Comparing an Associate Degree

Nursing Program to a
Baccalaureate Degree Nursing
Program
Lycia
L. Harris
Jacksonville State University

About Curriculum
The concept of curriculum should be sufficiently
inclusive and dynamic to account for many
innovations that involve instruction methods,
sequencing, and assessments as well as
instructional goals and content, all of which
have been implemented to improve learning
(Billings and Halstead, 2012)

 A well conceived curriculum is critical to the preparation of

practicing nurses at all levels
For nursing, the curriculum must prepare graduates to
function in a dynamic and increasingly complex
environment
(Billings & Halstead, 2012)

Associate Degree Nursing

(ADN)

Developed in 1952 by Mildred Montag as a response to a nursing

shortage

Original intent was to prepare in two academic years a technical nurse

who would provide direct patient care in acute care settings under the
supervision of a professional nurse

Commonly located in community or vocational colleges but may be in

four year colleges and universities

Despite the persistent call for increasing the level of preparation for the
RN, associate degree programs continue to be very popular
(Billings and Halstead)

Typical Associate Degree

Curriculum
Two academic years to complete
Approximately 30 credit hours in general studies in
biological and social sciences
Approximately 38 credit hours of nursing courses
*Many associate degree students tend to take 3 or more
years to complete program for personal or academic
reasons
(Billings & Halstead, 2012)

Baccalaureate Nursing
Degree Program

Also known as BSN, BS or BA

Traditionally offered by 4 year colleges or universities

16 states have changes regulations to allow community colleges to offer bachelor

degrees

The graduate of a BS program is ready to deliver care to individuals, families,

groups and communities in institutional, home and community settings

In addition to content related to specific nursing areas, baccalaureate curricula

also include concepts related to management community health, nursing theory,
and research, group dynamics, and professional issues. Health promotion, illness
prevention and patient education may also be emphasized.

BSN programs offer strong foundations in liberal arts and sciences in addition to
nursing courses

Students may have to take pre requisites in science, arts ,and humanities before
admission or students may be admitted and have to take those courses along
with their nursing courses
(Billings & Halstead, 2012)

ADN and BSN Programs to

Compare

ADN

*Shelton State

BSN Program
* Jacksonville State University

Community

College of Nursing and Health

College

Sciences (JSU CHNS)

(SSCC)
* Located
At Shelton State
Community
College
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Serves the West Alabama
Community

* Located in Jacksonville, Alabama

Shelton State Community

College Program Information

Aim is to graduate well-prepared nurses who are strong both clinically

and academically

Program meets standard requirements for ADN programs

Nursing Students need to plan 12-15 hours a week for clinical

experience.

Applicants are encouraged to complete as many of the academic

requirements (non-nursing courses) prior to entering program

Students are discouraged from working full-time while in program

ADN students have twenty-one (21) months or five consecutive

semesters that are required for completion of course work

Courses begin during Fall semester

Students are required to take the Test of Essential Academic Skills

(TEAS test)
(Shelton State Community College, 2014)

Shelton State Community College Standard

Associate Degree
Nurse Curriculum (Two Year Track):
First Semester
Course

Total
Credit
Hours

Theory/
Lecture
Hours

Lab
Hours

Clinical
Hours

Total
Contact
Hours

Nur 102
Fundamentals
of Nursing

12

Nur 103
Health
Assessment

Nur 104
Pharmacogy

Semester
total

15

14

26

Math 100
Intermediat
e College
Algebra
Bio 201
Human
Anatomy and
Physiology

(Shelton State
Community
College, 2014)

Shelton State Community College Nurse

Curriculum (Two Year Track):
Second Semester
Courses

Total
Credit
Hours

Theory/
Lecture
Hours

Lab
Hours

Clinical
Hours

Total
Contact
Hours

Eng 101
English
Composition

Bio 202
Human
Anatomy and
Physiology II

Nur 105
Adult Nursing

14

Nur 106
Maternal and
Child Nursing

Semester
Total

20

15

29
(Shelton State
Community
College,
2014)

Shelton State Community College Nurse

Curriculum (Two Year Track):
Third Semester
Courses

Total
Credit
Hours

Theory/
Lecture
Hours

Lab
Hours

Clinical
Hours

Total
Contact
Hours

Psy 200
General
Psychology

Bio 220
Microbiology

Nur 201
Nursing
Through the
Lifespan I

Semester
Total

12

18

(Shelton State
Community
College,
2014)

Shelton State Community College Nurse

Curriculum (Two Year Track):
Fourth Semester
Courses

Total
Credit
Hours

Total
Theory/
Lecture

Total Lab Hours

Clinical
Hours

Total
Contac
Hours

SPH 106, 107

or 116 Speech

Psy 210
Human
Growth and &
Development

Nur 202
Nursing
Through the
Lifespan II

12

Semester
Total

12

18

(Shelton S
Communit
College,
2014)

Shelton State Community College Nurse

Curriculum (Two Year Track):
Fifth Semester
Courses

Total
Credit
Hours

Total
Theory/
Lecture
Hours

Total
Lab
Hours

Clinical
Hours

Total
Contact
Hours

Humanities
Elective

Nur 203
Nursing
Through the
Lifespan III

10

Nur 204 Role

Transition for
the
Registered
Nurse

Semester
Hours

13

12

21

Program
Totals
72-76 Hours
General
Education
Hours
30Hours
Nursing Hours

(Shelton State
Community
College,
2014)

Quick Shelton State Nursing

Program NCLEX Stats

SHELTON STATE
COMMUNITY CO
LLEGE
Gladys Hill,
MSN, RN
Assistant Dean of
Health Services

Street
Address/Zip
Code/Teleph
one Number

Type of
Program

9500 Old
Greensboro
Road
Tuscaloosa
35405 205391-2457

ADN

NCLEX
FY 10-11
#
Candidates
Percent
Pass

NCLEX
FY 11-12
# Candidates
Percent Pass

NCLEX
FY 12-13
#
Candidates
Percent
Pass

70

71

76

92.9

83.1

80.3

(Alabama
Board of
Nursing, 2014)

Alabama State Board

Approved
The Associate Degree and Practical Nursing
Programs are approved by the Alabama Board
of Nursing (ABN), RSA Plaza, 770 Washington
Avenue, Suite 250, Montgomery, AL 36104,
telephone 334.293.5200. The programs are
also accredited by the Accreditation
Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
(ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850,
Atlanta, GA 30326, telephone 404.975.5000. See more at:
http://www.sheltonstate.edu/instruction/allied
_health/nursing_department.aspx#sthash.gBzMwpt
c.dpuf
(Shelton State Community College,2014)

Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville State University College

of Nursing and Health Sciences
Nursing Program Information

Effective for admission to upper division for fall 2014 and thereafter, the ACT test is a
requirement for eligibility for admission.

Applicants for admission to upper division nursing must be admitted to Jacksonville State
University.

Official transcripts from each college or university attended must be provided to the Jacksonville
State University Admissions Office

Completion of all prerequisite courses with "C" or better

Minimum 2.5 GPA on core requirement courses

Each student's record will be reviewed as a basis for acceptance

A student that has been enrolled in any upper division nursing program (RN or LPN) and was
unsuccessful in progressing satisfactorily in that program is not eligible to apply

Students for whom English is not their native language must present TOEFL (Test of English as
a Foreign Language) completed within four years and meet the College of Nursing TOEFL
standard of: 560 for TOEFL written (paper-based), 220 for TOEFL CBT (computer based), or 83
for iBT (internet based).

Criminal background checks and drug screens are required for all nursing students.

(Jacksonville State University, 2014)

 Baccalaureate Plan of Study

The following are the recommended courses for

completion of the prerequisites for admission to
the upper division BSN program
(Jacksonville State University, 2014)

Pre Requisites
Area I
EH 101

English Composition

3 SH

EH 102

English Composition

3 SH

Total

6 SH

Area II

EH 141

Literature*

3 SH

Literature*

3 SH

Fine Arts Elective

3 SH

Oral Communication

3 SH

Total

12 SH
(Jacksonville State
University, 2014)

Area III
BY 101/103
Intro to Biology
CY 115 Concepts of General Chemistry I
MS 112
Pre Calculus Algebra
Total
Area IV
History*
History*
PSY 201
Principles of Psychology
PSY 222
Human Development
Total

