Do I REALLY need a BSN?

Published

Hi. I just graduate with my ADN as a second career. Before that, I was full time mom and before that I was an attorney (yeah, weird, I know). So, I'm hearing here and there that if I want even a chance at a hospital residency position (I want to be in the ICU one day), I need a BSN. But I keep thinking, "really? I already have a B.A. and a J.D.!" My original plan was to work, gain experience, and then go for a masters in a clinical specialty. But now, I'm now sure. I just can't believe that all my other experience and education doesn't count, especially when the BSN program really doesn't have any clinical component -- it's just more research and writing. I'm working in a really well run SNF, so I'm not really unhappy, but my dream has been to be in the ICU. I'll do what it takes but I'd like to know what other people have heard before I jump back into school. Thanks!

Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, PACU,SICU.

It depends on location, I have a B.A. and a M.Div. and an A.D.N., and work in a level 1 hospital ICU. I might get my BSN sometime, and have taken 2 classes toward that, but am not currently enrolled. I just switched jobs 2 months ago and am learning my new job.

The manager said, "You have a lot of education" which is true, but not in nursing...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Like it or not, it is what it is. The expectation is that you will adapt.

What's the point of debating it. As was stated, it is what it is. It's mostly about politics and economics, one way or the other.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
yes, you do. BSNs are not fighting to keep ASN/ADN's around and sadly, neither are the currently employed ASNs. Sigh... wish we had more unions. I think ASN/ADN's should be prepared to meet and greet their future careers as that of a glorified LPN.edit: I'd not be surprised if in the distant future there became hospital imposed scope of practice limitations for an ASN/ADN.
Your post is really an insult to thousands of nurses. Glorified LPNs? That is an insult to the LPNs as well. UNIONS are not needed. What is need is for all nurses to treat eachother with respect.I do not have a BSN and have always been well employed. Having extra letters after your name does not make you a better nurse.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have a BA is Psychology and went back for my ADN and planned to just get my masters as well. I just got hired into a med/surg tele residency program at a hospital in Austin. I think it depends on where you live. I'm from Washington and most of my classmates only have there ADN and most got into residencies after being persistent enough. I know BSN is preferred but it's not required to get into a residency. I know some day ADN will be weaned out but not right now. My aunt is the director of nursing at a hospital back home and she said they take ADN and BSN. BSNs are prepared more for management positions but with time ADNs are too.

I think if you only have your ADN I'd go back for BSN but since you have a BA already, just keep applying, get experience and then go back for your masters. Most masters require either a BSN or an ADN and a bachelors in a non nursing field. that's my plan unless I decide not to get my masters then I will do an RN-BSN program.

Good luck!!!

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

Realiety in nursing:

BSN = BSN

BS, BA, JD, ADN = ADN

Only a BSN is a BSN. That said with your education background I would skip right over BSN and do MSN. Not all ICU residencies require a BSN. I even know of one that only hires ADNs. However the trend is for them to want BSN. I think you will find yourself in a catch 22. If you get your BSN or MSN you will no longer be considered a new grad when you apply to a residency program and many won['t let you apply cause you don't have a BSN.

I hope you are able to get into ICU as soon as possible. In my experience the path to all the best nursing jobs leads through the ICU. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

With an RN and a JD- why would you want bedside nursing?! Why not just go into representing nurses in malpractice cases and state board investigations- the pay has to be better than clincal nursing along with the perks- actually being appreciated for your knowledge and respected for it. The all around working conditions have to be a whole lot better than any hospital could offer- no matter what the unit. The shine wears off real fast.

My personal experience- I wanted to be an ICU nurse soon after graduation when I was placed on a stepdown/telemetry unit as a new nurse. i had a baby, stayed home for 4 years and then went to med/surg for 18 years and finally went to what I thought was my ultimate dream job- "ICU finally after 18 years", only to find out, I hated it, every minute of it- couldn't wait to get out of it after 6 months. I t was the bookwork I was enamored with- the actual bedside work was horrendous and when you are short staffed in ICU you are really, really screwed. I about had an MI every night I went home. In the hospital being short staffed on any unit you are really screwed. 3 critical care patients- one active GI bleed needing blood from the ED, one fresh out of the OR AAA on a vent w/ an art line and one patient in septic shock also on a vent with gtts- no thanks.

Why not try for a postion in a law practice? consultation work- but bedside and all it's political administrative bull, with a patient's life in the balance. Please don't waste your law degree.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Your post is really an insult to thousands of nurses. Glorified LPNs? That is an insult to the LPNs as well. UNIONS are not needed. What is need is for all nurses to treat eachother with respect.I do not have a BSN and have always been well employed. Having extra letters after your name does not make you a better nurse.

Libran1984 didn't say that she wished that ADN RN be treated as "glorified LPNs" (i.e., having a greater scope of practice than an LPN, but a lesser scope then a BSN RN). She said that that is what the trend looks like.

It would be nice if each person treated one another with respect and fairness, and that hunger and loneliness were distant memories, but that will probably not happen any time soon. I suspect that within ten years, a BSN will be the normal entry requirement for an RN license. That of course depends upon the job market. If RN's are in short supply in the future, then all bets are off.

Having more letters after your name may not make you a better nurse, but that doesn't mean that that won't eventually be the requirement. I wonder how physical therapists feel about their new requirements.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Myschuler, kcmylorn makes an interesting case (!) for putting your J.D. and ADN (and RN license) to use. Another possibility is patient advocacy. It's difficult to do without an MSW or RN, but J.D + RN would be awesome. You could do it freelance, if you're into such things, but there are also companies that cater to a well-off clientele, and charge large fees for their service.

Hospital/clinical management and consulting is another possibility.

Honestly, a J.D. + RN is a great combination, and there's a lot you can do with it, even if you don't want to practice law. (I realize that, as hard as it is to find a nursing job now, it's even harder to find a job as an attorney.)

But if you really do want to practice nursing, you should really consider the advice given above regarding direct entry (ADN-to-MSN) programs. There are some well-respected ones that you can do from a distance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.

Apparently it's not as weird as you think. Former attorney, current ASN here. And I work med-surg. I don't feel like an ASN without any actual experience would impress any of these legal nurse consulting companies or whatever they are, even if we have a JD. Eventually I will go to something like that when my body can't handle bedside work anymore, but I surely don't feel like I should be holding myself out as an expert in anything yet. Except for how to be a "professional student" lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Pediatrics, Home Health.

Here in NM, there is a program for those with an undergraduate degree in another field to apply straight into the Master's program. I have my undergrad in Psychology & am planning on applying into the Master's program (hopefully before they get rid of that option! :nailbiting:)

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care, trauma, neurosurgery..

I just graduated in May from the local ADN program, and I was hired immediately after graduation. I work in a level 2 trauma ICU. Here in the Pee Dee region of SC, the whole ADN vs BSN thing does not really matter. Truth be told, our ADN program consists of more clinical hours than the local BSN program, and many of the new grads hired at our facility came from my ADN program; we had new grads in many areas of the hospital, Med-surg, ICU, L&D, ER, etc. My director did not hire any BSN grads this year, all of us were ADN grads. I plan on returning in January to get my BSN, and eventually my MSN, but not because I feel that I need it to be a better nurse, but simply for self satisfaction and to open doors for myself as I grow older. Because I chose to go the ADN route first, I was able to save about $30k...

I feel the hostility between some folks regarding the ADN/BSN thing is unnecessary and unhealthy to the nursing profession as a whole. To say that ADN's need to embrace their future as a "glorified LPN" is insulting to ADNs and LPNs, and only further divides the nursing profession. A nurses worth should be based on demonstrated competency and skill level, not on the letters behind their name.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Every Hospital is a little different, however there is a growing trend that hospitals only hiring BSN nurses or nurses in a BSN program. I know where I live the local hospitals only want nurses with BSN's.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion