Should BSNs be paid more?

Nurses General Nursing

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I know ADNs and BSNs both sit for the same NCLEX exam, both have approximately four years of education, and at best have negligible differences (over time) in their nursing skills. BSNs take courses than broaden their overall knowledge; however, ADNs have more clinical experience prior to entering the workforce. Should there be a differential for BSNs, or should the reward for obtaining a BSN lie in the ability to advance one's career?

I'm not trying to start an ADN vs BSN bashing, I'm just curious to see what you all think.

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

I think everyone should get paid more.

I happen to disagree with the opinion that ADN's have more clinical time. I have compared several programs in both Florida and Alabama at community colleges and universities, and the ones I looked at generally had the same amount of clinical time. The exception was the University of Alabama at Birmingham (not my first choice school) had more clinical time.

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You will find that all nursing programs are required to have x number of clinical hours in their programs. This number is the same no matter if it is ADN or BSN. (atleast that is how Alabama is setup). The differance is ADN does the hours in 2 years and BSN does the hours over 4 years. Example: Gadsden State Community College and Jacksonville State University. GSCC students and teachers always (the ones I talked to) say they do more hours than JSU. However, when you look at the programs side by side JSU does a small amount of more hours. I am a JSU grad.

To end this post....ROLL TIDE

I think everyone should get paid more.

I second that!!!!

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
I know ADNs and BSNs both sit for the same NCLEX exam, both have approximately four years of education, and at best have negligible differences (over time) in their nursing skills. BSNs take courses than broaden their overall knowledge; however, ADNs have more clinical experience prior to entering the workforce. Should there be a differential for BSNs, or should the reward for obtaining a BSN lie in the ability to advance one's career?

I'm not trying to start an ADN vs BSN bashing, I'm just curious to see what you all think.

I am not sure what state you are from but BSN and ADN TO NOT got to school the same amount of time, ADN do not go as long as BSN hence that one is an associates and one is a bachelors. I do not think that AND have more experience before entering the work force as far as getting a job/being done with school. I have heard however that when starting clinicals that that ADN program nurses are more ready, but I have heard arguments on both sides...

Specializes in CICU / ICU.
I am not sure what state you are from but BSN and ADN TO NOT got to school the same amount of time, ADN do not go as long as BSN hence that one is an associates and one is a bachelors. I do not think that AND have more experience before entering the work force as far as getting a job/being done with school. I have heard however that when starting clinicals that that ADN program nurses are more ready, but I have heard arguments on both sides...

A BSN takes 4 years of undergraduate course work. Typically, an ADN takes 2 years of pre-requisites and 2 years of nursing course work. That is where I came up with the same amount of time.

My statement about ADNs having more ADNs having more clinical experience before entering the workforce could be dead wrong. I live in Oregon, and will be attending a BSN program this Fall. From what I can see, the ADN programs here have more clinical hours than the BSN programs.

Pay should be equal since both are held to the same standards.

Specializes in ER (new), Respitory/Med Surg floor.

I would think wanting to further establish nursing as a profession we should strive to make a BSN degree for nursing a requirment. However right now it is so unrealistic since we need staff. So instead we go back and forth here over this. The up side is many people such as my mom who can't afford the time or money to go to school for 4 years did an LPN program. I really think it should all be equal a standard to enter nursing. I do get frustrated at the same time going to school for 4 years obtaining a degree to get paid as much as someone going to school less. I don't mean to put anyone down or their choice. And I see how all the diffent edu as far as bedside do the same job but I really feel you should be at least rewarded somehow for doing more schooling.

I know ADNs and BSNs both sit for the same NCLEX exam, both have approximately four years of education, and at best have negligible differences (over time) in their nursing skills. BSNs take courses than broaden their overall knowledge; however, ADNs have more clinical experience prior to entering the workforce. Should there be a differential for BSNs, or should the reward for obtaining a BSN lie in the ability to advance one's career?

I'm not trying to start an ADN vs BSN bashing, I'm just curious to see what you all think.

I'm not trying to nitpick, but not all ADN graduates have more clinical experience than BSN graduates. My BSN program includes three years of clinicals at about 12-16 hours per week. The first two years of clinicals are in the hospital, and the final year is spent studying community health and doing clinicals in a variety of different settings.

The whole "BSN programs are all theory with less clinical time" idea is a myth.

And...the BSN program at my school takes closer to 5 years to finish.

Specializes in CVICU.

Hey

Not starting anything, just stating the facts:

I attend UT TYLER. We do two 12 hour shifts a week (24 HOURS) or three 12 hour shifts a week (36 HOURS). My mother graduated from an ADN program four years ago and they did 4 hour or 6 hour shifts, never a 12 hour shift, with a max of 15 a week. First semester. at my school, you have 5 lectures plus 2 clinicals in level 1. She had 2 lectures and 2 clinicals in level 1. ****BUT both sit for the same NCLEX, so I do not think there should be a huge pay difference, just a couple of dollars difference.

Where I work there is a $1.00 difference in pay.

I AM SURE ALL SCHOOLS ARE NOT THE SAME, this is just true of the two school in my city.

Specializes in Peds ER.
I know ADNs and BSNs both sit for the same NCLEX exam, both have approximately four years of education, and at best have negligible differences (over time) in their nursing skills. BSNs take courses than broaden their overall knowledge; however, ADNs have more clinical experience prior to entering the workforce. Should there be a differential for BSNs, or should the reward for obtaining a BSN lie in the ability to advance one's career?

I'm not trying to start an ADN vs BSN bashing, I'm just curious to see what you all think.

Yes, definitely.

Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Psych.

Hello folks.

IMHO, many BSN and ADN nurses are paid the same because they perform the same job - that of an RN. Although BSN's have taken a route that required (in most cases) more education than is needed, the job that they are performing can be done with an Associate's degree. Even if a person has a PhD in nursing, if he/she is working as an RN, then they should expect to be paid somewhat similar to the other RN's.

My situation may make this clear: I work as a phlebotomist. Currently, in my state, one should have at least a 3-month class in phlebotomy to perform this job. I have actually seen people with no experience get hired. I have a bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology, many science classes, and have done graduate level work in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. This translates into $1.00 more an hour than my coworkers. Even if I go back to school and pursue a PhD and write a thesis on the History and Science of Blood Collection in the 20th Century, it wont matter. If I do the work of a phlebotomist, I'll get the pay of a phlebotomist. If one does the work of an RN, he or she will get the pay of an RN.

To solve this problem, BSN's should do what many other medical professions do. Lobby together, and force BON' s everywhere to create certain jobs only for BSN level RN's. Create the need for these positions everywhere and act upon the demand. Every day that I work, I can see the difference in the educational level of those of us with 4-year degrees, and my coworkers without. If I want to get paid for the difference, I need to find a job in which a 4-year degree is a basic requirement. I think that BSN's (those that want to be paid more) should get some good bedside experience under their belt and plan on moving up the nursing ranks. For those that don't want to move up, focus on a AA in nursing. Just my 2 cents.

PS - remember to take everything I say with a grain of salt; I don't even start nursing school until the spring!!! :chuckle

CrazyPremed

Specializes in NICU.

Oh good, this debate is again! :rolleyes:

I think everyone should get paid more.

I totally agree!!!!!!! :)

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