Applicants should review the programs closely before making a program choice. If applicants have earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, it is recommended that the student consider the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program first to see if it meets their education goals.
Both the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) pre-licensure nursing degree programs are designed to prepare students to apply and take the licensing examination required for practice as a registered nurse (RN). The Colorado State Board of Nursing (CBON), and the Texas State Board of Nursing (TXBON) for BSN programs, expects that the programs show academic differences in breadth and depth of content. Moreover, the American Nurses Association (ANA) also notes differences and identifies the BSN as the professional entry into practice and the ADN as the standard entry into practice. Denver College of Nursing teaches a differentiated practice model in which the BSN students are provided additional training regarding the role of the BSN nurse vs. that of the ADN nurse.
Academically, in addition to knowledge for nursing practice and person-centered care, the BSN professional entry nurse is expected to have knowledge beyond the standard entry level. Those areas include:
- Research & Evidence-Based Practice / Scholarship for Nursing Discipline
- Population Health
- Quality and Safety
- Interprofessional Partnerships
- Systems-Based Practice
- Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
- Professionalism
- Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development
The ADN student is prepared for direct bedside patient care with fundamental medical/surgical, childbearing, and mental health concepts. The BSN student generally has more experience with reading, critiquing, and using current evidence-based practice research as they enter practice. The ADN program takes less time to complete as it has fewer required general education courses than the BSN program demands. ADN graduates who plan to enhance their career mobility can obtain their BSN degree by completing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, RN-BSN option.
Through the RN-BSN option, registered nurses will expand their knowledge and skills in evidence-based practice and scholarship for the discipline, population health, quality and safety in patient care, interprofessional partnerships including teamwork and collaboration, professionalism and leadership development, informatics and healthcare technology integration, and healthcare systems and policies.