Why Is There an ASN/ADN/RN Option?

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 21, 2015

1. Because not everyone agrees that a BSN should be required for beginner-level practice

2. Because there are a lot of good nurses with ADN's out there

3. Because the schools that run the ADN programs want to keep "selling their product" and keep their jobs

4. Because a lot of people wanting to be nurses are still willing to "buy that product"

5. There is no one governing board or single powerful entity to unify the various perspectives into one unified system for the the United States. (In other countries, there is such an entity -- and most of those countries have a less disjointed system. Americans have a political culture that resists centralized control that inhibits variation.)

There are many political and economic forces promoting the continuation of the multi-tiered system of nursing education. There are also honest, honorable differences of opinion on if and how the system should be changed. So ... different people in different circumstances have different opinions and make different decisions -- and our political culture doesn't discourage that.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2015

Many nurses with education at the associate degree level are still hired in 2015. Be mindful that the exalted acute care hospital is not the only workplace in existence.

Associate degree nurses are hired daily at home health companies, private duty cases, nursing homes, hospices, psychiatric hospitals, stroke rehabilitation centers, prisons, jails, and other workplaces outside the acute care hospital setting.

MysticTopaz · Feb 23, 2015

Thank you, I started freaking out when I was looking at the amount of unemployed RNs and the lack of jobs in my county. Hopefully an RN to BSN bridge will be in my future.

caliotter3 · Feb 23, 2015

Introduction of the ASN nursing option came about because it was substantiated at the time. Requiring a BSN only workforce is a recent employer driven phenomenon that is occurring primarily due to the glut of available employees. A well-planned and executed phase out of the LPN/LVN and ASN levels of nurse education would make sense, but not going to happen as long as economic factors drive the work environment. Employers get what they want when and how they want it because they hold the purse strings.

adnrnstudent, ASN, RN · Feb 25, 2015

Because an ADN meets state requirements to be an RN and no hospital should receive any government funding for not hiring ADNs.

JmeinRN · Mar 2, 2015

I graduated with 45 classmates from an ADN program and everyone basically had a job before even graduating. About 90% were hired at a level 1 trauma hospital and hired in all areas such as ICU, er, or, med surg etc...

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 6, 2015

There were 30 of us graduate and all of have jobs and 1/3, minimum, work at a level 1 trauma center. There are 6 within a 100 mi radius

melizerd, ASN, RN · Mar 10, 2015

My and program had about 50 grads my semester. We all had jobs within a couple of months of graduation, 90% are in hospitals. I was hired in to my first choice hospital.

NeoNatMom · Mar 13, 2015

If nurses with Associate's are hardly ever hired anymore?

This varies where you are. Many places still hire ppl with ADNs. In fact, it can be better for many reasons. I myself am in an ADN program and will go back to get my BSN, funded by my place of employment while giving income and experience. It's a win win for me. It really does depend on your area and preferences.