BSN or Associates Degree

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Hello, I have begun taking pre-requisites for nursing finally. I'm in my forties and wondered if the rumor about nurses with associates is true. Are companies preferring nurses with BSN, and is it hard for a nurse with an associate's degree to find a job nowadays? Ultimately, I want to pursue the BSN but in future. I may have the opportunity to transfer from TRI-C (a community college) after taking my pre-requisites to a larger university for the BSN. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thank you.:rolleyes:
Specializes in Hematology-oncology.

Having your BSN makes it much easier to get in the door for interviews, especially in competitive areas. My employer has yes/no questions on the application, one of which is whether or not you have your BSN. With that being said, there are many great RN to BSN programs out there, many of which are online. Getting into 4 year BSN programs can be difficult, as well as cost-prohibitive. Several of my co-workers went the route of graduating from a community college with their associate of nursing degree, and then taking an online RN to BSN program. Many employers will hire new grad nurses with the expectation that you will complete your BSN in about 2 years. As an added bonus, many employers have tuition assistance programs. No matter what you decide though, best of luck. Nursing is a great field!

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Having your BSN makes it much easier to get in the door for interviews, especially in competitive areas. My employer has yes/no questions on the application, one of which is whether or not you have your BSN. With that being said, there are many great RN to BSN programs out there, many of which are online. Getting into 4 year BSN programs can be difficult, as well as cost-prohibitive. Several of my co-workers went the route of graduating from a community college with their associate of nursing degree, and then taking an online RN to BSN program. Many employers will hire new grad nurses with the expectation that you will complete your BSN in about 2 years. As an added bonus, many employers have tuition assistance programs. No matter what you decide though, best of luck. Nursing is a great field!

It's interesting you mention about the online BSN programs. I just filled out an application, and it asked if you had an ADN or BSN from other than an online university. I hadn't seen that before, and I wonder if employers are starting to catch on to some of these online BSN programs that amount to really, high cost diploma mills.

But the OP did mention transferring to a regular university (regionally accredited I assume), so that would be good.

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Specializes in Hematology-oncology.

Some online programs are diploma mills to be sure. Many accredited universities (like mine--Ohio State), have online versions of their programs though. The OP should make sure *any* school they attend is accredited. US News, as well as other 3rd parties rank programs as well. Attending one that is highly regarded always looks better on a resume. :)

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I did my ADN and then did an RN-BSN after I worked for 2 years, they paid most of the tuition. I was an older student (in my 40s, like you) and liked that I could get to work faster. The RN-BSN program was much more meaningful as I had some time to develop context. I live in an area where nurses are in high demand, so having an ADN won't keep you from getting a job-they don want commitment that you will get your BSN within a certain time frame

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I don't have my BSN....from my experience as a nurse, it's all about who you know vs about what you know. So make it your choice to do ADN or BSN. And I move around a lot from state to state and never had a problem finding a job.

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I don't have my BSN....from my experience as a nurse, it's all about who you know vs about what you know. So make it your choice to do ADN or BSN. And I move around a lot from state to state and never had a problem finding a job.

Actually, that's always been my experience as well: I've never had an issue getting a job. I think it's just supply and demand. The degree required to be an RN is an associates or a diploma. If there aren't many jobs for nurses in an area, then they can require BSNs. But it seems like that never works out for very long. As soon as they try to make BSN madatory--they don't have any nurses.

And anyone who has gone through nursing school knows that if it has to be an advanced degree it should be the other way around: You get a bachelor's degree, then you get into nursing school. But of course then there would be no nurses at all.

But I've have 3 associate degrees and a bachelor's. The nursing ADN is not like any associate program known to man. It is way more intensive than my bachelor's in liberal arts ever could have been. You'd think it was more like a graduate school.

Alas, I'm babbling. Time to go start dinner. :)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Another thing to investigate about your job market: In some communities (such as mine), there is a big difference between finding a good job as an experienced ADN and finding a good job as a new grad ADN. In my community, an ADN who has a couple of years of experience in acute care can generally get most staff nurse jobs in an acute care hospital. But that same hospital will not hire a new grad ADN unless he/she is enrolled in a BSN program and expecting to graduate within a specified amount of time.

So ... nurses who graduated with an ADN 5 years ago did not have the same obstacles that new grad ADN's are currently facing.

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Another thing to investigate about your job market: In some communities (such as mine), there is a big difference between finding a good job as an experienced ADN and finding a good job as a new grad ADN. In my community, an ADN who has a couple of years of experience in acute care can generally get most staff nurse jobs in an acute care hospital. But that same hospital will not hire a new grad ADN unless he/she is enrolled in a BSN program and expecting to graduate within a specified amount of time.

So ... nurses who graduated with an ADN 5 years ago did not have the same obstacles that new grad ADN's are currently facing.

You might be right, I don't know. But what I do know is that this same conversation, almost verbatim, was going on 14 years ago. That much, I do know.

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Frankly I'd just do the BSN and get it over with. That way all the "what ifs" and "buts" will be moot.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

In my humble 45.5 years as diploma program,

1st job charge nurse in CCU at my hospital based program,

CCU &ER major teaching hospital in Wash. DC,

recovery, and ERSupervisor

CCU, CVICU AND HN of a step down cv unit....

Micu,

ER in Houston, & ICU Beaumont,

ER in a smaller SE Tex. Hospital....

Several stints of DON at snf/LTC

My diploma program, has never held be back........ Because of my vast experience

Honestly though, if I knew what I do now, I would have went for BSN, as I had already completed & 1/2 yrs as Biology Major....

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

The BSN vs ADN argument is an old one here. Despite that it can still get pretty heated! Honestly there are so many factors that need to affect your decision, I don't suggest you buy into the argument of why one is better than the other without applying it to your situation.

First consideration is if the BSN is going to be required in your job market. If you have zero plans to move in the future and ADN prepared nurses are easily finding employment in your area you probably don't need the BSN and can save yourself a boatload of tuition money. I've never heard of any college that can offer a BSN at a tuition cost that is even close to competitive to the costs of a community college where the ADN is generally offered. On the other hand, if you are finding that most job postings in your area specify BSN required or BSN preferred or if you think you might move in the future you may as well go for the BSN right from jump.

Since you said your plan is the pursue your BSN eventually, if it's cost effective you might as well do it now. If there is an easy transition from the ADN course at a community college to a BSN program at a local university where all your credits will transfer that would probably be the most affordable way to go.

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Specializes in Med-surg, home care.

Get your BSN ASAP. Not sure where you live but in the New York metro area non-BSN grads will have a hard time finding jobs as most employers prefer or require a BSN. Nurses with ASN with jobs usually have a number of years of experience but some employers require those nurses to obtain a BSN within a certain time frame. I am currently in a BSN program and a few nurses I know even suggested I eventually get my MSN since they believe this is where nursing may be headed at some point (like other healthcare professions I guess) but I haven't seen any bedside nursing position that require an MSN though.

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