Typical ASN VS BSN questions

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As long as I can remember I have been told that a ASN and BSN as new nurses are the exact same. This didn't make sense to me as the BSN goes to school for two more years, they have to learn something in those years. So I compared the three 4 year programs I am looking to transfer to with my community colleges 2 year program, and now it makes even less sense that a ASN and a BSN are treated the same. Not only does the ASN miss out on an A+P class, a upper level math class, a chemistry class, a nutrition class, 2 psych classes, a sociology course (and a bunch of other classes that don't seem to revelent to nursing (like humanities, electives and english) but the ASN also misses out on alot of Upperlevel nursing courses and clinicals as some of the classes that are in a BSN nursing program have to be obmitted to allow the 2 year program to intergrate its few core classes in with the nursing specific courses.

Are these classes that are missed not important to nursing, or does a two year program include them but at a faster rate?

There is no way I would persue a ASN, for one the program is actually more competive as it is cheaper and thus more people apply to it, and secondly I really want a 4 year degree from a good college, I am 25 and was in the military before deciding on nursing, and since the military is paying for my school I would like to obtain the most education I can before my money runs out.

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Graduates from ASN and BSN programs take the same test (NCLEX) and will start at the same level (novice nurse, Clinician I, or whatever it is called). They are largely the same on Day 1.

The ladders open to the two degreed nurses will vary from institution to institution. At the medical center associated with my University, BSN-prepared nurses generally rise up the clinical ladder faster, are eligible for more classes/training opportunities, and have additional responsibilities, and receive a higher hourly wage. ASN graduates cannot precept new nurses or nursing students. ASN graduates are also prohibited from progressing to the higher levels in the clinical level.

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The BSN has more nursing theory, including nursing research, nursing informatics, more hours in nursing management and public health clinical hours. A BSN are able to critically think and critically reason. The ASN doesn't get the wholistic view and well rounded knowledge in school. ASNs pick this information up in practice (on the Job). I'm in favor of both degress but think the BSN should be paid more for the education and knowledge they pose. There is research that BSN help decrease mortility rates and improve patient outcomes. I think it is a personal choice on which degree you choose.

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Look I don't know where you are from, but I am an ASN nurse (returning student I obtained a BS in Finance in '03) and in Maryland I had to take ALL those courses you are talking about ASNs don't get. I had 1 year of Anatomy, Microbio, Chem, Psych 101 and human development, sociology, math and English. All of those courses were required before I could apply to my ASN program. I also call ******** on the whole ASNs don't get the "holistic view and well rounded knowledge" At least I can spell holistic.

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Look I don't know where you are from, but I am an ASN nurse (returning student I obtained a BS in Finance in '03) and in Maryland I had to take ALL those courses you are talking about ASNs don't get. I had 1 year of Anatomy, Microbio, Chem, Psych 101 and human development, sociology, math and English. All of those courses were required before I could apply to my ASN program. I also call ******** on the whole ASNs don't get the "holistic view and well rounded knowledge" At least I can spell holistic.

I too am in Maryland, and pulled the requirements from a local jr college "ASN" and compared them to the requirements of UMB "BSN". For UMB 2 Units of AP, , an extra math and 2 extra englishes are required on top of the requirements for the jr college. The classes that are required take the place of clinicals in the two year program. There has to be some gaps in knowledge as its not just electives and humanities are being obmitted(Filler classes in my opinion), but sciences and nursing courses.

I understand that both programs take the same test to become a Nurse, but based on the knowledge is power idea, BSN's seem more with it.

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1) I am in Howard County so maybe your county's requirements are lacking not ADN programs all together

2) You may want to try again with the pre reqs for UnivofMD School of Nursing. There is NO organic chem or "extra" math or "two extra english". The only thing I didn't "have" to take was Nutrition and Statistics but I took them anyways. Oh you can keep those 9 extra humanities credits...thanks.

Don't believe me check the link

http://nursing.umaryland.edu/academic-programs/undergrad

3) I took the same NCLEX (passed on the first try) and I know some BSNs who didn't.

4) As far as "gaps in knowledge". Well why don't you look at the sample plan of study for the RN to BSN...looks like I didn't miss that much.

5) Having a bachelor's degree is a great accomplishment but don't laud your success over someone else as if that makes you better.

Thanks for playing. Try again next time.

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1) I am in Howard County so maybe your county's requirements are lacking not ADN programs all together

2) You may want to try again with the pre reqs for UnivofMD School of Nursing. There is NO organic chem or "extra" math or "two extra english". The only thing I didn't "have" to take was Nutrition and Statistics but I took them anyways. Oh you can keep those 9 extra humanities credits...thanks.

Don't believe me check the link

http://nursing.umaryland.edu/academic-programs/undergrad

3) I took the same NCLEX (passed on the first try) and I know some BSNs who didn't.

