BSN or Associates Degree

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Hello, I have begun taking pre-requisites for nursing finally. I'm in my forties and wondered if the rumor about nurses with associates is true. Are companies preferring nurses with BSN, and is it hard for a nurse with an associate's degree to find a job nowadays? Ultimately, I want to pursue the BSN but in future. I may have the opportunity to transfer from TRI-C (a community college) after taking my pre-requisites to a larger university for the BSN. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thank you.:rolleyes:
So we're showing that things are changing. Again, whether you like it or not.

Nothing's changing. Trust me, this argument has been going on ON THIS WEBSITE, since at least 2004. It's verbatim, it never changes. Nothing has changed.

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From 1987 to 2003 North Dakota required a bachelor's degree for nursing licensure. This law was revoked in 2003, once again allowing nurses with diplomas or associate degrees to practice. While the state's percentage of baccalaureate prepared nurses grew to 54%, many nurses left to practice in other states, nursing associations did not support the legislation and some groups sought to have it repealed saying it worsened the nursing shortage in the state.

This will happen anywhere they try to mandate a BSN. Why wouldn't it?

Even in the military, it's all based on need. During a draft or war, nurses can be commissioned based on their RN licensure--and have been. For now, that need doesn't exist, so like all officers, they have to have a bachelor's. In this case, a BSN.

When nurses are not needed, BSNs are required. When nurses are needed, ADN or Diploma is just fine. Why? Because to work effectively as a registered nurse, all it takes is nursing school.

I'm not anti-education. I'm a realist. There are some jobs that just require a lot of education--teachers, lawyers, medical doctors, scientists, even religious ministers, engineers, and accountants. Nursing just isn't one of those professions.

That doesn't mean a nurse shouldn't be educated. A manager should probably have a degree in hospital administration, a nursing school professor should have the highest degree they can get, MSN, and even a Ph.D. in Education.

But the bedside nurse doesn't need a BSN. There's no point in it.

AND I AM RIGHT. You know how I know? 50 states in the US register nurses with ADNs. Most will do it for those earning a 3-year hospital diploma.

Granted, the military is a bit different (at this time). Nurses are officers; officers have bachelor's degrees, so...nurses need a BSN. That's not always the case, but with no war or draft, that's the case now. With a war or draft, there are ways to be any kind of officer without a degree (battlefield commissions). But even so, at least there's a cool trade off: You can have your license from any state in the union. You can have a BSN from whatever CCNE mill you get it from. So, that's a cool trade off for the BSN requirement.

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Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

I think the market in your area makes a huge difference, and had to be considered in answering your question. In Northern California, the new grad BSN usually gets preference over the new grad ADN. I think part of it is that both are hired at new grad rates, whereas an ADN hired as a new grad can expect an increase when she gets her BSN. I don't know that fire a fact, but it's what I've heard from several sources in the hospital. But if you have a choice between the two, my recommendation to you would be to go for the BSN. Nursing only gets more and more complex. If you're going to specialize, you're probably going to want to further your education. Just my opinion of course.

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I find it kind of interesting that only the BSNs are saying you need a BSN...in OH I promise you any hospital experience you have is much more important then having a bachelors degree. They might make you sign a contract stating you will go back to school for the BSN within five years, though.

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

We have a tech that offers ADN, and literally, right around the corner, we have a University offering a BSN. We have two hospitals (and a third being built), numerous clinics, countless LTC facilities, and several outpatient surgical facilities.

I'm in the ADN program. I've talked to many people who have been through either one or, got their ADN, then finished BSN at the University.

The tech is cheaper, so, that's one reason. One hospital requires a BSN eventually (within 6 years of hire), the other doesn't require it at all. Many of those I know in the BSN program wished they would have gone to the tech first--waaaay more hands-on and clinical experience. The BSN program is more heavy on theory.

Many don't want to go through the tech program because it's very intense. After only two weeks, I can attest to that. The BSN program is very competitive, the ADN program ALWAYS has a waiting list at least a year long.

And we still have a nursing shortage here.....

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I find it kind of interesting that only the BSNs are saying you need a BSN...in OH I promise you any hospital experience you have is much more important then having a bachelors degree. They might make you sign a contract stating you will go back to school for the BSN within five years, though.

THIS THIS THIS!!! here in Ohio (I live in central Ohio), they absolutely give a care about the experience you have under your belt waaaaaaay more than the degree. These big hospitals think of it as this, we hire you, you agree to go back to school to obtain the BSN, you sign the contract and that's that. But experience is a MUST HAVE here in this area. Nobody cares what school you go to. you have the RN, you have the experience, they will call you for an interview.'

But like some of the other post state, it really does depend on the region you live in and what is in demand.

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I'm not anti-BSN. I'm just not anti-ASN. If I'm ever required to have a BSN to fill a square, I'll get it as cheaply and quickly online as I can. I'll find the closest thing to a degree mill I can get away with and that will by my Alma Mater for the BSN.

This had my laughing out loud! hilarious! but I do understand your point.

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So lots of folks on here talking about 'getting experience' as a new nurse. How does a new nurse right out of school get their experience so they can get a job? I'm really wanting to get into travel nursing if truth be told.

