Why aren't there better incentives for obtaining a BSN degree?

obnurse/educator · Mar 20, 2011

I got nothing when I obtained my Inpatient Obstetric certification, nothing when I became an IBCLC, and nothing when I got my BSN. I am almost done with my MSN, and will be getting nothing for it, too.

What will I do with all this? Hopefully find a better job, with an organization which values education.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 20, 2011

The hospitals here are really pushing for BSN. One of them I believe just implemented that all the Nurses need BSN's by 2020. I know they offer Tuition help but that's about it.

I am about to finish my associates in May and than I enrolled to start a RN-BSN program after that in October. For me though it wasn't for the incentive or the pay increase (which isn't much here either) it was personal goals. I will be the first college graduate of my family. (out of the kids) and even my extended family, I just have an Aunt and my Dad, that went to college and graduated.

Yet, I was the least likely one expected to graduate high school, (15 and pregnant) let alone go on to college.

rn438 · Mar 20, 2011

the last two hospitals I worked at you did not get one cent for having a bsn. WHY?? Because hospitals are cheap and view nurses as an area of cost, always wanting to eliminate cost . They don't care about our education, professional development, or anything. Why do you think we work 36 hour /week? Because it is "better for the patients and continuity of care??" Uh, no , because they save money by doing it that way. Maybe one day that will realize education has an effect on patient outcomes and NSDI's - and that they might save money in the long run by supporting education of nursing.

backatit2 · Mar 20, 2011

i've wondered the same thing. i'm getting a BSN because i have a BS in another field so it would take the same amount of time for ME to get a BSN as it would to get an ADN. my advice to people who are just starting out though is to start out as an LPN and then work their way up. i guess even though the pay isn't much different as a bedside nurse - if you have a BNS there are more opportunities if you want to move up the ladder so to speak.

caliotter3 · Mar 20, 2011

Hospital preference for hiring BSN prepared nurses is all the incentive most people should need, unless they have no desire to get hospital nursing experience.

Psychtrish39, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2011

The hospitals here are really pushing for BSN. One of them I believe just implemented that all the Nurses need BSN's by 2020. I know they offer Tuition help but that's about it.
I am about to finish my associates in May and than I enrolled to start a RN-BSN program after that in October. For me though it wasn't for the incentive or the pay increase (which isn't much here either) it was personal goals. I will be the first college graduate of my family. (out of the kids) and even my extended family, I just have an Aunt and my Dad, that went to college and graduated.
Yet, I was the least likely one expected to graduate high school, (15 and pregnant) let alone go onto college.

Me too... Mi Vida Loca ... mom in high school too....

cabanaboy · Mar 21, 2011

I'm a BSN nurse, and I was just wondering why is it that there are so few incentives for obtaining a BSN degree as opposed to an ADN degree? I know that an RN is an RN, but I feel there should be greater incentives for obtaining a BSN degree. BSN nurses only get paid generally an extra 50 cents to $1 an hour than ADN nurses from what I've seen so far, but it doesn't make sense to me. On top of that, MSN prepared nurses don't seem to make much more than BSN nurses. At various hospitals I saw that their MSN differential is $1300 a year. I 've also seen that certification differentials at these same hospitals are around $1200 (not much different than a BSN or MSN differential).
Why is this the case? I've come across nurses with ADN's who would like to get there BSN but don't because there are no real incentives, given the additional schooling and extra tuition involved. From ADN to BSN to MSN to Doctorate there should be much larger wages as one progresses from one degree to the next. I think there should be at least a $10,000 difference in yearly salary. In many ways, money talks, and it seems that what facilities that hire nurses are saying to us is that they only wan't ADN nurses.

Because on a floor where all the nurses are doing the same job, there isn't a difference between a MSN and ADN nurse. Experience is what matters, and the more experienced ones make more money because they are more valuable to the hospital.

The incentive to further your education should be focused on the future opportunities that will come from it for yourself, not because you expect the hospital to pay you more for the same job you already do.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 21, 2011

as the other posters pointed out, your personal career choices at times are the only incentives. also, choice of facilities can be an incentive once you gain some work experience! for instance, i was able to land a higher level er job because i have a bsn and work experience. :up:

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Mar 21, 2011

Hospital preference for hiring BSN prepared nurses is all the incentive most people should need, unless they have no desire to get hospital nursing experience.

That is my reason!

I wanted to wait to get my BSN and have the hospital pay for most of it, but 6 months after I graduated I had no job and loans were coming due, so back to school I went for my BSN, will be done in October.

All most all the hospital systems in my area are requiring a BSN, one it is stated that by 2018 all new hires must have a BSN, but when you apply now one of the pre-qualifying questions is Do you have a BSN? If no you don't qualify

Another hospital in my area hired some of my ADN friends, but are required to get their BSN within in 5 years

lindarn · Mar 21, 2011

Hospitals don't want to pay BSNs more, because they are afraid if they started to pay significantly more for a BSN, that ALL nurses would get BSNs on their own, and demand more money, like PT and OT did when they increased their educational levels.

Besides, this if RNs all had BSNs it would unify us, and they would no longer be able to play the very successful, "Divide and "Conquer". Why else would they notwant to pay.

I get livid when I hear nurses state, that BSNs shouldn't get more money because "we all do the same job". Teachers who graduate with Bachelors Degrees, and go on to earn Masters Degrees, get paid more money than the teachers who only have Bachelors Degree,even though they ALL DO THE SAME JOB!

Also, there has never been a protracted, ad nauseum, discussion among PTs, OTs, Pharmacist, etc, on why PTs with with higher degrees provide better care to their patients, and "where is the evidence" that PTs, OTs Pharmacists, will give better care, have better outcomes" if they attain higher degrees"?

If you see what I mean. Nurses argue the point constantly, parroting adminisitrators, who for their own selfish reasons (nothing to do with nurses, patients, etc), do not want nurses to increase their education. Can anyone but me see outside the box? How all of the arguements are pointless, especially since the subject was/has never even been brought up by other health care professionals.

That, in a nutshell, is why nurses who earn BSN, are not paid more. And nurses buy into this drivel , hook, line, and sinker!

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

SeeTheMoon · Mar 21, 2011

I have wondered this so many times. I'm going for ADN, and keep saying once I get some experience, would love to go for BSN. But lately, I have been weighing that, considering there really isn't much to gain (unless you are aiming for management from what I understand.) Another example, a local hospital has decided that their LPNs must go back for their RN, and be done by 2013. One of the LPNs I know says she has maxed out in pay (she's been an lpn for 30 years) and they already told her she would only get a $1 hr raise when she gaduates! Plus, I'm in GA and from what I understand, the scope of practice difference between lpn and rn is pretty slim. Just doesn't seem right.