What can I do with my BSN that Assoc. RN's can't?

Nurses General Nursing

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I just graduated with my BSN this spring. I'm working as a PCA2/Graduate Nurse at a local hospital until I take my boards... I am taking my HESI tomorrow at the college I graduated from. This is an 'exit' type of exam that we have to pass before taking our boards. I'm feeling down about not being able to pass and have this huge fear that I am not going to pass my boards!

Amidst my fear, I am questioning taking a role as an RN on floor nursing. It seems like most of the RN's on my floor have an associates degree, and I am questioning if I should be doing something different since I have my bachelor's? The pay is the same for an Assoc. or BSN, which doesn't make any sense to me. Just wondering what else is available that I might not be looking for, or what your opinions are!?

Another BSN student who just graduated as well was speaking with me, and said she wonders if the Assoc. degree RN's laugh thinking that we have wasted our time getting our BSN when we get the same pay/same responsibilities. Is this a big issue?

Thanks!

Miranda

Specializes in L&D all the way baby!.
I'm in a 2+2 program--you get an ADN in 2 years, then go on for a BSN if you want to.

A lot of my class, including me, sees the ADN as a way to pay for the last two years. In my case, I can do what I want with just an ADN, but I'll probably go back for the BSN just to deepen my knowledge base. Plus, options are never a bad thing.

Ha, ha, sucker! J/K

This is how we do it as well. Our school is a traditional ADN with the option to then pursue BSN. They make the BSN route doable while you are working so that you can earn money and advance at the same time. I guess if I wasn't 30 already and lived closer to a regular 4 yr BSN program I might do it that way but with 3 kids and a hubby I need earning potentail ASAP.

Either way congrats on your BSN! Good for you! :balloons: 3_2_2.gif

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

Congrats on graduating!!!!!

I just graduated with my BSN this spring. I'm working as a PCA2/Graduate Nurse at a local hospital until I take my boards... I am taking my HESI tomorrow at the college I graduated from. This is an 'exit' type of exam that we have to pass before taking our boards. I'm feeling down about not being able to pass and have this huge fear that I am not going to pass my boards!

Amidst my fear, I am questioning taking a role as an RN on floor nursing. It seems like most of the RN's on my floor have an associates degree, and I am questioning if I should be doing something different since I have my bachelor's? The pay is the same for an Assoc. or BSN, which doesn't make any sense to me. Just wondering what else is available that I might not be looking for, or what your opinions are!?

Another BSN student who just graduated as well was speaking with me, and said she wonders if the Assoc. degree RN's laugh thinking that we have wasted our time getting our BSN when we get the same pay/same responsibilities. Is this a big issue?

Thanks!

Miranda

I already have a degree but have been thinking about nursing for a long, long time. I am going (hopefully!) for my ADN next year. If I choose to continue on to a BSN so be it, but right now , I just want to be a nurse. I have had many nurses tell me "get your bachelors since you already have a degree" but honestly I have no interest in management, etc. Like I said I just want a career in nursing. I am not AT ALL concerned with how I look to others, etc.

I don't have anything against getting a BSN at this time but the only bsn schools are pretty far away and pretty expensive. I am just not in that position right now.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Congrats on your BSN. As other posters have stated, no one will laugh at you - they will be glad to have an extra set of hands. Your BSN is never wasted. Good luck.

I did an ADN degree and worked as RN while I finished my BSN. Then went on to CRNA school. A BSN registered nurse in the eyes of the hospital and staff is just another nurse. Dont expect to be compensated more. Hospitals treat nurses like crap. There is no incentive to do better. My advice, further your education. Dont stay a floor nurse. Sounds like you are ambitious so keep it up and dont let anyone put you down. I was treated the same way. But now I make a great income and have awesome autonomy. I know a nurse that also just graduated with BSN and she was offered a 13 cent raise. Now if that is not a kick in the *** I dont know what is. She also has been working for the same hospital for almost 30 yrs. Some appreciation huh. Nurses need to pull together instead of bickering at each other and they would own this healthcare system. Everybody is too busy kissing the doctors *** to see the real needs of our healthcare system. America is supposed to have the best healthcare system but I disagree. Maybe in the areas of technology and equipment but not in management. Too many chiefs and not enough indians that are able to make their own decisions.

:angryfire As far as staying on the floor, do it for 1 year to get your feet wet and get some experience then move onto something else.

