An RN who has a BS vs a BSN does it really matter?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

I have been going back and forth about the simplest route to become an RN. As stated in my prior string I already have my BS in Business and really don't want to start over as essentially as a freshman.

I looked into a BSN class here in Tampa at USF and it looks like a great option. One issue with that my freshmen year in college was horrendous. In fact I stopped going to class altogether and didn't both dropping and bombed an entire semester. I didn't want to be in college and could care less only went because my father made me go to college or pay rent. When your 17-18 you just don't care about the future so I screwed up. However a few years later I went back to school and my cumulative GPA was a 3.2 when I got my bachelors since I pulled almost all A's and B's. However my transcript of my 1st year is a joke. So based on that there's no use in applying to USF they will not take me.

I started to look at HCC and they have a pretty good RN program from what I read. All I need to do is take Anatomy I / II and Micro Biology and I am done with my pre reqs. I am pretty sure I can blast thru them with little to no issue.

Here is the big question. How would an RN who has a BS be viewed? Would they be viewed as an ASN or more on par with a BSN?

My main reason for getting a RN is to continue in my current profession of recruiting and staffing. I have seen multiple positions working in staffing positions that require a BS and RN. I have no issue "paying my dues" and working bedside but eventually I want to get back into the staffing side and merge my 11 years of exp in staffing with my newly gained RN skills.

In your opinion('s) is this a smart move or am I just wasting my money and time? Would a RN with a BS in another field be considered for such work or would they just skip me and go with a BSN?

Specializes in NICU Level III.
Depends on the educational facility. Some schools graduate you with a Bachelor of Science in Nurseing (BSN), or Bachelor of Science, with a Major in Nursing (BS). My school TWU does the BS route. Its just the name. The school went with this thinking having a BS appears more diverse look then BSN which is nursing strictly...although the programs are very alike etc..Just silly stuff. I think nation wide people jsut call it a BSN. Even when I say BS, Nursing, people still call it BSN etc etc.. dont really matter. There is just mainly 3 levels of nursing of this time period, the ADN route(Community college 2 year degree), Bachelors (BSN, or BS .... 4 years) and then the LVN and the diploma nursing etc. Check with hospitals, but major big centers may want bachelors to get their magnet and other recognition etc.

Hey, I know you!

Yup, it's a BS but if you look at our transcript it is obviously the same as a BSN. My ID badge and everything I have that has the degree on it says BSN. So if I hop out of nursing, I can just put BS on my resume and it looks more marketable. It currently says "BS in Nursing".

Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.

There are accelerated BSN programs that would allow you to get your BSN in the same amount of time that it would take to get your ADN. Either way, with your experience and being an RN, you will not have trouble finding a job that pays well.

What do you guys think of me getting an CNA while waiting around for a program to accept me. Seems like none of them start untill Summer 2010 or Fall 2010 and I am studying for a PHR (professional human resource cert) but after that I have time between now and then. I was thinking it would help me test the waters and I could possibly get into a nursing home on the weekends thru an agency and make some $ on the side (even if its not much) to offset the upcoming tuition since I no longer qualify for a pell grant because of my completed BS. A Cna I know in tampa told me if you get in to a hospital and make it know you want to be an RN they might even pick up the training? She said if you are lpn you have a 100% shot at this if you are a CNA who is motivated you have a 50% chance of getting in a training class. How does that work? Does the hospital send you to a school and pick up the tution if you sign a contract or do they train you on the job and teach you in the hospital. She told me Memorial, Helen Ellis and Morton Plant have such programs.

BSN now is needed for everyone. not just management focused nurses. Get the BSN. Its a shame that the awesome ADN programs will suffer from the decisions to now hire/interview/require BSN degrees.

Specializes in Critical Care.

You could do an ADN and then do an online RN to MSN program or look for a direct entry MSN if you plan is management and not bedside. As far as hospitals they would consider you an ADN, although perhaps they would like your BS, but that would be based on the individual manager. It would not meet BSN for BSN only requirements. Some schools have an accellerated BSN, but if your plan is management you would probably be better off going for an MSN.

Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

FYI, this thread is almost 5 years old, and it doesn't look like the OP has returned for many years.

Specializes in Critical Care.

Oh well, maybe some other BA/BS person will benefit if they see this thread, didn't look at the date of original post.

+ Add a Comment