ADN, ABSN, or TBSN? What’s the Difference?
Applying to nursing school is a major decision for your life and future career and there are multiple paths to take.
An Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a 2 year degree that allows for individuals to become registered nurses (RN) pretty quickly. This avenue is relatively cost effective depending on the program you enroll in and it allows you to start your career quickly. You can do everything that a nurse with a bachelors in nursing can do, however, the pay is usually less with less ways to advance your career. A lot of facilities, particularly hospitals, focus on hiring nurses with a bachelors degree. The good thing is that there are many programs that are geared towards those who have an ADN to transition them to a BSN. It is still another 2 years of schooling to obtain the bachelors of nursing but a lot of facilities will help pay for the additional education. These institutions often require a certain amount of employment upon graduation in return for paying for the program.
TBSN stands for a Traditional Bachelors of Science in Nursing. This degree takes 4-5 years to complete and you graduate with a bachelors in nursing. This career can be great for those who know that they want to be nurses while in college. Many institutions offer a pre-nursing program with entry into the nursing program after 2-3 years. In the first few years, students spend their time taking core classes, like English, history, sociology, and nursing prerequisites. The education is comprehensive and there are a lot of opportunities for career advancement and research. Nurses who obtain a TBSN have higher earning potential and are often times preferred by employers. The downside of a TBSN is that there is a longer time commitment and significantly higher costs. A TBSN program can last 4-5 years for the whole undergraduate degree but there are so many opportunities available upon graduation for career or further education.
Finally, there is the ABSN program, or an Accelerated Bachelors of Science in Nursing. This degree also earns students a bachelors in nursing (BSN). The career advancement, research, and further education opportunities are the same for those who graduate with an ABSN or TBSN. The difference is that an ABSN is accelerated and the programs range in length from 12 months to 18 months and the program is designed for those who have obtained a bachelors degree in another field aside from nursing. The best part about the ABSN program is that the program is shorter than the TBSN. The downside is that it is a second bachelors degree, so everyone has already put in the time commitment for their first bachelors degree. There is less funding for second bachelors degree so the programs are expensive for those who have to pay out of pocket. In addition, the program has the same classes and expectations as TBSN programs but the program is condensed down into a shorter timeframe which makes an ABSN a huge time commitment and a mindset that can handle the rigor.
I personally chose a 12 month ABSN program because I had a Bachelors in Baking and Pastry. I was able to fulfill my prerequisite requirements before applying to my program and I was used to challenging myself academically by keeping a loaded schedule. I love the fact that my program is only a year so it doesn’t feel like I’m putting my life on hold for another degree. The return on investment is also pretty good. While my program is expensive, the earning potential upon graduation is quite good so any loans can be repaid within the first few years of full-time employment. In addition, I found that my cohort is better prepared for a career in nursing because of our previous degrees and often times, the real life experiences we have had before the program.
Each of these degrees have their own pros and cons. Please leave a comment or reach out if you need any help figuring out which program is best for you! I’d be happy to share more about my own experience as an ABSN student.
