WHY does a B.S. + RN not equal BSN

Southern Magnolia · Jul 18, 2011

I should have added that I already have a BA in English.

bsnanat2 · Jul 18, 2011

The answer to the OP's question is really simplier than most of the explanations... BSN = Bachelor of Science in Nursing. One can be a nurse (RN) with a Bachelor's degree of any kind, but if the BSN is not the degree you graduated with, then that is not the degree you have.

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 18, 2011

Universities have seats to fill and programs to expand.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 18, 2011

Thanks for the explanations everyone. It's really frustrating. It is interesting though to note that at least one local hospital had job listings requiring ' a BSN or a BS degree and an RN license' so it seems to some employers at least, the education is similar enough.

The key phrase there is "similar enough." As you suggest you understand, you can't conclude from that information that they think the education is the same. All that tells you is that for the jobs they are filling, the nursing content of the ADN programs is enough. They don't expect their nurses to need the more advanced BSN nursing content. What does that say about their culture and their expectations for their staff?

But ... that said ... your plan sounds like a reasonable one to me. Good luck with your nursing career.

kalevra, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2011

A BSN has more Nursing Classes that revolve around Nursing Theory, Leadership, Management, Pharmacology, etc etc. The last 2 years of your other bachelors degrees wont cover the topics that are covered in a BSN. The ADN degree covers theory and clinicals, but they do not cover some of the other topics listed above in such great detail.

jlpsu · Jul 18, 2011

The key phrase there is "similar enough." As you suggest you understand, you can't conclude from that information that they think the education is the same. All that tells you is that for the jobs they are filling, the nursing content of the ADN programs is enough. They don't expect their nurses to need the more advanced BSN nursing content. What does that say about their culture and their expectations for their staff?
But ... that said ... your plan sounds like a reasonable one to me. Good luck with your nursing career.

Similar enough to me means that they take the education given for a BS degree into account. I will need maybe 3 or 4 bridge classes to get my BSN, after having a BS degree and my RN license. I suppose this hospital is saying that those 3 or 4 classes aren't imperative to the job they are recruiting for. I realize that not all places will say this - but I don't think at all that it reflects on the type of facility this is. In fact, I think they are more willing to look outside of the box to an individuals total eduction and not 'just' the BSN after their name.

foreverLaur · Jul 18, 2011

What type of specific curriculum does a BSN program entail (besides general education) that a RN program doesn't? At clinical today, I worked with two nurses who did ADN programs and much later went back and got the BSN through an ADN-BSN program and they both said they thought it was a waste of $$ in terms of being a better bedside nurse.

Also, if BS + ADN is not pretty darn close in education to a BSN, why are there a lot of programs that will let a student withOUT a BSN but with a BS + ADN direct enter into a MSN program like a BSN student does?

Finally, if both ADN and BSN lead to a RN with equal practice rights as a nurse, how valuable can those extra classes REALLY be if you don't get any additional privileges as a bedside nurse?

KJM-RN, BSN · Jul 18, 2011

I'm not trying to be argumentative here...I'm asking a serious question because I really don't understand. I also didn't post this over in the ADN vs BSN thread because it's not nearly as active. I also searched for answers (so don't skewar me), and while I found others who asked if it's the same and were simply told 'no it's not'...but I couldn't find an answer to WHY it's not. So here it goes...
I have two B.S. degrees..one in Speech Therapy, and the other in Computer Science (don't ask..life detours keep life interesting).
I am now purusuing a nursing career. My mother was a nurse for 40 years. I keep hearing how I really NEED a BSN to move up in the field. But here's the rub - I have no desire to go back for a THIRD BS degree. I have general education coming out the wazoo. At the most I'm willing to go from an RN-MSN program provided I get tuition help from my employer as I've had enough education expenses thankyouverymuch. But another BS degree...Really?
I am also being told, here and in other places, that a B.S. degree in another field, plus an RN license does NOT equal a BSN. I really don't get that. I have the general education from a 4 year degree (and then some), and I will (God willing) have the RN education which basically encompasses the last 2 years of a BSN program (and the program I will be going through actual has MORE clinical hours than the BSN programs locally). So, 2+2 = BSN in my mind. So why doesn't it?
And don't tell me it's because of this elusive Magnet Status either. Because two of our local hospitals have Magnet status and they not only HIRE ADN's, they RUN hospital based diploma programs which spit out wonderfully prepared diploma nurses...who then get hired at said hospitals. So, the theory that Magnet Status hospitals don't hire anything less than BSN's....well, I'm confused on that too because I keep hearing it here - but the reality seems quite different - at least where I live. Feel free to answer that for me too....
So what I am hearing here is...get your BSN. If you get a diploma or ADN first and you already have a BS degree - then you need to do an RN-BSN program which will include your general education...which i ALREADY have! So, what, I take one or two bridge classes and call it a BSN? It not only seems like a money grab from the Universities, but also a semantic technicality by everyone else. What am I missing?
Please, someone - kindly- explain to me the difference between a BS degree in ANYTHING in CONJUNCTION with an RN license...and a BSN. I really want to know.

