To BSN or not to BSN

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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Hello everyone! I am currently an LVN ( In california ) recently graduated, I have been mostly volunteering and keeping my old job in retail so I can continue school ( at a JC at the moment). My question is, whether to become simply an RN or BSN. There are several programs near my to become both. From what I have research, most hospitals or any acute care center for that matter prefers or wants BSN's. Is that mostly true in California? How is it out of state? or out of the Bay area from Cali?

My question is basically If i become just an RN is it going to be that impossible to get employment? I don't really want to spend another 2-3 years on prereqs and then the 2 more years of nursing. Where as I could just take the 2-2.5 years to become an RN. I know they say, "oh but for BSN you can get into management"...eh thats not really my interest. I want to be there helping people or teach after i have experience. I am more of a holistic nurse at heart anyway. "PREVENTION IS KEY" I always say. haha

Well let me know what you all think. Advise or comments are welcome. Even your own experiences if you do not mind sharing! Thanks and take care!

Hey DMCRNC,

When i said " Just an RN", i didnt mean to down talk on the title of a Registered Nurse, I merely spoke on the difference to RN-->BSN.I have the up most respect for any dedicated nurse.

During my LPN-NCLEX examination reviews, the most knowledgeable and helpful nurse was "JUST" an LVN, and by no means just i down talk about her, but i elevate here status. Her knowledge was inspiring and for such a young age to work a city hospital too. It was amazing. sadly the titles are now a medical/political thing now. Any nurse whether, LPN/RN/MSN/NP is a nurse and something to be proud of.

Thanks to everyone for the helpful comments thus far and sharing your wisdom. And thanks for that link "Nursewithskills"!!

It seems acquiring any higher education is a great idea and something to strive for, then again bettering ourselves is a part of the nightengale pledge we took.

I'm in upstate NY, and though my employer is a magnet hospital, they accept ADN nurses- I'm one of them.

That being said, I'm not sure why you couldn't get your ADN then start working as a registered nurse while you get your BSN. That way you are getting nursing experience and getting paid while you finish your degree, and if you want to get into an MSN program, you'll have at least two years worth of RN experience under your belt as soon as you are done with your BSN, which some programs require. That is what I am doing. I worked full time and homeschooled my child while I was going to nursing school full time, so it it doable.

Thanks for the post Kimberlina, i really like your idea to get ADN, then BSN while employed and so on. Wow, i am always amazed by the perseverance of many people. Your story is great to hear. Congrats to you!

Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
Hello everyone! I am currently an LVN ( In california ) recently graduated, I have been mostly volunteering and keeping my old job in retail so I can continue school ( at a JC at the moment). My question is, whether to become simply an RN or BSN. There are several programs near my to become both. From what I have research, most hospitals or any acute care center for that matter prefers or wants BSN's. Is that mostly true in California? How is it out of state? or out of the Bay area from Cali?

My question is basically If i become just an RN is it going to be that impossible to get employment? I don't really want to spend another 2-3 years on prereqs and then the 2 more years of nursing. Where as I could just take the 2-2.5 years to become an RN. I know they say, "oh but for BSN you can get into management"...eh thats not really my interest. I want to be there helping people or teach after i have experience. I am more of a holistic nurse at heart anyway. "PREVENTION IS KEY" I always say. haha

Well let me know what you all think. Advise or comments are welcome. Even your own experiences if you do not mind sharing! Thanks and take care!

Where in Cali are you? Do your BSN, and don't wait. I didn't want a BSN, either, because I didn't want to go into management....now here I am, 7 years later, finally almost done with my BSN program, and I regret my decision to wait so long. Times are changing, and things are going to get much tougher (IMHO). If you are in the bay area (San Jose, Santa CLara, that area), call HR at area hospitals. Check with Valley Med, or Kaiser. Call SJSU and go in and meet with an advisor, and go over your options.

Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
Hello everyone! I am currently an LVN ( In california ) recently graduated, I have been mostly volunteering and keeping my old job in retail so I can continue school ( at a JC at the moment). My question is, whether to become simply an RN or BSN. There are several programs near my to become both. From what I have research, most hospitals or any acute care center for that matter prefers or wants BSN's. Is that mostly true in California? How is it out of state? or out of the Bay area from Cali?

My question is basically If i become just an RN is it going to be that impossible to get employment? I don't really want to spend another 2-3 years on prereqs and then the 2 more years of nursing. Where as I could just take the 2-2.5 years to become an RN. I know they say, "oh but for BSN you can get into management"...eh thats not really my interest. I want to be there helping people or teach after i have experience. I am more of a holistic nurse at heart anyway. "PREVENTION IS KEY" I always say. haha

Well let me know what you all think. Advise or comments are welcome. Even your own experiences if you do not mind sharing! Thanks and take care!

