Community College Associates vs Bachelors

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I am in the middle of an associates degree and getting increasingly frustrated. I am thinking of changing to a four year program or another type of program but want to know if I would simply encounter the same frustrations there.

I admit I am not the best student which is a major part of my problem. My complaint though is that my particular program the litmus test of your capability as a future nurse is tied in to the ability to teach yourself, go that extra mile and read extra resources and do extra work. I get the idea of showing initiative and seeking out further information, but it seems that I seem to seek out the wrong information and after studying long hours encounter material on the examination I've never seen before. I have seen course material on the interment especially from four year programs that seem a little more descriptive of material that needs to be mastered and I wondered if the need to cram so much information in the two year program adds to this problem.

The issue of test questions coming out of nowhere seems to plague the best students in the program and it seems frustrating that hours of study can result in failing grades. Has anyone has similar problems or opinions?

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I'd have to say the call is on you. Well here is a couple things to consider.

-the pay is not different in your first year between a BSN or RN.

-You take the same test.

-you'll just add on more years to your study, meaning you'll just prolong your frustration.

-4-year college is much more expensive then community school.

My goal is to get through nursing school sooner so I can start working sooner. Think about those things before making any sudden decisions. Good Luck.

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The issue of test questions coming out of nowhere seems to plague the best students in the program and it seems frustrating that hours of study can result in failing grades. Has anyone has similar problems or opinions?

Well, I certainly heard the same criticisms from my peers of test questions that seem to "come out of nowhere" in my program. It was a BSN program.

If you are looking for an easier program, a BSN program will not give that to you. Nursing school is HARD. You are expected to be a self starter, delve deeper into the material on your own time, and regurgitation of material is rarely sufficient. You are expected to take the knowledge you are given in class and in reading material and apply it to new situations which force you to use critical thinking skills rather than memorization of facts.

As for ADN vs. BSN, it does lead to the same license. In some areas, there is absolutely no difference or advantage to a BSN. In other markets, however, there is a trend towards hiring only BSN prepared nurses. Make your decision on those points, not on whether or not you believe that tests will be easier for you or less confounding in a BSN program.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

all adult learning is self-learning. That will not change regardless of geography (or different school). Nursing school is hard. Nursing work is harder. Please do not set expectations too low.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Agree with PPs & wanted to point out that changing nursing programs will likely mean that you will have to start over from scratch as far as clinical classes go. Nursing is not a 'major', it is a program... that means that each school can arrange the curricula as it sees fit as long as it meets established criteria for that degree (ADN, BSN, etc).

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