ADN vs. BSN

Question 1

What’s the Difference Between an ADN and a BSN in Nursing?

Accepted Answer

The most obvious difference between the two degrees is the length of time required to complete them, but there’s more to the distinctions. Let’s go over them now.  The ADN is a degree that also prepares students to take the NCLEX-RN and go on to earn state licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). An ADN takes two years to complete if going to school full time, although some schools offer accelerated options or give students with professional experience or prior course work the option to graduate faster.  The BSN is a four-year degree program if attending school full time. That means that the curriculum includes general education course work, such as classes in math, the social sciences and the humanities as well as the typical nursing curriculum. Students in a BSN program are exposed to topics ranging from nursing physiology to nursing ethics and are required to complete labs and supervised clinicals in a hospital or other healthcare facility.    So, the approach to training the student is different. An ADN degree is focused on the clinical tasks that a nurse provides, such as monitoring patients, maintaining their records and performing other basic healthcare procedures. A BSN degree incorporates other aspects of nursing, such as evidence-based practice, management and public health. The BSN degree encourages nurses to embrace the big picture of nursing and how it integrates with the overall goal of healthcare.

Question 2

How to Decide if an ADN or BSN is Best for You?

Accepted Answer

There are clear advantages to holding a BSN degree, but many nurses prefer to pursue a more direct path into practice, which is understandable. In choosing the program for you, here are a number of questions to ask yourself:   What is your timeframe? ADNs can be completed in 12-24 months, while BSN programs typically take four years. RN to BSN programs can be completed in a shorter timeframe, depending on the arrangement. American Sentinel’s CCNE-accredited RN to BSN program can be finished in eight months.  Do you want to hold a bachelor’s degree? For many nurses, the prestige of holding a BSN is important and a life dream. If this matters to you, the investment in the BSN upfront will be worthwhile.  Do you have aspirations for leadership or to teach? To advance in nursing, a BSN is required for a number of roles. If you are interested in becoming an educator, a Nurse Practitioner, a manager or leader, it’s worth considering whether to pursue a BSN degree over an ADN. Do you plan to work at a Magnet hospital? Magnet facilities have established policies in recent years to only hire BSN-educated nurses or ADN-educated nurses that agree to earn the BSN within a few years of their hiring. Keep in mind that while the ADN might not hold you back initially, it could make it harder for you to advance—and a future employer might require or encourage you to get a BSN eventually anyway.  Nursing is an exciting and rewarding career! You can work in a variety of settings and change course several times to try new things and different healthcare settings. You can become an educator or a leader in a hospital system. You can move into infection prevention and control or case management. And there are many educational pathways you can pursue as well.

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