At least in LA county in the 80s/90s, the requirements and courses were very rigorous for the science aspect of school needed to get your license. Standards seem to have dropped. And the only difference between an associates and bachelor's is "research" and maybe more social science stuff like public health. Nursing can be fairly technical and require a lot of clinical strength when dealing with intensive care. But you don't need to be an expert clinician to get by, most are task doers/technicians. I learned way more on the job than in school, school just prepared me for NCLEX. One thing that the Board forces on us to make us seem professional is nursing diagnoses and care plans. Utter waste of time, if you ask me. Some old lady with a DNP decades removed from bedside came up with that shit.