I would say BSN second-degree but it may depend based on the State. Here in Michigan most of the hospital nursing jobs require a BSN to get hired. Some will hire-in but most of the nurses with associates are still expected to go back to school and obtain a bachelors in nursing at some point. At my school the amount of time to get a second-degree BSN is two years, so the same amount of time as an associates. It's more expensive I'm sure but I believe it will pay off in the long-run.