The Associate of Science in Nursing (A.S.N.) degree typically takes two to three years to complete and the curriculum for this degree is commonly offered at community colleges. Colleges and universities offer the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree, which generally takes four years to earn. Both A.S.N. and B.S.N. degrees may also be earned through distance learning at colleges and universities that offer online programming.
Upon the completion of either an A.S.N. or B.S.N. program, graduates are prepared to test to become registered nurses and seek a variety of entry-level positions. However, students who pursue a B.S.N. degree receive more comprehensive training. B.S.N. programs often focus more on developing the students' critical thinking, leadership and communication skills. B.S.N. programs also offer students more clinical experience in both hospital and non-hospital environments.
Entry-level positions for A.S.N. and B.S.N. graduates are available in a variety of employment settings. Hospitals, physician offices, nursing home facilities and home health care companies comprise some of the employers who hire new nurse graduates. According to the United States Department of Labor at BLS.gov, employers accept both A.S.N. and B.S.N. nurse applicants for entry-level positions, but some employers prefer B.S.N. candidates for certain positions due to the more comprehensive education those individuals received.
While nurses with A.S.N. or B.S.N. degrees have strong job prospects upon graduation and both begin at entry-level positions, those nurses with a B.S.N. are the preferred candidates for career-advancing positions. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, registered nurses in 2008 earned a median wage of $62,450. Because there is a preference in the nursing industry to consider B.S.N. level nurses for administrative and management positions, those with B.S.N. degrees often earn higher wages overall than their counterparts with A.S.N. degrees.