Nursing Diploma

Editorial Team / Admin · May 19, 2015

All RNs, regardless of the program completed, take the same

licensure exam. I've also never heard of an RN to ADN program, only RN to BSN. However, before choosing a program, research the job market in your area. Do job

postings state BSN required or preferred? What is the reputation of the program with facilities in the area? Things to keep in mind.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 19, 2015

You don't get an "RN diploma" from a school. You don't get an "RN bachelor's" from a college, either, for that matter. You get a diploma or degree from the educational program; you get the RN license from a state board of nursing after you pass the licensure exam for which your education has prepared you.

Please be super-sure your target program is properly accredited to allow you to take the licensure exam (called NCLEX) AND to be able to transfer your credits to a higher level of learning when you need to do that -- if you're in high school, your guidance counselor should be able to help you find that out. There are many, many programs that will not allow you to one or both.

If you think you'll be putting off your BSN (and you might as well go for it right out of the box, because pretty much every hospital employer and an increasing number of non-hospital employers prefer or require it), call the admissions counselor at your target program(s) and be sure the program you take before, whether it's a diploma or an associate's degree, is, in fact, going to be accepted for transfer.

Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2015

You get an RN license, not diploma. That is acquired after taking your NCLEX, which most (all..?) ADN programs make you eligible to take. Personally, I will be doing an ADN program. After that, I'll start job shopping and immediately looking into BSN options. I am not even considering the option of not getting my BSN, especially since most hospitals around here will require you to at least get one within 2 years of employment as an RN.

From what I have heard from some nurses I know, it is doable to work as a nurse and do an online BSN program at the same time.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 1, 2015

Hello!
As a pre-nursing student I was wondering if I was to get my Registered Nursing diploma will I still be able to get to work and an ADN?
Also I wanted to ask once I receive my diploma would it be smart to work and go to school for my BSN at the same time?
Please Help
Thank You

I wonder if you're talking about a program in nursing that results in a diploma, but NOT a degree? If this is the case, I believe you'd be talking about a 3-year diploma program that once completed would allow you to take the NCLEX-RN (licensing exam required of anyone who wants to work as an RN).

If I'm on the right track, once you obtained an RN license via this route your opportunities really would be very limited: you could NOT say you were an ADN, as this type of program does NOT result in an Associate Degree in Nursing.

I recall someone on AN not too long ago asking where she might find employment; her nursing education was from a diploma program and couldn't find an employer who would accept her without a degree of some sort. Many places now will prefer a BSN over an ADN as well, further decreasing options.

There also was someone posting awhile back who had just completed (or was completing?) a diploma program but the school had an arrangement with a local university whereby graduates of the diploma program could apply for advanced placement in their BSN program, and obtain a BSN less than 6 months after they began. This, of course, was on top of the years spent in the diploma program, but it did get them to the degree stage.

Good luck!

pixiestudent2 · Jun 1, 2015

If you go to a diploma program, you will not need an ADN ever.

Everyone at my schools gets a job, because our school is part of the hospital.

Nurses typically work while continuing on to get their BSN.

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 1, 2015

I am in a diploma program based out of a hospital that hires a good chunk of its students after they graduate and pass the NCLEX, however, our program is attached to a local college that we are immediately enrolled in the BSN potion after finishing our nursing courses so it's a 3.5-4 year program (6 months accelerated prerequisites, 2 years of nursing courses, and 2ish semesters of BSN curriculum, depending). That is the only reason I chose this program. I wanted to be able to work and get my BSN at the same time to hopefully get experience before moving back home to the Northeast. Being able to work with a diploma will depend on the area and your program.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 1, 2015

If you go to a diploma program, you will not need an ADN ever.
Everyone at my schools gets a job, because our school is part of the hospital.
Nurses typically work while continuing on to get their BSN.

Really can't say this, as while YOUR school has a good association with a hospital (one hospital?), it's pretty common in this mobile society to want to move at some point....and it would be VERY likely that a non-degreed nurse would have difficulty finding employment.

Once you have a diploma, getting a BSN would be an excellent plan, as without a degree of some kind....you really REALLY have to want to work at that one hospital for the rest of your career, never be terminated for any reason, and be able to work there until retirement. How likely is that?

WCSU1987 · Jun 1, 2015

I know the diploma program here before it closed they had to take one extra class at the local CC, why I don't know ha they were RNs.

pixiestudent2 · Jun 1, 2015

Really can't say this, as while YOUR school has a good association with a hospital (one hospital?), it's pretty common in this mobile society to want to move at some point....and it would be VERY likely that a non-degreed nurse would have difficulty finding employment.
Once you have a diploma, getting a BSN would be an excellent plan, as without a degree of some kind....you really REALLY have to want to work at that one hospital for the rest of your career, never be terminated for any reason, and be able to work there until retirement. How likely is that?

I meant if you have a diploma, you won't ever need to worry about getting an associates degree.

You can do a RN to BSN just like the ADN grads.

(It's like 20+ hospitals, 500+ outpatient centers, nursing homes.. They are the largest employer in my state lol)

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 1, 2015

I meant if you have a diploma, you won't ever need to worry about getting an associates degree.
You can do a RN to BSN just like the ADN grads.
(It's like 20+ hospitals, 500+ outpatient centers, nursing homes.. They are the largest employer in my state lol)

Oh, ok. Would still be a problem if such a grad were to move (and by move, I mean out of State, anywhere outside of PA). And I would also imagine that it would depend greatly on the diploma program how many general education courses would still be required in order to get the BSN, if no college degree of any type was earned prior to enrolling in an RN-BSN program.

Just worth considering. One never knows where one might end up down the road!