LICENSURE EXAM 2
Reflection One: Licensure Exam
The nursing shortage has become a global crisis as the current nursing workforce is aging
out and lack of new nurses to take their place. According to studies, the average age of current
working nurses are approximately 50 years of age or older with retirement in sight within the
next 10 to 15 years (Perkins, 2021). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total
number of job openings for RNs is expected to grow 16% from 2014 to 2024, much faster than
the average for all other occupations. However, nursing student attrition rates are too high and
have been reported as much as 50% in some baccalaureate nursing programs (Liu et al., 2018).
Currently, there are over 1500 nursing programs in the United States, with fewer than 100
diploma programs, leaving the remaining programs to either offer associates and/or
baccalaureate degrees.
Nursing education programs aim to provide a unique professional education essential for
competent practice promoting caring attitudes and behaviors in the nursing profession.
Therefore, nursing schools are obliged to produce well educated, knowledgeable, and skilled
nurses who can make reasoned and informed patient-oriented decisions in a variety of health care
delivery setting (Perkins, 2021). With three nursing program options to become licensed to work
as a registered nurse, programs have opportunities to help combat the nursing shortage. In
addition, it is important to differentiate what each program offers including availability, cost, and
licensure status. This paper will break down the similarities and differences of each curriculum
of the diploma, associate’s, and bachelor’s nursing programs.
Graham Hospital School of Nursing
The Graham School of Nursing is located in Canton, Illinois which serves its surrounding
population. This a program is offered through Graham hospital which only offers a diploma in
LICENSURE EXAM 3
nursing. The program’s curriculum timeframe is three years with two semesters in each year.
Each semester, nursing students take nursing courses at Graham hospital, as well as general
education courses at the nearby Spoon River College. The total amount of credit hours for this
program is 89 hours, in which 50 of these hours are in nursing education, and the remaining 39
hours are in general education. The cost of this program is approximately $46,000, which covers
tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Room and board are not mentioned on the schools’ website.
The program is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
(ACEN) and has been operating since 1909. The NCLEX pass rate for 2020 was 88%; however,
there were no published results for 2021 (Graham Hospital School of Nursing, 2022).
Tidewater Community College
Tidewater community college is located in Hampton Roads, Virginia. This college has
multiple locations that offer students the opportunity to complete classes including the associate
of applied science in nursing. Tidewater Community College partners with other local
community colleges to ensure students who wish to enter the nursing field have multiple
opportunities. With multiple locations available, Tidewater Community College and its partners
offer its perspective students more available seats within the nursing program, as well as less
travel to a singular school. The program requires students to complete prerequisite classes of
math, science (anatomy and physiology), English, and psychology with at least a 2.5 GPA prior
to applying to the program. In addition, students must attend a two-hour information session
prior to entrance into the nursing program (Tidewater Community College, 2022).
The nursing program is 64 credit hours within a timeframe of two years following the
prerequisite courses. Each semester entails various nursing classes mixed with science and
ethics. This community college also offers students the opportunity of a daytime, as well as a
LICENSURE EXAM 4
nighttime program. The nursing program cost approximately $15,000 which includes classes,
labs, and uniform fees. Additionally, students will spend approximately $300-$500 per semester
on books and school materials. The program is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission
for Education in Nursing (ACEN), as well as the Virginia Board of Nursing. In 2019, the
NCLEX pass rates were 96.88%; however, over the last two years they have declined to 86.05%
in 2021 (Tidewater Community College, 2022). Due to this being a community college, they do
not offer the students room and board.
ECPI University
While there are many BSN programs offered in Hampton Roads, Virginia, ECPI
University offers prospective nursing students the opportunity to earn their BSN within two and
a half years. This school attracts many students to their program by offering a degree in a shorter
timeframe, as well as a streamlined curriculum. ECPI University offers two campuses in
Virginia, as well as campuses in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. For this
program, students are not required to complete prerequisite course; however, students are
required to take a TEAS test (ECPI University, 2021).
The program consists of 120 credit hours required to graduate with a BSN. The class
length is approximately five weeks in length and the total number of classes semester vary based
on student level. The cost for this nursing program is approximately $10,000 per semester which
covers the cost of tuition, lab fees, technology fees, and books. Due to this being a private
university, they do not offer the students room and board. Although this is a fast-paced school,
the NCLEX pass rate in Virginia in 2019 was 82.61%. There were no published NCLEX pass
rates for this school in 2021 (ECPI University, 2021).
Similarities
LICENSURE EXAM 5
Each program offered by the schools outlined in this paper require each nursing students
to take general education courses which include English composition, anatomy and physiology,
microbiology, nutrition, and psychology. Each program also includes core nursing courses that
includes nursing concepts, medical-surgical nursing, acute care of the adult client, obstetrics,
pediatrics, and community health nursing. Each program also offers students the opportunity to
use a simulated practical laboratory, as well hands-on clinical patient practice through local
partnering hospitals. In addition, graduates from Nursing Diploma programs, Associate Degree
in Nursing programs (ADN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs are licensed as
RNs and work under the same scope of practice (Anbari & Vogelsmeier, 2018). Furthermore,
each of these programs are ACEN accredited and accepted by their respective state boards.
