Can Bachelor's degree in other area affect pay?

Published

Out of curiosity, I currently have a BA and I will be finishing my MBA this year. I just got accepted to a nursing program for Spring 2012. Is there anyone who has found their degrees in other areas to be useful in their field of nursing in any capacity, like salary for instance? Has anyone been offered more money or are they still started with the standard salary. If you have, what do you do in the nursing field? I have seen many jobs as case managers, insurance companies, and things like that that I may be interested in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Nope. In nursing nobody care what other degrees you have. That is not the same as saying they won't be usefull to you. I have nevr heard of a nurse getting paid more becuase of a non nursing degree.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am curious about this as well. I have heard that entry level is entry level. But after some fundamental experience, other degrees may come into play for advancement.

I am also starting an accelerated BSN program in January. I have a PhD in Molecular Genetics and have worked in labs for the past 14 years in various capacities.

I doubt my PhD will hold any sway in getting an entry level nursing position. However, I am interested in nursing research, education (teaching), public health and maybe psychiatric nursing. I am quite sure a PhD will make me an attractive candidate should I want to teach in a nursing school. And, I already know how to do research.

Maybe also post this on Nursing General Discussions?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Out of curiosity why do people who have an MBA and a Phd want to be a nurse? I am mystified. Many nurses I know are seeking advanced degrees to get away from nursing.

You all know it is hard, dirty work, usually unappreciated, sometimes abused and the low to moderate pay is totally out of proportion to the very high level of responsibiliety?

To Spore2008, I am very sure your Phd will not help you get an entry level nursing job. I am not sure but I kinda doubt the PHd will help for teaching in a nursing school, unless you go back for a PHd in nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I have seen many jobs as case managers, insurance companies, and things like that that I may be interested in.

*** All those jobs will require a strong clinical background before you are likely to be considered for them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@PMFB-RN, If you look at the academic profiles of nursing researchers and instructors in various nursing schools, many instructors and professors have PhD degrees in subject areas close to nursing but not necessarily a PhD in nursing per se. For example, I have seen PhDs in the sciences, public health, statistics etc. I am perfectly qualified right now to teach basic college science courses. And, no I will not get another academic PhD. Maybe a DNP, though, I'll see how nursing school goes.

People switch careers for all sorts of reasons. I found life at the bench to be intellectually satisfying but I did not feel I was making a difference in the here and now. My "breakthroughs" would likely never be useful during my lifetime. My first author paper based on my dissertation has been cited ten times and that was 4 years of work burning the midnight oil!

I considered many career paths and settled on nursing. I am not under the illusion that I will leap frog over other candidates for employment.

I never pursued a PhD to get rich.

I am not pursuing nursing to get rich either.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
@PMFB-RN, If you look at the academic profiles of nursing researchers and instructors in various nursing schools, many instructors and professors have PhD degrees in subject areas close to nursing but not necessarily a PhD in nursing per se. For example, I have seen PhDs in the sciences, public health, statistics etc. I am perfectly qualified right now to teach basic college science courses. And, no I will not get another academic PhD. Maybe a DNP, though, I'll see how nursing school goes.

People switch careers for all sorts of reasons. I found life at the bench to be intellectually satisfying but I did not feel I was making a difference in the here and now. My "breakthroughs" would likely never be useful during my lifetime. My first author paper based on my dissertation has been cited ten times and that was 4 years of work burning the midnight oil!

I considered many career paths and settled on nursing. I am not under the illusion that I will leap frog over other candidates for employment.

I never pursued a PhD to get rich.

I am not pursuing nursing to get rich either.

*** Well I wish you luck in your new career!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have always wanted to be a nurse. Although I will do bedside care in the beginning of my nursing career, I would eventually like to branch out into other areas after I gain more clinical experience. Unfortunately, I have been unable to make any progress with my first two degrees. Although I have the education and I have 10 years of work experience in my current career, everytime I attempt to branch out I am either not experienced enough for the position and I have been offered several entry level minimal paying jobs. I have even considered taking less pay for more experience in my field with no luck. I am already making a minimal income and have worked 2 full-time jobs for the last five years to make ends meet. I have two small children and I am trying to make a good life for them. It just seems like all my hard work is going to waste. I am hoping with a nursing degree it will pay off one day.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Just be prepared to work many years in the clinical setting. I know a nurse that works for an insurance company and one that is a clinical manager but they both worked on the floor for 10+ years first.

Having another degree won't affect your salary.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I have always wanted to be a nurse. Although I will do bedside care in the beginning of my nursing career, I would eventually like to branch out into other areas after I gain more clinical experience. Unfortunately, I have been unable to make any progress with my first two degrees. Although I have the education and I have 10 years of work experience in my current career, everytime I attempt to branch out I am either not experienced enough for the position and I have been offered several entry level minimal paying jobs. I have even considered taking less pay for more experience in my field with no luck. I am already making a minimal income and have worked 2 full-time jobs for the last five years to make ends meet. I have two small children and I am trying to make a good life for them. It just seems like all my hard work is going to waste. I am hoping with a nursing degree it will pay off one day.

*** I think this is a very recent thing. I mean highy educated people who want to become nurses after they have significant education. While I wish them well and my opinion is that they may well bring a point of view that will be good for nursing, I am just very suprised.

Typicaly nurses pursue advanced education to get away from bedside nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Having a bachelor's or master's in a field other than nursing does not necessarily increase pay. There are times where a past degree may definitely give you the edge over another job applicant, but the bottom line is usually your clinical experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Degrees in other fields had no bearing on nursing pay for me, just as my nursing education had no bearing on my nursing pay. Employers only showed interest in the fact that I had a nursing license that is clear and they showed great interest in my nursing work history.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion