BSN versus ADN

Jes24 · Jul 9, 2010

An ADN (associate degree) program and a BSN program (more education with a higher degree) will both allow you to be an RN; however, in this economy I have heard that there is no point of getting your BSN unless you plan on getting your Master's. Then again I have heard in some states they are starting to weed out ADN's and only hire BSN's. In my opinion it is always better to get your Bachelor's! The higher education the better opportunities it may bring you some day.

caliotter3 · Jul 9, 2010

You can find the answer to these questions many times over if you do some reading on the site.

happy2learn · Jul 9, 2010

Look at the job postings in your area. 99% of the job postings within 100 miles of where I live say "BSN preferred." To me, that says BSN new grads have an advantage of ADN new grads.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2010

Oh goodie, ANOTHER ADN/BSN thread for my collection

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2010

Have you tried researching the SEVERAL THOUSAND threads on this site on this topic? All of which rehash the same stories over and over again.

Not to be rude, but it is all over this BB. Many of the most knowledgeable posters have answered this repeatedly. And it is much easier for you and more accurate to get a variety of opinions from reviewing what has been written.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2010

Have you tried researching the SEVERAL THOUSAND threads on this site on this topic? All of which rehash the same stories over and over again.
Not to be rude, but it is all over this BB. Many of the most knowledgeable posters have answered this repeatedly. And it is much easier for you and more accurate to get a variety of opinions from reviewing what has been written.

Clearly the OP is brand new to the board and is enthusiastic about being here. He/she probably was not aware that this issue has been addressed incessantly on here and perhaps does not know how to conduct a search (it happens). Veterans as we are to the board, it's probably easy to forget our initial enthusiasm on here when we were new, and the mistakes we made to annoy the old timers. And I know how tired we are of seeing this topic readdressed on the boards, soon enough the OP will learn as well. On that note, kindly guidance instead of an abrupt reprimand would have probably served her best. :nono:

Just doing my best to keep this a friendly place ... welcome to allnurses.com Sprinkes!

xInspiredx · Jul 10, 2010

Oh sorry, guys!

I now see the search option up at the top, but in my defense, it has a "Google" written there, so I thought that it would just do a general Google search hehe.

Also, even IF I had done a search, not all of those topics are recent. I just did one now, and many are from years ago.

It's nice to get a 'fresh' sense of opinions, considering rules and regulations always change frequently.

Thank you to those who responded though. I just switched into nursing recently, so that's why I am quite eager, and full of questions! lol

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2010

There have been about 8 or more threads in the last week alone. Several in the last few days. A brief exploration of the past 24 hours generally will reveal this. And really the data has not changed much for at least 50 years.

And perhaps, the OP needed to be informed that joining the conversation in many contemporary often lends more immediate data than repeated threads that tend to get ignored on this topic. Sad but true, many will see ADN vs BSN and not even click on it. And the OP will not get the informed data that s/he needs.

For a while, the admins were limiting the ADN/BSN threads to a couple of lengthy ones, and closing the newer ones due to this issue.

To the OP. A very few facilities limit their hiring to BSN or higher only - Hospital at UPenn comes to mind. A few additional ones require BSN of new grads, or extensive experience for ADN/ASN grads - Mass. General is one. And with the current recession, where new nurses are a dime a dozen, some hospitals are limiting their hires, and preferring BSNs. Which pretty much is like any profession. Experience trumps new grad, and higher education level gives one an advantage. It also provides a nice PR spin in hospital ads.

People have the false notion that Magnet status requires BSN status. Two facilities that are have worked for, have magnet status, and while education is promoted, they have a high percentage (majority) of nonBSN RNs. One currently ranks in the top 5 in the country and rates over several BSN only facilities.

But in much of the country, it does not matter and you may or may not get paid any more. In places that do have a pay difference, it may be 25 cents to one dollar more per hour. If you do wish to advance in management or teach, you probably want your BSN, or if you want to get your NP or CRNA, especially if you are young. It is pain to go back to school in one's 40s, when one decides that you need to advance, because you cannot see lifting 300# pts for the next 20 or more years.

It is not required to work ICU, or ER, or Peds, or most specialties. In a few places it is required for more advanced research. Though I have worked research without a BSN.

mariposabella · Jul 10, 2010

Just get your BSN. I hear that its easier to get a job with a BSN and I had a nurse tell me that nurses with ADNs where I live are not really getting hired. The only reason people get ADN's is because it only takes two years so they can get a job quicker then eventually they do an RN to BSN program so they can get their BSN. Also ADN programs are cheaper. ADN programs usually have waiting lists that are years long, but most BSN programs dont have waiting list.

racquetmom · Jul 10, 2010

Just get your BSN. I hear that its easier to get a job with a BSN and I had a nurse tell me that nurses with ADNs where I live are not really getting hired. The only reason people get ADN's is because it only takes two years so they can get a job quicker then eventually they do an RN to BSN program so they can get their BSN. Also ADN programs are cheaper. ADN programs usually have waiting lists that are years long, but most BSN programs dont have waiting list.

This message is contradicting. You say ADN programs take two years and they get a job quicker, but then say the programs have waiting lists that take years long where BSN doesn't. :confused: I believe whether BSN or ADN if you are a new grad it is difficult to be hired anywhere due to the economy right now and not just in your area. It is more to do with experience-actual working as a nurse experience and not BSN/ADN. Just to clarify for the OP the community colleges core nursing classes takes two years to complete. There are still required pre-reqs. prior to starting that 2-yr. program. In reality, an ADN cannot be completed in two years if you are doing traditional route regardless if there is a waitlist or not.

kenpochic · Jul 12, 2010

In FL the difference is a 50 cent hour lol. However, if you dont have a bachelors degree in another subject i say go for the bsn. It seems like the bsn programs are 24 months and the adn programs are 18 months. The bsn programs seem to only have a couple more prereqs. I just got accepted to an ADN program . I already have a bachelors degree in business management/Marketing. In the future I want to do a bridge gap program and become a CRNA.