Adn Or Bsn?

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I was just wondering, what is the difference between an ADN (RN)and a BSN (RN), besides the fact one is a 4 year and one is a 2 year program?

Specializes in bachelor's in Spanish seeking a BSN/MSN.

Hello all,

I am finishing up my bachelor's in Spanish. I am wondering what advantages a BSN has over a ADN...I am looking at different schools and different options. I do eventually want to get a masters in nursing, but I am wondering if it's better to get a ADN with less debt and less stress first. Any opinions?

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Specializes in CNA, RN Student.

I think you have an advantage with your bachelor's already. You should take a look into an Accelerated BSN with that. The ADN vs. BSN topic comes up a lot here and tends to get controversial. I think whatever works best for the individual is what's best for that individual. Period. However, if you plan on furthering your education and pursuing and MSN then you may want to go ahead and go with the BSN because with your bachelors already and in with an accelerated program, you may finish in the same amount of time as a BSN, considering you will still have to finish your prereq's for the ADN anyway, even if it's a matter of finances, it may end up being about the same considering the amount of time you may have to invest. Either way, I wish you the best of luck and hope you choose what works best for you.

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Specializes in bachelor's in Spanish seeking a BSN/MSN.

Thanks, DesertRain...I know that if I did ADN I'd take a RN-BSN program, but it's just so hard considering the cost of the Accelerated BSN programs that I am looking at. :( I am waiting for a letter from an accelerated program (Drexel), but with the tuition at a whopping $32K, I am wondering if I should just try to enroll in a ADN program instead (not like that is easy, either!)

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Specializes in CNA, RN Student.

I know the money seems excruciatingly painful but if you can afford it remind yourself at how easy it will be to pay back loans and such as soon as you being working as an RN. If the ADN is less expensive and seems more doable then I would definitely save yourself the stress and go that route. For me, I don't have another degree so I went in the ADN route. I do plan on continuing my education but works for me personally is the ADN-BSN route when I am done. Not only is it less competitive, it gets me out and working sooner than later and most of my education is in college with a smaller student-teacher ratio which works better for me. I like being able to get extra help. However, this is how it is where I am and I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere. You probably already have your core prereqs completed anyways so it may not take you that long to finish your ADN, and you might feel at ease to get out and work right away in order to feel comfortable paying for the ADN-BSN you will do later. Have you mapped out a timeline with budgets? I did that and it has helped me so much in means of being able to see where I will stand financially in certain periods of time. Mine goes all the way up to 2014 LOL. Hope that helps! Keep us posted!

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If you're very confident in your ability to be a clinician and are sure that you'll be working as a practicing nurse after graduation then the Accelerated BSN might make sense. On the other hand, what if you take on loans for over $30,000, graduate after a year that would surely just fly by, and decide you hate nursing?

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Specializes in bachelor's in Spanish seeking a BSN/MSN.

You definitely have a good point jjjoy, it is a ton of money. :/ I think I will like nursing, though; I have my CNA and I've worked in a clinic for 3 years now...so hopefully it will work out for me!

But the $30K is a lot to swallow. It is hard to balance time vs money--accelerated takes more money but less time, and ADN is the opposite.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

If you look at it from a cost standpoint the ADN definately is cheaper. Both BSNs and ADNs enjoy a wide variety of job opportunities as Registered nurses making the same amount of money. So as a new grad nurse the BSN and ADNs stand equally with no clear cut measurable advantage. So the lesser costing program might indeed be best. Then, if you decide you can advance from an ADN to BSN should you choose. What you're loosing here might be a year's worth of RN salary while you're taking that 2nd year of ADN program as opposed to doing the accelerated program in one year.

BSNs enjoy better opportunities in non-bedside jobs such as teaching, research, management, etc. You never know what you're going to want to do 20 years from now and you might want a BSN, which you can always get later.

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Specializes in Hospice, Med Surg, Long Term.

5-10-2007

If you are eventually going for a Masters in Nursing, why stop now? College is alot of work, might as well get started.

a21chdchic in AZ

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Good info. I'm currently a special education teacher looking for a career change. I wasn't sure which route to take ADN or BSN.

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Specializes in Pulmonology/Critical Care, Internal Med.

here where I'm at (Auburn University) in an accelerated program it is the same cost per semester as the traditional BSN but I have one semester less (4 semesters for a BSN). We take quite a few out of state applicants and the cost for out of state is 7600, the cost for instate is like 2700 per semester. I am an out of stater so I am paying more but could have gotten residency if I choose too. So I would tel you to do the accelerated, you will want to get out sooner, and also look at some BSN/MSN joint programs. That might be a better option for you later on down the road.

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Is there much of a job difference or pay rate when having an associates degree other than a bachelors degree in nursing? Or would it be better after having an associates to get your bachelors?

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, ICU.
Is there much of a job difference or pay rate when having an associates degree other than a bachelors degree in nursing? Or would it be better after having an associates to get your bachelors?

There is no job description difference as an entry-level RN regardless of which degree you obtain. Pay difference depends on the facility, none of the facilities I am familiar with offer any more pay for a BSN alone. It may help you into a charge position or move up a clinical ladder for more money. If you have the time and money to finish a bachelor's degree now, my advice would be to do so, particularly if you are using it as a stepping stone towards being a mid-level practitioner. If not, by all means, get your associate degree and let you future employer help you pay for your BSN completion. Many schools offer most if not all classes online and you can take them at your own pace.

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