ASN vs BSN

U.S.A. Missouri

Published

Is it true that the starting salary for ASN and BSN grads will be the same even though you spent 2 extra years in college for BSN?:mad:

Specializes in Critical Care.

BSN has more advantages than just pay.

THAT being said, there SHOULD be a differential. And, when nursing gets its act together, and pushes for that differential (an attainable goal) INSTEAD of BSN-entry (not attainable at this time), then the incentive that will create a growing class of BSNs will be in place.

I have a Bach degree in Biology. I COULD HAVE gotten my BSN, as I got my Bach AFTER my ADN, but, as you pointed out, I saw no vested interest in doing so.

5 bucks more an hour and my biology degree WOULD BE a BSN.

Our focus on this issue is currently divisive instead of collaborative, as it could be.

~faith,

Timothy.

Specializes in Med Surg.

No offence to the OP but, Is there a difference in pay in the long run? Starting salary doesn't matter that much if a BSN will bring more later. Education is a long term investment not a get rich quick scheme.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
No offence to the OP but, Is there a difference in pay in the long run? Starting salary doesn't matter that much if a BSN will bring more later. Education is a long term investment not a get rich quick scheme.

Good point. To me that is the advantage of the BSN, it's an investment in one's future. One, especially someone in their 20s like the OP, does not know where nursing will take them 20 or 30 years down the line.

It also depends on where you live. The hospital I'm currently employed at tends to keep the ADNs at the bedside. I inquired about an educator job wher I work because of my experience and the fact I'm working on my BSN and was basically told "BSN required - MSN preferred, talk to us in a year when you're finished.". However, there are students in my class (it's an online program so there are students from all over the country) who are supervisors, managers and educators with ADNs in various parts of the country. ADNs do enjoy a wide variety of positions and salaries around the country. Like Timothy said, there doesn't seem to be much motivation to get the BSN salarywise and position wise (in some parts of the country). Also, some of those positions I meantioned do not offer much more money than the staff bedside nurse, but sometimes it's not always about the money. I don't see myself being happy 20 more years at the bedside, even if leaving it means only a little more or even a little less money.

I'm making excellent money at the bedside, and I'm relatively happing doing what I'm doing (not lately however, with staff and budget cuts), if I want to move beyond the bedside to other positions in education, case management, research, etc. etc. I need the BSN. Right now I'm ok at the bedside, but realistically speaking with about 20 more years to work, who knows what I'm going to want to do do.

No offence to the OP but, Is there a difference in pay in the long run? Starting salary doesn't matter that much if a BSN will bring more later. Education is a long term investment not a get rich quick scheme.

Good post.

Specializes in Critical Care.
No offence to the OP but, Is there a difference in pay in the long run? Starting salary doesn't matter that much if a BSN will bring more later. Education is a long term investment not a get rich quick scheme.

I'd have to seriously answer no to this question.

13 yrs later, I make equiv to my BSN counterparts that remained at the bedside.

Those that moved away, I make more than almost everyone of them. I get routine overtime, for one thing.

And, nobody can say with a straight fact the nurses on salary makes all that more than hourly RNs. I've out-earned my last four managers.

Now, get past RN, to CRNA, ANP, etc., and maybe you can say that salary is a better deal.

But I see no difference in BSN - ADN pay, either in the beginning, or later. If anything, since ADNs tend to stay at the bedside more, I'd have to say that ADN actually PAYS MORE over the long haul.

Now Tweety, you point out, quite right, that means staying at the bedside for your whole career. Wanting to move to a less intensive environment means the extra education.

And, I'm not knocking the extra education. I SAID I thought there should be a good 3-5 dollar/hr diff between BSN/ADN. I think the extra education is important. But, there just isn't a salary difference.

Can you not understand how there is no incentive for spending 15-20k for that upgrade? Personal enrichment is a powerful motivation. It was powerful for me. But, it didn't lead me to a BSN. There wasn't any incentive for that. At least not for me.

I'm an advocate of demanding a difference in pay if we want to keep arguing that more education is more better. It's a good argument, afterall.

~faith,

Timothy.

i heard that its about a dollar difference and the inly reason people get their BSN's is either they are wanting their masters or they would like to teach.. if you are just wanting to do patient contact.. i wouldnt suggest a BSN

My two cents: why bother with an ASN that can take 3-4 years when you can do a BSN program in the same amount of time? Also, (controversial) studies have been done that show higher quality of care under BSN prepared nurses. Just a thought.

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.
Also, (controversial) studies have been done that show higher quality of care under BSN prepared nurses. Just a thought.

that is absolutely not true.

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

"the adn/bsn debate has been discussed extensively here.

please see this thread which contains links to previous discussions and articles to assist in nursing papers: adn vs. bsn for entry level nursing

please keep all future discussion on this thread for future students use. "

thread is now closed.

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