ask any "seasoned" diploma grad if patients ever asked them about their educational pathway BEFORE all this drama started between "my degree is better than your degree so hospitals pay me more moolah". Ask any "seasoned" associate degree nurse the same question.

Nuff said. :twocents: :spbox::rcgtku:

ukstudent · Jun 29, 2008

That's the point I was trying to make. I do not view one as better than the other, but I was wondering if because of the marked difference in some programs if this is where someone would get off with saying, "Oh ADN is better than BSN" or vice versa.

Although the differences between the local area BSN and ASN (Associates of Science in Nursing) might add a little to the debate the largest reason for the debate (at least in my mind) is money.

BSN paid more for their RN degree so it must mean that is worth more, they did extra classes so they are the smarter ones.

ASN paid less for their RN degree so they must be smarter to get the same RN license but for less money.

The truth is that in some areas the BSN is better prepared, in others the ASN is better prepared. In most areas they are roughly the same and what matters most is the individual becoming a nurse and which educational system works better for them.