Doesn't an ADN take 3-4 years?

cljonesfuturenurse · May 4, 2012

I mean theres no way it takes just two years; why is it an "ADN"? It takes the around same amount as a BSN; but its outcome is different.

Well the actual program itself takes two years at the institutions Im applying to. That doesn't include the pre-reqs A&P 1, engl, psych, and math depending on your institution. It may take a extra semester or two for someone to finish pre-reqs. But the BSN programs require pre-reqs to, so it won't take exactly four years to finish that either. The BSN at my school required more pre-reqs.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · May 4, 2012

My school really IS two years for your ADN. Their only pre-reqs to be considered for acceptance in their nursing program is gen biology and chemistry. If you have those two classes, and you are accepted directly into the nursing program, it will take 2 years to complete. You'd take all the general ed classes as you are taking nursing classes. Honestly, its not ideal to do it that way. The nursing classes alone take up hours and hours and hours of your time, I can't imagine having to add in other obligations for other classes into the mix.

And while it sounds like its the same thing/time as a BSN, the BSN program has many more credits you have to do. So just because it may take you 3+ years for the ADN you aren't taking all the classes a BSN progam does.

llg, PhD, RN · May 4, 2012

At some of the "for-profit" schools, you can get an ADN in 15 months. It will cost a fortune and the degree will not be as respected ... but it can be done.

But seriously. The ADN was designed as a 2-year program -- that's 2 years TOTAL, including any general education courses. Then 4 things happened:

1. People running the programs realized they could make more money by adding required pre-req's. Requiring more courses means more income for the school.

2. People running the programs realized they could use those pre-req's to "weed out" some of the less serious and/or less capable students who were applying -- weed them out before they consumed the scarce resources needed for a nursing program (clinical placements, nursing instructors, etc.).

3. People running the programs wanted to increase the prestige of their programs -- did not want the differences in ADN and BSN education to be so obvious. They wanted to claim that their graduates are "just as good as BSN nurses." So, they added courses to make the programs longer -- but didn't go all the way to BSN because they didn't want to meet the standards required of BSN programs. (Faculty preparation requirements, upper division coursework, etc.)

4. The "for-profits" discovered the profit potential of offering ADN programs in a field that attracts a lot of people who not well-versed in academia.

There you have it. The social forces at work influenced the development of the ADN programs, taking them from the 2-year programs that were definitely different from the 4-year BSN programs they were originally designed to be ... to programs that ofter take longer to complete and cost more money than anyone ever dreamed.

The people who should be most upset about the current state of affairs are the ADN grads themselves. These changes have cost them lots of extra time and money that they should not have to spend. If only the ADN programs (and those accrediting them) had stayed true to their original purpose ... to provide a relatively short, accessible, inexpensive program to produce a safe, entry-level nurse ... a nurse who could practice safely within established guidelines ... and who could choose to further his/her education, building on that ADN program to seek career advancement if desired. We would have avoided a lot of in-fighting and role confusion in our profession -- and ADN grads could have avoided a lot of heartache and student loan debt.

OnMyWay23 · May 4, 2012

It is the pre reqs that add on the time to the program. Especially for those that have been out of school for awhile. For example, I graduated in 93...so for A&P I, I had to take the Chemistry pre req since mine was almost ancient Well, for the Chemistry I had to take a math pre-req, so tight there is 3 semesters before I can even submit my application. Then, while waiting it was A&P II and Micro together. All the other general education courses I just fit in where I had room. But, for the actual nursing classes it is a 4 semester program.

CDEWannaBe · May 4, 2012

I work at a community college. Even taking classes in the summer and intercession it takes most students 3 years. Typically in the Nursing program students can only handle 9-12 hours because clinicals take about 25 hours a week.

All the reasons lig gave are exactly right.

Everline · May 4, 2012

The ADN program at my school is five semesters long, not including pre-reqs. If you haven't done any of the pre-reqs, it could EASILY take you four years to get your ADN.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · May 4, 2012

Well the actual program itself takes two years at the institutions Im applying to. That doesn't include the pre-reqs A&P 1, engl, psych, and math depending on your institution. It may take a extra semester or two for someone to finish pre-reqs. But the BSN programs require pre-reqs to, so it won't take exactly four years to finish that either. The BSN at my school required more pre-reqs.

A BSN program should only take 4 years total if ou don't have to repeat anything. Every BSN program I've looked at has confirmed this.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · May 4, 2012

The ADN program at my school is five semesters long, not including pre-reqs. If you haven't done any of the pre-reqs, it could EASILY take you four years to get your ADN.

Wow! My BSN program is five semesters (and so are the BSN programs at 3 universities near me) not including the 3 full-time semesters worth of prereqs.

Kadambari · May 4, 2012

What year did schools start adding pre reqs?

Boxer Mama · May 4, 2012

I am at a CC and it would take around 3-4 years to finish the ADN. There are 5 specific prereq classes to apply to the program, but that does not account for the prereq classes needed to take the prereq class and the additional math class needed to take clinical calculations later on once in the program. It then takes 4 semesters to complete the program once accepted.

its_meee · May 4, 2012

I'm attending Indiana University East and the BSN program is 3 years, however you must complete the required pre-reqs before entering into the program and that takes most students 2 years, although some get the pre-reqs finished in 1. I just finished with my 2 years of pre-reqs and will start the 3 year BNS program in the fall.