National RN Salary Trends ADN or Diploma vs BSN

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi,

I'm presently in a BSN program in SC. I am writing a professional issues paper and I wanted to research a point. It is my understanding that the majority of facilities across the US do not differentiate their starting salaries in regards to the level of preparation of the RN (Diploma/ADN/BSN) given that everything else is equivalent. Please tell me what your experience has been. Thank you.

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.
Many hospitals start both B.S.N and A.D.N's out at the same wage but it is who wants to move up. BSN move up much much quicker and end up making more money than an ADN, plus more education means more trust from the patient. I mean i would rather have someone who has a BSN working with me than a ADN. Two years more can help you earn much more than someone with an ADN throughout your career. :)

**spews her coffee out on the screen*** Here we go again!

:deadhorse Then again, could just be a troll digging up older posts. :uhoh3:

Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).
**spews her coffee out on the screen*** Here we go again!

:deadhorse Then again, could just be a troll digging up older posts. :uhoh3:

I think you've probably hit the nail on the head.

More school is involved, I mean you would think the more school you take the better informed you are about the profession, but I guess i could be wrong about that. I am definately not shallow towards any nursing program I am just simply stating who I would prefer and how B.S.N's CAN (emphasis on that) move up the ladder and which can lead to better paying positions.

Well, you might be sadly mistaken. In Canada, Where I am Diploma and Degree nurses write the SAME national exam. If the extra time in school taught so much extra... why not have a higher level exam? It isnt needed. I just need to learn how to write a paper to get my degree. (as one of the courses I need is nursing research) Not really important to do bedside nursing though is it.(Well the research part is, writing a paper isnt.) Also Degree nurses earn .75 more per hour, they do not move up the pay scale faster, ever. Thats why Unions are wonderful.

Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).
Well, you might be sadly mistaken. In Canada, Where I am Diploma and Degree nurses write the SAME national exam. If the extra time in school taught so much extra... why not have a higher level exam? It isnt needed. I just need to learn how to write a paper to get my degree. (as one of the courses I need is nursing research) Not really important to do bedside nursing though is it.(Well the research part is, writing a paper isnt.) Also Degree nurses earn .75 more per hour, they do not move up the pay scale faster, ever. Thats why Unions are wonderful.

It's the same way here in the states. Same exam...

Also, as someone pointed out, how does a few liberal arts, PE and other non nursing classes make you a better BEDSIDE nurse?

I'm leaving this debate.

Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.
More school is involved, I mean you would think the more school you take the better informed you are about the profession, but I guess i could be wrong about that. I am definately not shallow towards any nursing program I am just simply stating who I would prefer and how B.S.N's CAN (emphasis on that) move up the ladder and which can lead to better paying positions.

I have a BSN. I can assure you, since I am actually WORKING in a hospital setting, there is no possible way for you to tell the difference between an diploma, AD or BSN nurse. Some of the BEST nurses I have worked with are LPN's:rolleyes: Also, if anything, the BSN nurses come out of school KNOWING more, but having less useful practical skills. They simply don't have enough time in a clinical setting. I see your a nursing student and I assume you just don't know any better, but please, until your in the real world, working among some AWESOME nurses, please keep that opinion under your hat. Real world experience will teach you how very, very wrong you are.....

On the other hand, I DO feel as if I should get reimbursed more for my degree. As an RN, I make more than an LPN for my extra time at school, why shouldn't my college education account for something? The only acknowledgement I get for the time I went to school is the $35.00 bonus I get one time a year, lol. OH, I figured it out. For a 32 hour a week girl like myself, that would be a WHOPPING 0. 021cents an hour. :rolleyes:

I have a bachelor's degree. Not in nursing, but a BS nonetheless. So I know what these "missing" classes are, and I find your statement a bit uninformed.

I don't see how a couple of sociology courses, a physical education activity course or two, an art or philosophy course, and fulfulling a "cultural perspective" or "historical perspective" course makes a difference in a hospital setting.

As long as whoever is assigned to me knows not to kill me, I'm not really concerned with his or her degree - as long as they passed and have a license!

