AA or BS degree

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 5, 2003

I am gonna spare what may spark another BSN versus ADN debate and direct you to the archives where this has been discussed numerous times.

And answer your question simply: where I work, a BSN gets a 1.00 an hour differential. Other than that, you can't tell who has what educational degree there. And most of us don't know or care.

If you plan to move on to advanced practice nursing or CRNA, etc, I would suggest you go for BSN for obvious progression reasons.

Good luck and do look in the archives....many opinions/answers await there.

LadyNASDAQ · Dec 5, 2003

No pay scale difference in most jobs which degree you possess. I feel that you are always paid strictly by the years of experience you have but I'm the last one to knock a BSN which I do highly respect.

AlixCoastRN · Dec 5, 2003

I have a BA in outdoor recreation (I play well) and then went and got an associates in Nursing. As and ADN I get paid the same as a BSN, and have no desire to continue on. I could go up to OHSU and get a Geriatric Nurse Practioners even with the Bachelors in an unrelated field - but no desire... by the way, OHSU is Oregon Health Sciences University.

When I was in nursing school, the instructors kept asking me why I didn't go for the BSN, and when I told them I already had a Bachelors, they kinda laid off.

By the way - I'm satisfied and content with my decision.

skybirdrising · Dec 8, 2003

Definately go for the BSN. My instructor told me that in the upcoming years BSN will matter the most. As many industries are cutting back and eliminating altogether, there will be a surge of countless students hit the nursing market because of the opportunities that continue to exist. For those who go on to get their BSN or MSN will be glad they did. Flexibility is worth everything. Who do you think an administration would cut back on first? ADN? BSN? Think about it. While your in the drudgery of schooling, you might as well nail down 4-5 more semesters.

-jt · Dec 8, 2003

Pay differential for the BS is about $2000 or so more than Assoc degree in my city.

Do you want to pay for your education all yourself or do you want to let your employer pay for it? Benefits are won to be used, so utilize the tuition reimbursement benefit to pay for your BS.

Get the assoc degree first, get an RN job at a facility that offers the best tuition reimbursement benefit (usually thats a unionized facility) - and then go right back to school for the BS --- and the employer pays the tuition costs for your advanced education.

You usually have to agree to work for that facility for a period of time afterwards (like 6 months- a year) but you end up with the BS degree without having to pay for it out of your own pocket or take student loans.

The same applies here when you want to go on for a Masters or PHd.

kellilou3 · Dec 8, 2003

Originally posted by skybirdrising
Definately go for the BSN. My instructor told me that in the upcoming years BSN will matter the most. As many industries are cutting back and eliminating altogether, there will be a surge of countless students hit the nursing market because of the opportunities that continue to exist. For those who go on to get their BSN or MSN will be glad they did. Flexibility is worth everything. Who do you think an administration would cut back on first? ADN? BSN? Think about it. While your in the drudgery of schooling, you might as well nail down 4-5 more semesters.

So you think that they would let a great ADN go in favor of a lesser BSN? In my experience, (non-healthcare related) administration during layoffs keeps those who perform at the highest level in the job, regardless of their educational background.

New Castle Ken · Dec 8, 2003

Originally posted by mrsabradford
Does it really make a difference? Pay wise or otherwise?

I have never had a job where a BSN nurse earned more than I did with an AASN (not including work experience). The associate is a great way to get started but a BSN will always benefit your long term career plans. I earned a BSPA in education and MS in Management which unfortunately has always held me back in nursing. When I applied for a job in inservice education a BSN would always get the job over me even though I had specific course training for the job which the BSNs did not. Fortunately now, my non-nursing degrees and my nursing experience have paid off as I am able to teach a variety of non-nursing course.

So my 2 cents worth is that the AASN is a great start but should be followed up with continuing toward the BSN. Now there are many local bridge RN/BSN bridge programs as well as online RN/BSN programs, so this isn't as difficult now as it used to be way back in the dark ages when I graduated.

lalaxton · Dec 8, 2003

I do agree that the BSN will give you more flexibility in the long run, if you may want to do something other than bedside nursing it would be an asset. We live in a society that is impressed with tittles after all!

In Canada a BSN will be the requirement for entry to practice for anyone graduating in 2005 or later. There was a movement in the same direction in the US at one time, not sure how strong that is at present.