Why is it called "RN to BSN" - not "ADN to BSN"? - Page 2

I think frankly...those advertising RN-to -BSN programs are not advertising them to the general public. They want ADNs and ADNs know what the RN to BSN means.

I would not worry too much about the public, these Ads are not directed at the public. They are for Nurses, and are not some sort of public education campaign, so I don't see why they need to change. The purpose of the program is very clear to those it applies to. I mean in engineering and Project management there are tons of initials and such CSPQ, CSTE, CSPE, CSDP, CSDA. I can not for the life of me recall what these are, but a few of them go after my boyfriends name. He has never cared a bit when ads come through telling him he can get certified in XYPT that no one knows what it is, he knows. It's targeted to him.

If you are super concerned you can write several letters to editors to explain the difference, but in a lot of ways, i can think of other things the public needs to know more- like "WEAR SUNSCREEN"

that's not what i'm getting at. it's that much of the general public might get the impression that "rn to bsn!" advertisements convey the message, or infer, that all people with rn licenses do not have bsns, therefore they need one.

*** um, who cares?

i just wish the terminology was presented a little more clearly; "diploma/adn to bsn" would be more accurate and appropriate.

*** actually it would inaccurate as it would leave out all the rns who have neither a diploma, nor adn. there's not as many around any more as their used to be but still a few. the cath lab manager at my hospital is an rn but she doesn't have a diploma, adn, bsn, msn, or any other degree in nursing. back in the day she challenged the nclex based on her military medical training and expereince. she is only elligable to hold a rn license in one state. she could however do an rn to bsn program.

again, i believe semantics are very important. of course the public finds all of this confusing, but i'm saying;

*** yes of course they do. that is normal. they believe all sorts of other things about those of us in health care. that all physicians are mds for example. or that all physicians have bachelors degrees behind their medical degree. we in the field understand that not to be the case at all. i can think of at least three different medical degrees held by physicians in the hospital where i work, md being only one of them.
i used to be a dairy farmer. like any person engaged in a particular field i understand things about dairy farming that you very likely do not and are confused about. i also used to be in the military. i think it's a safe bet that i understand things about the military that those who have never served don't. relax, it's normal.

I've had to explain to this people who want to know when I'm getting my bachelor's because they don't understand that my job won't change a bit. I will not get a raise. I won't get different responsibilities. I won't have to take another licensing exam.

Also, not all 2-year RN programs confer A.D.N. My program confers an A.A.S. I have also seen A.N. and A.S.N.

Just to add to the soup.

Ignore this

theantichick, I don't think any institution confers an "ADN" -- it's just a generic term for associate degree in nursing. Generally it would be an A.S. in nursing, or sometimes, an A.A.S. in nursing.

Would the OP be happier if the program were called "RN to RN/BSN bridge"?

I've had friends bewildered by this, too. Once it sunk in for me that having a BSN wouldn't advance my career much, if at all, I decided not to pursue it even though I'd invested a good deal of time into taking every non-nursing class that was required for it (general ed, some psychology courses, nutrition, etc...all but 24 credits of nursing courses). Thankfully, I am able to apply all of these toward a B.S. in Health Science which opens far more doors for graduate/professional school than the BSN would.

We've been down this path before.

Yes, there is a difference between an "Associate Degree in Nursing" (ADN) and an "Associate in Applied Science) degree in nursing (AAS). Two year programs award one or the other and is usually stated on the diploma.

The College of Staten Island awards an AAS degree in nursing, whilst Queensbrough Community College awards an ADN. The latter recently formed a dual/joint agreement with Hunter-Bellevue (a CUNY BSN program) to allow it's students to obtain their four year BSN degree . CofSI OTHO has a RN to BSN program but does not award a four year undergrade nursing degree even though the college itself has been mainly four year.

The difference between the two lies in that associate degree programs provide a strong foundation in general education and other areas in view of students being prepared to move onto a four year degree. There are several ways of doing this from designing the program so credits will easily transfer, and or forming compact agreements with another college/university.

Associate in Applied Science is considered a "techinical degree" in most states. In order to focus more on the major such programs are allowed to provide less in terms of general education distribution credits. This often means graduates face a more difficult time should they decide to move onto a four year degree as they not only lack many of the required gen ed credits, but their core/major classes do not easily transfer either as they have no equal at a four year school.

To be truly accurate along the lines of what you are proposing programs would have to be "ADN/AAS/diploma and the several other flavours of two and three year degrees" to BSN.

None of it matters because do not think there is a single RN to BSN program in the United States that does not require one to have a vaild license as part of the entry requirements.

There are however BofS to MSN/clinical specialist programs where holders of a non-nursing four year degree can to onto their masters and end up with a BSN and MSN.

As others have stated the general public is *not* the target market for these programs as they aren't eligible for entry anyway.

There is no such degree as an "ADN". Most schools that award associate's degrees with nursing majors award an Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN). I would think that the term "ADN" would be a catch-all that includes AAS degrees...as those are associate-level degrees regardless of the general education courses that are required. My ASN program had very little leeway for electives...52 credits were required for the major, and the total required to earn the degree was 69. That left only 16 credits for general education, which is not a whole lot more than what an AAS provides. I have an AAS from the Community College of the Air Force, and only 15 credits of English, math, social studies, etc. were required...not a whole lot different than my ASN. What makes the issue confusing is that there are practical nursing programs which award AAS degrees.

For the most part, I don't think that most patients give a hoot about what degree anyone has. As long as you're bringing them their meds on time they seem happy.