[JOLLIEHOLLY]

JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, I AM NOT KNOCKING THE BSN PREPARED NURSE. HOWEVER, I AM AN R.N., AND WHERE I AM EMPLOYED THE BSN NURSES MAKE NO MORE WAGE THAN AN ADN NURSE, WHICH I DISAGREE WITH, YOU SHOULD MAKE MORE MONEY WITH MORE EDUCATION, IT JUST MAKES SENSE. I ALSO NOTICE WHEN NURSING STUDENTS COME IN TO CLINICALS ON MY FLOOR THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ADN AND BSN STUDENTS. THERE ARE TWO MAJOR NURSING SCHOOLS IN MY CITY, ONE AN ADN AND ONE A BSN. THE BSN SCHOOL HAS A 66% PASS RATE ON THE NCLEX RN. THE ADN HAS A 93% PASS RATE. REASON? MOST OF THE BSN STUDENTS ARE RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, HAVE NO OTHER OBLIGATION THAN COLLEGE, MOMMY AND DADDY TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING ON THE FINANCIAL FRONT, SO IF THEY FAIL IT IS NOT AS MUCH OF HIT. ON TOP OF ALL THAT THEY LEARN THE "THEORY OF NURSING", AND NOT HOW TO BE A NURSE. I SEE COUNTLESS BSN STUDENTS THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLACE A BP CUFF, OR PUT A PATIENT ON A BEDPAN!! TYPICALLY ADN STUDENTS ARE OLDER, FULL TIME WORKERS, AND HAVE FAMILIES, SO A LOT MORE IS ON THE LINE. I FULLY PLAN TO GO FOR MY MSN, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT IS A BETTER DECISION TO GET YOUR RN FIRST, GO INTO THE FIELD, AND THEN FURTHER YOUR EDUCATION. NOTHING AGAINST YOUNG STUDENTS EITHER, FOR I WAS 23 WHEN I STARTED NURSING SCHOOL. I HAD TWO CHILDREN, PAID FOR ALL MY SCHOOLING, AND WORKED FULL TIME ON TOP OF NURSING SCHOOL. I BELIEVE NOTHING IN THE WORLD CAN STOP YOU IF YOU WANT SOMETHING BAD ENOUGH. BEST OF LUCK TO ALL IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IN YOUR CAREER.

[natania]

I was told a BSN was really only important if you wanted to work in management, at least for now since there is a shortage of nurses. I guess when I finish my program and try to enter the workforce, I will find out if that is true.

I entered an ADN program because in two different local hospitals, I was told that the best nurses came from that particular program. Also, I'm not 20 anymore, and I am anxious to get to work.

[llg]

Let's not start a fight here between nurses with different types of degrees. That doesn't help anyone.

In some towns, the local ADN school is the best school in town. In some towns, the local diploma progam is the best. In some towns, the BSN program produces the "best" nurses.

It's a mistake to assume that what one person happens to see in their particular community applies to everyone in the world. ..... And it is unwise to criticize thousands of your fellow nurses (with BSN's) just because you happen to live in a town with a BSN program that doesn't meet your expectations.

[ukstudent]

To the OP, please don't shout. All capitals is shouting.

[Tweety]

This forum is not about disrespecting others degrees, We don't advocate an "my degree is holier than thou" approach to the BSN vs. ADN discussion. We do however encourage discussion, questions and opinions and you have a right to yours. Just be careful.

Your experiences with BSNs is a just your experience. Around here I see both BSNs and ADNs starting out on pretty much equal footing clinically (and yes the BSNs know how to use a bedpan). The BSNs have a higher pass rate on the NCLEX.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by natania

I was told a BSN was really only important if you wanted to work in management, at least for now since there is a shortage of nurses. I guess when I finish my program and try to enter the workforce, I will find out if that is true.

I entered an ADN program because in two different local hospitals, I was told that the best nurses came from that particular program. Also, I'm not 20 anymore, and I am anxious to get to work.

Good luck to you. You're going to find that as a novice new nurse you're not going to find any trouble at entry level jobs at the bedside.

However, I just want to say that the advantage of the BSN isn't just for those who want to go into management. There are BSN-preferred jobs in teaching, research, quality control, safety, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, community health, on and on and on. So there are jobs away from the bedside besides management where BSN-prepared nurses get the edge. So it's something you might consider in the future. I've done very well in my 16 years at the bedside and am quite happy. But when I'm 60 who knows what if I'm going to want to work this hard, or have the physical stamina, so I'm getting a BSN now. One thing is certain. I do not want to go into management.

[natania]

Originally Posted by Tweety

One thing is certain. I do not want to go into management.

Yes, management holds no interest at all for me right now. I thought I'd work a couple of years, and then decide whether or not I wanted to continue on. At the moment, I think I am getting a little burned out in school. I blame all those science courses...

Thanks for your post.

[truthtutor]

we(nurses) need to support each other no matter what level of title we uphold but the BSN/ BS and higher degrees seems to be the current flow of the wave for nursing and we will have to ride with the wave if we are to continue our progress in nursing-as many of us have left the beside, so we need to think out of the box-it's not about management positions nor money but it seems higher education(titles) is the wave of the future, most positions away from beside, as mentioned, only say " BSN preferred" for now it is, in the future most positions will possibly say required. we have to love it or leave it, and for all the work put into school, continuinged and our nursing if we are still in it we must love it, so will have to follow suit to stay in what we love.

[traumaRUs]

truthtutor is so right! We must support each other at whatever level of nursing we do because we must all band together in order to get things accomplished.

[helpalready]

I recently graduated with an ADN and it was the only way I would have been able to do it. I am the mother of 3, and the road has been bumpy. I agree that we should all support each other. I plan on continuing my education, but I need to work and care for my family right now. I feel very blessed to be in the best profession and among so very wonderful and talented people. The BSN/MSN will eventually allow me to teach and continue with bedside nursing. We have all worked very hard and need to encourage and support each other.