BSN vs. ADN income disparity

jw62 · Mar 30, 2007

Hi! I have been a nurse for almost 22 years. I obtained my BSN 2 years ago with NO change in my pay at all. It is frustrating BUT, I am so proud of my degree that it actually isn't the money at all...BUT it can be frustrating to know that education isn't really always valued...

Mandynsnuf · Apr 5, 2007

@ the hospital I work for in Florida, there is no pay difference between adn/bsn......you only need bsn to go higher such as mgmt

justme1972 · Apr 7, 2007

My point about the student who was a practicing JD is that we are a smart group of students. And I happen to be going to one of the top Colleges of Nursing int the country. Sorry about my "attitude", I am actually a really nice person in real life, I come from a marginalized segment of society, worked my a$$ at universities for the past 8 years, I come from a very low Socioeconomic status, so my "attitude" is really me just being mad at other people for selling themselves short. Quit defending allowing nurses to get low pay.

Romie...I am getting ready to start nursing school as a career changer.

I don't have a degree at all, but a long work history, however, in my last job I had a very high position in a business sector where those with MBA's were floored at the salary that I offered them for jobs...because the work they were actually doing, did not require an MBA, but yet they wanted to be compensated for it. They were doing no different work, at no greater leve, than those with lower levels of education. You can almost imagine how my subordinates treated me when they found out I didn't have a degree at all.

The point that I am trying to make, is that education doesn't always = more $$$ in every job.

There is a decent difference between LPN and RN pay, virtually no difference ( to start ) in RN and BSN pay, but another jump when you get an NP..and an NP is my goal as well, and even I was a little shocked at what the starting rate was...I had assumed it was closer to $100K per year, but I was wrong.

When you are beginning your career...it's much different than if you were 10 years into it. Your education WILL pay off, but you can't expect everything to be handed to you at once...it will all take time. Education cannot substitute for experience.

If I was comparing medical expertise between a new RN and new Physician...my money would be on the Physician, but if you have an RN with 10 years of experience against a new Physician...my money will be on the RN...any day of the week. There is only so much, you'll learn in school, the rest you have to learn by doing.

laurainri · Apr 7, 2007

Where I come from all the nurses are paid the same starting rate with a ADN or BSN. If we had known (ADN) that it takes 5 years to finish the program with such a long waiting list I think a lot of us would have just started out BSN right from the start. But to be honest with you, you get more "bang for your buck" whn you first start out in nursing with an ADN. Less financial obligations and many hospitals in the area have programs right in the facilities for RN-BSN for free. We also get more clinical "floor time" than the BSN grads to around here and are the first ones to get hired beacuse of this. Most ADN students are older with children and are into their second career. There is only one diploma program in the area and it is more than 3x's the amount that you pay for at a community college. BSN's are more well-rounded. They have more history and english but the core nursing subjects tat are taught are all the same. By the way we have the highest pass rate for NCLEX in the state

JenniferRDH · Apr 13, 2007

I just wanted to add my two cents concerning the whole debate.

My first thought was that you picked the wrong career if your main concern was money. Those of us in health related careers know that one will not become wealthy my any means. We are in health care because our goal in life, was to help people.

As far as degrees where one can make as much from an associates or bachelors is dental hygiene, which is where I have been for 14 years. And it makes no difference which one we have. We all do the exact same thing. In fact, with my associates I'll be taking a pay cut to get my ADN! I earn $30 an hour being a hygienist but I have reached a point where I really feel compelled to do more with my life.

I'm in prenursing courses now and will be starting clinicals in the fall at a community college, where all the professors hold masters. Each and every day I hope that I can learn and have the knowledge that these people have. Every nurse has the upmost respect from me regardless of degree.

Some of this forum has made me sad really.

As far as choices on where we get our education, many of us who choose ADN programs have our reasons too. We do have current careers and we are married with children. I'm in my mid-30's and quite frankly, I don't have 4 years to devote to get started! :uhoh21: I'll never get to retire! :lol2:

I'm not sure what hospitals offer where you are at, but most hospitals here will pay for you to complete your BSN with a short term work commitment. A BSN would be a huge financial burden for me to pay that we cannot afford right now. Which is why, I want to begin my career then complete a bachelors while I gain experience. Who knows where I'll go from there.

I wish the best of luck to anyone that is pursuing a nursing degree. Every program is hard and as others have said, we will all be the same shade of green.

Good luck to all of you prenurses out there and to all the RN's who posted, continue to be inspirational! :bow:

lovemyjob · Apr 14, 2007

This mentality is the exact reason we are in the position we are in....

I did not choose nursing so that I could be the angel in the eyes of the sick and needy. I chose this career because I am intrigued by the human body and because I am willing to be responsible for the lives of others to make a comfortable living wage. I enjoy working with pts, I enjoy teaching others how to care for their newborns, I enjoy helping parents cope with their emotions when their baby is very sick...... I enjoy helping parents feel confident in caring for their baby...... I love what I do. But, Those are not the reasons I chose to become a nurse, those are what makes the ungodly amount of responsibility and stress worth while.

I am in this profession for all of the right reasons.

Until you are a working member of this profession, you can not even begin to contemplate what the RIGHT reasons are.

Dont mean to be snippy.... just a hot issue with me.

ukrmn · Apr 14, 2007

This mentality is the exact reason we are in the position we are in....
I did not choose nursing so that I could be the angel in the eyes of the sick and needy. I chose this career because I am intrigued by the human body and because I am willing to be responsible for the lives of others to make a comfortable living wage. I enjoy working with pts, I enjoy teaching others how to care for their newborns, I enjoy helping parents cope with their emotions when their baby is very sick...... I enjoy helping parents feel confident in caring for their baby...... I love what I do. But, Those are not the reasons I chose to become a nurse, those are what makes the ungodly amount of responsibility and stress worth while.
I am in this profession for all of the right reasons.
Until you are a working member of this profession, you can not even begin to contemplate what the RIGHT reasons are.
Dont mean to be snippy.... just a hot issue with me.

I totally agree,

sure I am a caring person, but overall, this is a job and I am tired of the expectation being that I will work until my fingers bleed, under the worst conditions and on a wage that I can barely afford to live on (London cost of living), but if I complain or protest, I am made to feel guilty, as if being a nurse automatically entitles you to not expect to work under reasonable conditions and be reasonably compensated.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2007

I've spoken to people that work for different hospitals around the county and THEY ALL SAY THE SAMETHING.....RN New Grad Hires all start out at the same pay scale.....with the exception that the BSN Grad will have more opportunity for advancement vs an ASN Grad.....

I currently am a CNA with a Bachelors Degree (Yeah, I know it sounds funny :lol2: ) and should I be paid more money than a CNA with the same amount of experience as me just because I have a Bachelors Degree (non medical)? I don't think I should....Should I be paid more than an LPN/LVN (Certificate/Diploma) or RN (ASN) because I have a higher degree? :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: Nooooooooooooo......I know it sounds stupid but it's true.....Now an RN (ASN) who might have 5 years experience as a nurse should be paid more than an RN (BSN) fresh out of school? YOU BET.....you're going on experience here.....But an RN is an RN no matter what degree level....difference is that a BSN has more opportunity for advancement and eventually will be making more money than the RN (ASN).....

I know it must be frustrating to go through all that education and pay all that money for a BSN and come to find out that the pay scale is almost even when starting out.....Now I know some states only allow BSN to start IV's (California isn't one of them unless it's changed recently) not an ASN, then I can really understand the frustration here because there is a scope of practice that must be followed.....

Good luck and remember that after you get a BSN you will have accomplished your dream....

MacNinni · Apr 15, 2007

The nurse who told you green is green is right. It is experience that counts. If you think you have a problem, consider all the LPNs with YEARS of experience who do incredible work for so much less than the rest of nurses. Also, consider our teachers. They make pittance compared to the staff nurse!!!!! Now, don't misunderstand me, I believe in furthering one's education, and remuneration for it. But, the degrees are just door openers. Experience is what counts. And, down the road the BSN and Master degrees will reward you ---- if you gain that critical experience. I am an ADN nurse with 11 years experience in nursing. I am a mature, professional nurse, who was a newspaper and magazine editor for 20 years before going back to school for nursing. Now I am combining my two careers. It's working for me. Everyone has different goals. However, the most important one in nursing is caring for people. Along with that, comes experience. I have no trouble earning between $70-$80,000 a year as an ADN. Maybe locale is part of your financial problem (I'm from New England, where the pay is considerably better than what you describe), but, you have a more serious problem. Do you really want to be a nurse??? Cause it's not easy. Good luck

PickyRN · Apr 15, 2007

I am an ADN RN. I have a 2 year degree, that qualified me to take boards and become a Registered Nurse. My sister-in-law is a BSN. She received an education that qualified her to take boards and become a Registered Nurse. She received more education than I did, but not clinically.

What is my point? If a BSN grad is "better" than an ADN grad, then they should state that you have to have a BSN to take boards. Obviously this is not the case, so what's all the fuss? An RN is an RN, no matter what degree they have to get there. Everybody knows that most of your education happens AFTER you graduate anyway.

Saying that you are upset because you make the same $$ as someone with less education is like sitting on a plane and being upset because the guy sitting next to you paid less for his seat. It's not his fault, and the airline shouldn't give you a refund, you agreed to pay for the ticket before you got on the plane.

csbaltz · May 12, 2007

Amen to that!

My husband has a mechanical engineering degree and drives a truck.

All he took for the driving job is a cdl test....makes 30.00 an hr. Go fig!

By the way...excuse my ignorance on this subject...what is a BSN and ADN? Am I correct to say the B is for the bachelor degree and the A is associates. I'm in transition here as far as getting into the nursing field. After reading all this...I'm wondering if I'm making the right choice or not. Is there anyone out there that is content and happy with where their at, regardless of the B or A thing. I think what it all boils down to is being paid for what your worth along with the time and effort you put into getting that piece of paper. It's called recognition. Am I right or wrong?? :uhoh3:

To all of those whose argument is that "we all do the same job:"
There are very few professions (actually none I can think of) where a higher education does not equate to a higher pay. My husband does not have a 4 year degree and he does not make as much as a person in his position in the same company doing his same job..... the only way he has been able to make this gap smaller is by working harder and smarter than his counterparts."
Well, I can think of one, besides nursing: airline pilots. It's all about seniority (as in date-of-hire and the kind of equipment you fly.) My DH doesn't have a college degree, although he is one of the smartest, well-read people I know, and he is at the TOP of the food chain at his airline. Most airlines like to hire pilots with degrees, but it isn't only that qualification that will get them in the door or in the left seat. He's currently the Number One Captain (for 235 more days and then he will retire) and makes the same pay as any of the other Captains who fly the same equipment with the same years of experience.
Again, as in nursing, what you say you know on paper, says nothing as compared to what you can actually demonstrate on the job. Experience is the best teacher: who said that? I don't know. But just having a bunch of alphabet soup behind your name doesn't make you good (or experienced) at anything, and until you can prove you are worth the bucks, employers are right to pay accordingly.
Because we all take the same licensing exams, I oppose extra premiums for BSN nurses. I'm marginally okay with extra pay for those who choose to go RNC or other extra effort after they become an RN. But even then, most of them are still doing the same job I do as an ADN who is not and who isn't going to become an RNC.

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 12, 2007

By the way...excuse my ignorance on this subject...what is a BSN and ADN? Am I correct to say the B is for the bachelor degree and the A is associates. I'm in transition here as far as getting into the nursing field. After reading all this...I'm wondering if I'm making the right choice or not. Is there anyone out there that is content and happy with where their at, regardless of the B or A thing. I think what it all boils down to is being paid for what your worth along with the time and effort you put into getting that piece of paper. It's called recognition. Am I right or wrong??

You're correct "B" is Bachelor's and "A" is Associates. Both degrees lead to the job of a Registered Nurse. Read some of the threads here on this forum. Many people ask the same question about which degree is right for them.

The frustration for some is that the time and effort they put into getting the bachelor's degree doesn't have any financial payoff, at least at the beginning as an Associated Degreed nurse can make the same amount of money. However, many people also feel that RN's doing the same job should be paid the same regardless of degree, since they both take the same exam at the end and get the title "RN".