BSN not all its cracked up to be

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JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, I AM NOT KNOCKING THE BSN PREPARED NURSE. HOWEVER, I AM AN R.N., AND WHERE I AM EMPLOYED THE BSN NURSES MAKE NO MORE WAGE THAN AN ADN NURSE, WHICH I DISAGREE WITH, YOU SHOULD MAKE MORE MONEY WITH MORE EDUCATION, IT JUST MAKES SENSE. I ALSO NOTICE WHEN NURSING STUDENTS COME IN TO CLINICALS ON MY FLOOR THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ADN AND BSN STUDENTS. THERE ARE TWO MAJOR NURSING SCHOOLS IN MY CITY, ONE AN ADN AND ONE A BSN. THE BSN SCHOOL HAS A 66% PASS RATE ON THE NCLEX RN. THE ADN HAS A 93% PASS RATE. REASON? MOST OF THE BSN STUDENTS ARE RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, HAVE NO OTHER OBLIGATION THAN COLLEGE, MOMMY AND DADDY TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING ON THE FINANCIAL FRONT, SO IF THEY FAIL IT IS NOT AS MUCH OF HIT. ON TOP OF ALL THAT THEY LEARN THE "THEORY OF NURSING", AND NOT HOW TO BE A NURSE. I SEE COUNTLESS BSN STUDENTS THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLACE A BP CUFF, OR PUT A PATIENT ON A BEDPAN!! TYPICALLY ADN STUDENTS ARE OLDER, FULL TIME WORKERS, AND HAVE FAMILIES, SO A LOT MORE IS ON THE LINE. I FULLY PLAN TO GO FOR MY MSN, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT IS A BETTER DECISION TO GET YOUR RN FIRST, GO INTO THE FIELD, AND THEN FURTHER YOUR EDUCATION. NOTHING AGAINST YOUNG STUDENTS EITHER, FOR I WAS 23 WHEN I STARTED NURSING SCHOOL. I HAD TWO CHILDREN, PAID FOR ALL MY SCHOOLING, AND WORKED FULL TIME ON TOP OF NURSING SCHOOL. I BELIEVE NOTHING IN THE WORLD CAN STOP YOU IF YOU WANT SOMETHING BAD ENOUGH. BEST OF LUCK TO ALL IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IN YOUR CAREER.:lol2:

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Specializes in DOU.

I was told a BSN was really only important if you wanted to work in management, at least for now since there is a shortage of nurses. I guess when I finish my program and try to enter the workforce, I will find out if that is true.

I entered an ADN program because in two different local hospitals, I was told that the best nurses came from that particular program. Also, I'm not 20 anymore, and I am anxious to get to work.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Let's not start a fight here between nurses with different types of degrees. That doesn't help anyone.

In some towns, the local ADN school is the best school in town. In some towns, the local diploma progam is the best. In some towns, the BSN program produces the "best" nurses.

It's a mistake to assume that what one person happens to see in their particular community applies to everyone in the world. ..... And it is unwise to criticize thousands of your fellow nurses (with BSN's) just because you happen to live in a town with a BSN program that doesn't meet your expectations.

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Specializes in SICU.

To the OP, please don't shout. All capitals is shouting.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

This forum is not about disrespecting others degrees, We don't advocate an "my degree is holier than thou" approach to the BSN vs. ADN discussion. We do however encourage discussion, questions and opinions and you have a right to yours. Just be careful.

Your experiences with BSNs is a just your experience. Around here I see both BSNs and ADNs starting out on pretty much equal footing clinically (and yes the BSNs know how to use a bedpan). The BSNs have a higher pass rate on the NCLEX.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I was told a BSN was really only important if you wanted to work in management, at least for now since there is a shortage of nurses. I guess when I finish my program and try to enter the workforce, I will find out if that is true.

I entered an ADN program because in two different local hospitals, I was told that the best nurses came from that particular program. Also, I'm not 20 anymore, and I am anxious to get to work.

Good luck to you. You're going to find that as a novice new nurse you're not going to find any trouble at entry level jobs at the bedside.

However, I just want to say that the advantage of the BSN isn't just for those who want to go into management. There are BSN-preferred jobs in teaching, research, quality control, safety, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, community health, on and on and on. So there are jobs away from the bedside besides management where BSN-prepared nurses get the edge. So it's something you might consider in the future. I've done very well in my 16 years at the bedside and am quite happy. But when I'm 60 who knows what if I'm going to want to work this hard, or have the physical stamina, so I'm getting a BSN now. One thing is certain. I do not want to go into management.

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Specializes in DOU.
One thing is certain. I do not want to go into management.

Yes, management holds no interest at all for me right now. I thought I'd work a couple of years, and then decide whether or not I wanted to continue on. At the moment, I think I am getting a little burned out in school. I blame all those science courses...

Thanks for your post.

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we(nurses) need to support each other no matter what level of title we uphold but the BSN/ BS and higher degrees seems to be the current flow of the wave for nursing and we will have to ride with the wave if we are to continue our progress in nursing-as many of us have left the beside, so we need to think out of the box-it's not about management positions nor money but it seems higher education(titles) is the wave of the future, most positions away from beside, as mentioned, only say " BSN preferred" for now it is, in the future most positions will possibly say required. we have to love it or leave it, and for all the work put into school, continuinged and our nursing if we are still in it we must love it, so will have to follow suit to stay in what we love.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

truthtutor is so right! We must support each other at whatever level of nursing we do because we must all band together in order to get things accomplished.

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Specializes in Oncology, ICU.

I recently graduated with an ADN and it was the only way I would have been able to do it. I am the mother of 3, and the road has been bumpy. I agree that we should all support each other. I plan on continuing my education, but I need to work and care for my family right now. I feel very blessed to be in the best profession and among so very wonderful and talented people. The BSN/MSN will eventually allow me to teach and continue with bedside nursing. We have all worked very hard and need to encourage and support each other.

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I disagree, I'm in the process of completing my BSN, in my senior year, I have 3 kids, work 2 part time tech jobs at two different hospitals, and go to school full time, oh and I can use a bedpan rather well too I might add. But for me it's not just the nursing degree, I wanted my bachelors degree. To me that is as much of an accomplishment if not more than achieving my RN lisensure. I will also be obtaining my masters degree part time over the next few years for FNP. It's not just about being a nurse but bettering myself, achieving the level of education I desire and meeting my personal educational goals. And each area is different right now my school of nursing has an equal amount of "adult" student (over 30 like myself) and younger 20 something students. and there are no night program options or online courses, we are going as "traditional students" on a "traditional schedule", so the assumption that older students with families are at the tech schools is just what you are seeing in your area, each is different and since I'm not at the techs school in my area I won't assume what type of students are there.

Which ever degree you choose I wish you the best but it's not all in the "nursing degree" part of it, some of actually want a bachelor's of science degree as well.

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Not sure what you mean by a tech school? I went to a college that offers bachelors degrees, but not a bsn in nursing until 2009. I am 26 years old, and have been married happily for 7 years, have a 6 and 3 year old, so I guess you could consider me more like a 30 something than a 20 something based on the life I lead, huh? I know each program in different in the U.S., my post was just stating what I see in my town. When I say the majority of students in the bsn program are young and vice versa for the adn, I mean what I say majority. With all majorities are minorities, there are young students at adn schools and older students at bsn schools. Both just as successful, I believe your chronological age often times has no holding on your maturity level. I work with many amazing bsn prepared nurses, and many amazing adn nurses too. I appreciate everyone I work with. Thanx!

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