Diploma vs degree

[naynay592]

I have a concepts paper due. I have to distinguish between the education, role, and responsibilities of the associate degree RN and the Diploma RN. I am in an associate degree program, so I know about it. I don't know much of anything about a diploma program. Can anyone help me?

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I'll be finishing my diploma program in a few months. If I can help you please feel free to send me a PM. :)

[naynay592]

I need to know what diploma nurses are responsible for in the field of practice. How much education is required?

[Traveler]

Diploma nurse do the exact same thing any other licenses nurse does. There are not too many diploma schools left- mine closed the year after I graduated. In diploma schools, the students get MUCH more actual clinical hands on time. I think there was 1200 hours of actual clinical time in my program. We were required to get all of our pre-req's at local colleges (micro, psych, english, etc.) and transfer them in. As far as upward mobility- a BSN is what is usually needed and preferred to hold management positions although I have held management positions. From what I have seen, right out of school working as a new nurse, the diploma graduates tended to have better clinical skills and feel more comfortable because of the high clinical hours in school. As far as education to get there, I had to transfer 30 college credits in- A&P, Micro, psych, soc, biomedical ethics, etc. I was working and just had my first child so I went to the evening weekend program. Two nights a week we had four hours of class each night. Every other weekend from 7-3 we were at our clinical site. We had two weeks off at Christmas and three weeks off in the summer. The nursing part (not the 30 other credits) was a three year program. I hope this helps!

Ann

[Altra, BSN, RN]

There is no difference in licensure, responsibilities, job opportunities or career path - a GN or new RN is a GN/new RN. :)

My program is 22 months long (breaks between terms, but no summers off). That 22 months includes 30 credits of non-nursing courses (A&P, micro, nutrition, etc.) granted from a local university - their faculty come to our campus to teach. Our clinical rotations include the 2 hospitals in our system, LTC facilities, a state psych hospital, a Children's hospital and various community agencies. The total of clinical hours is approx. 1900.

Our credits for both nursing and non-nursing courses transfer easily to RN-BSN programs.

HTH. If you need more info, just let me know. :)

[naynay592]

wow, i didn't realize how much the diploma and associates degree had in common. thanks for everyone's help. I really appreciate it.