4 SH
4 SH
3 SH
11 SH
3 SH
3 SH
3 SH
3 SH
12 SH
(Jacksonville State
University, 2014)

Area V
BY 263 Human Anatomy and Physiology
I
BY 264 Human Anatomy and Physiology
II
BY 283
Health Microbiology
FCS 322
Normal Nutrition
MS 204
Basic Statistics
NU 121
Ethics in Nursing
Total
Total Prerequisite Hours

4 SH
4 SH
4 SH
3 SH
3 SH
3 SH
21 SH
62

3 hours required and must have a 6 hours sequence of

either literature or history.
(Jacksonville State University, 2014)

JSU Nursing Curriculum

NU 306
NU 309
NU 311

NU 326
NU 325

NU 322

Junior Year
1st Semester
Pharmacology
Health Assessment
Foundation of Nursing Practice

4 SH
4 SH
6 SH

Total
2nd Semester
Psychiatric Mental Health
Nursing
Adult Health in Secondary and
Community Settings

14 SH

Health Deviations and Clinical

Interventions
Total

3 SH

5 SH
5 SH

13 SH
(Jacksonville State
University, 2014)

NU 340

NU 404
NU 403
NU 422

NU 424

NU 426
NU 433

May
Professional Practice
and Care of the Aging
Population
Total
Senior Year
3rd Semester
Childbearing Families
Nursing Care of
Children and Families
Nursing Leadership and
Health Policy
Total
4th Semester
Adult Health in
Secondary, Tertiary, and
Community Settings
Community Health
Across the Lifespan
Advanced Health
Deviations and Clinical
Interventions
Total

3 SH

3 SH

5 SH
5 SH
2 SH
12 SH
5 SH

5 SH
3 SH

13 SH

NU 428
NU 455
NU 400

5th Semester
Practicum
Transition to
Professional Nursing
Research and
Outcomes Management
Total

6 SH
4 SH
2 SH
12 SH

Total Upper Division Hours 67

Total Semester Hours 129
(Jacksonville State University, 2014)

Quick Jacksonville State

Nursing Program Stats

Address/Zip
code/phone
number

JACKSONVILLE 700 Pelham

STATE UNIVERS Road, North
ITY
Jacksonville
36265-9982
Dr. Christie
256-782-5428
Shelton,
Dean / Assistant
Professor
Lurleen B.
Wallace
College of
Nursing

Type of
Program

BSN

NCLEX
FY 10-11
#
Candidates
Percent
Pass

NCLEX
FY 11-12
#
Candidates
Percent
Pass

NCLEX
FY 12-13
# Candidates
Percent Pas

92

96
83.3

96

85.9

82.3

(Alabama
Board of
Nursing, 2014)

Compare the Two Programs

SSCC

JSU CNHS

*5 semesters

*10 semesters

*72-76 hours

*129 hours

* TEAS test

*No TEAS test

required
* Graduates can
Sit for NCLEX upon completion
* ADN considered building

* Graduates can sit

for NCLEX upon completion
* Masters in Nursing next
educational step

step for BSN

(Shelton State
Community College, 2014)

(Jacksonville State University, 2014)

Conclusion
Though the educational requirements of the
comparative programs are different, at the
conclusion of each program, the graduate can sit
for the NCLEX and work as a Registered Nurse
upon successful completion of exam. The ADN is
considered a building block for the Bacularate in
Nursing and the Bacularate is considered the
acceptable norm in nursing education. Both
programs have acceptable NCLEX passing rates
and remain accredited with national accreditation
agencies and according to state board
requirements

References
Alabama Board of Nursing (2014). Approved programs with NCLEX results. Retrieved
from http://www.abn.state.al.us
Billings, D. M. & Halstead, J. A. (2012). Teaching in nursing: A guide for faculty (4 th
edition.). St. Louis: Saunders/Elsevier
Clip Art. Retrieved from: http://www.googleimages.com
Jacksonville State University (2014). College of nursing and health sciences.
Retrieved from http://www.jsu.edu/nursing/bs_nursing.html
Shelton State Community College (2014). School of nursing. Retrieved from
http://www.sheltonstate.edu/nursing