AAS RN vs. bachelors RN

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 19, 2011

Short answer is that depending on where you live or want to work, the ADN may or may not be adequate. The trend is toward the BSN as the minimum educational credential but this is not uniform throughout the country. There's been hundreds if not thousands of comments on exactly this topic posted on this forum. Check out the "Registered Nurses: Diploma, ADN or BSN" thread in this tab ("Nurses").

My advice - as someone with an AAS-N (aka ADN) - is to go directly for the BSN. It won't help you pass the NCLEX or make you a better nurse but it won't take much longer than getting your ADN and may make it easier to find a job. By the way, a viable option is to get your ADN/RN, then pursue your BSN either at a local brick-and-mortar school or on-line through one of the many RN-BSN programs. Depending on what courses you take in your associates program, getting your BSN via this route could take as little as one year and may well be the least costly option.

kukula · Jul 19, 2011

Chukster made a very good point. Everything depends on where u live and what the trend is in your area. I will also second his opinion to take your AAS, then the NCLEX and try to get a job. You can then take the RN-BSN route this way while making $ AND getting experience at the same time. This is the route I took and I am happy with how things turned out. In the end, what matters the most to nurse recruiters nowadays is experience. And most importantly, networking. Hope this helps

Enza · Jul 19, 2011

so what you're saying is that I should follow through with my AAS RN, once I pass that find a job and then essentially go back to school for my BSN?

how long will that take roughly?

foreverLaur · Jul 19, 2011

RN-BSN programs can be anywhere from 1-3 years long depending on the program and how many classes you take at one time. Most of the ones in my area are 3-4 straight semesters of 7-8 credits a semester.

MombearNurse · Jul 19, 2011

Remember that you would not be "starting over" to get your BSN. The RN-BSN programs online may be a viable option and as chuckster mentioned, could be the least expensive since you could do it as you are working. How long it takes would depend on the school you choose. There are many out there. I am a new grad with my ADN, having just passed the NCLEX, and if I ever find a job , will be looking into the online programs for my BSN. The school I have been in contact with takes about 18 months online if you follow their expected progress.

jlpsu · Jul 20, 2011

Your credits from the AAS degree will transfer to a University that has an RN-BSN program. In fact, many of these schools are online and you can complete them fairly quickly. You will have to take some nursing courses, but the majority of your classes will be general education (sociology, psychology, history, etc..)

Another thing to consider depending on your final career goal, is that there are also many RN-MSN programs where you either 'skip' the BSN altogether, or you take some bridge classes that then grant you the BSN on your way to the MSN.

This is the route I will likely take because I already have a bachelors degree in something other than nursing.

So this fall, I am taking pre-req's for the nursing program, then next year, I will start nursing school for a total of 3 years to get my ADN (or diploma if I go to a Diploma school....which is a hospital based program. There aren't many of them around anymore...but the ones that are around are usually very well regarded - at least in our area). But I digress...So in 3 years I'll sit for the NCLEX and get my RN license - and then start working. After that I will go to school part time online (or in person if it's a local school) to obtain my RN-MSN.

My advice...3 years for your ADN or 5 for your BSN? I'd get the ADN and then start working while finishing your BSN...IF you intend on moving up in the field. The general consensus is that as a bedside nurse, there isn't much difference between a BSN or ADN or Diploma...even in pay. In my area, BSN are paid .25 cents more per hour for bedside nursing.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2011

I would've done option 2. It won't be long until the much of the country will require RNs to have a BSN. NY and NJ are at this time putting forth efforts to maintain that only BSN RNs to be able to hold an RN license.

Also with the desire to be in the ED most large hospitals are going magnet which will require RNs to have their BSNs. It's a slow trend but it won't take long until RNs with ADNs will all want to have their BSNs for job specifics.

Also it's best to just get the school over with while you're in the studying mode. Then when school is done you can get a job without having to worry about going right back. What ever you do I wish you luck.

foreverLaur · Jul 20, 2011

I would've done option 2. It won't be long until the much of the country will require RNs to have a BSN.

