BSN not worth it?

Just to clarify, I was asking if there was any clinical basis or if there was any sort of factual evidence for this - I'm not assuming it's correct. Since I can, and I see soooo many job postings where I live that are "BSN preferred", I figured I'd just bite the bullet and go for my bachelor's. Of course, if I don't get accepted into any four-years (and yes, I do shop by NCLEX pass-rates!), I'll go to my community college (where I'm taking my pre-reqs.

Thank you guys so much, and if anyone else has any advice on the better schools in my state (I'm in Washington), that'd be helpful too. =)

Allright, so I have a few questions...I was reading about how "BSNs are often the least clinically prepared" and all that kind of jazz, so now I'm worried...is it even worth going for my bachelor's? I already have plans to do so, so I'm curious as to what you guys think. Is it worth it? It's not an issue of money - I'm covered either way.

Opinions?

I'm a BSN with 18 months experience. I can tell you that I was not prepared for what I needed to do after graduating and that was working part time as a nursing tech in a very large metropolitan hospital for 2 years prior to graduating. My school was also great about clinical hours my last semester. I had 144 hours of on the floor experience my last semester, however that is only as good as the preceptor you have is. Mine never let me have more than 2 patients because she was so afraid about being responsible for me while I took care of her patients. It got better as the hours went by, but she never ended up trusting me with a full team.

I agree with other posts that say no new RNs are really prepaired for floor nursing through RN programs today. You learn what you are suppose to do on the floor at your first job (scary huh?). If I went through it all over again this is what I would do:
1)BE A TECH! It is the closest thing that comes to being a nurse. Helps you to become familiar with hospital operations and understand the basics in patient care. If you are going to a 4 yr program then try to switch your tech experience up during the time you are in school. The responsibilities of floor techs are very different than one that works in the ER or in surgery.
2)SPEND AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE!! DO NOT be disillusioned into believing that paying for the better school will mean that you are more prepaired. Nursing school SUCKS! It is not a fair or forgiving environment in ANY college or university. The goal of school is to make sure you pass your boards not really how to teach you how to be a nurse (sounds kind of messed up, but it is true. Kind of like how schools are now teaching children to pass state exams to recieve funding instead of teaching children how to think. Think of it like this: If you are shopping for a school I bet you've been looking at the schools pass rate for the NCLEX instead of how their program is designed. Why? Because you have to pass your boards to be a nurse; knowing how to be a nurse afterward is just a bonus). I know that is sarcastic, but it is true. If you are using any sort of loans to pay for school I BEG you to take the path that will lead to you having the least amout of debt when you are done. I owe $47,000 after my BSN and I only was there for 3 years. The program was $28,000, however, I couldn't cover my monthly bills with the $600 a month I made working part time as a tech so I had to supplement with my student loans. PLEASE, PLEASE USE AS LITTLE LOANS AS POSSIBLE!!! If you decide to get your ADN at a community college (spending a lot less than I did) then you can go get a job at a hospital and get the hospital to pay for your BSN. Please be assured that the classes required for a BSN are BS compaired to the ones that you have to take to learn how to be a nurse. Most of the time it only takes a year of classes to go from ADN to BSN.

I hope that helps. Good luck.