Why does USA allow 2 year degree for RN's

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Why would the USA allow US trained nurses to only have to go to college for 2 years to get an Associates Degree and then become a RN.

I think most American who are not in the health industry believe/think that a RN requires a 4 year college degree.

Going to school for only 2 year verses 4 years produces a not so well educated product.

Was this done for the nursing shortage, or has this been common practice for many years in the USA.

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This has been common practice for many years -- the majority of US RNs are prepared at the associate's degree level. They pass the same licensure exam and practice safely and competently.

I think that "most American(s) who are not in the health industry," as well as many who are in healthcare but not nurses, have v. little idea of how nurses are educated, and don't have any concerns about it.

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

Also consider that a two year degree is not actually only two years of education, so to say that and ADN nurse is not well educated is actually insulting. I can only assume you are not from the US and did not intend to be insulting with that comment. Before a student can be accepted into a nursing program (BSN OR ADN) they have roughly 1.5-2 years of just pre requisites. This includes the sciences as well as the general education requirements for the degree. Then once in the nursing program, it is 2 years of core nursing courses that pertain only to the nursing field. BSN programs will just a have a few extra classes each year pertining to research and health management. But the main nursing education will be very similar if not the same. A BSN nurse does not necessarily have more education or knowledge as pertains to basic nursing. Maybe just a bit more EBP and research based knowledge that will be helpful.

So really, even a "2 year" educated nurse has actually been in school for about 4 years. And a BSN trained nurse has probably been in school for about 5.

Also, I have yet to meet an american who in not in a healthcare profession or healthcare student that really knows much about nursing education or has any opinion either way on BSN vs ADN educated nurses.

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I think a lot of the confusion comes from the fact that few people outside of the healthcare industry have sat down to make a side-by-side comparison of an ADN program as opposed to a BSN program. Maybe one of us should dig out the matriculation forms from our universities and post them here. I know it was an eye opener for me.

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Specializes in CTICU.

It seems you are conflating "quality" of program with "length" of program. In some other countries (such as mine), a bachelor degree in nursing is 3 years long. Doesn't mean we cover less nursing subjects than a US 4-year BSN degree, it could be general education subjects that are skipped (which don't impact the quality of nurse produced at the end). The fact that 2-year degree nurses can pass the same licensing exam as 4-yr degree nurses would actually suggest that the 2-yr program is more efficient.

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Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

It takes 2 years after 2 years of prerequisites.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical Nursing.

I don't even know why you came up with this assumption.

RNs with associate degrees already had their pre-requisites completed before they went into the nursing program so that's basically spending 2 or more years getting your pre-requisites on top of the 2 years ADN program.

Also believe it or not, the nursing profession involves continuous learning so as to those who you call "not so well educated" nurses will eventually gain skills through experience.

Try being a mentor instead of eating the younguns. It'll help you in the long run. ;)

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I don't even know why you came up with this assumption.

RNs with associate degrees already had their pre-requisites completed before they went into the nursing program so that's basically spending 2 or more years getting your pre-requisites on top of the 2 years ADN program.

Also believe it or not, the nursing profession involves continuous learning so as to those who you call "not so well educated" nurses will eventually gain skills through experience.

Try being a mentor instead of eating the younguns. It'll help you in the long run. ;)

FYI - I do not work in the HealthCare profession. I was reading Texas Forum and all it about is getting into a Community college for a 2 year nursing degrees.

A 2 year Community College is like going to High School but just a tad bit harder, It not like going to a average 4 year college where the course are tougher.

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FYI - I do not work in the HealthCare profession. I was reading Texas Forum and all it about is getting into a Community college for a 2 year nursing degrees.

A 2 year Community College is like going to High School but just a tad bit harder, It not like going to a average 4 year college where the course are tougher.

Well, if you're not a nurse and have no experience with any of this, you don't really know what you're talking about. Nursing programs in community colleges and four-year colleges and universities are equally "hard;" the programs and students are required to meet the same basic requirements for licensure. BSN programs have additional general education requirements and some additional nursing content above and beyond what is required for RN licensure, but the core nursing courses are not "easier" in community college ADN programs than they are in BSN programs, or the programs would not be approved by the state Board of Nursing.

If you're not in healthcare, why do you even think or care about any of this?

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Well, if you're not a nurse and have no experience with any of this, you don't really know what you're talking about. Nursing programs in community colleges and four-year colleges and universities are equally "hard;" the programs and students are required to meet the same basic requirements for licensure. BSN programs have additional general education requirements and some additional nursing content above and beyond what is required for RN licensure, but the core nursing courses are not "easier" in community college ADN programs than they are in BSN programs, or the programs would not be approved by the state Board of Nursing.

If you're not in healthcare, why do you even think or care about any of this?

Why do I care? First and foremost I am American Citizen and I demand top quality healthcare, I want the most educated and best care that I can afford.

I am on this forum to learn about Nursing in USA due to my fiancé to hopefully arrive in November from Philppines and learning about requirements for RN's in USA.

I have learned in my area of Texas where the economy is pretty good , that hospital are taking 4 yrs degrees over 2 yrs RN in hiring.

I was told that Baylor Health which is a major chain in my area will only hire BSN Rn's now of days.

And after reading how nurses are in low demand especially in places like California, I was shocked how they offer 2 year Nursing Degrees for low cost at a Community where taxpayer bear the a lot of the expenses instead of the students

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical Nursing.
Why do I care? First and foremost I am American Citizen and I demand top quality healthcare, I want the most educated and best care that I can afford.

I am on this forum to learn about Nursing in USA due to my fiancé to hopefully arrive in November from Philppines and learning about requirements for RN's in USA.

I have learned in my area of Texas where the economy is pretty good , that hospital are taking 4 yrs degrees over 2 yrs RN in hiring.

I was told that Baylor Health which is a major chain in my area will only hire BSN Rn's now of days.

And after reading how nurses are in low demand especially in places like California, I was shocked how they offer 2 year Nursing Degrees for low cost at a Community where taxpayer bear the a lot of the expenses instead of the students

Wow! Your ignorance is just astounding. First of all, Baylor Health System doesn't exclusively hire nurses who are BSN holders. They prefer BSN graduates for their magnet hospitals, but that doesn't mean exclusivity. If you're ADN and you're back in school pursuing your BSN, you can still get hired. Again, you're not very familiar with the US educational system. Oh also, I am also educated in the Philippines.

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FYI - I do not work in the HealthCare profession. I was reading Texas Forum and all it about is getting into a Community college for a 2 year nursing degrees.

A 2 year Community College is like going to High School but just a tad bit harder, It not like going to a average 4 year college where the course are tougher.

Did you REALLY just say this?! I don't know where you were educated nor will I assume. However, you are completely off base with the statement I have placed in bold. Community College courses are not 'just a tad bit harder' than high school. If they were, the 4 year colleges would NOT take any community college credits as transfer credits. My community college courses were taught by professors who also taught at the 4 years colleges. The curriculum for their community college courses were just as intense as the ones taught at the 4 year colleges. The differenes between the ADN (2 year) and BSN (4 year) is only of amount of courses.

Do you really think a community college professor (many of which also teach at 4 year colleges) are told not to teach the students X, Y and Z because they are only at the community college and not at the 4 year college and that it would be to tough for the students?? You get the same information in a community college course (English Comp, A&P, Micro, Nursing 101 etc as you do in a 4 year college..just for WAY less money.

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