Why Bachelors over Associates?!? is it worth it?

Reno1978, BSN, RN · May 1, 2008

I strongly disagree with this statement. Any accredited nursing program must meet a minimum number of clinical hours, however many programs exceed this minimum (both Associates and Bachelors programs). Yes, BSN programs require more courses/units to obtain the degree, however this does not mean BSN students receive less clinical exposure.

I get the impression from reading many threads on AllNurses that this may be the case in many parts of the country, but I disagree as well with those blanket statements that ADN programs have more clinical time than BSN. As a BSN student, I spent anywhere from 16-24 hours per week at clinical sites throughout my schooling.

sak0176 · May 2, 2008

In reality, the license is the same....HOWEVER....The theory and content (as other people have posted) is different. It is definitely more in depth...

I am the product of an ADN program...and believe me, you can make it what you want. I went straight into a BSN program following my completion of the ADN, and I will tell you that I think that my overall knowledge and ability to understand (& provide) rationale for why nurses do what we do is worlds above some of the people that I graduated from the ADN program.

To be honest, I also think that receiving a BSN can inspire nurses to further their education to a MSN or PhD...(

Your education is what you make of it. If you are proactive and work to keep it current, then you are an asset to our field. If you become stagnant and unwilling to change, you become a blister on the heel of our field...

Go forth and conqueor (I know that is from a movie)...get as much education as you can while you are able to do it...it is just about dedication...

NatashaFromOregon · May 10, 2008

No offense but your not a nursing student (you said you were applying to start in 2009) and your not a nurse so you really don't completely know what your talking about.
"just an extra year or so of nursing knowledge" is useless????? Wow. That is quite a statement.

First of all, I didn't say that an extra year of nursing theory/knowledge is "useless." I'm not sure where you got that from. Of course more knowledge is an asset.

I know that you prefaced your reply with "no offense" but offense was certainly taken! I may not be in nursing school yet, but I have been working for almost 2 years on the pre-req's and am nearly complete. While I do not know how all nursing schools and pre-nursing program requirements educate their graduates (do you?), I DO know "what I am talking about" in regards to MY school and ITS program of study to train nurses. And THAT is what I was talking about in my reply. I think you (mis)read between the lines way to much.

babycakes78 · May 11, 2008

Hi, I am going to get my associates of nursing, wondering what is so much different with the bachelors degree which i believe takes two more years after the associates rn?
Is it just the pay is a little more? and a better chance of a job????
Nething will help...

IMO more education is always better. Does BSN = better nurse? Not necessarily. But a BSN does have a higher level of education than an ADN. More education means more money, more prestige, and more opportunity for advancement. That's the bottom line. Having said that, you have to do what's right for you. I'm currently enrolled in a LPN program because it's the quickest, cheapest way for me to get started in a career as a nurse. I look at it as a stepping stone on my way to becoming a RN. But if my situation was different...let's say if I was fresh out of high school, if my parent's were footing the bill for my education, and if I didn't have to worry about paying for little things like food and shelter...I'd totally be at one of the local Big Name Universities working on my BSN right now. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck with everything. Nursing school is a lot of work regardless of which direction you choose to go in.

Athenas83 · May 11, 2008

I'm in a BSN program, and there is nothing wrong with more education. Seriously! I don't think I'm better than any ADN students, but have definitely gotten the cold shoulder from some of them when I've run across them in clinical. Also, I had an ADN nurse immediately inform me after she asked where I went to school...."you know BSN nurses don't get paid any more than ADNs!!" I could have informed her that a BSN prepared nurse has a whole lot more options, but I just said "yeah," because she was obviously showing her insecurities, and I didn't want to make her feel bad. Then again, that's her problem!

What's wrong with getting a BSN? Nothing!! only good stuff