BSN vs. RN Salary

U.S.A. Alabama

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Hi! I got a lot of information about RN salaries from another thread. What it seems to be, is that around the Bham area, starting salaries are at about $18/hr. My question is, to any of you that know, or any of you that are Bachelors' grads, what is the difference in the pay? I have heard that Associates & Bachelors' pay are about the same. Do any of you know if this is true? (It seems that if "they" want BSN grads so bad that they would pay more per hour for a BSN than an Associates). Thanks for any info you have.

it's not true that an ADN is not considered a college degree. the words "ASSOCIATE DEGREE OF NURSING". a RN nursing certificate is not considered a college degree

sosiouxme said:
An RN with only the "ADN" (which, by the way, is not considered a college degree) would make as much as someone with a BSN only if they hold the same position. However, most BSN's are hired at higher levels than the non-degreed RN's to begin with. With the ADN - you will almost never advance to the same level as someone with a BSN, or better, a Master's, can achieve.

Let me point out the many idiotic statements in this post.

Fail #1 - the Asso Degree Nursing IS by the way, a COLLEGE degree. Mostly due to the fact it is issued by a COLLEGE. University by definition is an institution that offers graduate level courses. College can refer to a 2 OR a 4 year school, case in point smaller liberal arts colleges that do not have graduate programs.

Fail #2 - Most BSN's are NOT hired at "higher levels" to begin with, because both the BSN and the ADN have the same amount of work experience off the bat (none). You would be hard pressed to find a credible hospital that would hire a CC or unit co-ordinator fresh off the boat just because they held an allmighty BSN.

Fail #3 - "With the ADN - you will almost never advance to the same level as someone with a BSN, or better, a Master's, can achieve." Obvious statement is obvious. You mean to tell me that Nurse Practitioners have better pay and more responsibility than an RN? Thank you for enlightening all of us...

Specializes in LTC, geriatrics, hospice, etc.
sosiouxme said:
An RN with only the "ADN" (which, by the way, is not considered a college degree) would make as much as someone with a BSN only if they hold the same position. However, most BSN's are hired at higher levels than the non-degreed RN's to begin with. With the ADN - you will almost never advance to the same level as someone with a BSN, or better, a Master's, can achieve.

Two more years of literature and history courses don't make you a better nurse dearie. Drop the ego. We are here to support each other, not diss anyone who didn't want to pay twice as much for the same outcome.

I am a PCT at UAB (and a pre-nursing student) and I have many friends who are nurses (both BSN and ADN). ALL agree there is no difference when you start out. A Staff RN is a Staff RN is a Staff RN! However, once you get in to clinical management and supervisory positions, some facilities do prefer a BSN over an ADN with equal experience (and some require MSN). I myself will be getting a BSN ONLY because I plan to continue my education from there. Although I am certainly being thrifty by getting my Associate of Science at a CC first.

Specializes in Level II & III NICU, Mother-Baby Unit.

I am aware of a hospital in Atlanta which only hires BSN or higher degreed nurses. There are so many nurses wanting to work there that they decided to weed out the applicants by hiring only BSNs. Many hospitals looking for Magnet status also prefer BSNs and also want the nurses to have specialty certification in their area of work. I imagine that if a nurse with and ADN wants to be a bedside nurse her entire career and work in a hospital which is not in a major city (which by the way is me) she/he would not need the BSN unless they want the knowledge (which by the way is me again... I hope to get my BSN one day just for s*&ts & giggles).

I also believe that if nursing required more education than 2 years that the "world" would have a bit more respect for us. All knowledge is power in the end. I'm sure I've upset someone with my post so I apologize in advance.

Specializes in OB/Gyn, L&D, NICU.

Keep in mind that a 2 year RN is really a 3+ year degree considering the prereqs. Although I do firmly believe an RN should have the same college requirements as a bachelor's degree, which would mean adding on a few more prereqs than are currently required for a 2 yr RN. Getting my bachelor's in a completely different subject other than nursing, I feel that the classes I took helped me develop critical thinking and awareness skills necessary for nursing. It astounds me that you can be an RN regardless of whether you get an ADN/ASN or a BSN, as there is such a difference between the programs. Personally, I will be getting an ADN/ASN, as I already have my bachelor's and the only 2 BSN programs near me have requirements above and beyond what most BSN schools have: one is a Catholic university and would require me to take several semesters of religion classes. I have already taken several religion classes and taught in a Christian school so I don't find that necessary!!

Both degrees typically start out the same in my research. I am returning to school to become an RN. I will say that in my experience a 4 year institution might be easier to get into the nursing program. A lot of community colleges have limited space which make this harder to be accepted and more competitive. A BSN has an advantage if you want to continue education.

VA is the only employer that I know of that really pays you significantly more for a BSN or a Masters degree. I really think an RN should be required to have a BSN degree in the future. I think this is how the healthcare industry has been able to keep nursing pay so low. Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists for example have to now have Master degrees. If RNs had to have at least a BSN, the job would be more respected and the salaries would go up. Please don't get me wrong, I am not trying to criticize anyone who has an Associates Degree and is an RN. They should be grandfathered into the system with no other requirements. I am saying going forward though it would do a lot for our profession and the pay and respect we receive.....Just my opinion.

I personally attended a 4yr college and could not get into the BSN program due to a limited amount of space this has forced me to pursue ADN. I currently hold a BA in Sociology, I would have loved to recieve a BSN and go from there but I had no other choice due to spacing.

Haha..people say the strangest things! I am a diploma nurse, and I am holding a title of management with the money that comes with it.

Specializes in ER, MS, ICU.

Whatever it takes to get you up and going in the morning...whatever it takes for you to love your job! I'm a staff nurse and LOVE direct patient care!!!! I don't need a BSN(only lack 5 classes, mainly clinicals and theory component)to enjoy what I do. Besides, where I work, the salary is not but $1/hr more for a BSN. You actually have to "climb" the career ladder to achieve the big $2/hr more that is available only if you "climb" the ladder. By the way, we have ADNs who are department managers and over BSN holders in their department! I am happy with me, just as I am, and my patients are, too!

I am so glad to see this information. I just signed up for Associates of Nursing program. I feel so much better now. I do have an Associates in General STudies. Do you think I would make a little more with two associate degrees?

I am a nursing student (BSN) and from my experience there is no difference between knowledge base and skill level of Associate or BSN prepared nurses who have been working for a while. However, difference I've experienced in critical thinking skills between and nursing theory knowledge among BSN students and Associates students is pretty big (I'm going to get torched for this but its been my honest experience). I go to school in Philadelphia, most major hospitals are magnet and only hire BSN due to magnet status.

I feel like the goal of a BSN program is to prepare you for an APN career or career in management. My school, inparticular, doesn't give us enough practice in nursing skills but overloads us in nursing and medical theory. I feel underprepared to be an entry level nurse in terms of practice and over prepared in terms of theory. Associates programs are the exact opposite, I feel like they are great nurses because programs emphasize what nurses actually do and under emphasize theory.

In terms of management, BSN and MSN nurses just sound better on paper. Management is about leadership and your ability to make sound decisions, not necessarily related to level of education. However, graduate degrees demonstrate your ability in higher level thinking which is valuable as you strategize to make your unit or hospital (if your an executive) run as efficiently as possible.

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