I didn't read the replies so sorry if this was already said. I am starting in an ADN program this fall, I have fulfilled all credits except for the nursing classes. It is a fulltime program, but I will only be taking 9-11 credits per semester for 2 years. If I was going the BSN route, I would have been taking 18-19 credits per semester for 2 years, and that is only taking nursing classes, as all gen ed requirements must be done before beginning the nursing program (at least at this school). There are more core nursing classes required for a BSN as opposed to an ADN, so I suppose that is why having a BS and than getting an ADN does not equal BSN. You'd be missing some of the nursing courses that only a BSN grad takes. I hope that I didn't repeat what others have said and I hope that helped.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jul 18, 2011

Think of it this way. A bachelor's degree requires basic courses, no matter what it is. Then you go on to specialize in your field.

So, a BSN is a bachelor's degree with a specialization in Nursing.

Clinical courses in ASN/ADN and BSN courses are similar. Sometimes the ASN/ADN clinicals don't have as many hours or days as BSN clinicals. BSN degrees have some add-ons too, that ASN/ADNs don't have. With either degree, you are an RN when you pass your NCLEX exam, after you graduate with your degree.

foreverLaur · Jul 18, 2011

Think of it this way. A bachelor's degree requires basic courses, no matter what it is. Then you go on to specialize in your field.
So, a BSN is a bachelor's degree with a specialization in Nursing.
Clinical courses in ASN/ADN and BSN courses are similar. Sometimes the ASN/ADN clinicals don't have as many hours or days as BSN clinicals. BSN degrees have some add-ons too, that ASN/ADNs don't have. With either degree, you are an RN when you pass your NCLEX exam, after you graduate with your degree.

But what are those extra classes? My ADN program actually has MORE clinical hours than almost all the BSN programs in the area and four of my lecture/clinical instructors also teach nursing to BSN students at OSU and they use the same books, tests, and curriculum.

KJM-RN, BSN · Jul 18, 2011

But what are those extra classes? My ADN program actually has MORE clinical hours than almost all the BSN programs in the area and four of my lecture/clinical instructors also teach nursing to BSN students at OSU and they use the same books, tests, and curriculum.

Research, managerial, pharmacology...

My ADN program at a community college has more clinical hours than the local state school BSN program too, but what it is lacking in is courses that focus on leadership in nursing. A BSN grad is supposedly more prepared to be in charge, if you get what I mean.

foreverLaur · Jul 18, 2011

Research, managerial, pharmacology...
My ADN program at a community college has more clinical hours than the local state school BSN program too, but what it is lacking in is courses that focus on leadership in nursing. A BSN grad is supposedly more prepared to be in charge, if you get what I mean.

I'm pretty sure my 2 years I spent as an honors business major covered more leadership classes than I ever care to think about. Obviously not health care related but it's all the same really. I have no interest in managerial level work. I just want to treat the patients directly.

BSN students take more pharmacology than ADN students? I thought my 20 weeks / 7 semester hours of pharmacology was a ton!! Wow!! We also take anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pathophysiology. We do 7 clinicals: LTC, OB, Med/Surg I, Med/Surg II, Peds, Psych, and Elective Preceptorship. Our lecture during out elective preceptorship class is all about leadership in nursing so I imagine I'll get even more leadership fun down the road here...