Cost vs benefit of BSN at middle age

[Grengemly]

Would you get a BSN if it was not required?

I am a middle aged (if I live to be a hundred) new ADN nurse. I work at a smallish hospital in a rural area that does not require a BSN. The hospital has no plans to change this policy. They do offer tuition reimbursement for nurses that want to purse a BSN, if that nurse is willing to sign a contract to work for the hospital 5-7 more years after obtaining the degree. They also pay a (whopping) $1 more an hour to nurses who have their BSN.

I hope to work about 15-17 years before retirement. I would love some thoughts about the benefits, or lack thereof, of spending the money and time pursuing a further degree given my...ahem....advanced age.

I recently ran into one of my former instructors and her opinion was that, in our area, the BSN wouldn't really pay off unless my interest was in management (it's not). She brought up MSN and teaching as an option. (We are also home to a community college with a great nursing program.) I told her that I am still dreaming of the day when I get through a shift confident in my skills as a nurse, can't imagine that teaching someone else would ever be a reality.

[Sour Lemon]

Well, I currently work ICU and ER. Do you think BSN is mandatory about for trauma centers or the big hospitals down there? Such as UCLA, Kaiser, Hoag, etc. Who else is down there that hires ADN?

Also, not so keen on signing one of those "agree to enroll and complete BSN within 2 years of hire" contracts...I mean I'll get my BSN eventually on my own time but don't want an employer mandating it. I currently work in a neighboring state and city.

I'm honestly not sure as that's never been my scene. There are so many ERs and ICUs that I'd be shocked if there were no ADNs in the mix. Trauma is something I think of as ultra competitive, though.

You should be able to check out their job listings and see what's required as opposed to preferred.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

As LLg said.. floor nursing will get harder as the years go on. It all depends on your geographical area as to what other opportunities are available, that are not bedside.

I could still schlep the floor at 60.. but it got to be painful. I am in an urban area, got lucky enough to land a cushy job.

Can you just start taking the BSN courses without signing your life away?

Best wishes, it's a jungle out there.

[JKL33]

You might also want to think about what might happen if you should someday want to work for someone else; maybe they would require the BSN and *not* offer tuition reimbursement. A lot of places don't do that anymore.

And, you might find yourself working for someone else whether you want to or not - without even changing jobs.

Someone somewhere is drooling over your little rural hospital.

While education may not technically ever be considered a waste, education dollars can certainly be wasted. In your scenario, find the best deal and for the love of pete don't sign any contracts. Get it done while the hoop-jumping mentality is fresh. If you somehow have a lot of debt from your ADN it would be wise to take care of that first.

Good luck with your decision.

[nursebert, MSN]

Hi,

Have been lurking for many years...I had to join so I could reply to this post

I have been a nurse for 22 years from ltc to critical care. I have achieved a lot with ASN but have gone as far as I can I think. At 59 years old I am in the second term of WGU RN to BSN. Highly recommend the program.

I will most likely be 60 years old when I finish and will probably continue at WGU for MSN

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Education is never wasted. If you are at all interested in a BSN, go for it. But if you're just asking in the hopes that we'll all agree that you don't NEED a BSN, you don't need one. I paid for my graduate degree as I went. Studying meant I wasn't going to movies, buying trashy novels or engaging in retail therapy. I actually SAVED money while I was going to school!

[kp2016]

No!!! You should put the roughly $15K the BSN will cost you into your retirement account, preferably your work account if they do matched funds.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

I finished my RN to BSN when I was 49 years old and had been a nurse for 21 years at that point. It has helped open up job possibilities since then.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

I got my BSN at the age of 47. In my state it's kind of mandatory to have one if you want to work in any of the major hospitals. As soon as I got my BSN I landed a new job for which a BSN was a requirement, and I'm now doing my Master's in an NP program at the age of 51. My body is getting old and I can't be running around forever, however my brain still works, so I'm happy to continue as an NP in an ICU somewhere. I love critical care and want to work in that environment but I don't want to be running like a headless chicken until I'm 80. I not only don't regret getting my BSN in my 40s, I would go so far as to say it was one of the smartest decisions I ever made. It's totally paid for itself already. Next week I'm interviewing at the biggest hospital in the state in one of their ICUs and the job description states that a BSN is a mandatory requirement. I would not be able to work there if I didn't have a BSN and it's been my goal to work there for the past 15 years. I want to work in the ICU and not in a long term care place somewhere...I must have a BSN.

As an aside....both of my parents did their Bachelor's degrees in their 70s, and my mother-in-law still works full time as a nurse at the age of 86. You're never too old.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I got my BSN at 45 and my MSN at 46. I plan to work another 20 years and having the option to get off the floor and still make good money was worth its weight in gold for me. I personally have found both degrees to be an excellent investment.

[Heylove, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I became licensed with my ADN at 41. BSNs are not required here, either, and there is no extra pay for BSN with my employer. I am just completing UTA's RN-BSN program, and I would recommend it. It's all online, relatively inexpensive, and if your workplace has tuition reimbursement, take advantage of it!

Just my thoughts. You don't know where you'll end up after a few years. I'm completing my BSN just to have an undergraduate degree and I'm moving on to something else.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Education is never wasted.

...unless you have to study nursing theory.

[Grengemly, BSN, RN]

Hi,

Have been lurking for many years...I had to join so I could reply to this post

I have been a nurse for 22 years from ltc to critical care. I have achieved a lot with ASN but have gone as far as I can I think. At 59 years old I am in the second term of WGU RN to BSN. Highly recommend the program.

I will most likely be 60 years old when I finish and will probably continue at WGU for MSN

I have been considering WGU, thank you for the recommendation!