ADN vs BSN

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello. I have a BS in Wellness, Health Promotion, and Injury Prevention and work as a Lead CPhT (+5 years of pharmaceutical experience). But I want to be a nurse. I've already gone to college for over 10 years just to recieve 1 Bachelors (took some breaks, had to retake alot of classes, family issues etc). I want to become an RN. I don't plan on getting my Masters and I don't consider the 2nd accelerated Bachelor's to be an option (waaay too much pressure). Should I go for an ADN or a BSN to become an RN?

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Specializes in Army Medic.

BSN will land you a job more easily - look through the listings in your area and see what the requirements are. Most of the ones out here state BSN with experience.

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Specializes in PCU, LTAC, Corrections.

It really depends. I know in the area I live (NYC) many hospitals prefer the BSN prepared nurse. In fact there are a few that only hire BSN prepared nurses for new grad positions.

However, there are still position for the ASN prepared nurse.

It really depends on the job market in your area and your finances. You stated that you do not want to get your Masters so I guess the ASN would be the best bet. But at the same time the nurses who end to get promoted first tend to have a BSN.

IF it were me I would do the BSN.

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Whether you go for your ADN or BSN really depends on a lot of factors, including:

1) Cost of ADN vs BSN programs in your area.

2) The kind of class and clinical schedule you would have to follow for each program (again, area/program specific)- some ADN programs have a part-time option; whereas most BSN programs require you to take a full-time course load. Also factor in how much time your personal life will take up- especially if you have a family to attend to.

3) Reputation of ADN and BSN programs in your area- go on your state board of nursing website and compare the NCLEX pass rates of programs in your area. You don't want to go to a school that has

4) Whether or not hospitals in your area readily hire ADN new graduates. More hospitals (especially large academic medical centers) prefer or require that new graduate candidates have their BSN. Ever since Aiken, et al (2003) published that study on "Education levels of hospital nurses and patient mortality," many hospitals have latched on to the theory that more BSN nurses = better patient care. Personally, I've worked with some damn good ADN nurses as well as good nurses who have their BSN. I don't really care what degree you have- as long as you provide excellent care and you have compassion for your patients- that's what should matter. However, it may just be a fact that you would be more marketable to hospitals if you had your BSN. Also, you would have a greater variety of career opportunities down the line with a BSN- especially if you don't plan on going to grad school (ie- public/community health, case management, nursing unit management, etc). The BSN degree is also looked at more favorably for new grad candidates who want to get into the ER or ICU (again, it all depends on how hospitals in your area hire new grads).

I was debating between ADN and BSN myself a few years ago and chose the BSN route because it would provide me with more opportunities as a new graduate. I knew that I wouldn't have to worry about whether or not job postings said "BSN required" when it came time to look for a first nursing job.

I know that what I wrote is a lot to swallow, but I hope my perspective helps. Best of luck!

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Specializes in Tele.

to me, the ASN worked out much better than a BSN program.

Back in 2005 I was single without kids- and started a BSN program that kicked my behind-- I failed, but luckily I was accepted to ASN program next door (literally the community college was right next door to the BSN private school)

The ASN program was much easier, and easier load of classes too, since I was not taking extra classes such a pathophysiology, and biostatistics...

and not to mention the price was so cheap.

I'm getting my BSN now online at a local state university that is costing me what one semester at my previous private school cost me.

to me, ASN was the way to go. (oh ASN at community college I mean)

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

You need to figure out what works for you, ASN or BSN in the end you are a RN and BSN/ASN they do the same job. In my area they are paid the same the only difference is when it comes to managment they want BSNs although I have worked with charge nurses who are ASNs and where in the process of obtaining a BSN

DO you have your pre-reqs done? Generally both are 2 years once the pre-reqs are out of the way, you get the ASN at a CC which is cheaper than the BSN.

Then you shoudl look at what school you can get accepted into

When I applied to nursing school, I applied to both BSN and ASN programs as I had enough pre-reqs to get into a BSN program.....the way I chose the ASN program was they were the ones to accept me into school!

