BSN Or ADN?

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 29, 2005

I am in my first year of college, getting some very basic classes finished. I am at a crossroads in my education and I am looking for some feedback.
I know a bachelor’s degree is more valuable than an associate’s degree, but I am trying to weigh going to college with no debt and getting my associates degree or going into a lot of debt and get my bachelor’s (I figure roughly $40,000 after Fed/State grants). For a beginning Nurse, how big of a gap in pay is there (generally) between the 2 year and the 4 year degree?
Thanks for the help.
Shannon

:Melody: Hello and Welcome to Allnurses.com:Melody:

If you do a search within these forums, you will see this question answered many times.

Now, a BSN is not "more valuable" than an ADN/ASN. As for the pay difference, probably the answer to that question for most hospitals is, no. Both are RNs and both pass the same NCLEX. Now, the BSN goes for management positions often, but, again, that depends upon the institution as well.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Sep 30, 2005

I am in my first year of college, getting some very basic classes finished. I am at a crossroads in my education and I am looking for some feedback.
I know a bachelor's degree is more valuable than an associate's degree, but I am trying to weigh going to college with no debt and getting my associates degree or going into a lot of debt and get my bachelor's (I figure roughly $40,000 after Fed/State grants). For a beginning Nurse, how big of a gap in pay is there (generally) between the 2 year and the 4 year degree?
Thanks for the help.
Shannon

Minimal to no difference in pay.

Associate degree is cheaper and quicker, if you are able to get into a program. Unfortunately, long waiting lists and/or fierce competition make if very difficult to get into many ADN programs. A prospective student can often gain entry into a BSN program with much less difficulty and sometimes complete the entire four years quicker (than waiting and waiting years sometimes for a seat to open in an ADN program). If you can get into an ADN program fairly quickly, then do so. After you graduate and pass NCLEX, then you can pursue one of many convenient RN-BSN programs (many are online). That way, you will have the benefit of an RN salary, while you gain your BSN

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2005

Minimal to no difference AT FIRST at the bedside when you graduate. Where I work BSN new grads make 4% more than ADN's.

But you have to look a bit beyond that. A manager/director with a BSN in a big hospital makes much more than an ADN who can't advance due to lack of a degree.

In the short term ADN is cheaper and perhaps you can do like me, go RN to BSN and get some tuition reimbursement from the place of employment.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2005

There is not much of a pay gap. I went from ADN to BSN and only a few employers recognized my education with a bit of a raise--and it was only about 50cents an hour more. A staff nurse is still a staff nurse. What a BSN will do for you is open up doors of opportunity to get into management, supervision, and administrative kinds of roles. My employer put me into a supervision position within a few months of getting my BSN. The problem I had with the education part of it was that when I finally settled on the school where I did my BSN, some of my classes from the JC weren't accepted in transfer and there were a number of pre-requisites I had to satisfy at that particularly university in order to qualify for a bachelor's degree. I also had to repeat my anatomy and physiology because they had a policy that it had to be taken within 10 years of starting the upper division nursing classes. I had taken mine 11 years before. Another advantage of getting an ADN first and working is that many hospitals offer their nurses a tuition reimbursement, so going back to get your BSN will cost you less money. This is a benefit you should look for when considering an employer. That said, if you eventually want a BSN, plan out the course you will take to get it. Example: the university I went to had a foreign language requirement. That shocked a lot of the BSN students. Nowadays a lot of the ADN programs have already started preparing students for transfer to universities for a BSN, so that helps. Don't depend on the college counselors in a JC to find this information out for you. You are safer to take the initiative to read the information in official university catalog or talk with a university couselor (you can do that even though you're not a student) where you'd like to get your BSN to figure out what kinds of pre-requisites you will need to go on to the university as well as to plan for classes they will require that you could take at a cheaper tuition at a JC.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 30, 2005

But you have to look a bit beyond that. A manager/director with a BSN in a big hospital makes much more than an ADN who can't advance due to lack of a degree.

With my ADN and the ability to work overtime, something my manager doesn't have, I've made at least $20,000 more a year than my BSN managers, for the last 5 yrs in a row.

2 of my managers have quit management so that they could earn more along the lines of what their subordinates make during that 5 yr period.

And I make $30,000 more a year than MSN instructors.

Kind of explains the nursing shortage, doesn't it?

~faith,

Timothy.

sunnyjohn · Sep 30, 2005

If it where me, I'd get the ADN with no debt.

Immediately upon graduation I would enroll in a BSN completion program that would allow be to finish my degree in a year or so. That way I could take advantage of tuition reimbursment or work and comfortably pay for the BSN myself.

Also working as an RN and making a living would be a powerful personal motivator.

That is my plan. I already have a degree though.

Get the degree that is the best fit for your personal situation and needs, ADN or BSN. Education is never a waste!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2005

With my ADN and the ability to work overtime, something my manager doesn't have, I've made at least $20,000 more a year than my BSN managers, for the last 5 yrs in a row.
2 of my managers have quit management so that they could earn more along the lines of what their subordinates make during that 5 yr period.
And I make $30,000 more a year than MSN instructors.
Kind of explains the nursing shortage, doesn't it?
~faith,
Timothy.

Point well taken. I deliberately left educators out of it because they are underpaid according to their experience and education.

I did mean all, things being equal, not overtime included. As a rule ADN floor nurses make less than their degreed bosses.

Also ADN's working perdiem agency can make much more an an administrator.

The lack of financial incentive is probably what kept me an ADN for long, as I kept making more and more money as time went on.

What changed my mind is that I'm not sure when I'm in my 60 and 70s I can do what I'm doing now and I want options.

If one wants to make money, doesn't mind working overtime and doesn't want to go into any BSN required field of nursing, then ADN is the way to go., and there's plenty of good money to be made. I know a fellow who worked two contracts with two hospitals working 6 12-hour shifts a week and made tons of money.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 30, 2005

mind you, I'm all for education. BSN and MSNs are great things to aspire to have.

But as long as the pay vs. benefit is so upside down, it's no wonder nobody wants to be an instructor, and in turn, it's no wonder there are 2 yr waiting lists for schools.

~faith,

Timothy.

sunnyjohn · Sep 30, 2005

We can always count on Timothy to give us the financial perspective! lol

Maybe you should start a publication, "Nurse Financial Weekly." :lol2:

Shannon RN 2be · Sep 30, 2005

Thank you all SOO much you have given me a lot to think about.

I know the school I want to go to, to get my BSN it is University Of Colorado but getting in is very difficult. I have a program here in North Carolina, that I can get into to get my ADN and from what you all are saying it sounds like it would be a better idea to stay here at my school and get my ADN then work and get my BSN. I love the sound of tuition reimbursement that's something I didn't even think about.

Thanks for all the help

Hugs

Shannon

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2005

mind you, I'm all for education. BSN and MSNs are great things to aspire to have.
But as long as the pay vs. benefit is so upside down, it's no wonder nobody wants to be an instructor, and in turn, it's no wonder there are 2 yr waiting lists for schools.
~faith,
Timothy.

Valid points. I would love to be an instructor, and people are actually encouraging me to do it. But I've got a high mortgage, car payment, etc. based on my salary now. Why would I take a pay cut to teach? The "calling" to be an instructor isn't strong enough to warrent going to school for the extra years and taking a pay cut. Pay does indeed matter.