ADN vs BSN Battle

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 10, 2015

Funny. Reading this site, I feel as though BSN nurses get a lot more crap. We are constantly accused of not being as competent or clinically strong as our ADN counterparts. There is also a big misconception that BSN nurses have less clinical hours. That is false.

To hear my education be considered a "waste" or "overpriced" is extremely insulting to me. It almost seems that those who make this statement have a chip on their shoulder.

I personally do not think my BSN was "overpriced." I graduated from a reputable state university. 23 and debt-free. I paid as I went. From my BSN, I received five job offers. I know for a fact that I would not have even been granted an interview without a four-year degree. I eventually accepted an acute care government job at a world-renowned state university medical center.

I don't regret my BSN at all. It has opened far more doors than not, plus I plan on advancing my education.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2015

I definetely need a job ASAP but I am not going to belittle those who I feel over paid for their education at which once the "new nurse" title is gone it really doesn't matter where you went to school so long as you have a valid RN license.

I disagree with this statement. I have been offered many an interview because my resume caught the attention of the person hiring because of the school that I went to. I have been a nurse for 8 years. I have a BSN from a nationally ranked university. I just started a new job yesterday and just today, when I was being introduced in a meeting of peers, my new manager called attention to my alma mater. It matters, at least where I live. When I had my resume professionally reviewed 3 years ago, the woman reviewing it looked at it and said "you have a degree from a nationally ranked university and 5 years at a nationally ranked hospital, you can go anywhere with this." I was offered all three jobs I interviewed for over a matter of 2 weeks last month. You can think I overpaid for my degree all I want, but I would have never gotten any of the 4 jobs I've held without my BSN.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jun 10, 2015

BuckyBadgerRN I am in Texas. A lot of the major hospitals still hire ADN contingent that you acquire a BSN degree usually within 2 years. I appreciate your pick up on my sarcasm in my title "ADN vs BSN." Definetely wasn't a battle post rather truly using the term versus. I was curious to see people's opinions on why they chose ADN or BSN, what their thoughts were about the politics of jobs hiring ONLY BSN or accepting ADN. You will never understand a concept unless you open your self up to others opinions so yes I started yet another thread about it because I wanted to see people's views. Thanks for posting :)

When I became a nurse over twenty years ago this wasn't even an issue. Of course, I didn't know much about it myself and when I decided to become a nurse I applied to several colleges, but it turned out the college I went to had a two year program as well. They accepted me right away, no wait listing and I've been working ever since.

BSN only started to become an issue with magnet status and a bad economy that in turn lead to a glut of nursing grads in certain places. Employers are free to do whatever they like and they can require BSN if there are enough grads to hire. That has not always been the case and still isn't in some places. It has been common to use travel nurses and bring nurses from the Phillipines, India, and Canada when there was a shortage. Also nursing has gone through booms and busts and when I graduated it was not a good time to be a nurse as places were laying off nursing and increasing patient ratios due to managed care and DRG's to save money.

What is crazy about America is how much we overpay for such things as health insurance, medical care, and education because of the need to keep profit in everything rather than have national healthcare for example. What is sad is that no matter what someone pays for an education they will get the same pay. It would be better if we had an apprentice program where people were trained for a job and then had a guaranteed job at the end rather than taking out monstrous loans for the chance to hopefully find a job.

Also we overpay so much for health insurance and medical care it is just insane, especially if you have a chronic illness. We are the only country where the pharmaceutical companies can charge whatever they want and they do, constantly raising the rates every year. Every other country negotiates and has price controls on drugs. We get poorer, whether by higher copays, out of pockets or health insurance premiums while the pharmaceutical companies get rich off this arrangement.

futureRNhope · Jun 10, 2015

But sadly most places don't pay any more for having a BSN. The VA is the only place I know that pays substantially more for a BSN. I agree that a person should be paid more for a BSN, but it usually isn't the case in the real world.

Well I know from actually speaking to nurses in my area that hospitals are beginning to make that salary difference, so getting a BSN is definitely in my favor. Hopefully more cities/states do the same. Those earning a higher degree deserve higher pay...in my opinion of course

ixchel · Jun 10, 2015

Well I know from actually speaking to nurses in my area that hospitals are beginning to make that salary difference, so getting a BSN is definitely in my favor. Hopefully more cities/states do the same. Those earning a higher degree deserve higher pay...in my opinion of course

Can I get an Amen!?

AlphaM · Jun 10, 2015

Usually the argument revolves around ADN vs BSN being qualified equally for bedside care. This is a narrow minded view, nursing is MUCH more than bedside. BSN/MSN/DNP is your golden ticket to exploring all that nursing have to offer beyond the bedside.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2015

I disagree with this statement. I have been offered many an interview because my resume caught the attention of the person hiring because of the school that I went to. I have been a nurse for 8 years. I have a BSN from a nationally ranked university. I just started a new job yesterday and just today, when I was being introduced in a meeting of peers, my new manager called attention to my alma mater. It matters, at least where I live. When I had my resume professionally reviewed 3 years ago, the woman reviewing it looked at it and said "you have a degree from a nationally ranked university and 5 years at a nationally ranked hospital, you can go anywhere with this." I was offered all three jobs I interviewed for over a matter of 2 weeks last month. You can think I overpaid for my degree all I want, but I would have never gotten any of the 4 jobs I've held without my BSN.

