Typical ASN VS BSN questions

Mitchell79, you seem to take this very personal...I appreciate you pointing out my misspelling of the word "holistic"! I'm human and no one is perfect.

Both degrees are great! But if you would like pursue leadership or move into a specialized position you will have to have a BSN. The only places that accepts you in a specialized position with an ASN/ADN; are healthcare organization that are in need of a RN; low supply of BSN in the area.

I love nursing and would like for us to all just get alone...you don't see physicians bashing each other. We need support each other and keep our profession strong and help recruit more nurses...no matter what degree they have.

In AZ, for the ADN program that I attend, I had to take A&P I and II, microbiology, chemistry, eng I and II, psy 101 and 245 (human growth and development), humanities, college algebra, and fundamental biology (required for to take A&P). My nursing program incorporates patho, pharm into the program. I will be transferring to a university to do a RN-BSN. Through research of the rn-bsn programs, I noticed that most of the classes required were things like community health, junior level writing course for nurses, leadership/managment (which we already get in our ADN program), statistics, and of course about 9 more credits of liberal studies. So, I think that ADN programs lack some of the nursing theory and liberal studies, but definitely not core science and nursing courses. I still think that, if possible, go the BSN route into nursing and not because I think that BSN is better, just that I it saves a lot of time.

Intersting post. The fact is that both the ADN and BSN are different, yes both sit for the same examination, but educational pathways are quite unique. Considering my BSN program, we are required to take gross anatomy, chem, path, immunology, molecular bio and surface anatomy as well as traditional courses. Nursing is striving for education and I believe it is well needed. With increase autonomy, comes decision making and a deep understanding of the body and its mechanisms. If we, nurses want to progress, we need to beef up educational standards and apply them accordingly. Nursing has attempted to initiate the BSN as entry level for quite some time. Nursing practice has changed and of course education will. We are not the only profession, dental hyg, PA, pharmacy, PT, OT, audiology and many others have embrassed this fundamental concept. Understand that thier are different pathways, and be proud that nursing has excelled and will keep progressing into a profession and no a "job".

I was an ASN nurse for 12 years before acquiring my BSN (I had to back up and take 2 english courses, a statistics course and intro to biology, I allready had all other courses besides the nsg) and currently working on my MSN.
As far as research goes it has been shown that when a BSN and ASN start on the floor the ASN is clinically more prepared than the BSN for at least the first 6 months then are equal before the BSN nurse begins to have better pt outcomes than the ASN nurse. Me I don't know if I agree with this, and don't believe it has been proven in my practice.
The difference that I see is that the BSN is more commonally seen as the professional (Dont yell at me, this isn't how I feel) Also, the BSN recieves more public health,leadership, management and theory classes. Both sets of nurses are taught to be holistic and both are taught to critically think. Many public health agencies prefer the BSN nurse and most facilities will pass over the ASN to promote the BSN.

Interesting post. In response to pervious posts, I don't think there's any need to be defensive about our educational choices. We all are in different stages of life and while for some an ADN program makes sense, another may find that pursuing a BSN is best for them. Personally I'm going for my ADN. I have a four year BS degree and have all of my sciences covered including Nursing Research and Public Health. A two year degree will get me working sooner with the option for further education to be paid for by my employer, not a bad deal if you ask me! No matter what the educational background all nurses should commit themselves to lifelong learning. For some that will be pursuing further education while for others on the job learning may be best.

Just a side note about how BSN nurses will be better able to use critical thinking skills. I literally laughed out loud when I read this! Every nursing school is different and at mine critical thinking is stressed over and over and over.... So generalizations about ADN nurses are just that, generalizations. Good luck to all of you in your nursing careers, no matter what path you choose to get there!

I don't understand people having Bachelor's degrees, and then doing 2 years associate degree programs? The only time I think it's a good option, is if you simply cannot afford a second degree option BSN program, or you can't commit the amount of time it'd take to attend those types of classes. Mitchell, you coulda brought yourself right on up to Philadelphia and went to Drexel for 11 months with your accounting degree and got your BSN. Then you wouldn't be so overly defensive with everyone else.. but.. maybe you missed the boat there.

I totally understand what the one dude is saying.. it is just simple logic. The BSN has more class time. So you learn more. On day 1, the BSN knows more than the ASN. The reason they can sit for the same test is because they are both qualified. They both know ENOUGH to be nurses. No one is taking away the ASN's ability to be a nurse. No one is saying that. We are simply saying, the BSN knows more. ON DAY 1. This is an important concept as well. A ASN with real work experience without a doubt knows more than a BSN student on day 1, or week 1. But once again, that's not the issue.

Also, if you have no desire to go for advanced practice, then there is little need to really get your BSN. The nurse that comes outta HS, takes their prereqs at a CC, and gets their ASN/RN, and loves their job on a floor... why do anything different? Why pay for more degrees and take more time, when you don't need them, or have any desire to do anything different? If you want to be a NP, or CRNA, or whatever APN you desire, then yes.. get your BSN. It'll make it much easier later down the road.

I can't find it right now, but a couple of years ago I found links to official sites with NCLEX pass rates statewide where you can compare the results. At the time, some NY and NJ community colleges had noticeably much higher pass rates than far spendier 4 year Catholic and private colleges.

My wife who is now just two classes away from her masters in nursing say she whish she had done it differently. She went the BSN route. She is also an instructor at a local community college and recommends this to her students. Get an ANS, start working, and immediately sign up for an ASN to BSN program. It will probably take an extra year to year and a half to get the BSN, but compare that to the nurse who went the BSN route. After five years you both have BSN’s but the one who got the ASN first now has three years experience and the BSN grad has one. Who do you think will get the promotion? Plus many places offer tuition reimbursement so she would have about 40,000 less in student loans if she had done it the other way. Her masters has almost been completely pay for by her employer. By the way she says she learned more in her first three months on the job than the four years of college proceeding it.
This is the way I am going to try it

I agree with that in a way. I think if you can sit and plan out your future like that you can make that move... The thing is, some people take just as long getting thru their ASN as do the students with BSNs because of prerequisites. Some students take two years for pre reqs, then a 2 year ASN program. Some kids would do their ASN and get comfortable working and never return to school.. You also have the people that spend a year or two in a 4 year school n then realize they wanna go into nursing and they slide right in. For that student, the traditional BSN caters to them more. I'm a second degree student that had a BA in something useless, and now I'm going to get a BSN in a year. That works best for me since I decided late. I totally agree the RN-BSN is a great idea if you have that luxury.