4) As far as "gaps in knowledge". Well why don't you look at the sample plan of study for the RN to BSN...looks like I didn't miss that much.

5) Having a bachelor's degree is a great accomplishment but don't laud your success over someone else as if that makes you better.

Thanks for playing. Try again next time.

Forgot that the Ochem was for JHU, CUA and Stevenson, not UMB. I plan to apply to all of them, and they have slight differences, really just the Ochem.

I was saying that the humanities were just filler classes, made no defense that they were of any real value. My arguement was with the sciences and nursing classes, the BSN takes more, plain and simple.

I am assuming that you went to HCC, if so you took only 9 Nursing classes, that is 6 less than any 4 year program is required to take. Since you got an BS in accounting I am sure you are aware that is 3/5ths the education. You can't, have that large of a disparity without some gaps.

For the core courses, you were mostly right the english and AP end up the same (glad about your req for AP, seems like 1 semester is not enough), but there is also a microbio req in addition to the statistics and nutrition classes you took, so thats 3(UMB)-4(other nursing programs in MD, since they req ochem) more core classes not covered by the ASN.

Then you have the actual nursing classes which go from 17 classes at JHU to 15 at UMB, and the gap is even greater when you compare credit hours (one of the classes at HCC is 1 hour and none are over 4 hours) JHU=56 UMB=64 HCC=33.

I am not attacking the ASN or ADN program, like I said I was always in the mindset that they were the same, but when I look at gap in education I have to assume there is a similar gap in overall understanding. As when you negate anyofthe nonscience, nursing, math classes the credits are UMB=100 JHU=94 and HCC=61. Of course these numbers can't tell the whole story (we all know JHU is better than UMB yet it has fewer "real" hours), but they do sum it up fairly well.

Thanks for being an ass anomously (yeah I can't spell) on a fourm, I hear that makes you a real man.

Edit: oh I just noticed the required GPA of 2.25 to get into HCC's nursing program, do we really want nurses that only learned 72.5% of what they needed to know at a community college...

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1) You know what I am not a coward you wanna know who I am so you can come knocking on my door? Lemme know.

2) I wasn't being an ass I was being a ***** because you were being elitist about something you don't even have yet. So why don't you go run along and finish school then come find me.

3) Microbiology was a pre req and I took it.

5) If there was THAT much difference we would be qualified to take the same state license exam

6) I would sit here and go round for round with you about what classes I "missed" how that was incorporated in to my education, etc. but what would really be the point you will still be elitist and snobbish.

7)I'm done with you and this thread.

Go apply to school now see you on the floor. Good luck :loveya:

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And my orginal question pertaining to why the program is longer when the test and boards are the only thing that matters remains. I never attacked ASN ADN w/e. I was just trying to get a better understanding on what the differences pertain to, it was a question thats all, not trying to be snobbish or dog on ADN/ASN. There is a disparity in classes and as someone who is just starting school I wanted some info on what that was all about, are the extra classes not necessary (should I just memorize them) or do they foster better understanding of the human body and make a better Nurse. Obivously some of those classes were important enough for a Mitchell to take while also getting an ASN. Apparently mitchell is just a little insecure with something and took my question as a personal attack.

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Here in Chicago, you need two A&P classes, two chemistry classes, one microbiology, and be a Certified Nursing Assistant with the state of Illinois, before you can even apply for the program. You also need to take two Psychology classes, two English classes, speech class, nutrition class, two math classes, and one sociology class. Some colleges might even make you take management and career classes as part of the program.

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mitchell79, you seem to take this very personal...i appreciate you pointing out my misspelling of the word "holistic"! i'm human and no one is perfect.

both degrees are great! but if you would like pursue leadership or move into a specialized position you will have to have a bsn. the only places that accepts you in a specialized position with an asn/adn; are healthcare organization that are in need of a rn; low supply of bsn in the area.

i love nursing and would like for us to all just get alone...you don't see physicians bashing each other. we need support each other and keep our profession strong and help recruit more nurses...no matter what degree they have.

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In AZ, for the ADN program that I attend, I had to take A&P I and II, microbiology, chemistry, eng I and II, psy 101 and 245 (human growth and development), humanities, college algebra, and fundamental biology (required for to take A&P). My nursing program incorporates patho, pharm into the program. I will be transferring to a university to do a RN-BSN. Through research of the rn-bsn programs, I noticed that most of the classes required were things like community health, junior level writing course for nurses, leadership/managment (which we already get in our ADN program), statistics, and of course about 9 more credits of liberal studies. So, I think that ADN programs lack some of the nursing theory and liberal studies, but definitely not core science and nursing courses. I still think that, if possible, go the BSN route into nursing and not because I think that BSN is better, just that I it saves a lot of time.

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