Is getting my BSN really going to pay off?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in LDRP, Wound Care, SANE, CLNC.

I am an RN who is working on BSN, I will be done in May of 2012. I am working in LTC full time, two days a week as charge nurse, three days a week as bridge nurse ( helping out the charge from 11-2 and doing a med pass from 2-7). I am really starting to wonder if all this work I am putting into my education is really going to pay off in the end?

I was not able to land a job in the local hospital ( was told my high confidence level comes across as being unteachable) and with the economy is such sad shape, am I just burying myself in debt for a glorified Med aid job?

I get a mixed bag of advice from local nurses and managers about it. Of course the managers will say it is worth it, the nurses I talk to who don't have their BSN, say it don't matter and those who do have their BSN are iffy. ARG. What happend to a higher education being a good thing?

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Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, PACU,SICU.

I am working on my BSN, only because if I ever need to relocate and look for another job I think it will help make me more marketable. Already have other education but that doesn't matter in nursing. When I asked, staff nurses also said it didn't make a difference (true if you never have to move), and managers say it's the way to go. I guess I think education can never hurt anyone.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I know that in Texas the BON has a goal of having 80% of nurses in hospitals with BSN within the next few years. I realize you are in LTC now, but the writing is on the wall.

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I agree with classicdame yes its worth it to continue with you BSN I live in VA in most job postings a BSN is perferred. I say kudos to you for pursuing your BSN and dont give up because of nay sayers. Hard work always pays off!!

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Specializes in LDRP, Wound Care, SANE, CLNC.

Thanks! I know how good I will feel when I graduate with my BSN, but I don't want to regret it each time I pay the massive student loan bill each month. LOL

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I say have no regrets! The feelings and accomplishment are PRICELESS! Let's not forget the ability to pay them back and when you need a break from student loans just ask them for a forbearance or find a employer that offers paying back student loans as a benefit! lol Kudus to you!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I am an RN who is working on BSN, I will be done in May of 2012. I am working in LTC full time, two days a week as charge nurse, three days a week as bridge nurse ( helping out the charge from 11-2 and doing a med pass from 2-7). I am really starting to wonder if all this work I am putting into my education is really going to pay off in the end?

I was not able to land a job in the local hospital ( was told my high confidence level comes across as being unteachable) and with the economy is such sad shape, am I just burying myself in debt for a glorified Med aid job?

I get a mixed bag of advice from local nurses and managers about it. Of course the managers will say it is worth it, the nurses I talk to who don't have their BSN, say it don't matter and those who do have their BSN are iffy. ARG. What happend to a higher education being a good thing?

Why would a BSN get you a Med aid job when you are already a RN? :confused:

I think if you are just entering the field you should consider strongly the BSN or go back immediately for it........If you are already an RN and "younger" to the profession, go back for it. All signs are there that they are actually heading in that direction.....but this was debated back when I started school in 1977....and here we are once again today.:smokin:

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As long as you stay where you are at, no, it won't help. But the minute you start looking for another position, you will have it. You won't ever have to remove it from your resume. So, someday, it may be instrumental in getting a better job. Don't be discouraged by present circumstances.

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i am an rn who is working on bsn, i will be done in may of 2012. i am working in ltc full time, two days a week as charge nurse, three days a week as bridge nurse ( helping out the charge from 11-2 and doing a med pass from 2-7). i am really starting to wonder if all this work i am putting into my education is really going to pay off in the end?

i was not able to land a job in the local hospital ( was told my high confidence level comes across as being unteachable) and with the economy is such sad shape, am i just burying myself in debt for a glorified med aid job?

i get a mixed bag of advice from local nurses and managers about it. of course the managers will say it is worth it, the nurses i talk to who don't have their bsn, say it don't matter and those who do have their bsn are iffy. arg. what happend to a higher education being a good thing?

getting a bsn is essential these days if you expect to work in the hospital. don't even think about not completing your program if you intend to have a career as a nurse.

now, getting to another point you raise - "was told my high confidence level comes across as being unteachable". you absolutely need to work on that. a "high confidence level" is usually not a good thing for a new nurse (or a nurse in a new specialty) so you need to look at what your problem is here. if you take your bsn education seriously, it will help you overcome your arrogance. i believe i am qualified to speak on this matter as i had a similar "high confidence level" after graduating from an old-fashioned diploma school at st. vincent's hospital school of nursing. it was 3 full years of nursing (including summers) and when i graduated i had experience in almost everything and could comfortably be in charge of any unit in the hospital. i did a bsn degree "because it was the right thing to do" but i planned on writing articles about how much more i learned in my diploma program. i was wrong. the education is on a different level and i did learn a lot in my bsn program. i hope you will, too.

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i am an rn who is working on bsn, i will be done in may of 2012. i am working in ltc full time, two days a week as charge nurse, three days a week as bridge nurse ( helping out the charge from 11-2 and doing a med pass from 2-7). i am really starting to wonder if all this work i am putting into my education is really going to pay off in the end?

i was not able to land a job in the local hospital ( was told my high confidence level comes across as being unteachable) and with the economy is such sad shape, am i just burying myself in debt for a glorified med aid job?

i get a mixed bag of advice from local nurses and managers about it. of course the managers will say it is worth it, the nurses i talk to who don't have their bsn, say it don't matter and those who do have their bsn are iffy. arg. what happend to a higher education being a good thing?

i think that this is a bigger potential problem for you than whether or not you will be getting a useless bsn (which, by the way i agree will never be a mistake). i hope you are addressing this problem as that could hinder your career more than your level of education.

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Specializes in cardiac, ICU, education.

If you go to the right program, a BSN is extremely valuable. But as for the "high confidence level," was this just one person who said it to you or more than one? If it was the interviewer, and you were there to talk about why you should be hired, I could see you trying to sell yourself.

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i am working on my bsn and everyone i have spoken with (managers and nurses) all say that having a bsn brings better paying jobs and positions.

:nurse:cindey:nurse:

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