Associates or Bachelors?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

Can anyone tell me the major differences between an associates degree and a bachelors degree? I realize the bachelors requires more schooling and more job opportunities.

Jobwise is what I mean. Can you still aquire a job at a hospital with an associates? Is it better to continue education and earn your bachelors?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Again, interesting. The pre-req list for my ASN program is much more substantial than that. It goes to show that standardizing health care across all fields would be greatly beneficial.

I kind of agree. Why should one RN take few classes and another somewhere graduate three courses shy of a BSN. Crazy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Again, interesting. The pre-req list for my ASN program is much more substantial than that. It goes to show that standardizing health care across all fields would be greatly beneficial.

*** I disagree. I very much like that there are options to entry for some of the professions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That amazes me that there's only 15 credit hours difference. Is it NLN approved? Because what about things like Community Health, Research, Leadership.....all these are taught in the ADN program.

Here the clinical hours are the same as well.

What a ripoff for the ADN's to work so hard to recieve a "two year degree". On the otherhand getting the BSN would be a breeze after that.

Here is what is taken in the last year, in addition to two terms of a foreign language. (see attached)

cl09TProgramProgression.pdf

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Here is what is taken in the last year, in addition to two terms of a foreign language. (see attached)

Ah this makes sense because that's three semesters of full-time work, with at the very least 30 more hours work, probably more because it looks likes it requires Stat. and up to 14 more hours of general electives. That's a lot more work than just three courses. Still it can be done in one year. Funny how the difference between a "two-year degree" and a "four-year degree" is one year.

Guess I misunderstood.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Ah this makes sense because that's three semesters of full-time work, with at the very least 30 more hours work, probably more because it looks likes it requires Stat. and up to 14 more hours of general electives. That's a lot more work than just three courses. Still it can be done in one year. Funny how the difference between a "two-year degree" and a "four-year degree" is one year.

Guess I misunderstood.

Exactly, it is more than 3 course....but very doable. Oh and i forgot to say that the general electives have to be at a 300-400 level. So, there may be prerequisites for them as well.

I think the reason there's only one year between the associates and bachelors degree, is that it takes three years to get the associates :-)

Although, truthfully, considering that it's nearly impossible to get into local ADN programs if you don't have all your prereqs completed by winter of the application year....and the fastest you can do that, unless you have previous college credits, is 4 terms....it's going to take two years to do your prereqs.....that makes a 4 year ADN and a 5 year BSN. That's the path I'm on, I took the extra year I was waiting to complete my upper level elective prereqs, so I'll end up with a BS in nursing and a minor in chemistry. I think it's well worth my 5 years. :yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in medsurge.

if you earn a AAS or a BSN you will still be a nurse, you will still have to take the HESI and the NCLEX. the pay is not different and neither is the work, which ever u choose u will still become an RN

Up Vote Up Vote ×
in my area physician's assistants go to school as long as ADN programs and make less money and have less opprotunity to advance their career (from what i've heard).

Most PA programs require a Master's Degree in order to graduate and you are comparing a PA to a RN with an Associates Degree? A PA is Midlevel Practitioner and they can diagnose and treat patients and prescribe drugs...way beyond a RN'S scope of practice! Are you sure you're not talking about a Medical Assistant??

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you plan on being just an RN for the rest of your life, just get an associates. Don't waste the time or extra money for a BSN. Your real training begins when you start working, anyway. Even if you did decide to try and advance in your careeer, you can always do an RN to BSN track program in the future. It all depends what you want and if RN is your main goal an associates is all you need.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Most PA programs require a Master's Degree in order to graduate and you are comparing a PA to a RN with an Associates Degree?

*** Yes why not? While "most" PA programs may be masters degree there are some associates degree PA programs out there. What's the difference? In both cases, PA and RN the training is two years regardless of the rout to licensure taken. Your average PA makes about the same or a little less than your average RN.

A PA is Midlevel Practitioner and they can diagnose and treat patients and prescribe drugs...way beyond a RN's scope of practice! Are you sure you're not talking about a Medical Assistant

*** Look at this link:

http://www.aapa.org/pgmview.php3?state=CA

You will see several associates degree PA programs. Some other states have them as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

*** Yes why not? While "most" PA programs may be masters degree there are some associates degree PA programs out there. What's the difference? In both cases, PA and RN the training is two years regardless of the rout to licensure taken. Your average PA makes about the same or a little less than your average RN.

*** Look at this link:

http://www.aapa.org/pgmview.php3?state=CA

You will see several associates degree PA programs. Some other states have them as well.

It doesn't matter what the educational requirements are, a PA only has to pass a certification test to practice. RN's can't do half of what a PA does, so there's no comparison. I don't know of any PA's who are making RN wages. Doctors make money off of midlevels b/c we bill for our services and if the doc is on site, we bill at the doctor rate. A RN isn't even in the same league. Also, there are very few certificate/Associate programs left for PA's. The vast majority of them require a Master's degree. In fact, a PA is required to have a Master's degree in order to bill for Medicare/Medicaid.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehabiliation Nursing.
in my area physician's assistants go to school as long as ADN programs and make less money and have less opprotunity to advance their career (from what i've heard).

you will start out making pretty good pay as a new nurse - i'm not sure why your mom thinks otherwise.

there's nothing demeaning about doing an associates program instead of bachelor's - don't feel like you're taking a step down. i'm starting in the ADN program at a local community college this fall that has a 100% pass rate currently - ADN and BSN students take the same NCLEX, one is not better than the other per se - just different.

We all take the same NCLEX. We all do the same work. We all get paid the same.

But as an ADN nursing student? We have to learn the same basics, in a much shorter time span. Its very challenging. (MAN is that an understatement!!!!!:chuckle) A friend of mine in a BSN program had 8 weeks of lectures on diabetes. We had TWO lectures. TOTAL:(. And still have to know all the same material. NOT that I think the BSN would be easier? But for some people, it might be better. I know it took me a lot of self direction to manage to get the studying in that I needed to pass the tests. You didnt need to know what was in the lectures. You just needed to know it all!

JMO

Lvn

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

It doesn't matter what the educational requirements are,

*** Yes, my point exactly.

a PA only has to pass a certification test to practice.

*** Yes I am well aware of the requirments.

RN's can't do half of what a PA does, so there's no comparison.

*** Straw man argument. PA serves as a good example of another field where there are multiple entry points. Nobody thinks of them as non-professional and they don't get their underpants all in a bunch about it.

I don't know of any PA's who are making RN wages.

*** Where I work starting pay for new grad PAs is $29.06. (figured by taking their yearly salarty and deviding it by 2080 hours = 40 hours a week). For new grad RNs it's $29.77. Salary.com shows PAs and RNs fairly close with one getting paid more than the other depending on the area.

Doctors make money off of midlevels b/c we bill for our services and if the doc is on site, we bill at the doctor rate.

*** Yes I am well aware of exatly how it works.

A RN isn't even in the same league.

*** I don't think they are as far apart as you do but it doesn't matter for the subject.

Also, there are very few certificate/Associate programs left for PA's.

*** The AAPA wed site shows 37 certificate or associates PA programs and a whole bunch more Bachelors programs. Seems like more than "very few" to me.

The vast majority of them require a Master's degree.

*** A small majority maybe but who cares? The point is that PA have several entry points and they don't get all worked up about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment