Benefits to getting a bachelor degree in nursing?

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What are some of the benefits to getting your bachelor degree when you just have your associates? Do you think that it will get down to nurses having to have a bachelor's degree in order to work?

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Specializes in psych,maternity, ltc, clinic.

I have an ADN, ( I have a BA in another field) and I have never not gotten a job I wanted because I dont have a BSN. I am a DON. Others may have different experiences.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, WCC.

Those hospitals that have magnet status require the nurses to have a BS. Some areas of nursing may pay more money.

Personally, I have an ADN and am a DON. I have gotten where i am with the drive, ability and experience. When some positions ask for a BS, they also say "or equivalent" meaning experience. I have also looked at going into consulting and have turned down some offers as I am comfortable in my spot for the moment.

It all depends on you as a person as to what your goals and ambitions are.

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:icon_rollDoes anyone have any ideas on the compentencies levels/differences between and ADN and BSN?

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Specializes in Certified Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse.

I received my ADN in 2001 and completed my BSN in 2007. The main difference is a well-rounded education. Most of the courses required were not nursing, such as advanced english and writing courses, statistics, history and other liberal arts. Because of the additional education in areas other than nursing, I have a greater knowledge base and have more iof the knowledge common with other professionals.

From a nursing perspective, the BSN course requirements provided education in the areas of nursing families and populations, transcultural nursing, teaching and management. These aspects of nursing knowledge have been invaluable to me as a case manager in home care.

The main reason I went for the BSN was the fact that many positions require a BSN, and most other professions require a bachelors degree to be considered a professional. I am not looking for another job at this time, but it is nice to know that I have more options available to me.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical, L&D, Postpartum.

I have a question...why is it that in order to be considered "MAGNET" status all nurses need to have BSN's? Do they have this in writing because I thought that a BSN is not required for magnet status. I may be wrong and please correct me. I think it is unfair that hospitals who are trying to acquire magnet status are only hiring BSN's. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

P.S. A hospital in my area has recently acquired magnet status and they have many nurses who have been there for a long time that have ADN's...yet the hospital won't even consider hiring anyone without a BSN nowadays. It is probably just this particular hospital...please enlighten me!

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The main benefit to pursuing a BSN for me is the fact that you can not join the army nurse corp without a BSN (active duty). I would also like to get an advanced degree at some point.

I do believe that the BSN will become the entry level degree at some point in the future. It may very well be many more years from now but it will happen.

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3kittiesRN,

the way I understand magnet status is that the hospitals are required to have a certain percentage of BSN prepared nurses. If the hospital you are referring to already has several ADN nurses it makes sense that they would only hire BSN's to meet the magnet status percentage requirements.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
:icon_rollDoes anyone have any ideas on the compentencies levels/differences between and ADN and BSN?

Both graduate on relatively even footing, with some local variations from place to place, taking the same NCLEX and becoming RNs.

Entry level RNs (key word "entry level") new grads perform at about the same level of competency.

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A few years ago, as you may remember, it was announced that a lower mortality rate was associated with a higher staff ratio of RNs as compared to LPNs. (One could extend, by implication, BSN vs. ADN.)

However, on research article states: "Although studies suggest that increasing RN dose (i.e., number of care hours) and skill mix (versus LPN) are associated with improved patient safety, evidence linking RN education level (i.e., BSN, ADN, diploma) is sorely lacking."

http://www.journalofnursingeducation.com/showAbst.asp?thing=17072

Where I work (a med-surg unit) we have a mix of new and experienced LPNs and RNs, and among the RNs are ADNs and BSNs. The defining point among us all is the amount of practical experience, as there is rarely time to think about and less time to apply the theory learned in a BSN program, if it is ever applicable at all. However, if you want to work in ER and ICU you must be an RN, and BSNs are given preference.

And these days a BSN is the minimal requirement (and, really, an MSN is the new minimal qualification for managers) to move up the administrative ladder (if you want to leave patient care entirely and, usually, for good). And of course a BSN is a requirement to higher degrees. My former unit manager, an RN-ADN nurse of 25 years, was scrambling to complete her BSN in order to keep her job.

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