How do you feel about ADN nurses?

JVanRN · Mar 12, 2005

The only people that seem to really care the degree another nurse has are other nurses. (excluding managment and situations that a BSN or higher is required) I have never had a patient ask me what sort of degree I had, or a Dr. or anyone else for that matter.

But back to the original question: What do I think of ADN nurses?

Answer: I don't think about them. At least not in terms of ADN nurses and BSN nurses. When it comes to bedside care....we are all nurses. Some are crappy some are not. Some of the crappy ones have ADN's, BSN, and MSN's, so do some of the best nurse's. Like Marie_LPN said..."I just want someone that is licensed and knows what they are doing" I could give a flying poo if the person has a BSN or ADN.

rach_nc_03 · Mar 12, 2005

another one who thinks all 2 year nurses sound the same....sheesh.
Someone needs to remind you all there is more than ONE way to "round" oneself or self-educate. How insulting.

SmilingBluEyes, we share many of the same opinions.

I'm graduating in 6 weeks with my ADN. I did a 4 year degree in music and journalism, and I'm 33, coming out of a second career and going into a 3rd. I would like to get my doctorate in nursing at some point, and I did a timeline, both with starting at the BSN level, and at the AASN level (don't know about other areas, but Nursing is an applied science degree at my school). I can get a master's, then a doctorate, in fewer years by doing things this way. I'm going through a divorce, battling my own health problems, and working full time through school. Time and money are of the essence; a BSN would've cost me at least $10K, while my associate degree has been free (I was laid off from the tech industry, and in NC, you can get grants if you're going into a 2-year degree program in a high-demand field).

My classmates range from a 19 year old with no college courses before this program to a woman with a PhD in pharmacology. Clinically, the 19 year old is far better than the woman with the doctorate; each of us has different areas of strengths and weaknesses, influenced by educational background, personality, life experience, and self-image. It's impossible to discern who has which level of education when watching us in a clinical environment.

I've already accepted a position, starting in June, in the PICU at a leading university research hospital in my area. I've been offered the opportunity to train for the pediatric PICC team, and will have the opportunity to train in the NICU as well. One of my classmates, who had no college courses prior to this program, took a job down the hall from me in the pediatric bone marrow transplant unit. During our interviews, not one word was mentioned about our decision to pursue an associate degree in nursing. Our grades, instructor recommendations, and attitude/aptitude were the only factors that counted. In fact, those of us who have excelled clinically have been offered jobs by every clinical site we've visited.

I have to wonder if BSN programs spend some time indoctrinating their students in the 'value' of the 4-year degree over 2-year and diploma programs. Like other posters, I hear a lot of complaints from new BSN grads that they had too little clinical time. In fact, a lot of them wish they'd done the AASN route, so they wouldn't have massive debt to worry about. Of the new grads in the ICU where I work as a CNAII, those with 2 year degrees are asked to precept as charge nurse more quickly than new BSN nurses...my guess is that the additional clinical time teaches us better time-management and organization.

Maybe things are different in other parts of the country, but most of the nurses in this area are associate degree graduates. Some go on to higher degrees; some don't. At the bedside, from what I've seen and heard, there's absolutely no prejudice toward non-BSN nurses....except coming from BSN students!

Bottom line- I don't think it matters one iota.

Plagueis · Mar 12, 2005

This whole "associate versus bachelor's" issue is dividing nurses apart. The assumption seems to be that associate nurses are only taking nursing courses, when that's not the case at all. At my school, nursing students have to take two english classes, history, two social science classes, math, and physical education, in addition to the three science classes for the nursing degree. And that's on top of the two years of nursing classes. That's not two years worth of liberal arts, but will a couple more literature and philosophy classes really make a difference in the way nurses perform their jobs? Not all of us can afford to go to four-year schools for a bachelor's degree, and since many nurses with associate degrees pass the same NCLEX exam, and are able to get hired, why shouldn't some nurses opt for an associate degree? If others want to get a bachelor's degree, then that's great for them, too. I know many nurses with "only" an associate degree, and they never had any problems getting a job, and are quite well-rounded.

*PICURN* · Mar 12, 2005

Chances are i would be glad that a competent, licensed NURSE is taking care of me. Really couldn't give the flying rat's rear if it's LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN. I want someone who's LICENSED and KNOWS what they're doing!

AMEN! :)

JVanRN · Mar 14, 2005

Lot's of people argue that having a BSN as a requirement for entry level into nursing would gain us more repect as a profession. Then people would know that being a nurse requires a great deal of schooling and so on...like PT/and OT. (Degree requirements for both of these professions have been compared often). I see the point of this arguement but...I think the general public needs education on the nursing profession in general.

