4 vs. 2 year program

meandragonbrett · Mar 14, 2006

I am a BSN student and no, I don't feel as though we are more prepared than an ADN. BSN programs have lots of liberal arts in the curriculum. Generally speaking, the nursing courses do not differ significantly from program to program.

JenRN1983 · Mar 14, 2006

As you can imagine, this can really start a heated topic. I cannot give you a definate answer, only an answer based on my experience. I went to a 2 year school, and from what I have heard from the handfull of teachers and nurses I have spoken with on this topic, they have basically said the same thing. The four year program obviously gives you more educational time, but in my area, the two year program gives more clinical experience. So, rn's from associate programs have more how to skills to begin with. But, keep in mind that you can go to either program, and have all A's, and still not be a good nurse. Sometimes, the best nurse may have had just B's and C's. I do have to say though, if you are planning on ever moving up in the nursing world, say to management, you are going to need that four year degree. Another option, like I am doing, is a bridge program. Which is finishing a 2 year program, passing your nclex, then doing the rn to BSN. This allows you to work as a RN while you finish up your four year degree in nursing. Hope this helps!

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

Well said, Jen!

There are a huge number of variables in the equation.

trepinCT · Mar 14, 2006

I agree that there are many variables as well as opinions on this subject. I also believe that it depends on what you want to do, if you want to teach or manage, then getting your BSn is the way to go...or you can go to a 2 year program, get an associates degree and work somewhere where they pay for you to continue your education..this way, you are out working in 2 years instead of waiting 4 years..As for me, I am a 38 year old mom with 4 children, I am going the 2 year diploma program route..I want to be a nurse..period, I dont want to be anyones boss( I have that job at home!! lol). It takes more than a degree or a diploma to be a good nurse, I know of a 2 year associate program that takes applicants based only on GPA...they take right off the top..they also have a high 1st year drop out rate...intelligence is more than GPA,

veegeern, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

I have a BSN, and IMO it all depends on the program that you're in and the intelligence (not GPA) that you have. That said, in some areas it is easier to advance into management, case management, etc...if you have the 4 year degree.

Two examples:

Nurses in hospitals where I did clinicals told me that they loved to have students from my university because we had practical skills when we came to the floor. They were comparing us to other 2 and 4 years schools.

My sister started with her ADN and advanced to team leader and then to floor manager based on her experience before she ever went back to get her 4 year degree.

Does anyone know...wasn't it one of the Dakotas that started requiring all RNs to have a 4 year degree and then had to revert back to the same standards as the rest of the nation?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

More prepared for what? For bedside nursing? No, the ADN's program is specifically geared for bedside nursing and the BSN nurse is no better prepared from what I've seen. Both the BSN program and the ADN programs here have the same number of clinical hours and one isn't any better than the other.

On other levels the BSN, by virtue of the fact that it is more in depth in some courses such as assessment, pharm., pathophys., leadership, community health, research, etc. etc. is better prepared for other aspects of nursing.

There seems to be more value in nursing edcuation in "hands on" skill preparation by the nursing community at large. So no, the BSN does not provide better preparation for hands-on bedside nursing.

thumperRN · Mar 14, 2006

Let's face it, this is a job, you learn as you go. Both programs will give you a knowledge base, but experience is where the real education is. I graduated ADN but had several friends that attended 4 yrs. When we started our jobs we all had that "deer in the headlight" looks at every corner. We felt as if we knew nothing!! The longer we worked, the more we learned, picked up from other nurses, worked on critical thinking, and so on. If you want to move up the ladder, a BSN is something that will certainly make it easier, and some of my colleagues have done just that with their BSN's or moved into a more specialized field. But I don't think a BSN necessarily better prepares you. Only experience can prepare you for the next thing that comes through that door, and sometimes even then, you're baffled. :)

purplemania, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

depends on the individual and the area in which they practice. I felt I did learn useful information in BSN program vs my ADN program, but I still believe it depends on the individual.

butterfly99 · Mar 14, 2006

I agree with ThumperRN.I went through an ADN program. I liked the fact that it concentrated on the A&P of nursing.More patient care attitude,illness based, let's treat this person and get them back to their life.The BSN is ethics, philosiphy,statistics,and that's ok for someone that wants to be a manager,administrator,etc.I love the deer in headlights look. It is very true. When I was a precepter I would try to get my people to relax first.I told them not to worry about "getting it". To give themselves at the least 1 year and they would wakeup one day and say " I'm ok, I've got it" and things would fall right into place. :idea:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2006

I agree with ThumperRN.I went through an ADN program. I liked the fact that it concentrated on the A&P of nursing.More patient care attitude,illness based, let's treat this person and get them back to their life.The BSN is ethics, philosiphy,statistics,and that's ok for someone that wants to be a manager,administrator,etc.I love the deer in headlights look. It is very true. When I was a precepter I would try to get my people to relax first.I told them not to worry about "getting it". To give themselves at the least 1 year and they would wakeup one day and say " I'm ok, I've got it" and things would fall right into place.

I'd just like to clarify that BSN programs concentrate on the A&P and Pathophysiology of nursing also. The ethics, theory, stats, etc. are extra and not the main focus, which can be argued that it doesn't help much at the bedside. The ADN does focus on bedside nursing, leaving the rest of that stuff out (but even ADN programs do touch on it some. The ADN program here just started to require Statistics a couple of years ago.)

Anyway, I agree that experience is the greater teacher.

Lurksalot, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2006

Do you feel that a Nurse graduating from a 4 year program is more prepared than a Nurse who graduated from a 2 year program?

I don't think there is much difference between the ADN and BSN as far as preparation for entry into pratice. But as far as preparation for moving up the ladder into management positions, etc, sure, a BSN will give you more opportunity.

And let's face it--people are people. Nursing school is what you make of it, just like any other school. You will have ADN students excel and come out of school ready for anything, BSN students excel and quickly find management positions, and both ADN and BSN students who skate by in school and can barely make it through orientation at their first job. But the bottom line is that there are three ways to meet the requirement to sit for NCLEX right now that certify us all as safe for entry into pratice. So at this point, I don't think you can say one route better prepares a new nurse more than the other. And from what I've seen on the job, it's just impossible to say if a new nurse is prepared or not based on which degree she/he has. It boils down to what that individual has made of her educational experience.