Education Needed?

kcochrane · Jul 26, 2010

Really depends on the area and the hospital. Some are starting to require them, some aren't. In my area, you can still get a job without the BSN. Look locally at your paper and call you local recruiters to see what they are requiring these days. Good luck!

MLTtonursing, BSN, PhD · Jul 26, 2010

I agree with kcochrane it depends on the area and the hospital. Where I live also you can get a job without a BSN and have manager positions. Also have you looked into maybe the accelerated or traditional BSN program? Since you seem to already have a Bachelor's degree. Some people choose these programs who already have a degree. The traditonal takes about 2years and the accelerated is shorter. Check in your area to see if they have any of those programs. I already had a Bachelor of Science and went through a traditonal program that only took me two years to complete. Just a thought. Good Luck.

HamsterRN, ADN, RN · Jul 26, 2010

Some states are looking at requiring a BSN within 10 years of working as an RN, I don't know of any that have made this official, but my state is very close and may be adding this requirement to those who graduate in 2011.

Hospital preferences for ASN vs BSN seem to vary widely by area. The hospital I work at prefers ASN grads because they tend to come out of school with more clinical experience and require less time in a residency program (1 month for ASN grads vs 3-6 months for BSN grads is what we've been experiencing). This is mainly due to a shortage of clinical spots in local BSN programs which has limited direct patient care experience for BSN students.

I would think an ASN with a Masters in a related field would get you at least as many points with a prospective employer as a BSN. Particularly since in terms of accredidation requirements there is very little difference between an ASN and a BSN.

GRUNGE · Jul 26, 2010

Well once you get your asn, why not just go for your bsn. Many colleges have an rn to bsn program that can be completed in only two semesters. You can probably find a job without difficulty as an asn. Howevere if you are competeing for a certain nursing position a bsn will be more attractive since hospitals are trying to achieve magnet status

njmomstudent · Jul 26, 2010

I definitely think you should just go for your MSN after the RN. Thats what I'll be doing. Most MSN programs have a "bridge program" that allows you to enter the MSN program with a BS instead of a BSN. Its usually anywhere from 1-3 classes you take the summer before your matriculated MSN classes start.

j621d · Jul 26, 2010

Rather than getting an ADN, why not find a BSN nursing program where you just complete the last 2 years? I have a bachelors in business and was accepted into the ADN program. Then I was accepted into a BSN program - which I completed. Your advanced degrees may count in your favor for acceptance into a BSN program.

Zaphod, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2010

In that situation I would get an RN as quickly and then go to a BSN to MSN program-thats another way to get there. In my area they still do not require a BSN and do not pay more for it

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jul 26, 2010

Just want to clarify - MHA (masters in healthcare admin) doesn't really 'count' as a qualification for career advancement in nursing... it's MSN all the way. This is really being driven by JC and Magnet criteria, so hospitals are increasingly making it a requirement for nursing managers.

cnmbfa · Jul 26, 2010

A Masters in Health Care administration, while probably useful, does not necessarily add anything to your ability to practice as a nurse.

I doubt you will ever regret having a BSN, because it will open many doors to you and allow you more job opportunities. It also means that if you move somewhere else where a BSN is expected, you will be OK.

Rant on my part: Nurses spent decades working to set standards and gain accreditation for nursing education and to gain the trust and respect of the public by upholding those standards. I am really bothered that so many persons now want to take all sorts of short cuts to a nursing degree. Have you ever noticed that there are no accelerated medical or engineering or pharmacy degrees? Or that there is no fast and easy route to becoming an airline pilot? Why? Because we put our lives in these persons hands, just as we do nurses. Why then do people think there should be easy routes to nursing?

Don't you think the fact that many nurses have the LEAST amount of education of any health care profession might play a role in the general lack of respect for nurses? Today's patients are far, far sicker than those of twenty years ago. If anything, learning to care for them well should take more time, and be more comprehensive, not be cut short.

And please don't flame me over this. I know that going to school is not easy: I was a single parent who worked full-time while attending an ADN and BSN program, and worked 24 hours a week during graduate school. It was grueling, but it can be done. I did not expect to, and did not get to take any shortcuts.

greenfiremajick · Jul 26, 2010

The thing is, I have to get a job in order to find an employer willing to help me pay for an MSN. It isn't that I want to take shortcuts....As a matter of fact, I actually enjoy school and would go forever, if someone else were paying for it...OK, maybe that's an exaggeration, but...........

A Masters in Health Care administration, while probably useful, does not necessarily add anything to your ability to practice as a nurse.
I doubt you will ever regret having a BSN, because it will open many doors to you and allow you more job opportunities. It also means that if you move somewhere else where a BSN is expected, you will be OK.
Rant on my part: Nurses spent decades working to set standards and gain accreditation for nursing education and to gain the trust and respect of the public by upholding those standards. I am really bothered that so many persons now want to take all sorts of short cuts to a nursing degree. Have you ever noticed that there are no accelerated medical or engineering or pharmacy degrees? Or that there is no fast and easy route to becoming an airline pilot? Why? Because we put our lives in these persons hands, just as we do nurses. Why then do people think there should be easy routes to nursing?
Don't you think the fact that many nurses have the LEAST amount of education of any health care profession might play a role in the general lack of respect for nurses? Today's patients are far, far sicker than those of twenty years ago. If anything, learning to care for them well should take more time, and be more comprehensive, not be cut short.
And please don't flame me over this. I know that going to school is not easy: I was a single parent who worked full-time while attending an ADN and BSN program, and worked 24 hours a week during graduate school. It was grueling, but it can be done. I did not expect to, and did not get to take any shortcuts.

greenfiremajick · Jul 26, 2010

I am a little apprehensive about the path I'm considering and I'd like to hear your opinions.
I am applying for the RN ASN program at the beginning of next year. If I get in, I will grad with the Associate's. During this time I am also pursuing my 2nd master's degree in Healthcare Admin.
I am concerned, because "they" are saying that it will be difficult for ASN nurses to get a job and that "they" will most likely start requiring BSN's.
I want to start working in a hospital, home health, etc as an RN as soon as I can....Now---IF "they" are going to be more prone to hiring BSN's, do you think I would still be able to get a position as an RN with a master's in healthcare admin, or do you guys think it would be smarter to get my RN and then go for for an MSN?
Hope I'm making sense here...It's a little late.........

Thanks for all the replies, you guys!