ASN and BSN Nursing Degrees

ASNRegistered Nurses deliver various treatments, care, counseling, and health information to patients. They’re educated, trained and certified in a multitude of abilities and areas; however, they don’t come from the same educational nursing path.

You will find 3 primary methods to get your Registered Nurse license. You can get it via diploma, associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree programs. It’s highly suggested to obtain your RN through the associate’s or bachelor in nursing degree path because of the tighter competition in the nursing field nowadays. Employers prefer nurses with degrees rather than diplomas.

If your goal is to become a registered nurse you can either take an ASN or a BSN degree.  An ASN degree can be completed in less than two years while a BSN degree may require 4 years or more. If you took the diploma path, you must take another course to be able to qualify for the NCLEX.

The ASN graduate can work early since it takes 1 to 2 years earlier than BSN to be completed. Both the ASN and the BSN may start in the same position once they get a job. The difference between the ASN and the BSN path is that the BSN has more advantages in terms of career opportunities after graduation and getting the license. Once the BSN licensed nurse gets in position, he will enjoy a bigger salary as compared to the ASN licensed nurse.

You’ll hear lots of people say that there’s no difference between the two in terms of opportunities. However, the upgrade and advancement in the healthcare system require registered nurses to have the more complicated skills which are already learned by BSN licensed nurses. If you want to finish a year sooner, or maybe save on the tuition you may prefer the ASN course.  However, if you have the chance to obtain the BSN now, then it will be a much better option for you.

ASN vs. BSN

In our modest viewpoint, no education is bad, whatever the degree of study. Then, why is there much discussion over whether one should go for an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)? It is being suggested that companies these days want to seek the services of those with a 4-year degree more than those with the 2-year associate’s degree. But not everyone has enough time or resources to go for a longer, more costly 4-year degree. Let us guarantee you that those with an ASN degree are not at any drawback at all. Many effective RNs have made it big in their professions starting off with just an associate’s degree. Regardless of your certification, what exactly is essential is that you work with commitment, always try to understand from more experienced co-workers and do the best you can at your job.

A BSN generally includes over 4 years and includes more programs in nursing theory, such as nursing research and nursing and technology. An ASN, however, is smaller over 2 years and is more targeted on primary nursing education and training. With a 4-year BSN degree, extra programs in management, leadership, communication and community nursing are trained and learners also get a possibility of more clinical experience than in an ASN program.

ASNAdvantages of the ASN Degree

Just because it’s shorter does not make it any less lovely. For many, the ASN is a much better choice than the BSN because:

  • It’s more affordable
  • It requires only 2 years
  • It prepares you as well as the BSN to take the NCLEX-RN certification exam

Advantages of the BSN Degree

There are advantages of going for the BSN too, such as:

  • Greater possibilities for profession improvement into greater roles such as a Nurse Manager
  • Direct entrance into a Postgrad Nursing Program such as a Master of Science (MSN) in Nursing

Regardless of which degree you go for, what exactly is essential is that your degree is from an approved organization, be it a worldwide identified university in your state, or an approved on the internet nursing school. Whether you take the ASN degree at, say, a community college, or opt for a BSN from an approved university, you can take the NCLEX-RN exam after finishing either of the degrees, as per the need for licensure in most states.