Differences
Each program contains its own unique curriculum design. The main difference between
each program is the length of program, semester length, and credit hour requirement. The
diploma program is completed over three years and requires 89 credit hours, whereas the
associate’s program is a two-year program consisting of 64 nursing credit hours, with an
additional 12 credit hours of prerequisite courses. The prerequisite courses required to enter the
associate program can be taken at the student’s own pace; however, course credits must be
completed within five years prior to entering the program 2021 (Tidewater Community College,
2022). When both programs are compared to the bachelor’s degree program, time is the key
factor. The BSN program is completed over four years with a required 120 credit hours when
compared to the other two programs.
According to the school websites, each nursing school requires various nursing classes.
The Graham Hospital School of Nursing diploma program requires 50 credit hours of nursing
LICENSURE EXAM 6
courses, while the Tidewater Community College associate program requires 56 nursing credit
hours, and ECPI University’s bachelor’s program requires 90 credit hours. While the three
nursing degree programs differ in curriculum design, the basic nursing curriculum amongst the
three are very similar. Courses offered through the BSN program such as health promotion,
nursing research, health informatics and leadership are all expanded upon within the bachelor’s
program, while these subjects may only be briefly introduced through the diploma and
associate’s programs. Subjects such as pathophysiology, pharmacology, and intensive care
courses are also offered through the associate’s and bachelor’s nursing curriculum; however,
these courses are not offered within the diploma program.
Reflection
In 2015, I graduated from an associate of science in nursing degree program with the
hope of entering the workforce before returning to school to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Thankfully, after passing the NCLEX exam, I was able to begin my nursing career in an
operating room that serviced most surgical specialties. A few months later, I was able to begin
my BSN program at Liberty University with the assistance of financial aid and tuition
reimbursement from my current job. As there were only five nursing graduates from my
program, and we graduated in mid-March, none of my classmates had to compete for jobs with
other nursing school graduates.
With the current nursing shortage, more students are enrolling in ADN or ASN programs
hoping to enter the workforce prior to obtaining an undergraduate BSN degree. Currently most
RN to BSN degree programs are offered online which allows flexible course learning for RNs
returning to school seeking full-time, part-time, and/or intermittent study options (Knecht et al.,
2019). Most hospitals in my area will offer positions to ADN or ASN level nurses; however, they
LICENSURE EXAM 7
require the nurse to obtain a BSN within three to five years after initial employment. Even with
this employment requirement for new nurses, the older generation of nurses are hesitant to return
to school to obtain a higher degree due to time, cost, and the possibility of retaking courses that
they had previously taken.
Conclusion
There are several factors that influence a students’ decision on which type of nursing
program to enter. This may include location, seat availability, cost, and time. Regardless of the
type of program a student completes, they must be recognized and accredited by their state
nursing organization. Since all three levels of nursing curriculum is centered around core nursing
knowledge, it is reasonable that all levels of registered nursing take the NCLEX examination. As
for myself, I knew that attending a full-time bachelor’s program would be difficult for me as my
husband was deployed, and I would still need to work and care for my family. Following my
ADN program, I wasn’t sure that I would immediately return to school as I had attended an
accelerated degree program. However, I can now look back and know that returning to school
following graduation to obtain a bachelor’s degree was the best decision I had made as it has
fueled my decision to continue my nursing education to obtain a MSN in nursing education.
Proverbs 18:15 states “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise
seek it out (Bible Gateway, n.d.).
LICENSURE EXAM 8
References
Anbari,JA.JB., & Vogelsmeier,JA. (2018). Associate degree in nursing-to-Bachelor of science in
nursing graduates' education and their perceived ability to keep patients safe.JJournal of
Nursing Education,J57(5), 300-303.Jhttps://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20180420-09
Bible Gateway. (n.d.).JBible gateway passage: Proverbs 18:15 - New international
version.Jhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=Proverbs+18%3A15&version=NIV
ECPI University. (2021).JNursing school | College of nursing in Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina and Florida.Jhttps://www.ecpi.edu/college-of-nursing#!#BSN
Graham Hospital School of Nursing. (2022).JSchool
overview.Jhttps://www.grahamschoolofnursing.org/prospective-students/school-
overview
Knecht,JL.JD., Dabney,JB.JW., Cook,JL.JE., & Gilbert,JG.JE. (2019). Exploring the development
of professional values in an online RN-to-BSN program.JNursing Ethics,J27(2), 470-
479. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733019850237
Liu,JX., Codd,JC., & Mills,JC. (2018). Incremental effect of academic predictors on nursing
admission assessment.JNurse Educator,J43(6), 292-
296. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000000502
Perkins,JA. (2021). Nursing shortage.JNursing Made Incredibly Easy!,J19(5), 49-
54. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nme.0000767268.61806.d9
Tidewater Community College. (2022).JNursing, associate of applied
science.Jhttps://catalog.tcc.edu/preview_program.php?
catoid=10&poid=2062&returnto=411
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