They have been saying BSN will be the minimum requirement for RNs since at least the 70s and there are still a ton of ADN prepared RNs. It would only hurt the already existing nursing shortage by limiting the number of people that can go into the field when ultimately there is no difference in ADN vs BSN for purely bedside nursing. It won't ever happen.

A lot of nurses can't afford a 4-year BSN, can't afford the time commitment, are older students, etc. I opted for ADN because I have to keep my job and I can't afford a 4-year university again. This way, I can start working as RN and my RN-BSN will be free and I'll save myself a lot of $$$$.

jlpsu · Jul 20, 2011

I would've done option 2. It won't be long until the much of the country will require RNs to have a BSN. NY and NJ are at this time putting forth efforts to maintain that only BSN RNs to be able to hold an RN license.
Also with the desire to be in the ED most large hospitals are going magnet which will require RNs to have their BSNs. It's a slow trend but it won't take long until RNs with ADNs will all want to have their BSNs for job specifics.
Also it's best to just get the school over with while you're in the studying mode. Then when school is done you can get a job without having to worry about going right back. What ever you do I wish you luck.

I disagree with some of this only because if you search back on AN for at least 10 years there are posts saying the same thing...BSN's are going to be required "soon". I think it will be very unlikely that they will do away with the ADN programs...unless the hospitals themselves are going to pay for all of their nurses to go back and get their BSN - which of course, won't happen. Also, regarding Magnet hospitals; the two magnet hospitals in my area not only HIRE ADN grads, they OWN two Diploma schools from which they hire many grads. It is often reported here on AN that hospitals seeking magnet status can only hire BSN's. That is simply just not true.

Either way - it looks as though the OP will finish her BSN in 5 years....3 to get her ADN and then 1-2 more to convert that to a BSN. But it is also true that she could get her ADN in 3 years, and her MSN within 2 years after that...effectively shaving time off of her education by getting her ADN first.

I DO think it's a good idea to get your BSN (at least) if you want to move up in the field...but to me, getting the ADN and letting your employer pay for your BSN or MSN seems not only the most cost effective way of going about it, but also may end up saving time over the traditional BSN-MSN route.

I also agree that whatever you decide, has to be right for you! I am an older second career nursing student - so for me, the ADN or diploma programs were a much better fit. For you - it might be different. And I don't think any choice is "wrong", but you need to have the actual facts to make an educated decision - which is what AN is for. Seriously - check out the ADN vs. BSN thread over on the general nursing forum. It gets pretty heated over there...but you will definitely get opinions from all sides.

Good luck!

kukula · Jul 20, 2011

I will have to totally agree with the two posters above me. I live in NY and graduated last December. Took my NCLEX last April and recently got a med surg job. I also know of at least 4 of my classmates who got jobs in big name hospitals here. So although most of these hospitals advertise that they only need BSN, they will take u in if u know someone. And yea from what I have heard, people have been saying that "BSN" requirement since the 70s. Now dont get me wrong, I totally agree that as nurses, we need to advance our education. Which is why I am planning to take my BSN soon. The big issue with me though is the $. Truth be told, the pay for RN isnt that great. Sure we start off above average, but then it doesnt really get any better in the long term. Which is why I dont wanna spend $$$$ to be a RN. I dont want to be saddled with huge student loans someday. Money that I can use to buy a home, or get a car. So i took the AS route. Didnt cost a lot since I took it from a community college. And now that I am working, I will be able to earn $. And since I work in a Union hospital, after one year they willl be covering the cost of my BSN. So yea I believe this is the smart route. But in the end it is all up to you. I just figured that since u can get your AS in 3 years, u should be able to make some $ sooner than taking the BSN route. Hope this helps.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

The BSN gives you a competitive advantage.

Larger institutions and those that are university affiliated tend to attract more candidates.

Those with BSN's will be considered before a similar ADN candidate