10 Reasons Why RN’s Should Pursue their BSN Degree

To pursue a career as a registered nurse, there are two direct primary levels of educational preparation; an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree (BSN). After finishing their degree, students of both programs take the same test called the NCLEX in order to become a registered nurse. However, there are some distinct differences in the educational preparation of both groups.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), cites that educational preparation of BSN nurses includes the following components of:

• Community Education
• Nurse Management and Leadership
• Patient Education
• Clinical, Scientific, Decision Making, and Humanistic Skills

The Difference between an ADN and a BSN Education

Besides the liberal education that a four year degree provides, most associate degree programs lack many of the separate nursing courses that a BSN program includes. For example, some of the separate nursing courses that may not be included in an ADN program are:

• Community Nursing
• Nursing Research
• Pediatrics
• Nursing Theory
• Psychosocial Nursing
• Health Assessment
• Nurse Management and Leadership
• Nursing Ethics
• Senior Seminar/ Special Topics/ Capstone

All programs vary slightly in how nursing courses are labeled and which courses they include in their curriculum. However, in general, ADN programs are constructed to compress basic nursing content into a few nursing courses. The focus of most ADN programs is nursing skill acquisition and NCLEX preparation.

Additionally, BSN programs teach their students nursing skills and NCLEX preparation strategies but they strive to deliver a broader educational perspective. Ultimately, one focus of a BSN program is on preparing their students to pursue advanced nursing degrees. As a result, BSN programs often focus on interdisciplinary course work, and strengthening their student’s writing and research knowledge so that students have the skills to succeed in graduate school.

Reasons to Pursue a BSN

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Learn more:

• RN vs. BSN Degree: What’s the Difference?
  • $5,000 Frontline Workers Scholarship – Offered for RN to BSN Program
  • RNs, what is your next step in advancing your career in nursing?
  • 10 Reasons Why RN’s Should Pursue their BSN Degree
  • What is the Difference Between an RN and a BSN?