Do I need a BSN ???

Nurses General Nursing

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I will be graduating in May with my ADN, and I'm really not sure if I want to continue my education. Do I really need the bachelor degree to practice nursing at a higher level. I understand that I will need it to work in administration or education, but I am not planning to do either. For those of you who have your BSN and are working on the floor or in an office, is it useful? Besides the pay difference, what are some other benefits to having your BSN?

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I think you should work for a while. There is no real difference right now unless you want to be in adm. or teaching.

You can always go back to school in the future.. I would work for a while first.

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In my city, there isn't even a pay difference for BSN vs ADN...

If you're not sure you want to go back, and you don't plan on getting into mgmt/education/advanced practice, then there's no reason why you really need to go back right now.

I've seen some job postings that say "BSN required," for regular staff nurse positions, but it's not the majority...

You can always start working, and if you change your mind later, you can just go back then! ;)

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I'm boycotting the BSN because it doesn't make any difference in my bedside nursing skills and there is no pay difference either. However, my hospital wants bragging rites to your degree, "we have x amount of BSN RN's" Anyway, I'm looking at some adn to msn programs at some colleges, now that would be woth while. Then adios bedwide nursing and congrats to the administration at my hospital who have run off another seasoned bedside nurse. Nursing shortage......not!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

I prefer to leave my options wide open to any/all oportunities nursing has to offer. Go for the BSN!

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Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Why possibly limit your employment choices? Go for the BSN! :D

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It does make a difference.

It opens more doors for you.

It is great having other options when your own weary bones need to look for "lighter" duty.

It feels good knowing you are the best you can be.

Higher education matters...;)

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Previous posters have made some good replies, my take on this is: no, maybe, yes........

It depends on what your future goals are.

No:

If you are content, and believe you will stay content, at being a floor nurse, with no aspirations to becoming a mid-level practitioner or moving into mid to upper management then by all means save your money and your time and stop at ADN. Just think about how this may limit your future growth as a professional who may want to move on to better and brighter areas of work.

Maybe:

If you are unsure of what direction your future may take you then go ahead and get the BSN at this time. In the future your circumstances may be so much different that the ability to return to school may not present itself, even if that is what you would like to do.

Yes:

Education, what a great thing (IMO). Management, advanced degrees, moving into nursing research. These are just a few of the options a BSN nurse has. Although most facilities pay the same to ADN and BSN, there is a trend growing that will pay a little more to the BSN nurse. Whether this is right or wrong is not the issue. All that matters is that it is being done. What ever happened to the requirement to be a BSN to get some certifications, is it still alive?

You will need to sit down and analyze where you want to be in 5, 10, or even 20 years. In the end, only you will be able to decide whether or not the BSN is the route for you.

Good luck,

bob

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I've got two cents of info/advice whatever you call it.

1. when I graduated, I swore up and down no more school. Now three years out, I am persuing a MSN/MPH. I couldn't get the MPH without a baccalaureate degree. But if you had asked me right before graduation or even in my first year of nursing, I would have said the same- no way am I doing anything different, so things do change, especially because you haven't been a bed side nurse yet.

2. Get the hospital you are working at to pay for the BSN. Many have scholarships and/or tuition reimbursement. That way it's like a free degree, and much much nicer than the kind you pay for.

i would have never imagined myself to be the little world traveler public health advocate RN that I am now. In school all I wanted was trauma and critical care (still like it too!)

Best wishes to you as you graduate!!!!

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Here is the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Certification) website and some info on the different certifications. It outlines the different certifcations on whether you are ADN/Diploma versus BSN.

http://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/certify/cert/cofcred.htm

Certified vrs Board Certified

As a result of ANCC*s Open Door 2000 program, the Commission on Certification has approved the implementation of two (2) major levels of credentialing ... Certified (RN,C) and Board Certified (RN,BC). Certification is based on education and recognition of knowledge, skills, and abilities or competence, developed through experience in a specialty area of practice. Both formal educational preparation and competence in practice are key criteria for all certification programs regardless of discipline.

Board level certification is awarded by the Board on Certification for Baccalaureate Nursing Practice and the Board on Certification for Advanced Nursing Practice. Whereas, Certification is awarded by the Committee on Certification for Diploma and Associate Degree Nursing Practice and the Committee on Modular Certification. Both the two Boards and the two Committees are separate entities within the ANCC structure. The above-mentioned credentials (RN,C and RN,BC) distinguish between levels of certification within the profession and to our consumers.

Examples Credential

RN with either an Associates or a Diploma

(Gerontology, Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Perinatal, and Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse exams)

RN,C (Certified)

RN with a Bachelors or higher

(Modular exams)

RN,C (Certified)

RN with a Bachelors or higher

(Specialty and Informatics Nurse exams)

RN,BC (Board Certified

Most facilities do not pay extra for the credentialing but many pay for the testing after you have passed.

B.;)

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Originally posted by nightngale1998

It does make a difference.

It feels good knowing you are the best you can be.

Higher education matters...;)

So those of us who aren't BSNs aren't the best? And those who are BSNs *are* the best?

God, I hate BSN battles, but I couldn't let that go.

Catlady, RN, B.A., M.A., CCRN, and a proud, experienced diploma grad

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When you say something good about one thing; it does not mean you are saying something bad about something else.

If you feel you are the best in your field then you are.

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