My experience exactly, and this has also extended to non-hospital jobs later in my career. Believe me, when you go to a company where the management all hold bachelor's degrees as a minimum, that's what they expect from you too. I know that when you're first starting out this sort of thing is not on your radar. However, the future comes to us all, and best be well-prepared before it sneaks up on you while you were busy doing something else.

Usually the argument revolves around ADN vs BSN being qualified equally for bedside care. This is a narrow minded view, nursing is MUCH more than bedside. BSN/MSN/DNP is your golden ticket to exploring all that nursing have to offer beyond the bedside.

Absolutely true. Even if you aren't leaving direct care, your options down the road are so much wider. Wise counsel.

Bob Loblaw · Jun 10, 2015

There will never be an end to this- once there are different routes to the same end, each believes their route is the better- it is simple human nature.

direw0lf, BSN · Jun 10, 2015

A girl on another forum has taken the majority of pre-requisites in her junior and senior years of high school and is going to an ADN school. If she passes the NXCLEX she'll be an RN at age 19 she says.

I see so many positives about that but I also see some negatives. But in my mind it doesn't have to do with who is a better person for choosing a different degree. I just wonder about how nursing as a profession in terms of competency and maturity if someone can be an RN that fast. But I don't know. I like the idea of making RN's a bachelor degree only but like another poster said because of profit and demand that won't ever happen.

But I think (this might be a naive conclusion though) if CNA's for ex had to have more schooling, they would get paid more, then many would work with more pride if they don't already, many would be respected more if not already, and do a better job if not already. I say this because I had my CNA clinical in a nursing home that was horrendous...horrendous. The aids there in this one example didn't care. I think if they had more school and higher pay they would. I hope this isn't offensive to anyone to have said I don't mean it to be. Just my point was I think the more school required for any profession, the better things are overall sometimes.

turtlesRcool · Jun 10, 2015

But I think (this might be a naive conclusion though) if CNA's for ex had to have more schooling, they would get paid more, then many would work with more pride if they don't already, many would be respected more if not already, and do a better job if not already. I say this because I had my CNA clinical in a nursing home that was horrendous...horrendous. The aids there in this one example didn't care. I think if they had more school and higher pay they would. I hope this isn't offensive to anyone to have said I don't mean it to be. Just my point was I think the more school required for any profession, the better things are overall sometimes.

I don't think education is going to make those CNAs better, nor do I think more pay would help much. If you want to make people care about their jobs, you need better working conditions. Being a CNA, especially in a nursing home, is often a back-breaking job. There are too many patients, too much to lift, too much to do, and too little time to do it. If it seems like they "didn't care" at the nursing home you used for your clinical, it's more likely they were burned out and numb from overwork. Changing the staffing ratios would do much more than education or pay towards building a caring, attentive staff.

ixchel · Jun 10, 2015

I really don't see CNAs being paid more either. Here you can find a job without being licensed (MD does license CNAs after a course with a test is passed and a week of clinical hours completed successfully, but that license really is a certification, not license like licensed personnel have). You'll get paid less if you aren't licensed, more if you are.

If there were a third educational level, where would that extra pay come from? I'm not saying they SHOULDN'T make more (I believe they are grossly underpaid here). I'm just saying the money may not actually exist to give a large portion of the workforce more money, especially if they are not gaining any higher level skill set or impact on the whole. If that was needed or wanted by the facility, they'd likely turn to nursing, maybe LPNs. Just a thought.

I think we undervalue our ULP.

EternalFeather · Jun 11, 2015

It takes more or less 2 yrs to get general ed and prereqs for nursing, both for BSN and ADN, some time usually 1 semester to a year to get accepted to nursing school, and it takes 2 years to finish nursing program for both BSN and ADN. maybe less than 2 years for ADN because there are no research classes, but both need to take the same classes and clinical hours to become registered nurses.

Im an ADN, and I do feel a little insecure when I see some nurses who already have bsn degree, but at the same time, I feel ok with having ADN cause I am going to BSN degree soon anyways, just not as fast as the ones who went to universities. I'm glad I paid less, but I do wish I became a bachelors degree holder as young as possible.

But overall, we are all health care workers, and all health care workers, from the janitors to tech to the rn and md and ceos, we are a team. why are we nurses so mean and condescending to each other?

in nursing school, everyone is too hard on themselves even the profs, and just expects more than half of the class to not make it, or quit or something bad.

in med school, med students get so much support and love, they back each other up, and they get chances to appeal to whatever so they dont get fail out. but nursing school, one strike, youre out.