What are the advantages of being a BSN over ADN?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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I've been thinking of continuing my education and enrolling in a BSN program. I was wondering what the benefits or advantages might be? What are the differences in clinical practice? Are most hospitals moving towards hiring only BSNs?

Thanks, I appreciate any answers!

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Magnet status hospitals want BSN only RN's. Most of the "big hitters" only want a BSN prepared nurse, but are willing to take an ADN RN with a Bachelor's or Master's in another field as long as they promise to complete a BSN or MSN within a specific time limit.

Scope of practice difference? Zero. Difference in pay (at my hospital)? 1 dollar an hour, which is 1950 extra a year before taxes if you work a 37.5 hour week.

Aside from advancement opportunities, it depends on the program. Mine was very focused on nursing research and prepared one for administration, teaching, etc. There are far more clinically-intense programs out there than mine and they do have advanced classes in pharm, pathophys, etc.

Specializes in ER, ICU.

You are MUCH closer to your MSN should you decide to procede. The BSN is an excellent investment if you plan to make nursing your long term career, in my opinion.

Specializes in Trauma/Critical Care.
I've been thinking of continuing my education and enrolling in a BSN program. I was wondering what the benefits or advantages might be? What are the differences in clinical practice? Are most hospitals moving towards hiring only BSNs?

Thanks, I appreciate any answers!

Both ADNs and BSNs graduates are competent entry-level nurses eligible for the NCLEX-RN. The advantages for the BSN come when you want to move out of that first position you get after graduation....the main advantages of the BSN are in job opportunities. From an income standpoint, most health care facilities in the US will pay a differential for the BSN. However this normally only amounts to about $2,000 to $3,000 per year. As has been mentioned in previous posts, you will find that the job listings will have BSN preferred for almost all listings; this automatically gives you a hiring preference, and may get you a position you want instead of just the job that is available. Some areas of nursing require the additional information provided by the BSN programs (such as research). There is a preference by hospitals and other health care organizations in hiring a BSN or higher for any supervisory or management position. If you thought you might want to branch out of nursing into another area such as pharmaceutical sales, management, and education they all require a bachelor degree.

Specializes in ICU.

I don't know about all hospitals, but I do know that the system I work for now is being VERY picky in this economic time and hiring ONLY BSN's system wide. So that might be something to look at also. Sure, you can have your ADN done quicker, but can you find a job with it now?

Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
i've been thinking of continuing my education and enrolling in a bsn program. i was wondering what the benefits or advantages might be? what are the differences in clinical practice? are most hospitals moving towards hiring only bsns?

thanks, i appreciate any answers!

i am in the same boat. i want to start an online rn to bsn program but i have no motivation now because my job won't pay me extra for a bsn and i will incur all this extra debt. but i know i need to get this over with because all hospitals in my area (central nj) are only hiring bsn nurses now. so, if i want to get a hospital experience, i should really get my bsn. plus, my job wants a bsn as well if you want to move in to a supervisory position, which i would like to try.

From what I've seen, the main difference is that it gives more opportunities. Like someone mentioned, a lot of the job listings out there ask for BSN or state that it is preferred. I'm a fairly new RN, who wants to work in community health. And almost all of those jobs that I have been seeing, want a BSN or MSN. So I am headed back to school for the new year, to pursue my BSN.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

This poor horse has been beaten to death more times than I can count.

https://allnurses.com/gsearch.php?cx=partner-pub-9350112648257122%3Avaz70l-mgo9&cof=DIV%3Acacaca%3BBGC%3AF8F7F5%3BFORID%3A11&ie=UTF-8&as_q=bsn+grads+adn+grads&sa=Search#1556

ADN/ASN, BSN makes an RN. A RN is a RN......the job market being tight the preference is going to the BSN but if you are smart and make good grades the jobs are going to the best and brightest. Until the nursing profession itself decides on one educational level for entry this argument will continue as it has since before I became a nurse in 1979. I think you should eventually get your BSN. But be the best at what you do and you'll be fine.

Some hospitals pay you more for having your BSN, and some hospitals are mostly hiring BSNs now...However it depends on where you live. Around here there is no difference in pay and I have rarely seen any job openings that say "BSN preferred". But they do make it pretty easy to get your BSN if you already have your RN and most of the coursework can be done online, and it will help you if you decide you don't want to do beside nursing forever.

You also need (at least around here) a BSN to be a school nurse...so if that interests you at all that'd be another reason to get it.

Specializes in Critical Care, Patient Safety.

All of the bigger hospitals in my city (and now more of the smaller hospitals) are ONLY hiring BSNs - as others have said it's a Magnet thing. It's my impression also that if you want to work in a more metropolitan area, having a BSN might be a necessity as the job market tends to be more competitive AND hospitals are being more picky, going Magnet, etc. If you want an MSN you will need to either do a bridge program if you have an ADN, or get your BSN (unless you have a bachelor's degree in another field).

Specializes in CC, MS, ED, Clinical Research.

The profession wants a minimal BSN. Yes, they've been trying for years, over 28 that I know of, but one day they will make it the standard. Don't get caught in middle age and forced to scramble. With it you can move upward and laterally, without it you stay at the bedside. I personally liked bedside nursing; I moved from bedside to teaching, back to bedside to managment, back to bedside to research. BSN is your portal to a dynamic career IMHO. Good Luck.

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