BSN vs ADN Education?????

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2005

The Aiken article has been thoroughly vetted... it is a watershed. I think the bottom line is................. that BSN nurses are better prepared to think critically, a process which improves patient outcome. The writing is on the wall... and sooner or later states will begin requiring that new grads have a BSN. Some teaching hospitals are trying to achieve an all-BSN workforce. While some might say that that goal is unrealistic, I don't think it's a stretch to say that, all things being equal, a unit manager will hire a BSN over an ADN any day.
I personally know a lot of nurse managers, and I know what they're looking for. There might come a time, sooner than we think, when ADN nurses will be considered nothing more than "technicians", and BSN nurses will be making all the important patient-care decisions (as well as managing). This is not a fantasy; this debate is going on right now at my nursing school. The nurses who control the state boards and professional associations are, for the most part, BSN-educated and higher. The line is already in the sand.....................

What you say is nothing new. The debate is not new. The line has been drawn in the sand decades...still nothing has changed.

HuggyPuglet · Jul 27, 2005

I agree with you. The line has been drawn literally for decades! Unfortunately, while everyone debates this issue, some of the more critical issues such as staffing, and shortages of same, nurse retention, prevention of burnout, etc. are being ignored again .

Perhaps some day we will be able to look beyond the titles and see that actual nurse. Sadly, I don't have much confidence in that though. Keep the masses squabbling among themselves, and they won't notice the important stuff.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2005

While some might say that that goal is unrealistic, I don't think it's a stretch to say that, all things being equal, a unit manager will hire a BSN over an ADN any day.

Actually that is incorrect in many places.

In my area of Florida, the ADNs from my program were routinely preferred over the local BSNs. The local BSN program had a poorer reputation and a much lower NCLEX pass rate. And this is not an anomaly, as I have traveled from area to area. The quality of the program counts and is not adequately measured by "ADN" or "BSN".

If you really want to "standardize" nursing education, why not standardize the content. We all have varying requirements, even among BSN programs.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 28, 2005

Calgon, take me awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

redwinggirlie · Jul 28, 2005

Please do a search of this site for the previous posts. Thanks.

redwinggirlie · Jul 28, 2005

:chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

The Aiken article has been thoroughly vetted... it is a watershed. I think the bottom line is................. that BSN nurses are better prepared to think critically, a process which improves patient outcome. The writing is on the wall... and sooner or later states will begin requiring that new grads have a BSN. Some teaching hospitals are trying to achieve an all-BSN workforce. While some might say that that goal is unrealistic, I don't think it's a stretch to say that, all things being equal, a unit manager will hire a BSN over an ADN any day.
I personally know a lot of nurse managers, and I know what they're looking for. There might come a time, sooner than we think, when ADN nurses will be considered nothing more than "technicians", and BSN nurses will be making all the important patient-care decisions (as well as managing). This is not a fantasy; this debate is going on right now at my nursing school. The nurses who control the state boards and professional associations are, for the most part, BSN-educated and higher. The line is already in the sand.....................

:chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

Moishe Pupik · Jul 28, 2005

I, as an ASN RN am offended by the position the ANA takes. The ANA is suppose to represent my interests, but takes the point of view that I am an inferior nurse. They put forward some study that indicates that BSNs provide better care. If this study is correct (a big if), it does not establish cause and effect. Correlation does not establish causation. For example BSNs, as a group, might on average have a higher IQ, or be more dedicated. We don't know, but there is no evidence that if you're an ASN, that getting a BSN will make you a superior nurse. Also, with the nursing shortage, any attempt to require future nurses (as in NY, for example) to have a BSN to practice will only worsen the nursing shortage.

SherBearRN · Jul 28, 2005

Ok, I told myself I would not get involved in this thread...that is, until I started reading more posts.

I am an ADN nurse who is going on for my BSN not b/c I believe the BSN will command me any more respect, but b/c I eventually want to do advanced practice nursing. I graduated top in my class with a 4.0.

I don't believe ADN education should even be compared to a BSN education. Specifically, I don't agree that a BSN prepared nurse is better prepared or smarter than ADN prepared nurses. Why do I say that? Because in the area where I live BSN schools have a substantially lower NCLEX pass rate than my ADN school I went to. So if hospitals or doctors view BSN graduates as more superior, then that is their mistake. I have never had a doctor ask me where I went to school and what degree I have. She/He is more interested in me taking care of the patient competently and safely.

As far as advancement into management, I agree that a BSN or bachelor's degree in some field might help. However, it would depend upon the location and place of employment.

Experience is the only difference I see among nurses I work with, not degrees!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jul 28, 2005

Please do a search. This subject as someone so adroitly pointed our has been beaten to death!

Please don't feel the need to defend your education level. Please don't feel that you need to denegrate anyone else's education level. In fact PLEASE let this thread alone.

redwinggirlie · Jul 28, 2005

Please do a search. This subject as someone so adroitly pointed our has been beaten to death!
Please don't feel the need to defend your education level. Please don't feel that you need to denegrate anyone else's education level. In fact PLEASE let this thread alone.

Double Amen to that......

BabyRN2Be · Jul 28, 2005

:deadhorse :deadhorse :deadhorse

After being on this board for nearly a year and a half and watching all these arguments, that's all I have to say... one more time for clarity:

:deadhorse

(This is probably why we have that emoticon in the first place. It comes in handy when this subject is repeatedly brought up)

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 28, 2005

here. we. go. again. (grin)

I want to welcome you to the boards. Please, feel free to search the many threads on the subject already (as suggested---you will see THOUSANDS of posts regarding this subject, believe me) . You will hear very strong arguments either way.

Glad to have you on board! Good luck on your assignment. I expect if you are in a BSN program, you will be expected to support the BSN-only entrypoint to nursing. That is what you will hear believe me, from your professors in any BSN program. If you are in ADN program, you will probably hear something entirely different.

This is my experience anyhow.

I want to pose a question to you: What do YOU think is the appropriate entry point and why? I imagine that is something they (those who made this assignment) would want to know.