I can hear the keyboards beginning to fly! My question should be rephrased...What are the major differences? How are they valued in the workplace?
I am completing prereqs for nursing now, but have not chosen either route yet. Thorugh my investigations I have heard many conflicting views.
Some hospital staff say:
The Assoc. degree nurse is prefered because they receive more technical and clinical on-the-job training. They are more competent nurses as far as technical nursing skills (IV therapy, blooddraws, direct care of patient, etc.) However, career advacement is not as good.
The BSN receives less time in the clinical setting and the focus in school for them is generally management related. They have more earning potential and career advancement opportunities.
When I have compared the NCLEX pass rates in NC and TN, the ADN rates are higher than the BSN...does anyone know why?
I know this is not a rule- it was just something I have come across on those websites. I wanted to go BSN all the way-- but honestly I am anxious to get back to work- even though I should be enjoying my time at home/school. Now I am looking at the ADN college in my local area. I am still torn on what desicion to make- and I dont want to make the wrong one.
My advice: get the BSN. It's a college degree so it exposes you to other things in the world besides nursing. (imagine that) And it also allows you more movement within the profession. Many nursing positions that are outside of bedside practice require at least at BSN. Even if you think you'll never want to do anything but bedside practice, sometimes things/people/circumstances change and you need a job that's in nursing but not necessarily as physically demanding as the floors.
...was theory focused. I had to write paper after paper, APA style.
Care-plans were critiqued into minutia, and they had to be at least 30 pages long. We were actually lacking in the clinical hrs. Only 12 hrs ER clinical, only 16 in ICU. We spent a lot of time researching and writing papers on nursing theory, and community and public health.
My prereqs for my ADN program included classes in language, art, humanities, and cultural studies.
Fortunately, I had been an LPN for seven years prior to returning for my ADN/RN, so that helped a lot as far as clinical experience goes.
By the time I completed my "two year" degree, I had 127 college credits, and six years in college.
An area where I feel my program was sorely lacking was mgmt/supervisory skills.
I have been charge on occasion since graduating, and am responsible for several UAPs daily. I've had to wing it in the charge nurse area. I really wish my program would have covered mgmt/supervisory skills. We did have readings in mgmt theory, but it's been of no practical use.
We were told "managing is a BSN function. You won't be involved in that."
Of course, my program director was ancient, very old-school and had been away from the Real World of nursing for at least twenty years.
At the company where I work, the ADON/Education Coodinator, the DON and the regional administrator are all ADNs. I don't think there are even any BSNs employed with the company.
I'm considering returning for my BSN, but they have already told me that I would not get an increase in pay for earning a BSN.
My mil was a diploma RN in the sixties. She now has a PhD in nursing. Her primary focus is nursing research and legal and ethical issues in nursing.
Until recently, when health problems prevented it, she still worked the floor one noc a week in a forensic-psych facility.
She complained about how many finger-sticks and meds she had in the am, lol.
I worked the floor (inpt hospice) side by side with a PhD nurse when I was an LPN. She was just awesome. Fantastic on the floor, with the pts, etc. She treated everyone as an equal. It blew me away to see her pulling a linen cart down the hall., and to hear her say "Don't lift the pt by yourself, I'll help you!" She was great to work with. But, others at the company who were threatened by her advanced degrees drove her away. She wanted to stay in touch with the realities of nursing. She said it would give her research papers more validity, and besides, she enjoyed real nursing!
I don't think anyone can say one degree is absolutely superior to another. I think the acid test of "superiority" lies not in the degree itself, but within the person who has the degree and how they utilize their skills and knowledge.
I beg to differ. My BSN students got alot of clinical time with me doing skills & learning to manage the departments (since this is what I do). I challenge them every opportunity & put them in clinicals where they can "do" instead of observe. I want them to graduate competetive (many want to go to anesthesia school asap). I put the students in the BSN program up against the ASN's anytime. By the way, I came straight into critical care out of a generic BSN prgram. I did fine.
Susy K, the ADN is ALSO a college degree! Please do not try to lessen the Associate Degree.
In WV ADN graduates out score the BSN programs on the NCLEX-RN. The third quarter 2003 National Average pass rate on the NCLEX-RN was 86.5%. In WV the ADN programs had an average pass rate of 88.96% and the BSN programs had an average pass rate of 86.5%.
Many universities in the US value the ADN graduate. That is why they have developed programs for ADN-MSN, by passing the BSN altogether. If I were younger and just starting out that would be the route I would take.
someone, oh someone, puuuhleeze put up a sticky regarding ADN/BSN/Diploma debates, etc.
I think this is an excellent idea. When I first came here as a pre-nursing student, this was the sort of information I was seeking. Could easily answer this sort of question in a FAQ in the student forum. There is really no need to have this debate over and over again.
So, dear moderators, any chance this could happen????
............and yes, an ADN IS a legit college degree, Suzy.
Um, it was a typo, but thanks for clarifying. I meant to say 4 year college degree or liberal arts education. Forgive me for typing way too fast at work.
I did NOT say the ADN/ASN is not a legit degree. But if one was to go through the BSN & other programs then respect should be paid where due. I work with fine ASN grads, my best friend is one, & I encourage her time & again to broaden her horizens (when her kids are older) & pursue the BSN, which she aspires to do online, most likely. Great, fabulous, whatever, I am an advocate to advance knowledge however a person sees they choose. I am considering a triple certification in massage therapy this coming year, which is 700 hours to complete to sit for LMT boards. I don't want people putting words in my mouth that I did not write. nuf sed.
dreamon
706 Posts
When I have compared the NCLEX pass rates in NC and TN, the ADN rates are higher than the BSN...does anyone know why?
I know this is not a rule- it was just something I have come across on those websites. I wanted to go BSN all the way-- but honestly I am anxious to get back to work- even though I should be enjoying my time at home/school. Now I am looking at the ADN college in my local area. I am still torn on what desicion to make- and I dont want to make the wrong one.