Associate's degree v. Bachelor's degree starting wages.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2012

I'm waiting for a new grad ADN nurse somewhere to float a trial court case over her (or his) being denied a position to a BSN nurse.
To my knowledge there isn't a nurse practice act in the United States that breaks down duties by degree or diploma awarded. While one can understand the *why* behind places moving to BSN staffing am wondering how much of it is based upon sound science or is it just another screening tool.

There isn't ....interesting concept.

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 19, 2012

That really is not true nationwide.

*** No of course not. I didn't imply that was the case.

It may though, be true in your particular community because you have an exceptionally strong ADN program and an exceptionally weak BSN one in the area.

*** No, not really. While most of our ADN applicants tend to be from the local community, we get BSN applicants from all over the country. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with these grads. They do well in the residency program for other other units like PICU, NICU, PACU, MICU, CCU, & ER. All of them however get several days of training in basic nursing skills (also paying several instructors) that we haven't found the ADNs grads to need.

If you look nationwide, the BSN grads are much more likely to be hired into most new-grad residency programs of all types.

*** Yes that seems to be the case. However there are a few exceptions, and I suspect there will be more, in particular for SICU & CVICU training programs. Our hospital was a very early adopter of the nurse residency model and so has learned things newer programs have yet to learn.

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 19, 2012

While one can understand the *why* behind places moving to BSN staffing am wondering how much of it is based upon sound science or is it just another screening tool.

*** BSN grads are seen as less likely to rock the boat. Usually they come to their first nursing job with large amounts of student debt. In an time when jobs are hard to find for newer nurses BSN grads are seen as less likely to complain, or vote with their feet over issues like unsafe staffing or poor wages and benifits.

ADN grads, who typical owe hardly anything in student debt, and are typicaly older people with more life experience, are seen as less likely to tolerate poor treatment from managment.

minnymi · Jun 19, 2012

*** BSN grads are seen as less likely to rock the boat. Usually they come to their first nursing job with large amounts of student debt. In an time when jobs are hard to find for newer nurses BSN grads are seen as less likely to complain, or vote with their feet over issues like unsafe staffing or poor wages and benifits.
ADN grads, who typical owe hardly anything in student debt, and are typicaly older people with more life experience, are seen as less likely to tolerate poor treatment from managment.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?

:lol2:

dzadzey, MSN, RN · Jun 19, 2012

Lots of good posts. But let me clarify...I finished my ADN in 1999 at the age of 39. I completed my BSN this year, so I've seen both sides of the equation. and BSN's do bring a different skill set to the bedside interms of not just research and leadership skills, but also in an increased ability to integrate EBP into their bedside practice as well as a better understanding of the rationales for not only nursing interventions but the medical treatments.

The mounting evidence that Bachelor's prepared nurses do indeed result in improved patient outcomes is a direct monetary benefit to hospitals everywhere and those benefits should be shared rather than giving the CEO a 23% raise over the last 6 years while our wages...ADN, BSN and everyone elses...have remained flat.

minnymi · Jun 19, 2012

i've said it before.

BSN RNs are the only group of nurses that it's acceptable to demean and/or devalue their education...at least here it is.

kablammo · Jun 21, 2012

I've noticed that, too minnymi. Strange.

JZ_RN · Jun 21, 2012

I am not devaluing the BSN's education at all. They are more educated than me as an ADN nurse. But I can do all the job tasks a BSN nurse is required to do, so I don't see why they ought to be paid more.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jun 22, 2012

I feel the pay discrepancy exists because hospitals will save money by not recognizing the distinction.

Back in the last century, when I earned my ADN, I noted the baccalaureate prepared nurse made a whopping 25 cents an hour more than I did. That's when I decided against pursuing my education.

Do I wish I had? Definitely.Where the bedside nurse wont see much distinction in salary, it opens up many opportunities away from the bedside.

As far as improving outcomes, I think it is an individual situation, with experience and common sense as the biggest factor.

I have run rings around a BSN.. and have also seen LPN's with better clinical skills than mine.

Have you come up with a dollar figure you feel would be fair, in the salary comparison?

Gem1210390 · Jun 22, 2012

Just like to say that nurses in the UK get paid the same starting wage whether they have a BSN or diploma. The only difference is they normally need to get a degree to take on a leadership roll.

I am currently taking a course in my speciality with others. The difference with this is I am taking it at masters level and they are topping there diploma up to a degree the difference in this is I need to write an extra 2000 words in my assignment. We have the same training whether we do degree or diploma most of the time our classes are together. There is no superiority on our unit whether you have degree or diploma. We are all the same out to achieve the same outcome. Get people better and get them home.