[mary777]

BSN is only 4 years, 2 years of prerequisites other 2 years of nursing program. True, BSN is better, but anything else is not neccessarily a waste of time. Just do what you think is best for you. Remember depending what area you live you will get paid more. some other places you get paid the same. Check out careerbuilder.com or monster.com, and look up RN positions, check for requirements to apply, you'll see.

[Marie_LPN]

My feeling is that if we want to be taken seriously as a profession, a BSN should be the entry level.

Oh, yeah, that'll stop the Naughty Nurse images....

[z's playa]

I know it wont stop the naughty nurse images...but I do think nsg should seriuosly think about having one SET degree and keep it at that. Like lawyers.....doctors....etc. All this argueing about whats better and 'what are you allowed to do' and 'what you cant do' and bla bla bla will be stopped.


Z

[Marie_LPN]

Yes, but ever notice that the degree that some people say should be the mandatory also just HAPPENS to be the degree they posess?

[z's playa]

Originally Posted by Marie_LPN

Yes, but ever notice that the degree that some people say should be the mandatory also just HAPPENS to be the degree they posess?

..perhaps perhaps Marie...but not everyone I'm sure.

Its mostly the BSN degree that many vouche for I've heard personally so far.(i guess its the one degree many can relate to.....bachelors degrees in whatever)

Not saying its better peoples...........

Lets just get one to stop confusin the common folk


Z

[BETSRN]

Originally Posted by HeartsOpenWide

People are always trying to tell me that I am going to waste my time by not stopping after getting my ASN. They say that getting your BSN just gets you management positions and that it does not pay more. I am going for my masters so I can be a CNM, so I have to have my BSN anyway but, how could it be true that a person with a BSN gets the same as a person with a ASN? (Aside from the fact that working in different dept can make a difference)

We all take the same qualifying exam. On the floors we all do the same things. We are all nurses. There are few places that pay anything extra for the degree. It's the hands on experience (number of years) that will get you the additional pay. Some places will pay a bit extra for the specialty certification exams, but most do not. Personally, I got my RNC and my IBCLC just for me.

[momandnurse28]

Originally Posted by Marie_LPN

Yes, but ever notice that the degree that some people say should be the mandatory also just HAPPENS to be the degree they posess?

I want BSN to be the entry level and I just happen to have an ASN!

[ali_gator]

Originally Posted by momandnurse28

Let me first start out by saying I am an ASN RN plannining on going onto at least my BSN. My feeling is that if we want to be taken seriously as a profession, a BSN should be the entry level. All other professionals recieve 4 year degrees. By only requiring 2 years or worse dimploma nurses- we are lumped into all the other technical fields- mechanics, electricians, hairdressers. Not to knock anyone at all...but, we are medical professionals who take people's lives into our hands everyday and I would personally feel better if all nurses had 4 years of college. You need four years to be a teacher, an accountant, or a biologist...why not nurse? I know this is a huge debate with many contributing factors- the nursing shortage, the lack of nursing intructors, ect...but I wanted to open it up to debate! I think this requirement would earn us more respect and maybe more wage. I know my program lacked some basic science, health promotion and maintainance, assessment and pharmacology classes that would have better prepared me as a nurse. My whole class felt lacking in Pharmacology and demanded the class be added only to be told there was no room in our 2 year program. This is just one school, but; I'm sure there are others out there with the same problem. What ever you decide...education is never a waste of time and money!

I read Nursing Against the Odds, and the author, Suzanne Gordan, advocates for a BSN. Many nurses begin with an ADN because that is all that is available to them, but I feel it is in the best interest of all nurses if everyone has or is working towards a BSN. If we do this, hospitals can no longer use the "lack of education" card as a justification for inadequete pay, poor working conditions, etc. Gordan points out that teachers, who used to need only and associates, discovered that by increasing their education requirements, they were able to demand more money, better working conditions,and more respect.

It's not a matter of competence, or trying to argue over what degree produces the best nurses. It's a matter of nurses getting paid what they deserve, and no longer having to endure terrible working conditions. Education is power.

[Kabin]

Looking at the original question about wasting time... From what I've seen there isn't a sizable time difference between ADN and BSN programs as local ADN programs take many of the same pre-reqs as the BSN program. So the 2 year ADN program takes maybe 3.5 years to 4 years (some have required NA) to complete which just as well could be a BSN degree.

The is a question about the cost difference as ADNs at the community college are normally cheaper than BSNs at a university.

[ali_gator]

Originally Posted by Kabin

The is a question about the cost difference as ADNs at the community college are normally cheaper than BSNs at a university.

True, but I feel that my education will be well worth the money spent. I'm going to a private college, so that only ups the cost even more. I'll probably be paying off my debt for the next twenty years, however, I feel that this will be money well spent. Many hospitals are willing to make one's loan payments for as long as he/ she works for them. Something to think about as well. Education, in my opinion, is one of the few things really worth the price tag attached. The school I'll be attending is a top one (they have a 90% pass rate for the NCLEX) and I'll be proud to put it on my resume.

Many state colleges have B.S.N programs, and they do not cost too much more than community colleges.

I guess the point I want to make is that a B.S.N. is not a waste of time or money.

And again, on the note, "don't waste time getting your B.S.N.," no nurse should be discouraged from seeking higher education, especially by other nurses.