BSN...what for?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Hello,

I am new here and a new nursing student. I work at a hospital as a CNA on the med/surg unit. I am just wondering, for those going on for your BSN, what exactly will do you intend on using it for? I ask this knowing nurses that have their BSN and end up floor nursing and getting the same pay as an ADN. I am trying to think on 'where' I want to go in Nursing and whether to start working toward a BSN also.

Dan

Specializes in LTC.

I live in an area where there is no nursing shortage at all. I'm in a ASN program, but plan on moving quickly on to my BSN because the hospitals around here are able to be picky.

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More opportunities like teaching,school nursing,military nursing,managment positions and self-fulfillment.

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Specializes in Home Health, MS, Oncology, Case Manageme.

I think you should pursue a BSN for yourself (self-fullfilment) and not necessarily for a job. This is my story: When I worked at the hospital in med/surg, I was told that I wouldn't get hired into Home Care because I didn't have a BSN. So, I started back to school. Shortly after, I applied at Home Care Agency and they hired me on the spot. They didn't care that I didn't have my BSN. I loved Home Care and I was already $5,000 in debt, so I quit school. After 5 years, I thought I would try case management with Blue Cross. I heard the same story about not being hired without a BSN but I thought I'd try anyway. Not only did I get hired but my manager was a ADN nurse. There were 6 nurses on our team at Blue Cross. 2 with Masters, 2 with BSN's and 2 ADN's. We all made the same salary! I found the job very unchallenging so I went back to Home Care. I do think about going back to school but its so expensive and I have only about 15 years more to work, so I'm trying to decide if its a good investment for me.

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I'm just finishing up my ADN this month. I am also working on my BSN, primarily because my school offered a program with the local university to do both at the same time. I'll have my BSN 6 months after I finish my ADN... I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to take adavantage of the program.

My sister also has a BSN. She works as a hospice nurse, and her position REQUIRES a BSN. They won't hire an ADN. She loves her job, and she makes a LOT of money doing it. I don't want to work hospice, but there are RN positions that require the BSN. Also, you have better advancement opportunity with the BSN.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I graduated last year with my RN diploma. Four months later, I went back to school to get my BSN. While I wasn't sure then (and still am not) what path my career as an nurse will take me, I knew I would have more opportunites if I had my BSN. I've considered going to grad school, need my BSN first. I've also considered being a nursing school instructor, I'd need my BSN for that too. Even if I decide to just work as a staff nurse, I believe my training and education I've received while working on my BSN will be invaluable to me.

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Specializes in Home Health, MS, Oncology, Case Manageme.
My sister also has a BSN. She works as a hospice nurse, and her position REQUIRES a BSN. They won't hire an ADN. She loves her job, and she makes a LOT of money doing it.

Thats interesting, in Michigan, our hospices nurses do not have to have a BSN. In Michigan, unless you want to teach or manage you do not have to have a BSN. However, I have had 2 management positions without a BSN. Hospice pays the same as home care unless you take on call, then you can make more.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health, Show Biz.

:nurse:

why not start

with the bsn

as a goal?

this way

you can never

be told

that you're

under-qualified.

just a thought...:twocents:

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

Because knowledge is power. Education is never a waste of time.

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Hi all, bsn all the way because for those of us who will becoming into nursing it will be a requirement to have the bsn get it out the way and do it, just like soon to be an np doctorates will be required for newcomers coming in. Soon it won't be an option but a requirement so get it done when a possible

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Specializes in Telemetry Med/Surg.

same pay, same test. No difference. Most colleges now require MSN to teach so rn-msn study is likely all off you BSN's next rite of passage to the world of teaching. Remember, those ADN students will go to some hospital making more as an adn floor nurse than that teaching MSN

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Specializes in Telemetry Med/Surg.
Because knowledge is power. Education is never a waste of time.

Knowledge is power but if we're both changing trach's and hanging that peritoneal dialysis fluid, who can tell what the difference in our education is?

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
Knowledge is power but if we're both changing trach's and hanging that peritoneal dialysis fluid, who can tell what the difference in our education is?

Out side of bed side. In many states the ASN/ADN will be chained to the bedside while the BSN had more mobility options in work and can move up the educational latter more quickly. If it were not for this shortage I would not be surprised if they required all nurses get a BSN as entry...by 2015 NPs will have to have a doctorate; who to long ago were only a step above BSN and several years ago one step above ASN (I worked for two FNPs that were ASN nurses before becoming FNPs and still do not have a Bachelors or Masters) As the gap gets wider, the bedside nurse is going to become less and less "professional". Sure, if you are just going to be a bedside nurse there really is not difference, but there a lot of jobs that go beyond bedside nursing and in many situations the ADN/ASN stays behind.

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