BSN vs. RN Salary

U.S.A. Alabama

Published

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.

I've been an ADN for 15 years and will graduate with my BSN next month - yay! I never thought I would get my BSN nor did I feel the need UNTIL the hospital I was working for starting changing their policies.

I worked for the Methodist Healthcare system for nearly 4 years, which is affiliated/partially owned by HCA. They are pursuing magnet status and have a huge push to hire only BSN prepared nurses. My unit has about 51% ADN and 49% BSN. All current ADN nurses are encouraged to get their BSN. All managers are now required to have a BSN and are given a time limit to enroll and graduate. If they fail to comply they will be removed from their position and replaced. All staff RN's can participate in the clinical ladder - the higher the degree, the more points that can be earned, in effect making the clinical ladder a little easier for the BSN and the MSN prepared candidate, also providing more pay.

I now work for the VA - and yes earlier posts were correct, they have Nurse I, Nurse II, and Nurse III categories. An ADN nurse will forever be in the Nurse I bracket as the Nurse II entry is a BSN. As well as levels there are also different pay scales, so in this case more education = more pay. The military only recognizes BSN nurses - I have 2 coworkers with ADN degrees that were reservists for the Air Force and they were told that to continue in the Nurse Corps reserves they needed to complete their BSN degree.

This is what I think.... the world of nursing is constantly evolving and changing, which is a great thing. Healthcare is changing. The job market is also changing. I do not believe there is a nursing shortage - I think that is a marketing ploy used for nursing programs. Honestly, I believe the market is somewhat saturated and is now very competitive.

I work in the OR, and nationwide the OR has a less than 1% vacancy rate - we had over 30 applicants for one staff RN vacancy. I was told all of the BSN applicants are placed in one pile, the ADN in another. They start with the BSN pile and if they are not satisfied then they move to the ADN group. So yes, there is still a mix of ADN and BSN, but I predict there will be a stronger shift for hiring BSN nurses. It's a employers market and if the nurse manager is a huge proponent/supporter for nurse education they will look to hire the BSN nurse.

I feel very fortunate to have worked in many facilities and have had great exposure - I was a travel nurse for about 5 years - and I worked in hospitals that only hired BSN nurses. I was offered permanent positions but they were contingent on advancing my ADN. During those years I was not interested in returning to school, so I declined and kept traveling.

I now have planted roots and can see the delicate job market so it was my personal choice to get my BSN. I encourage everyone to do what is right for them. We are all nurses and the level of education doesn't make one nurse any better than another. I think that for today's times the level of education can provide different opportunities.

Specializes in ICU.

Gr8ape... Thank you for a very informative post. Often people are so dead set their way is the best way they fail to see the forest for the trees. ADN nurses can argue all they want that a BSN is not needed. Perhaps it was not needed 7-10 yrs ago. In this market having a BSN will only make you more competative. The hospital I work in states on all job postings (BSN preferred). They are not kidding. I have asked why since both ADN and BSN have passed the same boards and can do the same job. The DON told me it is because they are not hiring for career staff nurses, they are hiring for future management. Starting with a BSN nurse makes that easier.

ADN's can beat their chests and yell they are just as good and often times better, but that does not change the fact that Masters educated people are doing the hiring, and often they see having an ADN too far down the ladder.

In the military healthcare system, they are not hiring ADN's. I have been told that ADN's will be retained, however future hires will require a BSN.

~Melissa

I can only speak from what I know. I work in a private hospital, non-profit hospital and a Nurse with a BSN versus an ASN/ADN makes about 5%-10% more. I do not know if this is true for all places, it just depends. And yes, someone with a BSN has to take the same test as someone with an ASN/ADN, but as far as I am concerned they should be getting paid at least some percentage more because they do hold a Bachelors Degree versus an Associates Degree-simply by the fact they have more schooling. But there is no difference in their actual license, just that someone with a BSN can move more quickly to a Master's or administrative position.

Hello to all.... I cannot believe some of the posts I have read on this topic ! First off, let me say that I have been an LPN for over 30 years . I hold a PhD in another field and am now trying to decide if I should add RN core so I may sit for the NCLEX . I currently do nursing case management and work with my state on healthcare reform . I am not a trained monkey... I am a nurse with general education who has developed assessment skills at a BSN level from years or experience. Why cant nurses who do not sit in a classroom learn these skills and adopt critical thinking and problem solving in other ways ? I assure you all, they can.

