I'm not trying to open up the old ADN-vs-BSN can of worms, but I'm just curious.
I've decided to apply to a BSN program since I only recently decided to change my major to nursing and I already had most all the pre-reqs required. If I went the ADN route and then eventually decided to upgrade, it'd end up taking me a year longer than if I went for the BSN the first go around.
However, I've been getting lots of flack from friends/family who all think that I should go for the ADN. They say that nurses out there in the real world working will look down on, even dislike me for having done my BSN first. I personally think that sounds ridiculous, but what do I know?
So this isn't a down-with-BSNs or down-with-ADNs thread, I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this sort of input from those around you about your education choice(s)?
Here is another article about it that I thought was good as well. I don't think it is ADN bashing, but we need to encourage people to further their education and to set high standars for the nursing profession. Nursing is a profession and nursing needs the best people with the best education in it:
I can't understand why anybobdy would criticize someone for gettin a BSN, that's just weird. I say go for it! Alot of nurses I know with their ADN's have, or are striving to go back and get their BSN, so why not just get it over with? Also, when I looked into ADN programs, the "2 year" program is a myth, they don't count the pre-reqs, so in reality it is more like 3-4 yrs. Good luck in whatever you choose to do!:)
PLUS, patient outcomes are more positive with more BSN's in the mix (recent study by Aiken). So go for it!
We discussed that study in class the other day and read some statements by statisticians that basically said that it was unfair in that it did not take into account many factors, such as hospital size, staffing, physician expertise, average age of pt, etc. I personally don't put any stock into that particular study, but that's just my humble opinion. :)
Go for your BSN, and if someone criticizes you for it, you probably don't want them around you bringing you down anyway. Good luck w/ your education!
I think people who get into this fuss over ADN BSN whatever are silly. Its what ever works for you. If you are happy and content to work as a staff nurse in your local LTC or hospital ADN is probably fine. In our area most nurses are ADNs unless they are teachers or in administrators. Until this year there was no BSN program within 90 miles. It was community college or nothing. I still am going to go to our local Jr college program. Unlike our new university program, it has a long proven track record. Our NCLEX pass rate is something like 88 % on the first try. In fact my 88 yr old grandma graduated from the school I am now attending. (Side note: I told grandma over Christmas she had to stay healthy because I wanted her to pin me when I graduated.)
I have noticed that many of the students I am going to school with are using the ADN as a jumping off point......get their RN, work awhile then when they have time go baack for more advanced degrees.
I'm from Canada and so we don't have ADN's here..... It took me a while to figure out what you were all talking about! We used to have diploma programs that were about 2 years and were either based out of the hospital or a community college. They've totally phased those out now and every graduating nurse in this country has to get a BSN, which is 4 years. (or 2 years of pre-reqs and 2 years of nursing, depending on what univ you're at). There are some 2 year community college programs that you can start out in but after the 2 years, you have to switch to a univ. deg. program.
This has caused a lot of controversy here among nurses. Most of the older nurses working today are 'diploma nurses' and some of them look down on us eager students and grads with our degrees. They criticize us for having too much theory and not enough hands-on knowledge. I've had some nurses tell me this. But for the most part they're totally great about having degree nurses join them and degree students help out during clinical. I do kind of think that my deg. program does not have enough clinical time..... but I think I would be hard to satisfy with that. I think that regardless of what program you graduate from, you're going to be in for a shock and a learning curve when you start work on the floor. Of course a lot of nursing expertise is gained from experience on the floor, doing the clinical work over and over again.
I know that I would choose a BSN even if I had the option but that's just because I eventually want to get a Masters. It's just what my plans for my career are. I think that the diploma nurses I've worked with have most of the time been wonderful nurses (there are always a couple duds in there!) and have had a wealth of clinical knowledge that I aspire to achieve one day.
I can't see being criticized for going on to get your BSN, but I do see that it may seem like a waste of time and money to some. The reason I say that is because of the way BSN's receive no extra compensation for the extra education. I would like to get my BSN, but the thought of shelling out 10g for no extra compensation OTJ stops me, to be honest. In other fields, advanced degrees usually mean more pay, but not in healthcare. Social workers are in the same boat and actually they are even less compensated for their degrees. I find the entire system very discouraging. If I were 20 years younger, I would definitely go for the BSN, in hopes that it might help at some point in my career, but at 47, I don't think so.
I can't see being criticized for going on to get your BSN, but I do see that it may seem like a waste of time and money to some. The reason I say that is because of the way BSN's receive no extra compensation for the extra education. I would like to get my BSN, but the thought of shelling out 10g for no extra compensation OTJ stops me, to be honest. In other fields, advanced degrees usually mean more pay, but not in healthcare. Social workers are in the same boat and actually they are even less compensated for their degrees. I find the entire system very discouraging. If I were 20 years younger, I would definitely go for the BSN, in hopes that it might help at some point in my career, but at 47, I don't think so.
Bingo! Same debate with the people in the psych field - I was one of them and discovered the waste of an M.A. in psych.
There are actually no colleges here where I live either - the nearest community college is about 65 miles away. There's a senior college about 30 miles from here, but they don't have a nursing program. The nearest senior college with a nursing program is about 60 miles. That's going to be a PITA commute every day, I figure... but oh well, sacrifices! :)
Bingo! Same debate with the people in the psych field - I was one of them and discovered the waste of an M.A. in psych.
I am in psych with an ADN and am making more than some MS degree LCSW's and I know I am currently minimally compensated compared to when I was in another specialty area. These professionals I am referring to are extremely gifted therapists and obviously well educated. There is absolutely no justice when it comes to earning what one is worth in healthcare and that goes doubly for psych, it appears.
I had an ADN first for 18 years, recently I received by BSN from WSU. I did it for myself because the chances for advancement are greater for the BSN in management or education. Nursing-wise, an RN is an RN and what you do with your nursing knowledge is up to you. Also you can't get a Master's usually without a bachelor's degree or teach undergraduate clinicals without a bachelor's degree.
Actually the department I am in right now has prevented me from advancement because I don't work with all nurses, and my boss is an x-ray technician with no more than a high school education. I am now perceivd as a threat!!!!
iliel
849 Posts
I've looked up this study and what I've seen is it has more to do with pt loads than BSN vs ADN.