Diploma of Nursing compared with ADN and BSN

PMFB-RN, RN · Aug 7, 2007

I was wondering how my Diploma of Comprehensive Nursing compared with the US's ADN and BSN programs. As the Diploma is a 3 year course, ADN is a 2 year course and BSN is 4 years, in the whole scheme of things employment-wise, where would I fit?

*** We have three year diploma programs here too so people will be familiar with your education.

Do the ADN and BSN students sit the same NCLEX exam?

*** Yes, as do the diploma grads.

Are they paid differently?

*** In most places no. Some hospitals have a small per hour increase for BSN.

Do they have the same responsibilities?

*** Yes.

RNGrad2006 · Aug 8, 2007

I was wondering how my Diploma of Comprehensive Nursing compared with the US's ADN and BSN programs. As the Diploma is a 3 year course, ADN is a 2 year course and BSN is 4 years, in the whole scheme of things employment-wise, where would I fit?
*** We have three year diploma programs here too so people will be familiar with your education.
Do the ADN and BSN students sit the same NCLEX exam?
*** Yes, as do the diploma grads.
Are they paid differently?
*** In most places no. Some hospitals have a small per hour increase for BSN.
Do they have the same responsibilities?
*** Yes.

The Diploma is probably more similar to a ADN than the BSN. Some Diploma programs from other countries include classes that ADN programs need to take prior to even starting the nursing program making them roughly equivalent. Did your program include management level classes, stasticis, ethics etc...those are topics not covered in depth in the ADN program.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 8, 2007

The Diploma programs from other countries need to be evaluated on a case by case basis to see what they are equivalent to. Have seen three year programs that met the requirements for the BSN, and have seen them that are not the same even as the ADN.

Each program is different and depends on what was actually covered during your studies.

And they do not automatically give you credits for the ADN program or the BSN program. It will depend 100% on the curriculum and how it is actually evaluted.

PMFB-RN, RN · Aug 9, 2007

The Diploma is probably more similar to a ADN than the BSN. Some Diploma programs from other countries include classes that ADN programs need to take prior to even starting the nursing program

*** The ADN program I went to required no classes prior to starting the program. What classes are you talking about?

making them roughly equivalent.

*** As diploma programs vary widely from country to country, your statement seem like paining with a broad brush.

Did your program include management level classes, stasticis, ethics etc.

*** Yes it did. Not what I considered in depth, however I am now in an RN to BSN program at a state university and of those you mentioned, only stastics is covered. I think you are painting with a broad brush.

..those are topics not covered in depth in the ADN program.

*** Or in a BSN program depending on what program you are looking at.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 9, 2007

Best way to know is to get an evaluation done by CGFNS called the CES, and that will give you a definitive answer as to what your schooling is compared to here in the US. You need that to be able to go on in your schooling to begin with in the US.

Djuna · Aug 11, 2007

I was just inquiring for my own personal knowledge, I already have ATT and my NCLEX is scheduled for September 20th so my Diploma has been evaluated.

I'm still trying to understand or to get my head around the working environment dynamics as we don't have ADN programs here in Australia or New Zealand where I originally come from.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 11, 2007

Without it actually being evaluated and them telling you what it is equivalent to, it is impossible for us to make an educated guess based on what you have posted.

To be able to sit for the NCLEX exam, just requires that you have completed hours in all of the required areas and are considered a first level RN in your country. It is not specific to a degree from your country to be able to take the NCLEX or get licensed in the US.

For different countries there are different requirements as far as being able to work in the US.

PMFB-RN, RN · Aug 11, 2007

I was just inquiring for my own personal knowledge, I already have ATT and my NCLEX is scheduled for September 20th so my Diploma has been evaluated.
I'm still trying to understand or to get my head around the working environment dynamics as we don't have ADN programs here in Australia or New Zealand where I originally come from.

*** I work with two nurses from New Zealand. One has a bachelors degree in nursing from (I think) Massey University. She tell me that it was a three year program. We also have an older nurse who had a diploma in nursing from NZ. Neither of them had to take any additional schooling to obtain a Wisconsin RN license, but did have to take the NCLEX.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 11, 2007

The title of the degree makes no difference as far as being able to write the NCLEX exam at all. Requirements for that I have listed above. Completion of required courses and first-level RN in their country. That is why the Philippine nurses must have the BSN to get licensure in our country, that is the only degree that is recognized there by their government. Even though you see ADN programs there, as well as LPN programs, but they cannot get a license to work there in their own country, and they cannot work in the US because of immigration requirements as well.

The issue is if the nurse wishes to continue on with their education, that is where this comes into play. And with the differences in different programs only the CES can evaluate it and state what the placement it. And that is why it is required of all that wish to further their studies if they trained overseas.

I graduated from a Diploma program in the US and it was not like the ADN programs at all.

And three year university programs from there are not the equivalent of the BSN from the US, they are more in line with the Diploma programs. That is why it is so important to have an actual evaluation done if the nurse is curious as to where their own training falls in the US system.

Remember that there are three categories in the US that write the same RN exam; the BEN, the ADN, and the Diploma RN. They all start off at the same spot and level in most facilities.

PMFB-RN, RN · Aug 12, 2007

Remember that there are three categories in the US that write the same RN exam; the BEN, the ADN, and the Diploma RN. They all start off at the same spot and level in most facilities.

*** Just as a point of interest......... There are more than just those three who can sit for the NCLEX. California has the 30 unit option and people with none of those mentioned can sit the NCLEX. I don't know if any states allow it anymore but there used to be some states that would allow people to challenge the NCLEX under certain circumstances. California allows (or used to) allow navy corpsmen and army medics to challenge the NCLEX-PN. That how I got my LVN.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 12, 2007

We were speaking of degrees before, and the thirty option is not a degree nor is it recognized by any other state. An RN that has gotten their license thru that cannot endorse it to any other state.

And the corpsmen/military medics can still challenge the PN exam in CA,, but no one can challenge the RN exam any more. And they cannot endorse their license to any other state either.

This thread is about foreign nurses and their requirements for working in the US. The 30 unit option does not exist out of CA or the US, so it is irrelavent on this forum. The LVN license does not meet requirements for immigration either.