I don't understand the diff between ADN & BSN????? Help!!!

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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An ADN is a so called "two year degree". But it consists of 1 year of pre reqs and 2 years of nursing school. The BSN is 2 years of pre reqs and 2 years of nursing school? So what's the difference if they are both two years of nursing school(not including the pre requs)???? I'm Confused??:confused:

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
BSN degrees do not ALWAYS just have 2 years or 3 years of "nursing" school. at my school, we started clinicals and fundamental nursing class freshmen year, and i will have had clinicals all 4 years of school, as well as nursing classes all 4 years.

No, you are right. The program I graduated from recently changed to 2.5 years from 3 years of actual nursing courses. I was just pointing that out because some people think that the only difference between a BSN and an ASN are the GE courses and that BSN nurses do not have any more actual nursing courses than the ASN nurse, which as we know is not true.

I know ... But some people who read this thread may have the mistaken belief that a one earns a BSN merely because of the quantity of the courses taken. A lot of people talk about how many years, how many semesters, how many courses, etc. without seeming to understand distinctions such as "upper and lower division courses," "courses in the major," etc. I felt it was necessary to not promote that misunderstanding by readers who really don't understand the significant differences between the two degrees -- people like the OP.

People who don't understand those things are likely to be attracted to this thread because of its title. Such people could be easily confused.

If these people are not keen enough to associate the rolling eyes "sarcasm" smilie after the statement in question, they have more to worry about than confusing the specifics of entry level RN education.

Specializes in Quality Improvement, Informatics.

Also, a study was conducted to examine the differences (if any) between Associates-prepared nurses and Bachelors-prepared nurses on patient outcomes... there were more positive patient outcomes for BSNs than Associates. The authors attributed this to more advanced decision making, judgement, etc. among BSN nurses versus their ADN peers.

http://journals.lww.com/jonajournal/Abstract/2001/01000/Nurse_Experience_and_Education__Effect_on_Quality.7.aspx

It was quoted to me by a nurse manager who uses it as evidence for hiring BSNs versus ADNs if all things are equal elsewhere. So... what that means, is that nurse managers (who hire) are aware of the study, and the differences it showed, and they do tend to prefer the BSN. What I cannot speak to is differences in pay... but would be interested in hearing about that as well.

best!

Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.

I received an ADN and not only did I have to take chemistry, but leadership and community nursing classes and I rocked the crap out of those classes. Just sayin. :p ;)

Specializes in Emergency.
Also, a study was conducted to examine the differences (if any) between Associates-prepared nurses and Bachelors-prepared nurses on patient outcomes... there were more positive patient outcomes for BSNs than Associates. The authors attributed this to more advanced decision making, judgement, etc. among BSN nurses versus their ADN peers.

http://journals.lww.com/jonajournal/Abstract/2001/01000/Nurse_Experience_and_Education__Effect_on_Quality.7.aspx

It was quoted to me by a nurse manager who uses it as evidence for hiring BSNs versus ADNs if all things are equal elsewhere. So... what that means, is that nurse managers (who hire) are aware of the study, and the differences it showed, and they do tend to prefer the BSN. What I cannot speak to is differences in pay... but would be interested in hearing about that as well.

best!

The article you reference talks about how better care is related to the experience of the nurse, not their type of degree. It states there's no appreciable difference in the care delivered by bsn's. Not sure how this article forms a foundation to choose a bsn over an asn.

Did you mean to link a different article?

Specializes in Medical Assistant, Peds.

I view it in the same mindset as the difference between a D.O and an M.D. Both are doctors, simply taking different routes to the same end. With ADN and BSN, both are nurses, simply taking different routes to the same end.

Specializes in Critical Care, Education, and Acute Care.
I view it in the same mindset as the difference between a D.O and an M.D. Both are doctors, simply taking different routes to the same end. With ADN and BSN, both are nurses, simply taking different routes to the same end.

This is not a good analogy. An ADN/ASN is not a different route towards getting your RN, it is a stepping stone toward obtaining your BSN. A BSN program covers everything that an ADN/ASN program does, however you have about two additional years of study in courses related to leadership, management, theory, pharmacology, physical assessment, research, and community and family nursing.

An MD and a DO both have the same amount of academics and are held to the same standards, but they have a slightly different focus in their learnings. They are both top end terminal degrees. In contrast, the ADN/ASN is a lower level degree than the BSN.

Specializes in Medical Assistant, Peds.

On the contrary Cammer, the only time a "higher degree" makes a difference is when one attains their masters degree. Up until that point, ADN and BSN do the same exact work.

Specializes in Critical Care, Education, and Acute Care.
On the contrary Cammer, the only time a "higher degree" makes a difference is when one attains their masters degree. Up until that point, ASN and BSN do the same exact work.

I never mentioned anything about the work that an ASN or BSN does, and you never mentioned it either. We are talking about academic degrees, not the work one does as a nurse, nor obtaining a state RN license if that is what you meant by the "same exact work."

A nurse with an ASN, a BSN, an MSN, a Phd, or an old fashioned diploma, are all rated to receive a license to practice as an RN. But this fact has nothing to do with your previous post. Please don't confuse academic degrees with state licensing.

You were talking about the BSN and ASN being different routes to the same goal. This isn't completely true because a nurse with an ASN is capable of obtaining an RN license, then later obtaining their BSN degree. A BSN degree can be obtained as an entry level nursing degree, or it can be obtained as additional academic education on top of the ASN degree.

And while many nursing job descriptions do not specify the academic degree necessary for the position, there are many that do, and many jobs in nursing that require/prefer a BSN or higher degree.

Something that you shouldn't forget is that a licensed RN with an MSN degree is just as qualified to do entry level floor nursing as a licensed RN with only a diploma. So yes, in that respect the work is the same. But there are many, many different types of work that exist in nursing.

On the contrary Cammer, the only time a "higher degree" makes a difference is when one attains their masters degree. Up until that point, ADN and BSN do the same exact work.

They may have a similar job description in a bedside nursing position, but, unlike your MD/DO comparison, there is no disputing that a BSN graduate has significantly more nursing education than an ADN graduate (I believe that's the point Cammer was trying to make with the reference to a "lower level" degree, although I don't want to put words in her/his mouth). Some people may feel that the additional education isn't meaningful or valuable, but that's a personal opinion and doesn't change the facts.

Specializes in Critical Care, Education, and Acute Care.
They may have a similar job description in a bedside nursing position, but, unlike your MD/DO comparison, there is no disputing that a BSN graduate has significantly more nursing education than an ADN graduate (I believe that's the point Cammer was trying to make with the reference to a "lower level" degree, although I don't want to put words in her/his mouth). Some people may feel that the additional education isn't meaningful or valuable, but that's a personal opinion and doesn't change the facts.

Thank you elkpark! That is a much more concise way of communicating what I meant. I was a bit too wordy in that post.

As far as the additional education being meaningful or valuable, you are correct in that some people have differing opinions on that. But I have found that the majority of people who do not feel that a BSN is valuable have not obtained one. The additional education in physical assessment, pharmacology, research, leadership and management training, etcetera, has been very valuable to me. I have no regrets about getting my BSN and now I am looking forward to completing my DNP.

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

in a nutshell...

ADN prepares the nurse to practice professional nursing.

BSN prepares the nurse to practice professional nursing, research, publish, manage staff, educate peers, etc. It is a more "rounded" education and a requirement for any advanced practice RN preparation.

Please note that just because an RN has an ADN that he/she cannot research, publish, manage staff, or educate peers...it is just less likely that they will have opportunity to do so in many many settings.

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