ADN vs BSN

netglow, ASN, RN · May 3, 2011

Nothing. Really. Its a marketing thing, and a keeping up with the Jones' thing. We all know a few ADN/BSN/MSN nurses that can't find their own butts EVEN with a GPS and a flashlight, don't we! Who knows if it ever will be important to nursing to hire the best people for the job. This is why nursing fails, it's all about who is friends/relatives etc. Rarely is it about who is good.

soxgirl2008 · May 3, 2011

Where I live BSN and ADN nurses make exactly the same, and from what I've heard the difference at a lot of hospitals is a paltry amount. For the programs around here the difference in core nursing classes between a BSN and an ADN are 5 classes. Theoretical foundations, health assessment, management, nursing research and community health nursing. (This is NOT counting the pre-reqs like organic chem and all the humanities...BSN programs have much more of those you have to take than ADN programs for the most part)

Like the last person said, it's mostly a marketing thing. A hospital looks better on paper when they have more educated people. When you have two new grads who are the same on paper, but one has a bachelors degree, hospitals will sometimes go with the bachelors degree because it looks better on paper, especially if they are trying to achieve magnet status. Some states it doesn't matter as much as others...Where I live most hospitals don't care as long as it says RN after your name.

There have also been some controversial studies that have said BSN nurses provide better care, but from what I've heard theses studies are pretty controversial and weren't necessarily conducted fairly.

I'm not trying to bash either program, I'm currently going for my ADN and will start my RN-BSN as soon as I graduate. Both have pros and cons, and both produce excellent nurses and both produce crappy nurses. I work with both ADN and BSN nurses and you can't tell who has what degree by the care they give.

sunnycalifRN · May 3, 2011

In our present economic doldrums, hospitals can be as selective as they wish with regard to hiring of RN's. Many are requiring a BSN. As far as differences between ADN and BSN . . . one starts with a "B" and the other an "A"!

I haven't noticed any difference at my workplace and our ID badges don't have our nursing degree displayed anyway. The main difference I notice among RN's is depth of knowledge and that correlates directly with years of experience . . . one of our 30+ yr ICU nurses tells the baby docs (MD's in training) what to do during codes and other critical emergencies . . . and when they put in orders, they ask her if the orders are okay!!

FrogKissingNurse · May 3, 2011

i agree with soxgirl, you can't pick out an adn vs bsn nurse when they are on the floor. i have noticed that some hospitals will only hire bsn for the more critical care units like ed, icu, tele...

with hospitals trying to achieve magnet status, they are really pushing for bsn grads. i am an adn grad, but i am telling everyone i know who wants to go into nursing now to go for the bsn. you are going to have a leg up for hiring and it will take less time than doing the adn then rn-bsn route. it is unfortunate that this is how things are, but when the job market is tough employers and choose to hire better qualified people for less pay...

Rob72, ASN, RN · May 3, 2011

Newbie who just discovered this forum.:)

I've been in direct care (Phleb, EMT, AUA, corrections) for 20 years, and just recently completed my ADN. I was blessed in having mentors who allowed me to practice at the extreme upper limit of my scope-of-practice. I currently work for a state University.

Having said all that, the BSN serves two primary functions, and one secondary. 1) Academic status and maintenance. Hospitals gain the aforementioned PR kudos, 2)the Universities squeeze another 20-60K in tuition and not infrequently create a generational cycle of alumni. The most obvious secondary effect is establishing an artificial SES boundary. Those who have the money, and the social drive, are elevated from the worker bees. I am by no means a "communitarian" (neo-communist), but it is difficult to validate the cost and coursework for the number of nurses in primary care, vs. those in public health, administration, etc..

BSN are only able to provide "superior" care (greater application of pt. teaching, theoretical interventions, etc..) when the staff/pt ratio is relatively low (not greater than 1/3, IME) and this depending heavily on the acuity- something else Admin. hates. So. Unless we increase the nursing pool, BSNs are unable to fulfill the stated degree outcomes. We can't increase the nursing pool unless we expand accessibility to degree programs and pay for ADNs.

Pay and promotional potential may be significantly different, but this will depend more on the self-marketing and initiative of the individual.

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · May 3, 2011

From a bedside perspective, I don't see any difference adn to bsn. The difference in my opinion is that a bsn will allow growth and opportunity beyond the bedside. The bsn grad has a more well rounded education than an adn grad which is simply due to more credits/classes.

So, if you are young (under 30, let's say) and have the opportunity to pursue a bsn, I strongly recommend that path. Otherwise, get the adn and pursue a bridge program down the road on someone elses dime.

That said, I'm a diploma grad. Great bedside training. I don't worry about moving from the bedside without a bsn because I have a BS in another field along with a masters cert in project management and over 20 years of managment roles at a company known around the world. My prior career has given me a management skill set that I can use down the road if I choose.

Jenni811, RN · May 3, 2011

Thanks for all the replies. I am 23, so i felt pursuing my BSN was the correct move for me. My friends in nursing school are pursuing their ADN. They don't understand why i would want to go to school longer to get the same degree. its hard to explain it to them when they keep shutting me out about it...

nurse.sandi · May 3, 2011

I am an ADN with a MS. I also have completed 10 classes in my doctorate class. So, my educated guess would say that the difference between ADN and BSN is lots more bookwork and community nursing classes. Just my guess. Not up for a debate about it. I am already higher than a BSN.

Any ADN who wants to earn a BSN should return back to school regardless of their age.

Thanks and happy day.

soxgirl2008 · May 3, 2011

So, my educated guess would say that the difference between ADN and BSN is lots more bookwork and community nursing classes.

Yup. At least around here. The only difference between my ADN program and the local BSN program when it comes to core nursing classes are 5 classes that are research, management, and community nursing based. However the BSN grads have a lot more pre-reqs to take than the ADNs.

I think anyone though should strive for higher education eventually though, there is no problem with starting out with an ADN. For some people it is easier for whatever reason to do the ADN and then do a bridge program. For some people it is easier to just do the BSN right away.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 3, 2011

Ah.....the age ole debate......to be honest as a manager and supervisor I see little to no difference in new grads. ADN's seem to have a slight advantage in clinical exposure and bedside skills....at first....and the BSN seem to have less clinical bedside experience and more theory. I am especially fond... :cool: of the leadership courses at the BSN level but I have not found ANY new grads capable of charge fresh off orientation... The bottom line you are both new grads and have plenty to learn.

That being said...in this day and age and all the push for BSN minimum entry RN I think any entering the profession now should either go straight BSN or if ADN go BSN very soon.....is the pay different right away? NO....but in the long run you will be considered easier than an ADN for promotion....I hope that helped

Good Luck...:)

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · May 3, 2011

I'm not sure what the difference is... all I know is that I'm going back to school for BSN as soon as I graduate with ADN this year. I don't ever want to be in position where I would be forced to resign for not having a BSN. Before that happens I rather be ahead of the game.

In my area some hospitals have preferred ADN over BSN due to clinical experience.