Associates vs Bachelors Degree

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I currently have a bachelor's degree & have been contemplating to change careers. Will I have the same job opportunities if I get an associates degree in Nursing. I would like to continue to get a Masters degree in the future. Will my current bachelors degree be enough with an associates degree in nursing or should I just get another bachelors degreee?

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Specializes in LTC.

Just go for bsn. Why not ?

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Word on the street is that hospitals in Oregon (at least PDX area) will be requiring nurses with bsn's....

I'm sure other states will follow suite if they haven't already with all the graduates.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
I currently have a bachelor's degree & have been contemplating to change careers. Will I have the same job opportunities if I get an associates degree in Nursing. I would like to continue to get a Masters degree in the future. Will my current bachelors degree be enough with an associates degree in nursing or should I just get another bachelors degreee?

I changed careers and did the Associates because of cost. If I had unlimited resources, I would have gotten the BSN. Because of all the prerequisites required to get into my program, the ADN took the same amount of time as a BSN - four years.

I was told by one HR drone at my current (CNA) hospital employer that my previous bachelor's degree would "help" if I applied to their (currently shut down) BSN-only New Grad Program. I ended up getting a new grad residency job in a different hospital - one that was not BSN only.

So it depends I guess. The current push for BSN only is being amplified by the fact there are so many experienced BSN nurses looking for jobs. When the economy comes around and there is more demand for jobs, they will start recruiting ADN students again.

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What is your bachelor's in? If it is a science, then you might be able to either transfer credits, or challenge the science requirements of either an ADN or BSN. You have several options, with several things to consider. Getting an ADN might be quicker, and the sooner you become an RN the sooner you will make more money, and also any further nursing education will be TAX DEDUCTIBLE. (This also applies to diploma nursing schools, which give you a better experience in nursing, but are hard to find nowadays.)

On the other hand you might look online for schools that have special programs for people with other degrees, and even go directly to an MSN, if you are so inclined. You have to balance time/money/family concerns.

I myself got a diploma almost 27 years ago, already having a BS in Chemistry, and always have been well-employed; never felt the need to go back to school.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

My hospital just stopped tuition assistance for ASN programs, and less hospitals are hiring non BSN nurses in my area every year. I had to do my education in steps, but if I had the option I would have started with a BSN program. Luckily I was grandfathered in, I will also have them pay for my RN-MSN degree unless they stop helping with that? There are a ton a students applying for ASN programs next year at my job that are being cut off starting in September. It's actually kind of sad to see.

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I know 2 people who had a BS and went to nursing school. One chose a second degree BSN program at not a great nursing school (low NCLEX passing rates, even told me not to consider that school). The other one went to an awesome associates program that is well known in the area. Both graduated about the same time. The one that got the BSN had a few offers right out of school including a nursing grad program at one of the top hospitals in the nation. The one that got an ADN took months to find part time work and eventually found full time work at a less than ideal facility about 9 months after graduating.

So for me that really answers how I'd go in terms of wanting to find opportunities and work.

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Specializes in Public Health, School Nursing, Psych.

A couple things...

In California one university has an "accelerated" program for people with a BS in something else. The students go through an "Entry Level Master's" program - get licensure at the conclusion of the BSN portion (after passing the NCLEX of course) and start working while they finish their MSN as a part-time student.

Secondly, where I live some of the hospitals actually have a different pay scale for BSN v ADN (starting pay $4 more).

Finally, the hospital where I work now is phasing out ADNs, paying employees' tuition for RN-to-BSN programs, and hiring all BSN new-grads (SO much more competitive for new grad nurses these days - one local hospital just laid off 46 RNs).

In the 11th hour (while on an ADN waiting list) I decided to do a BSN instead of an ADN and have been thankful MANY times over. Plus, it was really easy to apply to/get into the MSN program a year later and only took 2.5 years as a part-time student to complete.

Worth it, worth it, worth it. :up:

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele, Neuro, IMU.

Everything that I am reading these days is leaning toward the BSN as entry level for RN's. Because of the wicked nursing shortage (right now ~100,000) and the expected increase (~800,000) over the next decade, hospitals will demand that the RN's be educated enough to start to handle more responsibility. I have said it before that years ago, when you went to the doctor, he was the one that gave you the shot and dressed your wounds. Eventually, those responsibilities were given to the nurses. I feel like that is where we are headed again. Nurses will take on more "medical" stuff, mid-level practitioners (NP's and PA's) will start to do more, and physician's will be responsible for the oversight of all of it. CNA or techs will take over a lot of what nurses do day to day.

I think the best way to go is get your BSN if you have the opportunity to. Don't bother with the ADN program. Although, I am currently about to graduate from an RN-BSN program at UT, I have consistently earned good money as an ADN. The other thing is, I never turned down an opportunity to learn something new and take on more responsibility. I have been in management or supervisory positions since I was 5 months out of school. The trick is, I have maintained skills because I take the time to see patients and perform tasks that keep me marketable. I practice EKG strips, IV starts, etc. I also take the time to do training so I can get certificates. I have taken the time to build up my resume and after 12 years as an ADN RN, I am pretty marketable.

Do it and you won't regret it, I promise!

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BSN...there are several accelerated BSN programs out there that would allow you to get that second bachelor's degree in something like 12-18 months. My program is 15 months. I've been looking for jobs and many of them say, "BSN preferred."

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I would recommend getting the BSN for the following reasons.

  1. Magnet accreditated hospitals require new hires to have a BSN
  2. Some hospitals require BSN if one is aspiring to be in a management or supervisory positions.
  3. Advantage in pay depending on the facility. Some hospitals use a career ladder system such as RN I, RN II, RN III.
  4. It make a huge difference in pay if you work for the Veteran Administration. For example, ADN is a Nurse I and will not advance to Nurse II without a BSN.

Hope my reply helped in some way but ultimately it depends on you and your career goals.

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Go for a BSN because now all hospitals will only hire and only want BSN's working there. SO it would be best to first maintain a BSN degree but if your planning on getting a MSN degree. Why dont you just go straight for a MSN degree or become a APRN?

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