My family was quite suprised at all the schooling and hard work that went into my "only" 2 year degree. I was in school for about 3 years working for that. Lots of people are suprised to find out that nursing even REQUIRES a degree. Lot's of people have this idea that it's just something akin to a 12 week course then ANYONE can be a nurse! Just like a GED...so EASY. When I've explained this to people they are very suprised. :rolleyes:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2005

My family was quite suprised at all the schooling and hard work that went into my "only" 2 year degree. I was in school for about 3 years working for that. Lots of people are suprised to find out that nursing even REQUIRES a degree. Lot's of people have this idea that it's just something akin to a 12 week course then ANYONE can be a nurse! Just like a GED...so EASY. When I've explained this to people they are very suprised.

Heck, it was a surprise to me! I worked taking one class at a time for 3 years (I also had been to school part time for three years prior getting general ed out of the way for another degree) and then the two ADN program after that. The amount of studying and work it took me to get my ADN was shocking to say the least. :rotfl:

BETSRN · Mar 14, 2005

Heck, it was a surprise to me! I worked taking one class at a time for 3 years (I also had been to school part time for three years prior getting general ed out of the way for another degree) and then the two ADN program after that. The amount of studying and work it took me to get my ADN was shocking to say the least. :rotfl:

I worked FAR harder in nursing school than I ever did getting my original Bachelor's degree (before I went back to become a nurse).

WhatToDo · Mar 14, 2005

I agree with most replies, it doesn't matter what sort of degree you have as long as you can do your job well. This debate only drives us apart.

I don't like how nurses on this board think that a BSN that went through an accelerated program is somehow less experienced than a nurse that went through a traditional BSN program or ADN program. Or that nurses who don't do med/surg before specializing aren't good nurses or somehow don't deserve to get into certain nursing positions. I guess online communities do attract people full of opinions.

The bottom line is that every school is different, and every nurse is different. Making generalizations about stuff like this is dangerous until you know the specifics.

All I can say is that people in general should decide what they want to do with their lives and see what sort of schooling is necessary for that particular job. I would like to do public health nursing and most places require a BSN, so that's what I decided to do.

BETSRN · Mar 15, 2005

I agree with most replies, it doesn't matter what sort of degree you have as long as you can do your job well. This debate only drives us apart.
I don't like how nurses on this board think that a BSN that went through an accelerated program is somehow less experienced than a nurse that went through a traditional BSN program or ADN program. Or that nurses who don't do med/surg before specializing aren't good nurses or somehow don't deserve to get into certain nursing positions. I guess online communities do attract people full of opinions.
The bottom line is that every school is different, and every nurse is different. Making generalizations about stuff like this is dangerous until you know the specifics.
All I can say is that people in general should decide what they want to do with their lives and see what sort of schooling is necessary for that particular job. I would like to do public health nursing and most places require a BSN, so that's what I decided to do.

Someone who goes through an accelerated program IS less experienced than those who go through a more traditional program. They have less time to learn the book work and far less time to have enough hands-on practice.

gwlillith · Mar 15, 2005

Someone who goes through an accelerated program IS less experienced than those who go through a more traditional program. They have less time to learn the book work and far less time to have enough hands-on practice.

what exactly are "traditional programs" ?

I earned my ASN in 2 years.

"Book work" isn't exactly something you will lean on when you're in the trenches. Regardless of your education, traditional or otherwise, your years of experience as an ASN, ADN, BSN or what have you is what will seperate the men from the boys, so to speak!

BETSRN · Mar 15, 2005

what exactly are "traditional programs" ?
I earned my ASN in 2 years.
"Book work" isn't exactly something you will lean on when you're in the trenches. Regardless of your education, traditional or otherwise, your years of experience as an ASN, ADN, BSN or what have you is what will seperate the men from the boys, so to speak!

Traditional (,eamomg longer and more conplete) as opposed to the accelerated.

WhatToDo · Mar 15, 2005

BETSRN-

I'm certain that some people who come out of an "accelerated" program from a top ten school with accomplished faculty, adequate resources, good teacher to student ratio etc. will be better trained for nursing that some people who come out of a "traditional" program where the school is 3rd tier, has a so so faculty, lacks adequate resources, and has a high student to teacher ratio. Making rash generalizations like "all students who come out of accelerated nursing programs are less expereinced" is ridiculous and narrow minded.

In addition to the fact that some nursing programs are better equipt to teach nurses than others, as I said before, every person is different and every school is different. Some people go into nursing programs with years of clinical experience beforehand or work like crazy to gain the experience their school lacks during school, this person is much more likely to be better prepared for nursing than a slacker student who barely made it through.

5 years down the road it's unlikely that anyone would know whether a nurse came out a cutting edge program or a so so program, it really all depends on personality and willingness to learn.