Degree vs Diploma?

Well, for one, the elective credits that you get along with a Bachelor's degree will expose you to new things and ways of thinking. Knowledge doesn't need a specific application to be beneficial to you at work and in your life in general.

I'm confused as to why you think that a higher degree won't teach you anything new- there are always new things to be learned and sometimes it's just a matter of approaching the class with the right attitude. Education is a good thing, and I find it hard to believe that your employer doesn't offer tuition reimbursement for continuing education.

[quote=hiddencat;3280240]Well, for one, the elective credits that you get along with a Bachelor's degree will expose you to new things and ways of thinking. Knowledge doesn't need a specific application to be beneficial to you at work and in your life in general.

I have no problem with learning new things. I do have a problem with the idea that it has to be a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. I have taken university courses in psychology, sociology, philosophy, and others. Why can't a different type of degree be just as qualifying along with my diploma?

I am a diploma nurse and find I have a great work ethic, I'm ready to jump in and do the job and have been from day one upon graduating (1984 graduate). I don't have a 'degree' and now wish I did. If I had to do it all over again I think I would immediately finish my 'degree' upon graduating nursing school. I loved the nursing school route but now wish I had a BS or BSN. I have worked hem/onc and NICU in hospitals and am crrently a school nurse........not once has anyone ever said.........'oh, you only have a diploma'. Maybe they see the school I went to and know I am ready to work. We have a 100% board passage rate the two years before I graduated and it was generally a 98% pass rate before that. But, like I said I wish I would have my BS so I have something to fall back on re: moving up the ladder as I age and want to move on to something else.

I also, was originally a Diploma nursing graduate from 1975. It did not take me long to figure out that nurses were on the bottom of the food chain. Other health care professionals, who had a Bachelors degree, (at the time, a Bachelors was the educational entry into prectice for PT, OT, ST, Pharmacists), ALL made more money than nurses, had far more respect from everyone. At the time, and to a lesser degree now, a Diploma in nursing was an educational dead end. Colleges did not recognize your diploma credits, nursing and science, and it took forever to earn a four year college degree, because you were starting from scratch.

And even today, hospitals are trying to maintain the status quo, by not recognizing a BSN is worthy of higher pay, to recognize the higher degree. It is the hospitals, and our own peers, who choose to not recognize a BSN, and fight any attempt to reward it with a higher salary, like other professions, like teaching. This of course is encouraged by hospitals, who do not want to pay any more for a nurse, regardless of the educational preparation.

I would go for the BSN over a Diploma. Like the poster said above, you don't know what the future holds, and it will be better to earn it now, then in the future when there may be circumstances that would make it difficult, if not impossible, to go back to school. JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, Rn, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

I agree, anyone going to school these days should opt for the BSN as the opportunities are better upon graduating in my opinion.
But, first let me shed some light. This debate has been going on for a LOOOOOOng time. I graduated in 1967 and have heard the SAME story for all of these years. The schools should just consolidate and make it ONLY BSN for entry at this point. They (boards of nursing) have created so much confusion over this for so many years it is rediculous. Always, the same whine, not enough nurses so let's make it easier, shorter school to get them out, then oops-------still not enough, let's import them------
The bottom line is the salaries, working conditions, the fight with unionizing nurses (which only came about because you had to FORCE the hospitals to do the right thing)
Now, I don't see any problems with all of those business people that seem to be running hospitals these days--------all of those BA degrees that did NOT exist 40 years ago------when only the nurses and docs ran the hospitals and those business degrees-----accountants-----worked for them, not the other way around. They for the most part already work 9-5pm days, get paid what they are worth, get holiday/weekends off, etc. etc.

I am currently in a Diploma RN program, and I love it.

AS a side note, my local university does accept Diploma RN's for their BSN. I took all my pre req's at a community college, so I would have enough to enter for a BSN if I wish.

I didn't know diploma programs still existed. I am a diploma grad from 1978.

I would recommend at a minimum an associates degree to get you started and if you need to get into the workforce quickly go the this route but if you can wait and can afford a BS program do it at one time.

As a nursing director, I have learned over the years that while passing your states licensure exam does assure a certain level of competency, degree programs, I believe do spend more time on developing critical thinking skills versus diploma programs, however, that is a generalization. There is research attesting to the BSN being superior to all other degrees, however, you will find a wide range of opinions regarding this research.

Perhaps more importantly is the trend in nursing towards the BSN as an entry level degree for nursing. With many hospitals receiving magnet recognition the BSN is required for promotion. I often see BSN as a requirement for nursing positions.

To avoid a high student debt I think ADN degrees are the way to go. You get out in 2 years or so, able to work, earn and then seek an employer who pays for continuing education. But, I would try to get your BSN sooner than later if possible.

I graduated in 1980 with a Diploma and was extremely well prepared to sit for my boards and to enter practice. "Climbing the ladder" never really appealed to me. I've never felt that my Diploma hindered my career, financially or professionally either. I would never trade the clinical experience my Diploma provided. Occasionally I contemplated pursuing a BSN but in my area there is no compensation to have a BSN. Additionally, to earn a BSN would require a substantial financial investment that at the age of 50 I would get no return on. (unless I climbed that ladder,yucch)

I'm amazed at the utter lack of experience todays grads enter the work force with. They are trained just well enough to pass a brief computerized board test. Hospitals now bear the financial burden of orienting them until they are minimally competent.

When I was going to school they told us that by 1985 a BSN would be the mandatory level for entry into practice. In my opinion this added to the shortage. Why go to a 4 year school to get a degree which at the time paid poorly, when one could get a degree in something else that paid much better?

Anyway my Diploma has always suited my well and at the risk of sounding like an old fogey, maybe we lost more than we gained by eliminating the Diploma as an option. I know more was expected of us as students compared to today.

The terrific thing about my diploma program is that it is associated with a hospital, which they all were anyway, and I get extra experience by doing the diploma than if I went to a normal community college.

That is what attracted me to the diploma program in the first place. I would rather get a diploma education along with tons of clinical experience that will help me become more comfortable after graduation. Rather than getting all my book education stuff first, then clinical education second in addition to dealing with hospital politics, which seems to be very hard for new grad nurses from all the threads written.

So many nurses end up going back for higher education, whether it is LPN to RN, AND to BSN, BSN to MSN- so it is nothing strange to go back for that.