I have realized that I need more math and science as I majored in Philosophy and Music. So... After all these years, lol... I am finally considering going to get my RN. I have gone online and taken anatomy and physiology practice exams without studying and have gotten A's on most of it... I do need to learn more in depth chemistry principals . This arguing over ADN and BSN seems ridiculous to me. A nurse is compassionate, professional, can see needs and discerns how to meet them. She takes symptoms and can assess possible causes and outcomes by suggesting proper operations of care for each patient. She is familiar with pharmacological agents and can recommend and assess which drugs are needed and if they are effective . She administers treatments as prescribed by a licensed physician and collaborates with him/her to assist in managing patient care.

I have founded three businesses, worked as an administrator and also a school nurse. I have worked in virtually every setting including ICU. A nurse is not someone who holds a degree, she is what I described above. Although degree's are required to protect patients from improper care it does not pridefully elevate me above those who do not hold them. Show me an LPN, ADN, BSN MSN who operates in the above principals and standards of care with tact and professional abilities... regardless of how she attained them and I will say, not only is she a nurse, she is a GREAT NURSE . Her care and skills are the elements of leadership and a beacon to the other nurses on her team. I do feel education can be an asset but I think the social nursing process can be achieved from adequate experience . No nurse is a trained monkey . The professor who made that statement is prideful.

megstudent7 said:
I have a question related to this discussion thread. I hold a bachelor's degree already from a liberal arts college. I am applying for an ADN program. I would prefer to pursue a BSN, but it's just too competitve in Minneapolis for a decent school right now. SO, if I get my ADN--which will cost less, be less competitive for admission and take less time to do than a BSN--will my BA allow me to call myself a BSN "equivalent?" See what I mean? How would I bill myself? Would my BA in theater at least get me a little something somewhere?

Hi

I know this is an old post but in case u r still thinking about nursing, since u already have a BA, why not take an accelerated BSN program? most of them r only 12 -18 months long and you're done. Check out second degree BSN programs on google and u will find a good list of CCNE accredited schools to choose from

All the best

ADN no a college degree? It stands for Associate "Degree" in Nursing...

Specializes in Trauma.
athenaspell said:
Hello to all.... I cannot believe some of the posts I have read on this topic ! First off, let me say that I have been an LPN for over 30 years . I hold a PhD in another field and am now trying to decide if I should add RN core so I may sit for the NCLEX . I currently do nursing case management and work with my state on healthcare reform . I am not a trained monkey... I am a nurse with general education who has developed assessment skills at a BSN level from years or experience. Why cant nurses who do not sit in a classroom learn these skills and adopt critical thinking and problem solving in other ways ? I assure you all, they can.

I have realized that I need more math and science as I majored in Philosophy and Music. So... After all these years, lol... I am finally considering going to get my RN. I have gone online and taken anatomy and physiology practice exams without studying and have gotten A's on most of it... I do need to learn more in depth chemistry principals . This arguing over ADN and BSN seems ridiculous to me. A nurse is compassionate, professional, can see needs and discerns how to meet them. She takes symptoms and can assess possible causes and outcomes by suggesting proper operations of care for each patient. She is familiar with pharmacological agents and can recommend and assess which drugs are needed and if they are effective . She administers treatments as prescribed by a licensed physician and collaborates with him/her to assist in managing patient care.

I have founded three businesses, worked as an administrator and also a school nurse. I have worked in virtually every setting including ICU. A nurse is not someone who holds a degree, she is what I described above. Although degree's are required to protect patients from improper care it does not pridefully elevate me above those who do not hold them. Show me an LPN, ADN, BSN MSN who operates in the above principals and standards of care with tact and professional abilities... regardless of how she attained them and I will say, not only is she a nurse, she is a GREAT NURSE . Her care and skills are the elements of leadership and a beacon to the other nurses on her team. I do feel education can be an asset but I think the social nursing process can be achieved from adequate experience . No nurse is a trained monkey . The professor who made that statement is prideful.

I mostly agree with your post. I don't feel I should have to sit in classes to become an LPN. If I could take and pass the NCLEX-LPN why should I be required to take unnecessary classes? I just spent 8 years as a Navy Corpsman, 5 of which I was an Independent Duty Corpsman. That means I did assessments, prescribed meds, sutures, IV's, Foley's, etc. because there was no doctor within miles of me, sometimes hundreds of miles. I have completed all of the core classes for a BSN as well as a PA. Even with all of my experience I cannot even work as an LPN during school, only a very low paying CNA/PCT.

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