How Did a BSN Help Your Career (Or Not)

michigooseBSN · Dec 21, 2006

My BSN helped me with critical thinking, research, management and problem solving. It enabled me to go on to graduate school for a MSN. I have enjoyed hospital bedside nursing, teaching nursing students (class and clinical) and now am an elementary school nurse. Many more opportunities with a BSN than without. Also, and not insignificantly, I had a marvelous 4 years at a prestigious university with all the attendant activities.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 21, 2006

Getting my BSN immediately after high school (and then following up with my MSN at the age of 26) put me on the "fast track" for promotions and a wide variety of jobs as a CNS, staff development specialistis, college educator, manager, etc. Now, at the age of 51 and with a PhD (received when I was 42), I have so much experience at the master's level jobs, I have been able to wield more political clout and am able to make more of an impact on my hospital's policies and programs.

My professional life isn't perfect -- but I do have what many people would consider a "dream job" in nursing -- working on special projects, mostly of my own choosing. Starting out with a strong educational foundation and the right credentials got my career off to a strong start.

wefdm21 · Dec 21, 2006

Personally, I haven't earned my BSN as of yet, BUT...

I am choosing to just in case these "higher-ups" continue to make decisions in nursing that are obviously not for the good of NURSES, and wages plumet, working condition contiue to worsen, etc, at least I will have some kind of Bachelors making it easier to transition into another field, specialty, or aspect of Healthcare in general. You know what I'm saying. Some people have several careers in their lifetimes. I plan to start a business someday. I'm just saying a Bachelors gives you options, that's all.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 21, 2006

My immediate benefit from the BSN was an extra dollar/hour. But it also helped me view nursing as a profession, not just a job.

Cardiac-RN · Dec 22, 2006

Unfortunately, it's not like that everywhere. I have students in my class with ADNs that are directors, managers, house supervisors, floor educators, all kinds of high-end nursing jobs with ADNs in different parts of the country. Their experience and job performance is what counted (also sometimes it's not the degree but who you know that gets you the job). I'm not sure why they are bothering with the BSN.
However, in this area, as I've indicated there are BSN-required jobs (not just preferred) that ADNs are shut out of. I don't think RN to BSN programs would be sprouting up everywhere with so many takers if all it took was hard working and "what you make it", sometimes three little letters does indeed make a difference.

tweety, maybe there was a stipulation that they had to obtain their BSN within so many years of being promoted to an upper level job in order to keep it- that is the way it is here. They will put ADNs in supervisory positions based on merit, but require that you complete your BSN within six years.

puggymae · Dec 22, 2006

I graduated from an Associates program, then decided I wanted to be a FNP. There wasn't a bridge program so I had to go get my BSN. I did not learn one additional thing about bedside nursing/patient care. I did learn about management, critical thinking, and jumping through hoops. Lot's of hoops. Hoops that were high, hoops that were low. And I jumped high and low, fast or slow, frontwards or backwards - however I was instructed to do so. For all of this my workplace rewarded me with a 5 cent (yes a nickel) per hour raise, and I went on to complete my Master's. It was a means to an end - I completed it and life went on.

ToxNurse · Dec 22, 2006

I have been at the same hospital for 21 years.. 13 of those as a nurse. Since getting my BSN I have been offered management positions, offered roles on committees, offered to oversee teaching programs, offered a postion in the Learning Institute.. But I remain a staff RN because I want to teach; so this spring I will be taking a part time job with our local community college doing clinical instruction with the ADN students. I would someday like to be faculty, so I am going back for MSN in Nursing ED later on in the spring...

You can do whatever you want... As an ADN nurse I published my first article.. Everyones elses byline had tons of letters and my had just 3.. "RN.C." But I learned to write and research over the years so I ended up with a very professional, published article. I have my sights on two more things I would like to write about and hope that soon I will begin the work on those..... I would also like to take my topic to conferences.... :idea:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2006

tweety, maybe there was a stipulation that they had to obtain their BSN within so many years of being promoted to an upper level job in order to keep it- that is the way it is here. They will put ADNs in supervisory positions based on merit, but require that you complete your BSN within six years.

I think that's very much true, and was hoping that I could get a position the same way. That's a good way to reward good employees, or to give someone you know is qualified in every other way the position.

However, I've talked to several of them (we have a live online chat once a week) and they've said they were doing it for their own professional development and to be role models, that their employers weren't mandating it. A few were going to use their current jobs and the BSN to jump even further up the chain of comman. Others were as you say, offered the job with the understanding they would complete their BSN. :)

evans_c1 · Dec 22, 2006

Wow, I have never heard such gloating before. That is impressive.

I, like many of the other posters, am pursuing my BSN. My local hospital does not pay more for BSN (but they want you to obtain it due to seeking the elite Magnet status).

Thus...immediate pay incentive is not my motive. I am actually addicted to school and it is a major problem! :) Not in any specific order, here are some of my reasons:

1. looks good on paper

2. indeed, opens doors

3. shows discipline. heck, any bachelor degree shows that. I like what someone said..shows "I can hack it"

4. allows for more networking with supervisors and other employees

5. stepping stone to higher education in most cases.

mauxtav8r · Dec 22, 2006

Evans, gloating? I didn't read into any of the above posts a tone of "I'm above you" or anything like that. Most seemed frankly apologetic in explaining why this degree was necessary for them. Again, this is not a associates vs. BSN argument.

I'm pursuing my BSN, too, and my reasons for doing so are:

1) I already had a BA, so a diploma or associates would have taken exactly the same amount of time

2) Friends in nursing at ALL levels counseled me to do so for all the reasons stated above

3) I didn't want any doors shut to me

Some of the most skillful nurses I've seen (in my short time in the hospital) were LPNs, but those that taught me the most about prioritization, planning, and overall patient care just happened to be BSNs.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Dec 22, 2006

Removed by poster.

~faith,

Timothy.

evans_c1 · Dec 22, 2006

what is this...a court of law? haha