And in order to teach you need a master's degree. In order to get a MSN, you need the RN.

Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
Well I went to a vocational school for my LVN. I didn't stop to consider if my coursework would be able to transfer then. Most schools that I have talked to won't accept anything from them, so it's like basically restarting my GE. Thats why i would have another 2 years or so of GE. Especially since the JC i attend has a huge student population, wait lists and few classes area big problem.

Staying in Cali is not a concern for me, I would move. However I would like to stay but its not really a huge deal. Isn't so crazy, people want to be nurses to help out, and even with a BSN as a new grad you may not get a 100% chance of hire. Always amazes me.

For now I'm talking GE to be on track for a BSN program but how long it takes is so discouraging. =/

If you are at a JC, you won't have problems with credits transfering. What school did you go to where your credits won't transfer? You can also CLEP out of a lot of your GE. Might be worth looking into. That will save you a lot of time (and money!)

Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
Where do you want to work? Most LTC facilities don't require a BSN for any position, all the way up to DON. And LTC nursing is more holistic than acute care. Hospitals focus on medical dx, for obvious reasons. If you want to be an actual nursing educator, you will need a BSN, of course. But there's plenty of jobs for ADNs.

To be a DON you HAVE to have an RN, no exceptions. To be an educator you have to have a MSN, not a BSN. Some BSN's can teach clinicals, but you have to have experience in a field to do that.

Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
I am really sad about the comment of just an RN. I worked with my ADN for 34 years and I flll like I was an RN not just an RN. Since then I got my BSN and will starting school in Sept for my MSN. I believe that you should go for your BSN. Please don't think that a nurse with her ADN is "just a nurse". Many great RN's out their work with a ADN.

The same can be said for LPN's. I can't tell you how many times I, being an LPN, have said something along those lines about myself, to an RN. And they tell me, "You are a lot more than JUST and LPN." You are also a lot MORE than JUST an RN. and you are also a lot MORE than JUST a NURSE. :)

Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
RNs who have their BSN are "preferred" by major hospitals, if not all hospitals, because the

hospitals want Magnet status. The way I understand it, magnet status = more money for hospitals.

Why? Because RNs with BSNs have more exposure to researching for better patient outcomes, preventive health measures, etc.

I would not compared it to a master's or doctorate level but I hope you get the point.

Says who? Academia world and top executives running the hospitals, I would think.

Think of it this way, ADN, BSN, MSN, PhD in nursing do not get paid at the same rate.

The more you know the more valuable you are to the executives and more money will roll in, to the ones at

the top of course.

I'm not implying that this is all a matter of more money for hospitals, but its part of it.

If an individual comes down with some serious, complicated, complex disease or a very delicate surgery is

needed, that person would pick a magnet status hospital over the one that is not, just my opinion.

Check out this link (sorry you'll have to copy and paste into new search box):

Magnet status: What it is, what it is not, and what it could be

I too am a LPN and am in the process of getting my RN

but I will continue for my BSN just because my dream

is to be a NICU nurse or even Nurse-Midwife. But even

if I didn't want to go that far, I'd still go for the BSN

because having people tell you that you need a BSN for a possibly

position is discouraging knowing you work hard for the ADN

and just want to be a good old fashion Nurse at it's simplicity.

Me, too! I am thinking about NICU because of my vent experience, but mainly I want my DNS so i can open a birthing center.

Specializes in Long term care.

Why did you get your LPN license if you are not working as one? You said you are staying in retail, why on earth? LPN's gain valuable job experience that you can use for your RN job....just wondering.....

If you posted this 5 years ago; I would have said a BSN is a waste of time. Right now, it is vital to get a job as a new grad. I received my diploma (3 year program) 30 years ago. I NEVER was turned down for any position or told I needed to get my BSN. But my daughter will graduate in Dec with her BSN. I am so glad she didn't listen to me and pursued the degree. Out area is flooded with ADNs and her BSN degree will give her an extra boost. Not because that makes her a better nurse, but because that is what human resources and hiring managers want. It really makes me nervous to think she is ready to graduate and has so few clinical hours and has no clue what to do. That is the way the pendulum is swinging right now. I have seen many shifts in nursing education, and I am very glad I am not a new grad.

I would just go ahead and do the BSN program, if I were you.

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