ADN or BSN: What's the Big Deal?

[allnurses]

I was talking about this topic with one of my younger nurse friends. She shared the following comments with me.

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Funny to me that 20 years ago when I graduated with my BSN, I was told that ADN/ LPN programs were being phased out and that minimum entry level nursing positions would soon be BSN. Fast forward 20 years and it appears ADN and LPN programs are going strong.

I want to start by saying that quality bedside nursing care can be provided no matter the advanced degree or not. As a new graduate, I survived and so did my patients thanks to the care and support and knowledge of many many LPN's and ADN's. There are also plenty of not so great nurses out there with various degrees. That being said, there has been much discussion, surveys and studies done regarding the differences in the career of a BSN prepared nurse, LPN, and an ADN prepared nurse. The results of the 2015 allnurses salary survey presented that 39% of respondents held an ADN and 39% held a BSN. As we are about to release the comprehensive 2017 allnurses nursing salary results, we will see where the trends have gone.

So what's the big deal...as long as you are an RN? The title of RN whether earned through a Degree or Diploma program will allow you to provide the same level of basic nursing care as we see in hospitals, clinics and doctors offices. The BSN prepared nurse, however, has many more options that require higher responsibilities, therefore higher pay. This is due to the more in-depth coursework in physical and social sciences including public health, nursing research and nursing management. An RN with a BSN can choose a career in nursing education, public health, or clinically focus in specific diseases or adult, pediatric, geriatric care. A BSN is required to be considered for many positions or to further one's education to focus on speciality care.

In 2010, the Institute of Medicine introduced new demands on the nursing field when it set a target goal for 80% of all nurses to hold bachelor's degrees by 2020. This goal was derived from academic research indicating that patients receive better care in hospitals when the majority of nurses hold a BSN or higher. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) devised the Magnet Recognition Program to draw attention to top healthcare facilities. This recognition means that 100% of the organization's nurse managers have a BSN or graduate degree. "Achieving Magnet status also means that there are generally a higher number of nurses holding a BSN degree for jobs in direct patient care. Approximately 50% of all nurses associated with direct patient care in a Magnet-recognized hospital currently have a BSN."

The 2017 allnurses survey results have shown some slight shifts. In 2017 the percentage of BSN prepared nurses has remained steady at 39% while ADN's have dropped by 2 percentage points. The number of MSN's have increased by 1%. Why might this be? Is there a greater demand for advanced practice nurses? Are employers encouraging and/ or supporting advancing degrees? Is retirement a factor in the decrease in ADN's? As our final results are revealed, new light might be shed on factors influencing the slight shift from last year to this year. Will the trend continue? Are you thinking of furthering your education? We want to hear from you!

We as nurses should support each other in furthering education, as well as respecting those who have years of bedside experience but might not have higher education degrees. As the field of nursing continues to grow our knowledge base will be required to change to keep up with the technology and level of care.

The 2017 allnurses salary survey results will be released soon. It will be interesting to see if the interactive survey results show pay differences based on degree as well as location, speciality and gender.

2015 allnurses Salary Survey Results

[Wuzzie]

NYCNative21 said:

This is my main worry when pursuing my ADN. I'm worried that when I graduate which will be around 2020 or 2021, it will be harder to find a job. Seeing that majority of employers are now requiring BSN in order to land a job worries that my ADN degree will not be that beneficial when the year 2020 comes around. Of course my plan was to get my ADN and then do an online bridge program for my BSN but now according to the new guidelines, it seems this may be a pointless route to take. I'm halfway to 30 now and I want to get my career started but I'm at the point of not pursuing this nursing career anymore. Its more of a pain in the butt to just get into a program, graduate and then find a job. Not sure how anyone else feels but the wait game eventually just gets old.

What "guidelines"?

[NYCNative21]

I would have to find the article again but I talked to two hospitals around me here in Georgia that stated majority of hospitals now are transitioning away from hiring ADN's.

[Wuzzie]

NYCNative21 said:

I would have to find the article again but I talked to two hospitals around me here in Georgia that stated majority of hospitals now are transitioning away from hiring ADN's.

There is a current trend that is leaning towards BSN only but that is not a guideline and is not accurate in all parts of the country. I believe New York has signed a bill requiring a BSN in Ten but that affects only newly licensed nurses. All others are grandfathered in. North Dakota tried this and it turned out very badly for them so their law was rescinded. I suspect we will see the pendulum swing back a little as it has before.

[ourmindfulnurse]

Agreed, more and more health systems are setting the expectation for their nursing staff to be educated at the BSN level. As I started as a diploma RN on the floor, I had felt the pressure and at times to level up, especially when it came to moving up. So I did, but more than that I am glad I did because I have learned so much. However, sometimes, the trends in nursing/ staffing and education requirements come and go. I predict that if we continue to have a high demand of nurses and even higher patient population, we will see a more nurse diverse population providing care. Meaning more LPNs, medical assistants and registered nurses working together to provide patient care. However, focus on getting your nursing content and skills down, because when it comes to caring for someone, patients want a compassinate knowledgeable nurse and those skills are found in all educated levels of nursing. Good Luck.

[MimiAv, ADN]

As an ADN with almost 30 years, I have seen education for nurses fall by the wayside. The reason I don't have my bachelors is that my rate of pay could never keep up with getting a degree, and paying a phenomenal amount in loans for the next 10 years does not work for me. Most of us are single, divorced and without the support to get more education. So expecting me to go to school and work full time and try to put my own children to school did not work for me. I'm sorry I didn't buy into it. I did however, get educated in other ways and did pay for it.. I presently work in management- Due to my experience-it's been the best training anyone could have given me. I think something has to be said and done for those of us who are "veterans" of being on the "field" for so many years, and have earned our schooling in the "Academy of Hard knocks."

Also I have noticed that since the recession around 2012, all education programs from hospitals/facilities, have been thrown out the door, because of the change in healthcare to a business model.

I think this is very sad, to expect nurses who are considered "professionals" to have to carry large amount of debt when they are no longer being compensated as they were before. I also believe that if we were a male dominated field, we never would be treated the way we have been treated.

I think more needs to be done by the ANA or other nursing organizations to truly WORK FOR nurses since we are all so busy working for our employers by filling the gaps in horrible schedules, declining rates of pay and benefits overall.