BSN or RN

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2006

WolfpackRed, there are currently no states that require the BSN for licensure. One state (North Dakota????) tried, but failed.

tookewlandy · Apr 30, 2006

I hear that you need a BSN for most managment positions, teaching, and if you ever want to continue on and become a CRNA or a NP. There are ADN that have managment positions as well though, my mom is the Director of nursing at the facility she works at but then again she has been an rn there for 25 years.

At first though it seems no matter what degree you get you have to work at the bedside anyway so im ok with starting out ADN or even LPn and then going back after a few years experience

Andy

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2006

I hear that you need a BSN for most managment positions, teaching, and if you ever want to continue on and become a CRNA or a NP. There are ADN that have managment positions as well though, my mom is the Director of nursing at the facility she works at but then again she has been an rn there for 25 years.
At first though it seems no matter what degree you get you have to work at the bedside anyway so im ok with starting out ADN or even LPn and then going back after a few years experience
Andy

It all depends. I have worked for an organizatin that did not have a single BSN. Staff educator, risk mgmt, unit director, dept directors and outside consultants were all either diploma or ADN RNs.

I also know a dept director in the AZ health dept who is an AAS RN. She even writes grant proposals.

A few years ago, I was asked to apply for a position teaching in a CNA program, and I have an AAS

Due to changing school requirments and wait-list, it took me 127 credit hours and approx 6 years to get my AAS RN. So, an AAS is not always the quickest route.

But, if anyone has the time, money and desire to get a BSN, then by all means I would go for it. More education can only be an advantage.

In area of nursing surplus, however, many positions require even floor nurses to have a BSN. That is the case where I now live.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Apr 30, 2006

I am starting a BSN program in the fall. I went the BSN route for a few reasons: I wanted a bachelors for my own personal satisfaction, didn't want to have to go back to school to finish a BSN, I just wanted to get it over with (lol) because I eventually would like to become a PA or NP. There are also certain nursing jobs that require a BSN (public health I am thinking is one I am interested in) and I just didn't want to limit myself. Later on I might want to teach and most of the nursing teaching jobs (at least where I live) require a BSN and a masters in nursing.

Just wanted to share *my* reasoning. It's very different and personal for each person. For me I just wanted to knock it out and get it over with and not have to go back to finish things up....I just knew I would regret that.

smk1, LPN · Apr 30, 2006

the advantage comes in for BSN's later. I will continue for mine because it will only take 1 year to 18 months to finish, so why not? and ,if i am being considered for positions with other RN's and all things are equal except that I have a BSN, I think the BSN will get the job. There are some areas where i live that are BSN only (school nursing, education, upper management) and some are BSN preferred (lower management, home health, community health,. and case management). I just want to get it done now so that i don't have to worry about it later on, and if by chance i get a wild hair in the future and decided to go to grad school, then I am that much closer. Still though, there are plentiful opportunities as an ADN RN, and across the stateline (communtable for me) you don't need a BSN for school nursing. Varies widely.

JaxiaKiley · Apr 30, 2006

This is something I've been dealing with, too. I'm changing careers, and trying to not work while I go to school. After looking at 2 year and 4 year programs, the 2 year programs in my area didn't require all the sciences as pre-reqs but the 4 year programs did. So, if I wanted to get into a 4 year program, it would take me 3 more semesters of school before I could apply, where I could apply to a 2 year program after only one semester and still have a decent chance of getting in if I make good grades.

Since I need an income soon, I cannot afford to wait and so I am going the for the 2 year degree. However, since I will have all my general classes, I do plan to eventually get my BSN. It is just not the best answer for me right now.

I guess the point of all this is that you should look at your current situation and go from there :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2006

It all depends...........In area of nursing surplus, however, many positions require even floor nurses to have a BSN. That is the case where I now live.

This is true. In my RN to BSN course there are people who are already dircectors, supervisors and managers. It varies from region to region and even hospital to hospital. Where I work all managers have a BSN, without exception. At a smaller for-profit hospital a few miles down the road, one RN to BSN student looking for a manager to shadow with a BSN told me that there are no managers there with BSNs, that they all have ADNs. When I worked for Duke, at the time, (don't know how it is now), all managers had Masters and their assistants had BSNs.

ADN nurses around the country because of their strong nursing education, experience, etc. can go very far. It also varies from individual to individual, with people with more leadership style personalities that have proven themselves as charge nurses, etc. going far.

I recently put the feelers out to get a educator job here that suddenly became open and had the door slammed shut in my face because I'm not finished with school yet.

SarasotaRN2b · Apr 30, 2006

:deadhorse :smackingf :smiley_ab

Everytime I see a post like this, I feel exactly like this!!! When are people going to realize that becoming an RN comes after passing the boards, whether they've attended an Associates program, a Bachelors program or a Diploma program.

mukhorty · Apr 30, 2006

Kris,

I agree with you that it in the end the truly important part is passing the boards and the actual practice of nursing, but it's still a valid question when trying to figure out what sort of schooling you're committing to.

jbjints · May 1, 2006

I am working full time and going to night school so getting my associate's first is important to me but I will go on to a 4 year program once I'm done with my associate's. I do wish I had the time to go to a 4 year but with work, family, and life itself it is impossible for me at the moment.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · May 1, 2006

everytime i see a post like this, i feel exactly like this!!! when are people going to realize that becoming an rn comes after passing the boards, whether they've attended an associates program, a bachelors program or a diploma program.

:yeahthat:

you would be surprised how many pre-nursing students have no idea that their degree will not make them registered nurses! i met one who just got into nursing school and did not know this until i told her.

i started talking to her about pass rates for the boards and she stopped me to ask what i was talking about. after i explained she asked, "so, does this mean i will not be a registered nurse when i graduate?"

by the way, have you noticed the many on here who post that they have been accepted recently into a "rn" school when referring too a diploma or associates degree? as if registered nurse = aas or diploma. i suppose they think that bsn = registered nurse and some other stuff.

anyway... i am just happy i can now use the :wakeneo: graphic to address my disgust.

Editorial Team / Admin · May 1, 2006

the adn/bsn debate has been discussed extensively here.

please see this thread which contains links to previous discussions and articles to assist in nursing papers: adn vs. bsn for entry level nursing

please keep all future discussion on this thread for future students use.