How different is ASN vs. BSN?

[parkj9]

I know this may depend on the school, but generally, how different is the education level between an associates degree in nursing from a community college vs. a bachelor's in nursing from a university? Is the CC's education more easier and laid-back compared to a university's? Are their programs run differently?

[soxgirl2008]

There is a fairly large difference between the ASN and the BSN at my school at Goodwin College in Connecticut. Firstly, I believe that going for your BSN would be the best option for you even though it will take much longer than the ASN. However, there will be far more job opportunities and a much larger salary.

There may be a much larger salary for BSN nurses where you live, but this isn't true everywhere. I live in the midwest and at the hospitals around here there is no salary difference whatsoever. A few hospitals pay more to the BSNs, but it's only be a dollar or two an hour. A family member of mine is an RN in california and by her there is no difference either. In many places ADNs and BSNs make the same. More job opportunities? Yes. Larger salary? Not where I live.

To the OP, no ADN programs are not more laid back. We all pass the same NCLEX and need to be prepared to do the same job. My friend is in a BSN program, I am in an ADN and both our programs are very rigorous. I think this varies more so by school than by degree. For my ADN I needed about a year and a half of pre-reqs, and then 2 years of clinical. At the BSN school you take 2 years of pre reqs and 2 years of clinical. The main difference in our clinical portion has been that his program emphasizes more on nursing theory, public health and community health nursing. Other than this we have learned the exact same information (my adn program still goes over theory, community health and public health but they don't spend as much time on it) are learning the same skills, working out of the same books, etc. We both had to take microbiology, chem, A&P, etc. He had to take more pre-reqs like art, history, physics, foreign language, etc. People are attracted to ADN programs because they are generally shorter and cheaper, not because they are easier in any way.

[Stephalump]

I've never heard of a much larger salary for BSNs anywhere. I'm astounded when people say they make $1 more an hour - there's zero difference in pay where I am!

[kaydensmom01]

I've never heard of a much larger salary for BSNs anywhere. I'm astounded when people say they make $1 more an hour - there's zero difference in pay where I am!

There is also no difference in pay where I live.