Diploma vs Associates degree school?

ChristineN, BSN, RN · May 6, 2013

What is the difference between diploma schools and getting your associates degree? Are there
Any advantages to either?

ADN

You take college classes (ie English, Psych, electives) that may not be directly related to nursing. These classes may be useful when/if you transfer to a BSN program

Usually afilliated with a community college

Diploma

Will not require college classes except for those most directly related to nursing (ice nutrition, A&P)

Usually afilliated with a hospital

Some people think the clinical experiences are better/more hours with a diploma program, but that is really program specific.

ADN will most definitely be cheaper.

I am an Diploma-RN grad and I believe my diploma program was rigorous, but provided me the foundation I needed to be a good nurse

Seas · May 7, 2013

Getting associates is a better idea in the long run. First, it is a degree after all that required some other basic classes. Also, it counts much more if you want to go up to higher degrees. With only diploma, you may have to start over again for bachelor's degree.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · May 7, 2013

Getting associates is a better idea in the long run. First it is a degree after all that required some other basic classes. Also, it counts much more if you want to go up to higher degrees. With only diploma, you may have to start over again for bachelor's degree.[/quote']
This is NOT true. With a diploma you do not have to start over on anything. You will still have an RN, and will still be eligible for enrollment in RN-BSN programs, you just may need to take more gen eds type classes. I did an RN-BSN program after my diploma RN and graduated in under a year with my BSN and did not retake any classes.

TC3200 · May 7, 2013

You'd have to look at the specific programs to determine what college classes are required. Mostly, they are the same. The diploma schools beefed up their college course requirements so that it's equivalent to the associate degree. Diploma may skip phys ed or a computer skills course. These are pretty standard for either diploma or associate degree:

English Composition
Introduction to Psychology
Human Growth and Development
Introduction to Sociology
Human Anatomy (or Anatomy & Physiology I (with lab)
Human Physiology (or Anatomy & Physiology II (with lab)
Microbiology (with lab)
Algebra or a nursing math class
nutrition

Depending on how fast you can get your college work done, it might be faster to go through a diploma program. All of them in western PA are requiring all college courses to be done before starting the actual nursing training. Then the nursing part is 16-18 months in some cases, 24 months in others. If you go associate degree, it's usually 24 months plus whatever time it takes to get all the prereqs done, and that will be a minimum of 2 full semesters = 1year.

Either way, once you pass the NCLEX-RN, you are a RN. You can go from diploma RN into online bridge to BSRN ,like the one that Penn State offers.

TC3200 · May 7, 2013

Getting associates is a better idea in the long run. First, it is a degree after all that required some other basic classes. Also, it counts much more if you want to go up to higher degrees. With only diploma, you may have to start over again for bachelor's degree.

The only bad thing about a diploma program vs. an associate degree is that if you flunk out or have to relocate and resume your training at a different RN school for any reason, the diploma RN classes other than Nursing I that's pretty standard everywhere will be difficult or impossible to transfer to another school. College credit courses are more standardized and are more likely to get accepted as transfer credit at a different school.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · May 7, 2013

Depending on how fast you can get your college work done, it might be faster to go through a diploma program. All of them in western PA are requiring all college courses to be done before starting the actual nursing training. Then the nursing part is 16-18 months in some cases, 24 months in others. If you go associate degree, it's usually 24 months plus whatever time it takes to get all the prereqs done, and that will be a minimum of 2 full semesters = 1year.
.

Actually Shadyside allows you to take required sciences and college courses concurrent with nursing classes, and I have heard that St. Margaret's just redid their curriculum to allow the same

poppycat, ADN, BSN · May 7, 2013

The only bad thing about a diploma program vs. an associate degree is that if you flunk out or have to relocate and resume your training at a different RN school for any reason, the diploma RN classes other than Nursing I that's pretty standard everywhere will be difficult or impossible to transfer to another school. College credit courses are more standardized and are more likely to get accepted as transfer credit at a different school.

Not necessarily true. I started out in a diploma program & was forced to relocate halfway through my second year. I applied to the ADN program @ a community college & they accepted ALL of the courses I took in the diploma program (nursing & gen Ed). It all depends on the school.

Seas · May 7, 2013

This is NOT true. With a diploma you do not have to start over on anything. You will still have an RN, and will still be eligible for enrollment in RN-BSN programs, you just may need to take more gen eds type classes. I did an RN-BSN program after my diploma RN and graduated in under a year with my BSN and did not retake any classes.

More gen ed classes with diploma. So?

Why didn't ADN degree not take more gen ed classes then?

Some classes may not transfer with only diploma.

Your school may be okay with that, but don't generalize. Some schools may not recognize your diploma and make you restart.

So, ADN is always more advantageous than diploma.

rninme · May 7, 2013

More gen ed classes with diploma. So?
Why didn't ADN degree not take more gen ed classes then?
Some classes may not transfer with only diploma.
Your school may be okay with that, but don't generalize. Some schools may not recognize your diploma and make you restart.
So, ADN is always more advantageous than diploma.

Don't generalize - that may only happen for a program that is not NLN recognized. To the OP - pick the program that best meets your needs - and, Good Luck

OCNRN63, RN · May 7, 2013

Getting associates is a better idea in the long run. First, it is a degree after all that required some other basic classes. Also, it counts much more if you want to go up to higher degrees. With only diploma, you may have to start over again for bachelor's degree.

That may not be true depending on the BSN program you choose. I am doing a completion with a major university and they accepted college credits that were almost 30 years old.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

DoGoodThenGo · May 8, 2013

Getting associates is a better idea in the long run. First, it is a degree after all that required some other basic classes. Also, it counts much more if you want to go up to higher degrees. With only diploma, you may have to start over again for bachelor's degree.

This simply is not true.

You and look up and down the faculty and staff list of major/top hospitals and universities and find scores of nurses ranging from staff, education, administration, management and so forth that started as diploma graduates but now have an entire alphabet of letters behind their name.

There are many, many RN to MSN programs that take both diploma and ADN grads with pretty much the same requirements. RN-MSN Entry | Master of Science in Nursing | Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

While not all diploma programs would provide the necessary college credits, neither do all ADN schools. Furthermore there is nothing stopping a diploma grad from taking the required courses on her own either pre or post grad.

As for an AAS/ADN being a "degree", I don't know about that. Both are considered "technical" degrees though the latter slightly better (but just), and in the real world of employment and academics are seen as *some* college preparation being slightly (again but just) better than a diploma. When speaking with or in the world of academics or even some employers *college degree* equals four year or above.