BSN vs. ADN really does it matter these days?

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2011

Congrats on completing your BSN.

While I am not trying to turn this into an RN vs BSN debate, I do believe that in this economy more than ever a nurse needs to do whatever it takes to be more marketable, and in more and more areas that means going back to school and getting a BSN. I also started out with a 2 year RN diploma, and am so glad I went back right out of school to get my BSN. The student loans, the 50 cent pay raise, none of that was worth it, but knowing when I relocated across the country that I did not have trouble getting a job made it worth while.

Just my opinion... :twocents:

johnson_katie · Oct 7, 2011

A lot of the facilities in my area are transitioning to hiring only BSN nurses and not ADN. I also heard somewhere else on the news or in a journal article that it is projected that in 2015 or so, most hospitals will require a BSN.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2011

I live in a large metropolitan area where your degree definitely matters.

In the area where I live, the preference for BSN-educated nurses started taking shape soon after the financial meltdown of 2008. Nowadays, several of the major hospital systems around here will not hire new grads into any of their internships without a BSN degree. The BSN degree is a requirement for the new grad internships at the hospitals within their systems.

I have an associates degree and four years of previous experience as an LVN. The smaller rehab hospitals, outlying regional hospitals, LTACHs, nursing homes, and home health agencies in this area will still hire a new RN with an associates degree. However, those who desire internships with a major hospital in this metropolitan area need BSN degrees.

vashtee, RN · Oct 7, 2011

I think it matters in large hospitals. Where I live, though, the focus is on phasing out the LVNs.

soxgirl2008 · Oct 7, 2011

It depends on where you live...In some areas of the country a lot of hospitals are only hiring BSNs. In other areas it doesn't seem to matter as much, but for a lot of management positions you'll need a BSN. The BSN seems to matter more in large cities and in magnet facilities, but I know ADN nurses that have still gotten hired at the magnet facilites around here.

I doubt that by 2015 "most" hospitals will require a BSN. The hospitals around here mostly hire ADNs, and I doubt within the next 4 years that is totally going to turn around...maybe in larger metropolitan areas, but there are a lot of rural areas where the only nursing schools within 60 miles are ADN programs, and I doubt those hospitals are going to go BSN only that soon.

Sparrow23 · Oct 7, 2011

For my area, yeah, it matters. Very few of the hospitals are hiring ADNs here, and the ones that are... well, they are definitely not the nicest places to work. A friend of mine has her ADN and she is having such a hard time finding a decent place to work. The job market is sucky for everyone right now, but I'd still say it makes a difference.

PMFB-RN, RN · Oct 7, 2011

I think is makes a difference for new grads. Many hospitals are making the very sensible (for them) move of hiring BSNs only. They are in a position to do this for several reasons. The first is the false, self serving propaganda that there is a nursing shortage. As a result if the great and often repeated LIE many nursing programs have greatly expanded the number of students they train. Plus many new programs, many are for profit, rip off schools that charge vast amounts of money. This, combined with the poor economy, has resulted in a glut of unemployed new grads. So for the first time in a long time hospitals are in a position to be picky.

That they would prefer new BSN grads over ADN grads makes perfect sense from a short-sighted hospital management's perspective. A new BSN grad is highly likely to come to their first job with large amounts of student debt. They are seen as less likely to rock the boat and more likely to tolerate poor working conditions and bad treatment from management. Their large deb makes them less likely to risking losing their jobs and thus more pliable and submissive to management.

Consider the ADN grads who very likely come to their first job with little to no debt. Management views them as more likely to refuse to tolerate bad working conditions and more likely to vote with their feet if treated badly.

It's no mystery whey we see so many "BSN prefere" and BSN required" in job postings the last couple years.

soxgirl2008 · Oct 7, 2011

I think is makes a difference for new grads. Many hospitals are making the very sensible (for them) move of hiring BSNs only. They are in a position to do this for several reasons. The first is the false, self serving propaganda that there is a nursing shortage. As a result if the great and often repeated LIE many nursing programs have greatly expanded the number of students they train. Plus many new programs, many are for profit, rip off schools that charge vast amounts of money. This, combined with the poor economy, has resulted in a glut of unemployed new grads. So for the first time in a long time hospitals are in a position to be picky.
That they would prefer new BSN grads over ADN grads makes perfect sense from a short-sighted hospital management's perspective. A new BSN grad is highly likely to come to their first job with large amounts of student debt. They are seen as less likely to rock the boat and more likely to tolerate poor working conditions and bad treatment from management. Their large deb makes them less likely to risking losing their jobs and thus more pliable and submissive to management.
Consider the ADN grads who very likely come to their first job with little to no debt. Management views them as more likely to refuse to tolerate bad working conditions and more likely to vote with their feet if treated badly.
It's no mystery whey we see so many "BSN prefere" and BSN required" in job postings the last couple years.

I never thought of it this way, very interesting point.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 7, 2011

i just completed my bsn this early year. big whaaaahoey.
it has not done much for me.. at all. no pay increase, recruiters are not knocking at my door. is it just a worthless higher degree that gets me really.. nowhere? feeling that way.

well, pay increases depends on the employer. have you noticed how many refused to give pay raises in the past several years??? i disagree that your bsn was a waste..... the only adn nurses i know that have successful careers are ones that have decades of work experience. a bsn + some nursing work experience = opportunities for those of us without decades of work experience! for instance, i am a former adn who left a horrible job and a terrible area of the country for better pay and a better place to live because i earned my bsn and had some work experience to boot. thus, you did the right thing. start looking around if you are not satisfied with your current employer. it may take you a bit longer then you wish due to the economy, but i am sure you will find something else if you are not a new grad (i was not able to click and read your profile). gl!

PMFB-RN, RN · Oct 7, 2011

I just completed my BSN this early year. BIG whaaaahoey.
It has not done much for me.. at all. NO pay increase, recruiters are not knocking at my door. Is it just a worthless higher degree that gets me really.. nowhere? Feeling that way.

*** There is no real justification for paying an bedside RN with a BSN or MSN any more than a diploma or ADN prepared RN. It is not as if cause of the RNs degree the hospital can bill more for their services, or that an RN with a BSN or MSN can care for different patients than a diploma RN. The BSN or MSN prepared bedside RN does not bring more money into the hospital. Its not like physicians where one physician who does 5 years of residency and 3 years of fellowship to learn to do open heart surgery can bring in more money, thus justify higher pay than, say a family practice physician who bills for less

merlee · Oct 7, 2011

No doubt that the BSN will be worth it in the long run.