Associates in Nursing vs Bachelors?

elkpark · Mar 20, 2010

I think that really depends on the school you go to as well as the "degree preference" in your area. For example, I live in SC where there are two main colleges for nursing, USC (which offers a Baccelorates) and Midlands Tech (which offers an Associates). Every doctor I've ever spoken to has told me they would hire a Midlands Tech student with an Associates before a USC student because the midlands tech student has more clinical experience and they usually tend to be a little more down to earth. Don't get me wrong, USC is a great school, but they focus more on management and theory studies. Do a little research, go to HR in hospitals, nursing homes, and even your doctor's office. Those are the best places to get some great advice. Even if you decide to go with an Associates, you can always go back later on down the line and specialize once you find the field of nursing that's right for you. It would be terrible to get a bachelors specializing in pediatrics only to find you can't stand being around sick kids. Good luck on your journey, and a good piece of advice: this field is not for the weak at heart. School is difficult and you will find yourself studying for the next few years (I'm not exaggerating either). But it is more rewarding than other other job in my opinion, and nurses are probably the most respected people out there! It's worth it, I promise!

I agree that this statement doesn't make sense in some areas. I would not talk to HR at nursing homes unless you're interested in working in nursing homes (which comparatively few RNs do). I wouldn't take any nursing advice from physicians -- they have little idea what goes on within nursing, often have v. outdated, stereotypical ideas about nurses, and v. few nurses work for physicians anyway.

And what is the reference to getting "a bachelors specializing in pediatrics"? There is no specialization offered in BSN programs, beyond majoring in nursing -- US nurses are trained and licensed as generalists, and all BSN (or ADN) programs cover all the main areas of nursing. And you can specialize in your clinical practice with either a BSN or ADN degree.

Katie803 · Mar 22, 2010

Wow, I did not expect to be attacked for giving my opinion and advice. First off, where I live, Doctors, while they do not usually hire nurses, do play a major part in the decision about who they want to work with. Surgeons get to pick who they want on their teams to some extent, and in privately owned practices, of which there are many here in my state, the doctors DO do the hiring. Secondly, where I live, several nurses work in nursing homes, especially RNs. Not sure why there are so many RNs here in nursing homes, but it might having something to do with the fact that they are paid quite well, better than some hospitals. Not only that, but all students begin their clinicals in nursing homes and the staff there have a very good idea at who knows their stuff better, the ADN or the BSN student. And as for the specializing statement, that was a mistype. I meant to say "get their BSN and specializing", but I was in a hurry and did not edit it before i posted it. One must take into consideration the differences between different regions, as I do hope I have made clear in this second post. Not every state is the exact same and mine does things a little differently from other states and regions. And vincejojo, I am most surprised at your remark about "those doctors you spoke to are looking for nurses with less education who will not argue with them. someone who thinks the Doc is a semi god." What on earth makes you think that a BSN student is any better than an ADN? I have known SEVERAL nurses from my school who graduated from the ADN program and advance far faster than the BSN student due to the larger amount of clinical education they recieve compared to the BSN student. And I have also heard many ADN students question doctors orders, and would you believe that when I spoke to the head of human resources at one of the largest hospitals in the state I was told the ADN students from my school make less mistakes and correct more doctor's errors than the other BSN students from the school in my area? You make us ADN students sound like dumb hicks who all think the doctor is god. HA! I have doctors in my family, we use the same bathroom and everthing, I am well aware that doctors are not gods. I am not knocking the BSN student by any means whatsoever, I plan to go back for my BSN eventually, but it just so happens that my ADN program school is a VERY good one and I am proud that because of the degree I will recieve from this school I will already have the ball in my court when I go out to get a job. I can't believe the ridicule and insulting comments I have recieved for sticking up for the ADN program. I stick by what i said, the person who originally posted this forum should find out all information they can from doctors offices, HR at hospitals, nursing homes who deal with students of both program types, as well as this website and of course, those wonderful people called nurses.

lisamc1RN, LPN · Mar 22, 2010

If you can afford the time and money, go for the BSN. I am a proponent of the most education that one can afford at the time. Yes, you can most likely get a job with the lesser education, but if a company would rather have a BSN and all other things are equal between 2 new graduates, 1 ADN, 1 BSN, the BSN has the better chance to get hired. For me, that's worth something. Also, I know of several hospitals in my area at least who do not hire ADN's for supervisory, management positions. If you think that you may ever want to be in one of those positions and you can get your BSN now, then go for it. As for me, I have to take my education in pieces at a time. It's what I can do at this time, and I don't think there is anything wrong with doing it this way, if you need to.