For lots of reasons, even though I already have a BA in Psychology and if I took another 3 or 4 courses I could apply for an ABSN program, I'm thinking it's not worth it.The fact that I would have to take a semester's worth of courses before I'd be eligible is one of my reasons (I already don't have money for school, so spending more money makes no sense). Also, I live in an area that still hires LPNs, even in the hospitals, and while I don't know where I'll end up being permanently, I can definitely see myself being there for awhile. And then of course, there is no BSN program where I live, just an associates program. So like I said, lots of reasons I think a BSN might not be worth it for me.
Is a BSN absolutely necessary? I know there's been a push to only hire BSNs, but I also know that there are plenty of places that only care about your license, not your degree...and I can't imagine I would ever want to work somewhere where degree mattered -- I want to be a nurse in a PCPs office or at an urgent care.
Research the RN to BSN methods too. Find out what schools partner with the community college. I knocked out my ADN and then completed an RN to BSN in 9 months. Well, technically 1 year but I took 3 months off after graduating.
As for working in an office, you may be out of luck. In my area it is medical assistants or LPNs that are hired in offices.
As for the associates program, a lot of them require a similar number of classes to even apply. In my area, they accept students based on points. Meaning you get some points for your pre-reqs. The ADN programs are about 3 years total.
Ya but life changes sometimes, when you least expect it. You may end up being the primary breadwinner for your family. Had I not had my BSN, I would not have gotten the job I have had for 22 years now. This job a helped me obtain my Masters degree and I am sitting pretty salary wise with an awesome career!
Well this one I know for sure -- they hire nurses. I have not seen a single posting for MAs. They specifically say LPN/RN (most of them in that exact same format).
Your reasoning is similar to mine.
I am an Adn Rn that works in home care.
Employers In that field usually advertise LPN/RN.
Here is the thing with that.
If an Lpn and an Rn have equal experience,guess who actually gets hired?
The Lpn.
Why? Employers in that field can pay them less for the same skill set.
This ONLY seems to apply in non acute care positions.
I had also saw this scenario:
Lets say a Doctor can only pay $12/hr for the Lpn/Rn position.
(I have seen some offices advertise for CMA,Lpn,or Rn btw for the same position)
An Rn accepts the position.
You might think"What's wrong with that?"
There is a lot wrong with that.
He is getting an Rn for Medical Assistant wages.
He will also expect you to function as an office Rn,meaning in addition to "nursing" duties,he expects you to act as office manager,receptionist,and possibly janitor.
I live in a major metro area south of NY, and it is, with few exceptions, BSN or you need not apply. I do not have my BSN (I have an ADN) but I have many years of experience in my specialty. If I ever decide I want to make a change I would be challenged because I do not have a BSN. I have recently dicovered I have some health issues and I can say I am thankful I am enrolled in a BSN program because if I need to change positions I may have an easier time. Also, I do have a great tuition reimbursment from my work which is an incentive to go back. I know there is alot of controversy surrounding this ADN/Diploma/BSN issue and I think there needs to be a decisive decision regarding this. I do not understand why there is article after article supporting the fact that patient's have better outcomes when there are a higher percentage of BSN nurses in hospitals, and yet, even around here there are 2 year colleges churning out ADN nurses every year that cannot get jobs because they are unwanted/undesired in the local nursing community.
I live in a major metro area south of NY, and it is, with few exceptions, BSN or you need not apply. I do not have my BSN (I have an ADN) but I have many years of experience in my specialty. If I ever decide I want to make a change I would be challenged because I do not have a BSN. I have recently dicovered I have some health issues and I can say I am thankful I am enrolled in a BSN program because if I need to change positions I may have an easier time. Also, I do have a great tuition reimbursment from my work which is an incentive to go back. I know there is alot of controversy surrounding this ADN/Diploma/BSN issue and I think there needs to be a decisive decision regarding this. I do not understand why there is article after article supporting the fact that patient's have better outcomes when there are a higher percentage of BSN nurses in hospitals, and yet, even around here there are 2 year colleges churning out ADN nurses every year that cannot get jobs because they are unwanted/undesired in the local nursing community.
Thank you for making that point much better than I would have. I don't understand why in an area where a BSN is not only preferred but necessary for most employment amybody would consider stopping at the ADN. It makes zero sense to pursue a degree that will give you very little hope of employment.
But that being said the push to BSN required seems to be a regional thing. There are very few jobs around me that require BSN or higher, but that probably has to do with the availability of BSN grads in my area. We only have one BSN program compared to five ADN programs in a roughly 100 mile area. Even in the large metro areas there are plenty of job opportunities for ADN grads. The midwest does seem to be one of the regions in the US that it is still possible for a new grad to pretty easily find employment regardless of degree.
What if I have literally no desire whatsoever to ever work in a hospital? Because I don't. And I never have. My dream job is at a pediatrician's office -- yes, if I could choose to do anything out of the million things you can do in nursing, that's what I would choose without a doubt.
What you feel now at 25 years old, may or may not be what you want or NEED at 35, 45 or 55 years old. And the area you live in at the age of 25 might not be the area you live in 5 10, 20 years down the road. I'm 46 and what I wanted at 25 is def not what I wanted (at times needed) at an older age.
I vote for planning on getting your BSN. If finances are an issue, get your Associates. If you already have a BA you probably don't have a whole lot of gen ed credits to meet in order to get your BSN. You could always try and find an employer who has tuition reimbursement and take a few classes a year with that money.
I graduated with my Associates in 2013. At that time, most hospitals, offices, clinics etc were not requiring a BSN in my area. It was about 6-9 months later I noticed more and more job postings where the BSN was prefered and then soon after most postings said REQUIRED. And that was not just hospitals..it was doc offices,clinics, schools, insurance companies..almost any area of nursing you could think of.
With the amount of nurses available, employers can be very selective and require whatever education level they want. And they are...
applesxoranges, BSN, RN
2,242 Posts
Research the RN to BSN methods too. Find out what schools partner with the community college. I knocked out my ADN and then completed an RN to BSN in 9 months. Well, technically 1 year but I took 3 months off after graduating.
As for working in an office, you may be out of luck. In my area it is medical assistants or LPNs that are hired in offices.
As for the associates program, a lot of them require a similar number of classes to even apply. In my area, they accept students based on points. Meaning you get some points for your pre-reqs. The ADN programs are about 3 years total.