Does the BSNs get paid more than ADNs hold true across the board mostly?

chihuahuaman · May 21, 2012

I get an extra $100 a month with my BSN.

Editorial Team / Admin · May 21, 2012

No extra money with either BSN or certification. The only way you can get more money is clinical laddering. The highest rung requires either one. Ours is RN I (new hire in 90 day probation period), RN II (nurse after 90 day probation period who hasn't decided to ladder), RN III (any RN can attain), and RN IV (must have either BSN or cert). RN III gets $1/hr extra, RN IV gets $2/hr extra. Anyone can be charge nurse, doesn't have to be a BSN for $1/hr. About the only bonus we get is tuition reimbursement (with caps that don't come anywhere near covering even half the cost) and reimbursement of certification exams with proof of passing.

Asystole RN · May 21, 2012

What I have seen is that BSN nurses get at the most $1more an hour. My unit will pay a one time bonus of $850 for a certification.

Where the BSN really pays off is in the ability to advance your career. Those in leadership hold at least a BSN level of education and many of the cherry jobs like clinical educator, infection control and the like require a BSN.

VICEDRN, BSN, RN · May 21, 2012

My job doesn't but it's common to pay an extra 1/hr at other area hospitals for a bsn. It is definitely more marketable in this area to be a bsn and it definitely qualifies you more readily for leadership positions. You can not, for instance, charge, even temporarily unless you are a bsn on my unit.

Starfish, RN · May 21, 2012

I'm not sure if BSNs get more than ADNs around here, but I do see that 75% or more of the RN job openings say 'BSN preferred' or 'BSN required'.

chevyv, BSN, RN · May 21, 2012

Nothing extra where I work and yet I'm finishing my BSN. I keep asking myself why though, lol. Got my eye on a masters in Health Care Admin and I've been told having the BSN may help in this economy.

armynurse68 · May 21, 2012

In Washington State, BSN nurses make an extra dollar an hour.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 21, 2012

I have my BSN and it hasn't earned me one extra penny. Overall, I'd say it's far more common for BSN, ADN and Diploma RNs to be paid the same than it is for BSN to earn more.

SandraCVRN · May 21, 2012

$1 for BSN, $1 for National certs, and 30-40 cents for some others. Max diff $3.00

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · May 21, 2012

So...if you work in a hospital and get paid one extra dollar an hour for a BSN, work 40 hrs/wk, 52 weeks a year, you get a whooping 2080.oo -- which wouldn't cover the cost of a single class with textbooks at a brick and mortar school. You might get into management -- in my hospital, there are 7 NM, an infection control nurse, and the CNO. Now, if you've ever played "Pop Goes the Weasel" you will quickly realize that there's not going to be a seat for you in management for years...possibly never. I went for the BSN, mainly to assure that I have a job after our hospital's sold. We get no extra money for a BSN or for certs, and if you took tuition reimbursement, you are forced to work for the hospital until the tuition is repaid (read: indentured servitude). I chose Western Governors, and paid out of pocket -- I don't have to write anyone a check if I decide to move or change jobs.

I don't want to tell anyone not to get an education. But know what you're getting it for, what it will do for you, and what it will not do for you, especially if you're going to have to pay a lot out of pocket, or be forced to work in a specific hospital or area to repay the loans. I had a friend who went to med school, went into the health corp, and only then realized he didn't want to spend years in the back side of nowhere, an inner city hot zone, or other places that were on the list. They want double damages to get out of those kind of contracts.

Caveat emptor -- let the buyer beware. Or in this case, the RN looking to get a BSN.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 21, 2012

in our facility bsn doesn't get any differential money wise however, $1.00 for national certification. having said that, if the bsn is interested in future management they usually are most likely to be considered first for the position.

Patti_RN · May 21, 2012

I've seen both the same pay for ASNs as BSNs, and at other places higher pay for BSNs and even higher for MSNs.

If a hospital needs to attract BSNs for Magnet status they often pay more. Employers do what they need to do in order to attract the right employees.