Associate vs Bachelor Nursing

Boomer MS, RN · May 6, 2016

1. Yes. Assuming that they both attended good quality schools ... I often see a difference. The liberal arts component of the BSN programs gives many of the BSN's a broader and deeper understanding of the world around them, societal influences on health issues and practices, etc. The exact content of that additional education varies among individuals and programs, I can often spot it when you get to know a nurse well and and are open to seeing it. Some bring a strong foundation in the hard sciences, others in the social sciences, others in the humanities ... but most BSN graduates have some depth in fields outside of nursing that augments their basic introductory nursing courses. The BSN's also have had some addition education in research, statistics, evidence-based practice and nursing theory that helps them be more prepared to serve on project teams that aim to improve practice and involve reading, interpreting, and applying the academic literature.
2. As a previous poster said, employers are not rejecting candidates because they have an ADN ... they are rejecting them because they do not have the additional academic preparation of the BSN. 21st century health care is increasingly requiring the types of knowledge I mentioned above in #1. Nurses who don't have that knowledge are going to be a disadvantage in the workplace -- as employers will look to hire people who have the formal credentials that indicate that level of academic preparation. That could change if the economics/expectations would change. For example, a "lower level" of role could be created for the ADN's, or I guess I should say "re-created" as it used to be when RN's and LPN's worked together in teams in acute care. Then there would be jobs for nurses with both types of preparation -- but they wouldn't be the same job role.

I agree. And very well articulated.

Skips, MSN, RN · May 6, 2016

BSN prepared nurses learn the same information as ADN prepared nurses. They take the same NCLEX. However, with ADN programs, many of them are bridge programs so that students can earn credits to become a LPN. They can then sit for the NCLEX-PN and become a LPN before RN. BSN programs have research and population health components that ADN programs are not required to do. Essentially, both programs prepare you on becoming a practicing nurse. There really is no difference other than how many papers you are required to write.

At this point in time, I don't feel it matters in the face of direct patient care. In terms of research or management, you need to have a BSN or greater to be able to do that. Population health and public health also require knowledge learned in a BSN program. So, I guess it depends on what you want to do as a nurse as to how important it is.

Boomer MS, RN · May 6, 2016

BSN prepared nurses learn the same information as ADN prepared nurses. They take the same NCLEX. However, with ADN programs, many of them are bridge programs so that students can earn credits to become a LPN. They can then sit for the NCLEX-PN and become a LPN before RN. BSN programs have research and population health components that ADN programs are not required to do. Essentially, both programs prepare you on becoming a practicing nurse. There really is no difference other than how many papers you are required to write.
At this point in time, I don't feel it matters in the face of direct patient care. In terms of research or management, you need to have a BSN or greater to be able to do that. Population health and public health also require knowledge learned in a BSN program. So, I guess it depends on what you want to do as a nurse as to how important it is.

I do not agree. Both ADN and BSN programs have to offer certain courses to satisfy the Board of Nursing requirements. There are greater differences in the programs than "how many papers you are required to write." I do agree that both programs do prepare a person for entry level practice of nursing. This discussion has been hammered to death! In a perfect world, I would like all nursing to require a BSN from now on. Nursing is the only profession not requiring a doctorate, much less a BSN. And for those numerous ADNs who have been helping to hold this profession together forever, grandfather them in. Do not require a 50+year old person to go back for a BSN at this point in his/her career. End of rant.

LessValuableNinja · May 6, 2016

I'll let others address 1, since I think that's a question that varies widely based on program.

On 2, one of the hospitals I hang at stopped hiring ADNs completely, and existing ADNs have to complete a BSN in 2, or 3 years, depending on their hire date.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · May 7, 2016

My problem is the wording of the original message. What are you asking? "Do they provide different care is there knowledge base less?"

Define "different care". "knowledge base less?" Knowledge of what? You want "peoples thoughts"? The difference is one is an ADN the other is a Bachelors. My "thoughts" are irrelevant. It is a difference in the degree you obtain.

"Do you think that is it right that hospitals turn away associate degree nurses" Define "right". If the job requires a BSN then I suppose it is "right"?

I would focus on the wording of your questions. If you are doing a "survey for my school" the actual questions need to be clear. Also you may need to know WHO you are surveying. If you present this as a "survey of nurses" then you are not telling the truth as you have no way to verify who is answering. "I asked people on a message board for RNs, LPNs, NPs, Nursing students, and anyone who just joins for the heck of it to answer these questions".

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · May 11, 2016

1. I would like to know peoples thoughts on the differences between associate degree nurses and bachelor degree nurses. Do they provide different care is there knowledge base less?

Absolutely there is a difference. The BSN nurses are better educated and the superior clinicians. They are overshadowed only by the MSN nurses who are themselves even better clinicians. The pattern only breaks when considering the doctoral nurses who are simply too smart to be good clinicians.

My evidence? Quite simply that I chose the MSN route myself so that must be the best... but there are numerous threads on AN that convincingly argue that smarter people make worse bedside nurses so that's why the Ph.D. and DNP folks are out.

For real? Nah, no difference at all. Sure, the higher the education level, the more subjects that have been studied but at the bedside, it is generally meaningless. What is meaningful are things like intelligence, wisdom, empathy, communication skills, attention-to-detail, and self-confidence.

2. Do you think that it is right that hospitals will turn away Associate Degree Nurses just because they have an associate degree?

Sure. There are far too many nurses competing for too few good jobs so in order to make the applicant pool a bit more manageable, setting standards is a reasonable action.

And just to be clear, they're not turning away ADNs "just because they have an associate degree," they're turning them away because they *don't* hold BSN/MSN degrees.

CU_hopeful · May 17, 2016

1. As far as the ASN and BSN course work, I think it is the same. Both have to take the same test to become an RN. I also think that there could be some nurses with an ASN that are more educated than on with a BSN. Ideally the person with the BSN should have greater knowledge I suppose because they had to take more classes in general. However, I know plenty of people that were barely scooting by to get their BSN and nurses with an ASN that knew textbooks practically cover to cover.

2. I think hospitals that choose to hire nurses with only a BSN have the right to do just that.