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I find it kind of interesting that only the BSNs are saying you need a BSN. They might make you sign a contract stating you will go back to school for the BSN within five years, though.

And only the ADN/Diploma nurses are saying you don't need a BSN. So that's not a good argument.

If they make you sign a contract saying you need a BSN... then they're clearly requiring you to have the BSN in one way or another.

Nobody cares what school you go to. you have the RN, you have the experience, they will call you for an interview.

The argument keeps being made that if you have the experience then they will hire you with an ADN. Experience has been mentioned multiple times so far in this thread as the be all to end all in hiring decisions. What's one to do if they are a new grad ADN?

It's not state laws or federal laws that will ultimately make this change. It's hospital systems that will be the driving force in this. There are many areas of the country that have 1 or more nursing programs and hospitals can afford to be picky and they are picking BSNs. Other, more rural (read: less desirable) areas of the country don't have the luxury of being picky in any way. The hospitals in my area are pushing older, more experienced nurses out in favor of new grad BSN nurses. It's unfortunate, but here we are.

It's what's happening. Do I think you need a BSN to be a bedside nurse? No. Do I think you need a doctorate to be a physician? No. The degree creep in American health care is ridiculous and EXPENSIVE with no improvement in outcomes compared to countries where a physician has a Bachelor's degree. Everyone wants to be a doctor (PT, OT, pharm, AuD, DNP, even physician assistants now) and that trickles down through the ranks. It's unnecessary but it's reality.

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Specializes in Emergency / Disaster.

I'm not a nurse yet - but I'm in my forties and at the same cross roads as you. I'm currently taking pre-reqs at 2 Tech schools (one as a transient student which actually may turn out to be an issue for one school I'm trying to apply to). I can continue at my "main" tech school and be able to afford it. When I'm done in 2.5 years, all of it will still fit into my financial aid. Because I already have a BS degree, my financial aid is mostly capped out. The school I want to attend will cost me $20k out of pocket in addition to tapping out all of my student loan possibilities and I'm not sure I can work enough to make that much without taking a semester off in the middle to pay to continue - or figure out how to get a private loan. My initial plan was to get my 2 year and then as quick as I can do the RN-BSN program at the school I wanted to go to - which will still cost about $20k out of pocket but hopefully I'll have a good job where I can pay as I go or my employer will help pay.

I just found another school that I may be able to attend and get my 4 year degree now and will nearly fit into my financial aid (I think the remainder I can handle out of pocket). For me I'm thinking about this from a "how do the local hospitals feel about a degree from THIS place". One of them is a Medical University so I know its reputable. The other ones I'm just not so sure. It isn't like I want to run around asking people - hey - what do you think of this nursing program but maybe I should. I'm also considering where each of the schools do their clinicals and if that is some place I would like to work in the future. For example - one school does all small hospitals in the boonies, one does theirs at magnet hospitals and one is a Medical University so they stay on their campus.

For me the decision is going to be 4 year first if I can (because honestly for me its going to be 4 semesters no matter which program I take). I've decided that I can't risk so much money to go to the school I want. I really don't want to lose the house I've worked so hard for just to make it through nursing school. I know I'll have to make sacrifices - but I don't think I need to sacrifice my house - that would just be me making bad choices. I've also decided not to do an ABSN because I need to work at least a little to make my mortgage payment. If I keep my serving job and work 1 day a week, it will cover my mortgage (and that sweet man of mine can cover the rest) - its just too much to ask him to pick up all my slack so I can just quit work. Sadly I'm not in a financial position to do that.

If it helps any - I wrote each of my choices on a dry erase board in black. I wrote all the positives of each in blue and all the negatives in red. Costs, driving, pre-reqs, graduation rate, NCLEX pass rate... and it helped me get to the spot where I am now. I still haven't decided - but seeing it all written down really did make it more concrete for me. Especially seeing when I can apply and the resulting graduation date (that's how I figured out they are all 4 semesters). My plan is to keep going - so it was never to just get a 2 year and stop - but its about getting to be an RN and then figuring out the rest. There is some right combination of financial vs time and I just don't know what that is yet for me. I hope you figure it out too!!

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Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

Excellent question! In my highly competitive area, even SNFs are asking for a years experience.

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And only the ADN/Diploma nurses are saying you don't need a BSN. So that's not a good argument.

If they make you sign a contract saying you need a BSN... then they're clearly requiring you to have the BSN in one way or another.

The argument keeps being made that if you have the experience then they will hire you with an ADN. Experience has been mentioned multiple times so far in this thread as the be all to end all in hiring decisions. What's one to do if they are a new grad ADN?

my point is/was you dont NEED and BSN to get the job...but to keep the job, OBVIOUSLY. (if they are having you sign a contract.

As far as new grads not being able to find a job due to lack of experience...i dont know what to say about that. Nursing is competitice nowadays. EVERYONE wants to be a nurse. which is great! but at the same time....look where we are....

I hope the OP makes a decision that best fits her.

And someone else on this thread, posted something to the effect of this adn vs. bsn arguement is old her on AN.....and it is. still relevant. but it is old.

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