What's the difference between an Associates and Bachelors degree in nursing?

When you go through an ADN program it teaches you the fundementals of nursing, the bare minimum knowledge required for licensure, which is essentially learning how to use the "nursing process" of assessment, diagnosis, planning, interventions, and evalation. You learn how to perform patient care for many populations within your legal scope of practice.

The BSN degree gives you all the ADN contend but then expands upon the professional aspects of nursing; nursing research, public health, in-depth theory and models of care, leadership / management skills, etc.

In terms of salay, in a regular patient-care role a BSN won't have much of a financial advantage, maybe a dollar or two per hour wage increase. The BSN becomes a financial advantage if you decide you want to move away from patient care and into leadership / management / administrative positions, or if you want to return for a MSN or PhD or DNP in nursing.

There is definately a difference. If you ever want to work at a prestigous office or hospital, you MUST have a bachelors degree. Basically, if you get an associates degree in nursing, it will just help you when you enter into the bachelors degree program. Also, of course there is a compensation difference. If you only have an associates degree, you will maybe be able to get a job at an inexpensive or free clinic getting paid bairly anything. With a bachelors, you can work at any office or hospital, and get paid way more. Good luck. Oh, if you also want even more money, you should plan on getting a master's at some point so you can become chief nurse, etc. Hope this helped.

The difference between having an Associate degree in Nursing vs Bachelor degree in Nursing, is with an Associate degree you have more Clinical and Bachelor teaches you more Theory. You can always go for the Associate degree, work as a Nurse and then take online classes to get you RN-BSN. That will take another year or so to complete.

As far as pay scale, having your Associate vs Bachelor there isnt a difference in pay. A Bachelor helps you if you want to get into management. Like a Charge Nurse, Head Nurse etc. At the end of the day, what matters is you taking the NCLEX-RN exam

For entry level, staff RN nursing, there is little to no difference. Pay is almost the same or is the same. The BS degree becomes more important as you work you way up the nursing hierarchy (think management, and those type positions)--and if you have no plans for that, then you don't need the BS, at least to begin. You can always add it on if you wish to move further up or out of staff nursing. The vast majority of nurses remain in that position & are perfectly happy there; management & other positions like that are not everyone's cup of tea.

2 years of school and $20K-30K a year income.