Does the type of nursing degree matter?

Published

Specializes in Adult Stem Cell/Oncology.

I have a question for everyone:

Does the type of nursing degree matter, for example an Associate's degree from a community college vs. a BSN vs. a Masters Entry Level degree? I got my BA in English in 2005 and am looking into Masters-Entry level programs, but they are all completely different and all have different prerequisites. Some require Cultural Anthropology, some Introductory Sociology, some require oral communication skills.... I'm sooo frustrated! :banghead: I volunteer at two different hospitals right now and love the nurses and the patients.... and can't wait to finally become a nurse myself. So basically I'm asking if "prestige" matters. Does it make a difference as far as getting hired and getting a specific salary depending on whether the RN is a BSN or ASN?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

I have seen many discussion here on AN. IMHO as far as pay, many employers do not compensate for the extra degree when it comes to bedside nursing. You do however need an BSN for certian jobs, from what I have heard mainly in administration and teaching.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi,

IMHO no matter where you go to school or what degree you have you will not truley be a nurse until you

a) pass NCLEX

b) get your first job and begin practicing.

School is great but in this day and age we just don't get tons or even close to enough clinical experience.

I love my new nursing career. Have one more day of my orientation and on my own. Have grown so much as a person and a nurse from my days at school and of course now on the floor.

I have ADN. If you have lots on $$ and don't have to work right away go for your BSN. Why not??? Or you can get your ADN and work and get your BSN in your spare time. Personnally I think that is the way to go because I think it is important to be working in the field in some capacity if possible. Also IMHO totally worth it to be CNA first to see if nursing is for you and to make money while in school. Plus you learn good basic care skills as a CNA that will only enhanse your career as a nurse.

I have started my first class towards BSN this summer, is fun because you can do most of it distance and online except for clinicals.

Good Luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA - starting LPN school January 2009!!.

I am in a very similar situation myself, with a BA in another unrelated subject. I have narrowed my decision down to two paths. I am either going to to an LPN program at a local tech school, followed by an LPN-RN bridge at the local community college, or go right into a RN (ADN) program at the same community college. It will really depend on whether or not I get accepted to the ADN program. I am currently finishing up my last prereq, (A&P 2) and will send in my app when I am done (July 17th) If I get into the ADN for Fall 08 or Spring 09, I will do that. If not, I will do the LPN program (I've already been accepted for an August start date) and then do the bridge to RN next year while working as an LPN.

Once I get my RN, my plan to to work for 2-3 years, then do an RN-MSN bridge program at my local university. As you can see, I'm all about the bridge.

I decided against the ABSN, because there is only one local school in my area that offers it, but requires an additional 15 credits of prereqs, plus it is nearly impossible to get into (people with 3.8 GPA regularly get turned away.) And, I couldn't really justify the extra tuition costs of going to an out-of-state or private school to do a BSN. Not to mention the extra cost of living. By doing the ADN, I will be able to live at home, so my expenses will only be food and gas. Plus, hospitals in my area offer the same pay rate for entry-level RN whether you are a BSN or ADN.

I thought about doing a DEMS (direct-entry MSN) but decided against it because of uncertainty of which master's speciality is the right "fit" for me. This is why the DEMS is not really a viable option for me. Going on an getting my master's is definitely in my long term plan. I'm just not sure which master's is the right fit for me at the present moment. If I had to choose right now, I would want to become an ARNP. But, once I have started working, I may decide CRNA is a better fit for me. Or, since I am coming to nursing as a second career with a background in corporate training, I may decide I want to become a nurse educator. Or, I may want to get into management or administration. I think after working for a few years as an RN, I will have a better idea of where my interests/talents lie, and will be better prepared to specialize, rather than taking a leap of faith now based on assumptions.

Ultimately, it if your decision, but I would urge anyone, expecially someone coming to nursing as a second career, to persue the shortest, cheapest path to get you your RN. There will be plenty of time to go back and get your BSN or MSN while you are working as an RN (not to mention TUITION REIMBURSEMENT from your employer to help you pay for it.)

Good Luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

(Thread moved to Registered Nurses: Diploma, ADN or BSN? forum)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I thought about doing a DEMS (direct-entry MSN) but decided against it because of uncertainty of which master's speciality is the right "fit" for me. This is why the DEMS is not really a viable option for me. Going on an getting my master's is definitely in my long term plan. I'm just not sure which master's is the right fit for me at the present moment. If I had to choose right now, I would want to become an ARNP. But, once I have started working, I may decide CRNA is a better fit for me. Or, since I am coming to nursing as a second career with a background in corporate training, I may decide I want to become a nurse educator. Or, I may want to get into management or administration. I think after working for a few years as an RN, I will have a better idea of where my interests/talents lie, and will be better prepared to specialize, rather than taking a leap of faith now based on assumptions.

i actually just graduated from an MSN direct entry program and it think it was a much better decision for me than going the additional BSN or ADN route because I knew I would want the advance degree eventually and this put me half way there.

I would assume that each school and program is different so I would first suggest researching the MSN direct entry program a little bit to see what you can find out. My program did not require you to obtain a specialty area of focus. Instead graduates in my program were considered "generalists" but if you wanted, there was the opportunity to get an additional specialty (MED etc) after graduation. also, because we have the MSN and are generalists, we have less requirements on the way to getting the ARNP or CRNA.

do some research. i would suggest that if you could find a fitting program, go for the MSN since you know you want the advanced degree eventually.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So basically it doesn't matter if I choose to attend a community college ADN program or a hospital diploma (ending with an ADN) as long as they both end in sitting for the NCLEX, is this a correct assumption?

I'm considering attending Frankford Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia as they don't have the waiting list my community college does. However I would like to, in th future, go forward with a BSN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA - starting LPN school January 2009!!.

i actually just graduated from an MSN direct entry program and it think it was a much better decision for me than going the additional BSN or ADN route because I knew I would want the advance degree eventually and this put me half way there.

I would assume that each school and program is different so I would first suggest researching the MSN direct entry program a little bit to see what you can find out. My program did not require you to obtain a specialty area of focus. Instead graduates in my program were considered "generalists" but if you wanted, there was the opportunity to get an additional specialty (MED etc) after graduation. also, because we have the MSN and are generalists, we have less requirements on the way to getting the ARNP or CRNA.

do some research. i would suggest that if you could find a fitting program, go for the MSN since you know you want the advanced degree eventually.

I think each person has to choose their own path. For me, it makes the most sense to choose the shortest cheapest path to becoming an RN.

I just don't have the luxury of the time or the $$$$$$ to do a DEMSN, knowing that when I graduate, I will be making the same amount of money as an RN with an associates degree. In fact, I will probably be making less than her, because it only took her 4 semesters to get her RN, to my 3 YEARS to get a DEMSN. Therefore, by the time I graduate, she's already been working for 2 years, and has built up more tenure than I have.

Even if it takes me longer to get there, I'd rather just get my RN the quickest, cheapest way possible - then let my employer pay me to become an advanced practice nurse through tuition reimbursement. :up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's the same for me, fastest most cost effective route to RN. Right now I'm weighing the pro's and cons of going to a Hospital RN Diploma program such as Frankford Hospital School of Nursing. The program includes the option of getting an associates degree from University of Penn while you train. The community college route is looking less appealing for me due to the additional time commitment required as well as the waiting list.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion