As or aa degree and why?

U.S.A. Florida

Published

HELLO EVERYONE I AM NEW TO THIS WEBSITE I READ A FEW POST HERE AND THERE BUT THIS ACTUALLY MY FIRST POST. THIS WEBSITE IS VERY INFORMATIVE SO I FIGURED WHY NOT ASK YOU GUYS. WHICH DEGREE DO YOU HAVE AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO GO THAT ROUTE.ME PERSONALLY I STARTED OFF DOING MY AS BUT I WAS THINKING THAT EVENTUALLY I WANT MY BACHELORS AND I WOULDNT BE ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT MY AA, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND I WAS DOING MY AS BECAUSE I HAVE A 3YR OLD DAUGHTER AND I AM THINKING ABOUT HER WHEN I CHANGED TO THE AS B/C I CAN GET INTO THE FIELD QUICKER.SO WHAT WAS IT THAT BASED YOUR DECISION AND WHY. I AM CONSTANTLY BACK IN FORTH TO THE ADVISORS CHANGING BACK FROM THE AS TO THE AA DEGREE.NOW I HAVE IT SET ON MY AS DEGREE BUT I AM STILL REGISTERING FOR MY AA CLASSES, I GUESS IM CONFUSE.ANY ADVICE IS HELPFUL.:idea:

Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

Okay, so let me make sure that I have it straight.

The "AA" degree you're referring to is basically the general education requirements for a further degree (BSN in your case) and is not a terminal degree (in that it does not afford you the ability to sit for licensure of any kind).

The ASN does provide you with all the classes that you need to sit the NCLEX-RN exam upon graduation. From what I can tell based on the program requirements, the computer courses are addressed at the bottom of the nursing program page:

Students must fulfill the computer literacy general education requirements within the first 15 hours of BC credit by successfully completing the basic student technology test or pass the CGS1060C to earn the degree.

And the speech requirements a bit further up:

***Successful completion of the Nursing Program will satisfy the SACS oral communication competency standard

If I may reword your original question, I think that what you were really asking is if it makes more sense to do an ASN-RN program and begin working as an RN sooner (maybe do an RN->BSN program after) or to complete general education requirements (AA program) and then enter a generic BSN program. Do I have that right?

If it were me (and I've been there with a small child), I would go the ASN-RN route, get licensed and get working. As soon as you've graduated from the ASN program, turn around and apply to the RN->BSN program. You are out in the workforce sooner that way and your student loans (if you have them) will be deferred while you're in the BSN program (which was a big help for me). If you do the generic BSN program the way you have it described above, you will be earing an AA from Broward and then applying to a generic BSN program somewhere else. Why go for an AA (which nets you nothing in the short term) when you can go for the ASN and be a nurse much sooner? If you need to get into the workforce quickly, that's your best bet, IMHO. If you have time to take it slowly, don't need to be in the workforce quickly, and don't have to worry about childcare issues (aka not a single parent), then the slower route is fine, it'll just take you longer to become a licensed nurse.

Good luck.

(Oh, and I'm in Jacksonville, BTW.)

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Oh im sorry guess im wasting my time with the aa degree thanks so much for your help.

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

I'm not sure how to take that, if it was sarcasm or sincere, but nowhere did I say that you were wasting your time. If I was correct in my above post, and you are currently working for an AA (which is really just gen ed requirements) and planning to apply for a generic BSN program, then you are taking a longer route to RN licensure than pursuing an ASN now. There's nothing wrong with that, only the AA as described on the school's website does not offer you the ability to become a licensed nurse upon graduation, as you asked previously. It only offers you the general education requirements to apply for a generic BSN program. You would still have a minimum of two years of study ahead of you before you would graduate with a nursing degree that would allow you to sit the exam and become a licensed nurse. The AA degree does not give you the ability to enter an RN->BSN program, only the ASN program will give you the ability to do that. One way to make absolutely sure is to ask your advisor if you will be able to sit the NCLEX-RN exam upon graduation with an Associate of Arts degree.

Was I correct when I restated your question as this:

If I may reword your original question, I think that what you were really asking is if it makes more sense to do an ASN-RN program and begin working as an RN sooner (maybe do an RN->BSN program after) or to complete general education requirements (AA program) and then enter a generic BSN program. Do I have that right?
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Well to be quite honest i think the way i mentioned it before made sense to everyone except you. After it was explained to me before from a previous post.it was the other things you mentioned that made things more confusing.originally i was just wondering what route they took and why and that is b/c a lot of students are taking that route as an aa and the others are doing the as.

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

Sorry to have made things more confusing for you, that was not my intention. In a nutshell: if you pursue the "AA," you will still have to continue into a nursing program to become a nurse. If you pursue the ASN (which is a nursing program), you will be eligible to sit the license exam upon graduation.

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Hi KateRN 1,

I read your response, very infomative!!! I was going to go fo my RN (via ASN), but because it would be a whole other year before I could apply for the RN core classes(they only take Fall applications), I went ahead ad took all other prereqs for the AA (better now than later, right?) now I'm wondering, should I go ahead and do the RN, and later-on work on BSN, or just go for the BSN right now that I have the AA??

Here is what I eally need to know " ARE BSN nurses (who weren't RNs before) just as qualifed (clinically speaking) than the ones who went the RN to BSN route????? I see that a RN to BSN candidatehas a ton more clinicals and classes than a BSN student..." I had an R friend of mine tell me once: "I see those BSN girls who cant even put in an IV!!" and I do not want to be one of those.

Does being a RN with a BSN make you a better nurse thatn just going strght to a BSN???

Did I make any sense??!! :-)

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

That question has been a huge debate for many years. There's even a subforum here devoted to it.

But you are asking about two (three?) different programs. An RN -> BSN nurse is one who first earned an ASN as his/her primary nursing programthen returned to school to "complete" a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. A "generic" BSN is one who has not had any previous nursing education and the BSN is his/her primary nursing program. An "AA" is not a nursing degree and does not give you the ability to sit the licensing exam for registered nurses.

If you already have an "AA" which essentially means that you've completed the general education requirements, then you will earn a nursing degree in roughly the same amount of time whether you go for an ASN or a BSN. However, the ASN is still only an Associate's Degree and does not provide the same open doors down the road that a BSN provides. In either case, you will still be a new graduate nurse and the only difference in hiring practices now is whether or not you have experience. The degree doesn't seem to make much difference at this point, but hopefully by the time you've graduated whatever nursing program you choose, the job market will be straightened out.

As far as nurses who couldn't start an IV, it doesn't matter what degree you have. Some nurses are good at IVs, some are good at phlebotomy, some are good at EKG interpretation. We all have our better skills. I haven't started an IV in years; doesn't make me any less a nurse. Most of your clinical nursing skills are learned and perfected on the job. Your assessment and critical thinking skills are what are taught and honed in nursing school. Concentrate on those and you will do well wherever you go.

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I can't thank you enough!!! Not even my advisor at the collge or the Nursing program director were willing to tell me this much!

God Bless you :-)

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please contact someone at broward college for advice on the programs here. some of the information in this thread is very inaccurate. i'm completing my asn in august at bc's nursing program. please do not make educational decisions based on what you've read here!

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.
please contact someone at broward college for advice on the programs here. some of the information in this thread is very inaccurate. i'm completing my asn in august at bc's nursing program. please do not make educational decisions based on what you've read here!

what are the inaccurate parts?

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Hi all.. I've been reading all about the ASN or AA in nursing. But from my experience I have a cousin thats a Nurse in one of the miami hospitals. She's been in the field 8 years. She went to MDC got her AA in nursing and went to Barry for her BSN Generic for 2 years. I've spoken to her about what route to go and per her experience in the hospital on how they get hired are. They will pick a BSN applicant than a ASN any time. So what that means being ASN is harder to get hire, you will get hire but if a girl goes after you with a BSN she will get the job first than you just cause of the BSN. I don't know if anyone has ever gone in any hospital website employment search..it always says BSN PREFERRED....!!!! .. So always have that in mind. Thats why people are saying its sooo hard to get a job in south florida its not hard if you have an BSN. My advisor at Broward college told me better to finish my AA and transfer. I will have more priority with a BSN than a ASN. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU.

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Specializes in Managed Care, Onc/Neph, Home Health.

@ KateRN1, you explained your post beautifully! I have been an RN for 28 yrs, ADN. I have a BS degree, however, I chose not to pursue it in nursing. I have mine in Community Health Education. There are many routes one can take. My AS transferred to that program with me have to take a few classes that the AA, general ed, required.

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