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Depending on where you live, you may want to explore "Master Entry-to-Practice" (or similarly titled) programs. These are programs for people who have a Bachelor's in something other than nursing, but who want to become a nurse and get their RN. This program will give you an MSN; however, it is NOT an advanced practice masters. In other words, you will be sitting for the NCLEX-RN at the end of the program, but you will not be eligible to become a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or certified registered nurse anesthetist. Should you want to pursue those later, you would just enroll in a post-masters certification program and complete the requirements, then sit for those applicable board exams. This MENP (masters entry to nursing practice) program is fantastic --- I'm in one right now in the midwest. My bachelors was in art managment! It is geared for people who eventually want to go into advanced practice OR want to be nurse leaders. With your bachelors already in a health field, this may be just the ticket for you!

Some may think, "How could you get your masters in nursing when you don't have a bachelor's in nursing?" It is merely a technicality---they just don't want to award someone another bachelors degree when you have one already. Think about it this way-- when you have a BSN program, about 1/2 of the program is the pre-req's and gen-ed requirements. The other half is the actual nursing core classes and clinical experiences. The MENP is no different---we're just getting the 2 years of the nursing core/clinicals because we already have all of the other classes taken care of with our bachelors! How about someone who has a bachelors in History, but decides they don't want to be a teacher, so they go get their MBA (Masters in Business Administration)--- but wait!! They don't have a bachelors in business administration, so how could they get a masters?? It's no different than the relationship between the BSN and the MENP. However, there is one caveat: if your bachelors degree does NOT contain some requirements for the MENP, you will have to take those prior to admission (chemistry, anatomy and physiology, developmental psychology, etc. These classes are program-specific, but they are pretty similar across the board. I had to take 5 classes first---not a lot of chemistry in arts management! :lol2:

I think some folks have this idea that the MENP program is somehow misleading, but now that it is becoming more mainstream, people have a better understanding of it. My best advice to you is to get the HIGHEST first-time RN degree you can, hence the MENP. The climate of nursing is ever-evolving and nurses have more and more clinical responsibility (hence, more liability) and the more nursing theory/critical thinking/pathophysiology/advanced health assessment you have (like in an MENP program) the better off you will be in the long run. Even nurse practitioners will have to be doctorate-prepared beginning in 2012. Let's face it, the MENP programs are 20-24 months (depending on if you are in semesters or quarters), and it isn't much more if not the same amount of time as an ASN. You already have a bachelors degree, so why go backward and get an associates? Don't get me wrong, I know a ton of associate-prepared nurses who are phenomenal, but since you already have a bachelors I think the MENP would be a smart decision and it would fall in line with what the profession is doing as a whole.

To get an idea of what an MENP program looks like, here are a few schools that I know of that have these programs. Then you can search for some in your neck of the woods.

DePaul University, Chicago, IL

Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL

University of California, SanFrancisco, CA

Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

Good luck to you!

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It all depends on what you want to do.

I am currently enrolled in an accelerated nursing program for a ADN at a community college. In my opinion so far, it is very fast paced and you have to take certain courses that is required for that semester, but its over in 22 months.

For the area I live in, the only difference between the two is management vs. bedside care. Both degrees make the same amount of money right out of college, but for me the ADN was the way to go because I could get my degree in 22 months and it is a lot cheaper then going to one of the universities. Even our instructors say that the ADN program is sometimes the best option because you will have the bedside experience for a management position with a BSN. I also know in the area I live in for an RN - BSN program it is 1 year with online courses and you don't have to take them at a certain pace like the accelerated ADN course, so you could actually take extra time to complete the program if necessary.

hope this helps some.

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I know the OP said that they don't want to go back to grad school after wards, but there are also RN-MSN programs where ADN RNs can get an MSN instead of stopping at the BSN level. Also, which organization or regulatory body said that all NP's have to be doctorally (sp?) prepared by 2012?

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i guess it all really depends on what you want to end up doing, and possibly where you chose to work. in northern california, i see "bsn only" position being for largely administrative roles. a lot of floor managers have their bsn. lots of nurses that work for the government have their bsn, and possibly a few specific specialties will require a bsn. the majority of jobs i see do not discriminate against having only adn. every med/surg floor where i did my clinicals the only bsns were from out of state, and doing the same job the adns were for the same pay.

there are also adn to bsn programs, i have heard of them being as short as 18 months. if were ever having trouble.

if you have the time and money, get the bsn. but, there is plenty of opportunity with an adn.

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It depends on what you want to do. I would really suggest doing a search for ADN BSN on these boards....this topic is often brought up :p

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Its called the "search function".

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