I just graduated with my BSN this spring. I'm working as a PCA2/Graduate Nurse at a local hospital until I take my boards... I am taking my HESI tomorrow at the college I graduated from. This is an 'exit' type of exam that we have to pass before taking our boards. I'm feeling down about not being able to pass and have this huge fear that I am not going to pass my boards!

Amidst my fear, I am questioning taking a role as an RN on floor nursing. It seems like most of the RN's on my floor have an associates degree, and I am questioning if I should be doing something different since I have my bachelor's? The pay is the same for an Assoc. or BSN, which doesn't make any sense to me. Just wondering what else is available that I might not be looking for, or what your opinions are!?

Another BSN student who just graduated as well was speaking with me, and said she wonders if the Assoc. degree RN's laugh thinking that we have wasted our time getting our BSN when we get the same pay/same responsibilities. Is this a big issue?

Thanks!

Miranda

Education is NEVER wasted.

I have an ADN and a BA. Didn't do the BSN because it was too expensive at a time when I had very little money, while I could do the ADN without taking out any loans. At this point I am looking for an RN to BSN program that fits with my job and family...maybe even an advanced degree at some point. Who knows?

I don't even know which of the nurses I work with have what. It's just not important.

Education is NEVER wasted.

I have an ADN and a BA. Didn't do the BSN because it was too expensive at a time when I had very little money, while I could do the ADN without taking out any loans. At this point I am looking for an RN to BSN program that fits with my job and family...maybe even an advanced degree at some point. Who knows?

I don't even know which of the nurses I work with have what. It's just not important.

Hyp, that's like me. Maybe after I "become" a nurse I will be more interested in getting a BSN but right now I am just not interested. My MIL has an ADN with no bachelors and is a great nurse, loves it, and makes a very good living for herself. :balloons:

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Congratulations! Nothing more to add to what was already said. You're not going to notice much difference on the floor right away. ADNs are geared towards hospital nursing bedside, and pass the same RN NCLEX that you did, thus the same rate of pay as you start out. Right now just concentrate on skills, your new job, learning all you can to be the best nurse you can be.

Your degree will come in handly later on down the line.

Don't waste your energy comparing yourself to ADNs or worrying about what ADNs think. Also don't try to set yourself apart, or better than the ADNs as you're going to need them. :)

Specializes in ICU.
You get to take the side of "A BSN is better than an ASN/ADN/Diploma/Regent's/Foreign trained/everyone else debate"

That's always fun....

Thanks for the Laugh :rotfl:

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Just want to wish you the best of luck on your HESI tomorrow. Let us know how you did. :)

Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

i'm sure someone already said it, but i just scanned the posts, so I'll go ahead....

you do realize that you'll need some experience floor nursing before you do go up in lets say, management, right? I've never heard of anybody going straight from nursings school, BSN, and begins "above" floor nursing. you gotta master the basics first.

congrats tho on getting the BSN. it is certainly an accomplishment and something to be proud of.

but don't think you're above those other ADN nurses... they will surely put you in your place, real fast. just because you're a BSN and the others are ADN doesn't mean that you are a "better" nurse. it just means that you had a few extra classes (around here, those are humanities) than they did. a lot of ADN nurses have bach. degrees in other fields.

remember, you can always have something to learn from an experienced RN. and most likely, based on the fact that most RN's are ADN nurses, some of the best RN's in your hospital are ADN nurses!

we all take the same NCLEX, and we all put our pants on one leg at a time.

Congratulations!

I got my ADN and I'm not laughing at you. I don't know about there, but here (from what I've been told), the main difference is that even though we did have to take a management course for ADN, there is even more management related courses with BSN. Another thing I thought was weird is that I was taught how and had to start IVs on actual people while in nursing school while those I knew in the BSN school were only allowed to start them on the maniquins in school and never on a real human until after graduation and then do it after they worked as an RN. No pay difference here either with the two degrees.

The advantage to having a BSN is that if you decide to further your career, as in going further in management, or your education and become a nurse anesthetist (sp?) or nurse practioner, for examples, you're that much closer to it. Also, to be able to teach nursing, a Masters is required here...even if it's to teach in the ADN program.

I'm not interest in the management part of nursing because I enjoy direct patient care and have had my fill in other areas being responsible for the other people working under me. So, for now, I'm still satisfied with my ADN. I have thought about going back to school to become a nurse practioner, but we'll see.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do & please don't feel like you wasted any time in getting your education!

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