ADN vs. BSN Nurse

Answer 1

Both an associate’s degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in nursing allow the student to become a registered nurse, and so the choice of one or another can be confusing. While nursing organizations have been discussing requiring a bachelor’s degree to become nurse, decades after this debate began, the associate’s degree in nursing still exists and is still the preferred choice of thousands of new nurses a year. Each path has its own advantages and disadvantages, and these must be considered carefully.

ADN vs. BSN: Time Spent In School

The Bachelor of nursing degree is a four year program, while an associate’s degree takes two years to complete. However, prospective ADN students should know that there are many prerequisite courses for ADN programs, and these prerequisites often take a year or more to complete. This effectively makes the ADN in nursing a three year program, erasing some of the time advantage ADNs have over BSNs.

ADN vs. BSN: Career Advancement

Whole both ADN and BSN nurses have equivalent access to many of the same entry level specialties, a bachelor’s degree allows the registered nurse to transition into management and many roles ADN nurses are not allowed to fill. Clinical research, public health, and insurance consulting are all some of the jobs BSN nurses have access to that ADN nurses do not.

Nationwide, over 100 programs exist that will help an ADN nurse earn a BSN, or even bridge to a master’s degree. However, nurses with their bachelor’s degree will find it easier to start their master’s or doctoral degree path, since they will already have the required prerequisites.

Any nurse who is planning or hoping to practice nursing in an international country should know that many countries do not accept nurses with an associate’s degree.

ADN vs. BSN: Salary

ADN and BSN nurses both earn equivalent salaries starting out. Because their degree allows for advancement into nurse management, experienced BSN nurses may earn more than ADN nurses years down the line.

Weigh the pros and cons carefully before choosing, but don’t spend too much of your valuable time worrying. After all, through an ADN-BSN bridging program, you can easily obtain your BSN after graduating with an associate’s degree in nursing. However, since the BSN only takes one year longer when prerequisites for an associate’s degree are factored into the conversation, and since the BSN offers more career opportunities, it may offer better value in the long term.