How far up the ladder can you go with an Associate Nursing degree?

Nurses Career Support

Published

You are reading page 3 of How far up the ladder can you go with an Associate Nursing degree?

tommyw1016

10 Posts

How far up the ladder can an RN with a ADN go vs. a BSN.

I graduated from nursing school with a ADN in 1974 and have had the opportunity to go as far as I wanted to go. I worked as a O.R. Scrub and Circulating nurse for several years, left and took a position in another hospital as a charge nurse on a Med-Surg floor and was shortly afterwards given the position of Inservice Coordinator for the hospital. This position required me to provide CPR TRAINING TO ALL THE STAFF WHICH INCLUDES PHYSICIANS. I also tested the staff after each inservice graded staff papers and discussed with each where they needed to improve and made recomendations on how to achieve these goals. During the late 70,s I took a community nursing position with a large health center that was connected to one of Chicago's better known teaching hospitals. I wound up with the largest patient load which included Prenatal, Post partum, Diabetics, Cardiac, Htm, wound care and Peds; and was able to improve the lives of the majority of these patients. Later at this facility, I was assigned as a proctor to senior medical students and first and second year residents who were able to develop a professional bedside approch which allowed these future physicians to learn how to assist patients to relax and become willing to provide information which would aid the physician in diagnosing their condition, under my leadership. I also took out their nursing students on Monday and Friday; a Catholic University's nursing students on Tuesday and Thursday; and a priviate universit's nursing students on Friday. This all happened because the main hospital looked up on me as a Fellow and I worked under and with the Medical Director who believed in me and gave me a supervised free hand which allowed me to excell. Prior to returning to school and earning a Master's degree, I have been a D.O.N., ADON and Nursing Supervisor during the the past 20 years, with a number of my employees holding BSNs. Most schools don't really prepare these nurses for the work they are expected to do, they focus on learning to push papers. ADNs learn to push papers also but also place more emphasis on patient care; ah, but patient care for both the ADN and BSN is a thing of the past. New grads from the BSN and ADN schools can't start IV's, know how to work with subordinates or fellow workers; and here is the coup de grace, how to look for something that isn't on their cart, desk or in their hand. If you are a ADN please consider going back to school so YOU and not others will be able to minimize your opporunities to advance. (You must be proactive in your own success.)Refrain from back stabbing (sorry, but women are very good at this); treat your staff with respect no matter what their position (you don't have to be a rude a--hole to be effective); if you loose to many valubale employees you may find yourself becoming the new plan of correction.

Although I had a wonderful career in nursing with a ADN, my life has not changed much since recieving my MS except that I feel so much better about myself, I have a sence of accomplishment which raises my self esteem; and you can't beat that! Presently I am enrolled in a Ph,D program needing five more classes and have been asking myself, "what are you doing here at 64 years of age?"; may be that I have lost my mind, I hope not.

The last thing I would like to say to all the RNs is in order for nurses to stop being disrespcted by the doctors is to stop this stupid division and disrespect that 'WE' impose on our own selves. This keeps other professional from viewing Nurses as professional and makes nurses look like want to be's. Years ago when a physician didn't pass boards they would go into Radiology and Pathology and still be respected by other physicians and nurses. When nurses develop this ability to respect and encourage their unsuccessful nurses to continue to study and even help future nurses to pass board just as the physicians do, then and only then will NURSING BE VIEWED AS A TRUE PROFESSION. Tommyw1016

Hi, I'm new to the site, and am wanting to know (from an experienced nurse), how far an RN with an ADN can go up the ladder vs. an RN with a BSN.... or is basically the same, i.e. nurse practitioner, and so on?

adagiogray

24 Posts

Specializes in GI Onc,RadOnc, Surg Heart/Lung, MS Tele.
I think that if you want to go further towards being an NP, you will have to go back to school. Depending on where you live, usually a BSN is required for any management position. However, once you have your ADN, you might be able to go straight for your Masters.

Yes, there is a 2 year-to nurse practitioner school here in Ohio, I believe it is Kenyon College.

lil_judt

21 Posts

[How can that be??

A ADN to Masters??

It sounds not right...anyone else??

QUOTE=ByTheLake]Not sure about NP specifically, but there are some programs in some places where you can transition strait from ADN to MSN without having to complete BSN in between.

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

You still get the BS in between - or at least complete the hours even if they don't actually grant a BS

adagiogray

24 Posts

Specializes in GI Onc,RadOnc, Surg Heart/Lung, MS Tele.
You still get the BS in between - or at least complete the hours even if they don't actually grant a BS

From what I understand, it's approximately a 3 year program. I honestly haven't looked into it yet, though.

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

3 years is about right - it took me a year to trasition through the BSN portion, and 2 years for the MS portion...

Most places actually grant you the BS in between - I have heard of a couple places that don't though.

essbee

9 Posts

As far as your imagination and drive can take you.

Eloquently said!!!!!

falm2

3 Posts

i'm new to the site and i think its great. i have been an RN for 17 years/associate degree. have worked in the field of addiction-detox, rehab hospital for ten years. the last 3+ years, i have been working in a small HIV clinic at a community health center. i would like to continue my education and plan on getting BS by next year. i would like to be a clinical nurse specialist in addictions but not sure how to go about it and can't find addiction as specialty. i also like counselling especially group work and i like teaching, as i do in my clinic. i'm not sure how to proceed. Any thoughts and suggestions? just turned 50 this year and am thinking of the future-don't think i can do hospital work anymore, or not sure i want to!!

falm2

bpuharic

5 Posts

Are hospitals and similar institutions looking for the training that differentiates a BSN from an ADN? If one already has a technical advanced degree would that change one's opportunities if one gets the ADN?

Monica RN,BSN

603 Posts

Specializes in ER, ICU, Nursing Education, LTC, and HHC.

This soley depends on one's desire and motivation to accomplish what they desire. I know many many nurse managers including fellow friend DON's who have ASN degrees. BSN is preferred but the real knowledge is in the skill and clinical expertise, more so than the degree they have in many cases.

I agree that locale and facility policy will be a factor, but ASN nurses have plenty of opportunity for career growth and expansion.

+ Add a Comment