I believe that, at least where I have been educated, that the education of BSN nurses and ADN nurses differes more than a few PE courses. ADN's have always had the benefit and advantage of having more clinical time during their education. While we learn the same content, BSN grads differ by the addition of extensive research, management, and cultural(which is extremely important where I live) education. We BSN's feel lacking in clinical experience at graduation. I believe, and my reason for, fulfilling a BSN degree is to open the possibility of upward movement within nursing- to management, education, psychiatric nursing (at Stanford hospital they only hire BSN's for pt care with LVN's as assistants), hospice care, and many others. I know this is always an arguement about degree levels. I have had some of my best educational experinces with ADN's! Nothing replaces 15 years experince- not any amount of education. I really appreciate the knowledge and intuition acquired by anyone who has worked that long in nursing. BTW- Many hospitals in my area have now increased wages for all nurses. The county hospital is now paying $37/hr up from $29/hr last year. Kaiser was one of the highest paying at $37 and some small change(not including differetials $4 eves, $7pms), now county is equal. Average is $35 fresh outta school. Don't be too impressed It is sooper expensive to live here !

I work at a Marnet hospital in Ct. and most of the nurses are ASN.

Specializes in ER / Trauma.

There has been a lot of jokes made regarding the "extra" classes that a BSN nurse must take to graduate. However, all of these classes are not "filler." I am just a BSN student, but where I go to school, we take extra classes in:

1. Health Assessment - 3 Credits

2. Nursing Research - 3 Credits

3. Nusing Leadership - 6 Credits

4. Community Healthcare Lecture - 3 Credits

5. Community Healthcare Clinical - 3 Credits

TOTAL: 18 Credits

All of these classes in addition to the mandated University requirements and the core Nursing classes make up the degree. The 18 credits listed above are classes that are not included in the ADN/ASN programs where I live.

Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.
There has been a lot of jokes made regarding the "extra" classes that a BSN nurse must take to graduate. However, all of these classes are not "filler." I am just a BSN student, but where I go to school, we take extra classes in:

1. Health Assessment - 3 Credits

2. Nursing Research - 3 Credits

3. Nusing Leadership - 6 Credits

4. Community Healthcare Lecture - 3 Credits

5. Community Healthcare Clinical - 3 Credits

TOTAL: 18 Credits

All of these classes in addition to the mandated University requirements and the core Nursing classes make up the degree. The 18 credits listed above are classes that are not included in the ADN/ASN programs where I live.

In my program, we are required to take a second semester of chemistry, physics, nutrition, health care systems and a cultural diversity in nursing course in addition to the ones listed above. These classes are not required in the associates program in my area. I would argue that all of these classes are relevant to nursing practice. By the way, our school does NOT require a physical education class to graduate. The liberal arts requirements are minimal in the nursing program.

In the field I'm currently in (Clinical Laboratory Science/ Medical Technology), the A.S. students take a different exam and start out at about $5 less per hour than the B.S. students. This is as it should be, considering that we bachelor's students were required to take 7 semesters of chemistry compared to one for the associates degree. We also took many more science and math classes overall, and on average have a much better understanding of the theory behind what we are doing.

I think that it is time that the BSN students write a different exam and start at a higher rate of pay. Otherwise, there will continue to be very little progress towards the ANA's goal of requiring a bachelor's for entry into practice.

It is important to remember that the BSN degree requires at least 120 credits, while the ASN is usually about 70. Bachelor's degree students are certainly not taking an extra 50+ credits worth of art and PE classes.

I am not saying that you have to have a certain degree to be a good nurse, just giving my $0.02 on the educational requirements.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

My hospital is straight pay across the board. No one cares what degree you have as long as you can do the work. And this is a magnet hospital.

Specializes in Home Health Care.
I mean i would rather have someone who has a BSN working with me than a ADN. . :)

Please clarify. Are you meaning:

1. You'd rather have an experienced BSN over a new grad ADN?

2. You'd prefer a new grad BSN over an experienced ADN?

3. You'd prefer a new grad BSN over a new grad ADN?

my 2cents.... I'd rather have an LPN with years experience working with me than a BSN with no experience.

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