difference between a USA Associates degree RN and BScN

joanna73, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2011

BScN's here study for 4 years. We also have no online BSN programs in Canada. You have to go to class. Those are the main differences. Also, there are only select schools that offer nursing. The US on the other hand have all kinds, which seems to be a huge problem.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Nov 23, 2011

The ASN is more like the old hospital/diploma program here. As of the end of 2009 the only entry to practice in Canada is the 4 year baccalaureate degree in nursing or the 2 year after-degree program where people with degrees from non-nursing faculties can take the nursing content only. The goal was to establish much less variation in educational levels for new nurses and minimize the gaps in preparation that having multiple programs creates.

You must remember that most of the members who post in the Canadian Nurses fourm have very little knowledge of educational practices in other countries. Only those of us who have either emigrated or made it out business to learn about it would have the necessary knowledge to respond to this sort of question.

Glimpsethepast · Nov 23, 2011

Okay, thank you very much for the replies. I myself am a nurse in Ontario Canada, for now on I will post on the USA site if I have questions pertaining to them.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2011

The big issue is that nursing programs across the USA vary widely. An associate (or BSN) one school may be quite different than one in another part of the country. And given that few US nurses are likely to have attended both programs that you inquire about, it would be difficult to make an accurate comparison.

loriangel14, RN · Nov 23, 2011

I think that Canadian programs are much more regulated and tend to be at proper colleges and universities that have to meet all the same standards.

just4 · Nov 30, 2011

Some of the information above is not accurate. I say this as an RN with a BSN in the USA and current license in one USA state and two diverse Canadian provinces. In some US states and some Canadian provinces (Quebec for example) you can get an RN license with just an associate degree. That is changing, most places and employers want a Bachelor now. Regardless, of the degree, in all cases there is a requirement that the state or provincial nursing regulating body assess your course of studies to see if it is relevant and current. I had no problems getting Quebec to validate my USA university studies. However, once that is done, you still have to pass the competency exam. For all USA states it is the NCLEX, for most Canadian provinces and territories it is the CRNE, except Quebec which has it's own unique two-day test.

Fiona59 · Nov 30, 2011

Could you tell us what parts are inaccurate?

What puzzles most Canadian nurses are the wide varieties of ways an American can become an RN and the disparity in the PN education south of the border. We hear about PNs completing trade school in 9 months and going straight for their RN without any practical time spent working. It boggles our minds that it's two years for a PN education up here and RNs appear to be churned out in two years down there.

itsmejuli · Nov 30, 2011

I'm an LPN who moved from Florida to Alberta, I'll explain Florida nursing education.

LPNs can either train through an 18 month long "public" technical school or train through a 12 month "private" college. LPNs don't take any math, english or general education classes, all of the classes are nursing related. The private colleges are more expensive, condensed and more intensive than the public.

An associates degree RN has completed a year's worth of general education requirements plus the basic nursing education classes.

The 4 year RN programs offer more nursing management classes and of course more general education classes.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2011

And many Canadian nurses would not even think of Quebec in terms of licensing requirements. Quebec has a completely different set of requirements from all of the other Provinces, and they pay the least for nurses.

I'd say the information is pretty accurate here. Of course, there may be the odd exception.