ABS and BS in Nursing

[BSINNURSINGRUCAM]

Clarification about the Rutgers University Camden Nursing Programs (ABS and BS in Nursing)

Rutgers merged with UMDNJ on July 1. There is "no more" UMDNJ. Confusing? Yes, maybe for a day! All faculty from the former UMDNJ Stafford were offered employment in Camden. All staff were as well! 15 came as well as all staff!

Rutgers Camden has broken ground on a beautiful new building (it will be 3 years in the making )and is currently renovating space in one of the dorms to accommodate nursing offices.

Rutgers Camden offers a BS in Nursing. The BS in Nursing degree and the "BSN" degree are "the same". The BS in Nursing is generally considered a degree that is more research and science oriented, and usually thought of as the desired degree for advanced study in nursing (if you are going on for an MSN or DNP or PhD).

Rutgers is Rutgers.. in NJ we are all one with a NB, Newark and Camden campus. There are also satellite campuses at many community colleges.. Camden county college, Brookdale, Mercer, Atlantic Cape to name a few. All campuses do not have the same programs. Camden Nursing's program is a little different than NB/Newark, with a different dean-however, very very similar. Camden accepts credits from all Rutgers campuses as well as community colleges.

Something you CAN'T get elsewhere? Students in the ABS and BS in Nursing traditional programs may be approved to take advanced courses that are accepted for the DNP program! Students can move from the BS in nursing to the DNP (no master's degree involved)! Almost half of the new ABS students are enrolled in the accelerated courses!

The new ABS program has accepted 40 students to start in the fall and is planning to accept 50 in the spring. The spring class has not been accepted yet. Admissions will open by September 2014.

Pre requisites include

Anatomy and Physiology I & II (8 credits with labs)

Microbiology (4 credits with lab)

Any 4 credit chemistry with lab: for example: General Chemistry or Organic Biochemistry or General Chemistry II (4 credits with lab)

Statistics (3 credits)

Human Growth and Development (3 credits) (usually a psychology course.. offered at many NJ community colleges!.. psych of human development). If you have adolescent psych and adult psych it is accepted in place of this.

Nutrition (3 credits)

Genetics (3 credits, no lab required) (offered at some community colleges.. if you can't find it, you can take it during the program)

Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)

Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)

Should you apply if you are not quite a 3.3... YES.. If you graduated with a 2.9 from a more difficult university.. that is considered! If you graduated with a 2.8 majoring in biochemistry.. that is considered! it also depends on the "pool" of applicants. Each applicant is individually evaluated (apply through the Rutgers website.. not the centralized application process that UMDNJ used). Make certain you choose School of Nursing Camden from the drop down menu (SNC)!

Is it stressful? Yes, absolutely.. nursing is stressful! Any program! There is a learning center on campus with tutoring for all science courses, and support for nursing courses through the office of Nursing Student Success. Can you get answers? Yes, information sessions are the last Friday of the month, 2pm room 121 Armitage Hall 311 North fifth street Camden NJ. Look at the Rutgers Camden website. (the next one is September 26th 2014 at 2pm; 311 north 5th street Armitage Hall, Camden NJ)

[shan6802]

Although this thread is geared to "clarifying" the difference Btwn a BS in nursing & a BSN, it fails to address the issue of employment & credentials. After tons of research, the following is true:

1-Academically the BS & BSN is viewed equal when applying to MSN/DNP programs. Having either/or is acceptable.

2-a recipient of a BS with a major in Nursing CAN NOT write "BSN-RN" as their professional credential. Some places of employment informed us you would be permitted to write

"BS (N)-RN".

3-if an employer lists a BSN requirement to be considered for a position, you MUST in fact have a BSN! Stating you have this, when in fact you have a BS, is a lie.

4-the BS is in fact more theory/research based. Thus, requiring fewer on the floor clinical student nursing hours.

5- when employers were asked, students were informed that, although they had a BS-RN, it was preferred they enroll in a ABSN program to be considered for positions at CHOP/Virtua/Jeff/Penn/Cooper. I can't say if any others require the same as these were the ones we recieved written replies from.

6- Rutgers Is Rutgers, no one cares to ask if we graduated from up north or camden. However, when applying for financial Aid , there's a difference. If you want a BSN, it's also only offered up North now!

7- none of the above info is down grading a BS vs BSN (or vice versa) it's just the facts gathered by over a dozen students looking for clarification. Reputable sources contacted for this info include: hospitals listed above; Graduate school programs; lawyers; legal RNs; BON; clinical preceptors; RU staff.

[NURSEFORALONG]

You have many inaccuracies in your statements. You can absolutely write BSN if you have a BS in Nursing. IF an employer lists BSN a BS in Nursing is absolutely permitted. The research you should have done should have come from the agencies that accredit nursing programs. The CCNE considers both degrees absolutely equal. The degree does not determine the clinical hours required. Clinical hours are determined by the accrediting agencies and the state board of nursing. all programs must be within requirements. All programs must adhere to the accrediting agency guidelines.. the CCNE lists the baccalaureate essentials and all programs receiving accreditation from the CCNE must incorporate all the essentials to be accredited. You cannot have a program that is more "theory research" based.. at the undergraduate baccalaureate level. All programs must adhere to the same standards. Look into the AACN CCNE requirements. All graduates sit for the same licensing exam, all must meet the same requirements if they are baccalaureate degree granting programs. Cooper, CHOP Penn, Jeff, all employ many Rutgers Camden graduates.. as Rutgers Camden has been in existence for 30 years in its current location granting the BS in Nursing degree. Many of the best programs in the country offer the BS in Nursing .. including Johns Hopkins. I am uncertain why you are trying to discredit the Rutgers program. It is an exceptional program with exceptional faculty. It has been around for a long time and is very well respected. I am proud to be a Rutgers Camden graduate.

[shan6802]

I am not saying one is better than the other. Simply stating there is a difference & upon applying people should know this. It was specifically stated to my graduating class that Rutgers Camden SON, which has a BS-Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Nursing, is not authorized by the board of governors to confer a BSN. Thus, writing "BSN" after your name when you graduate their program is misrepresenting yourself. The proper way to write credentials from completion of their program is "Name, RN-BS or RN-BS(N) or RN-BScN".

We were informed by Rutgers staff that the "Bachelor of Science, with a major of Nursing, offers more broad courses for example communications, natural sciences, math and physics while the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree provides students with a basic foundation in science while focusing on nursing as a specialty." See: What is the difference between a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and just a regular Nursing degree? | Bachelor Of Science In Nursing.

Coming from the UMDNJ ABSN program, we had an entire clinical rotation more than the new ABS students at the Camden Campus.see the new curriculum: ABS Curriculum | School of Nursing - Camden

information shared by faculty via email: https://allnurses.com/nursing-educators-faculty/bsn-vs-bs-104537.html

"Building upon a previous degree in a wide variety of majors, successful completion of specific prerequisite courses and the Nursing courses studied in the Accelerated BSN program, graduates are awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Accelerated BSN is an intensive program that provides an exemplary nursing curriculum in 15 months. Over the course of 4 semesters, students will be educated on the basics of nursing through to the intricacies of Nursing Leadership. At Rutgers-Camden,students learn to care for their patients and promote health on a global scale." thats straight from the rutgers cmd website.

Again, I am not stating one is better than the other....just that there is a difference.