Get the Bsn or leave nursing?

[smartnurse1982]

Does it make sense to stay a nurse if there is a predicted glut in 2025?

We already know plenty of people are trying to become nurses.

I see on Allnurses where many do not think these people cannot handle the schoolwork,

but i know for a fact that many of them are actually succeeding.

I would say 90% of the people i know who wanted to become nurses in the last 5 years have succeeded.

I will only be 43 in 2025. I have been a nurse since 2004,and have never really worked outside of nursing(besides being a Cna)

I will also have 21 years in nursing if i stay in 2025.

Of course,i can get a Bsn to stay competitive,but i do wonder if that will be enough.

It might get so competitive that employers might ask for something else or they might have even more stringent requirements(such as 1 year med surg experience) that i do not have.

[VegetasGRL03RN]

And that's a shame b/c studies shows that experience affects patient outcomes more so than education.

Most of the studies I've seen through obtaining my BSN mentioned education was the greater factor past the beginning years and, of course the best scenario is at least BSN with several years of experience in that particular specialty. Off the top of my head, I know Linda Aiken has conducted several of these studies.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Most of the studies I've seen through obtaining my BSN mentioned education was the greater factor past the beginning years and, of course the best scenario is at least BSN with several years of experience in that particular specialty. Off the top of my head, I know Linda Aiken has conducted several of these studies.

The aikens studies initially showed that appropriate staffing was the most important consideration in reducing mortality, she then went on a tangent into education.

[AGACNPTX]

There are nurse consultants, advice line nurses for insurance companies, sales for medical equipment, nurse writers, nurses who do insurance physicals, private duty nursing, maybe?

You like bedside? That's great! In L&D I worked with wonderful nurses who were BSN and MSN. Part of being profitable is being reliable and innovative. Your innovation could cut costs and/or improve customer care, that offsets your cost as an employee. You read these posts from seasoned nurses getting fired on here? That's a skewed sampling for one. For another, we don't get the whole story in those posts. The posters may be leaving out the parts where they are chronically late or difficult to work with or whatever reason.

I don't see experience being punished. I see experienced nurses who demonstrate their loyalty and expertise to the field rewarded with stable employment and respect. These nurses do more than show up to the job though. They are there everyday and go above and beyond where others might just go in and do what's expected - no more, no less. These nurses do projects on cost saving measures that enhance patient care, they do in services and CE. They invest in themselves, so their organizations in turn invest in them.

There are also positions in Informatics, positions with medical device companies such as pacers and AICDs, education, etc

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

How much more schooling after RN to get BSN?

For me, it took 10 months and 34 credits to progress from the ASN to the BSN.

[smartnurse1982]

i just sucked it up and will be attending Thomas Edison State College in July.

I will be taking my time though,as working 80 hours/week is a MUST in Pdn,and on top of the fact i have to pay for the classes myself.

Luckily I get in-state tuition.

Total cost? $15,898

[JustMeRN]

This conversation is very relevant to me.

I am an ASN nurse, with 15 years experience. I worked in one facility for 13 years, 11 med surge and 2 in a small outpatient department (preop testing). Last year we were told that all nurses would be expected to have a bsn by 2020 or we would be terminated. I work only per diem, as I have been a full time mom with young kids for the last several years. I started looking at bsn programs (not because I wanted to) and could not fathom a $25,000+ education that I did not really want at this point in my life. The facility has limited tuition reimbursement, and being per diem I didn't qualify. I knew my chances of finding a new job were probably better now. So I started looking for jobs and found most of the hospital jobs here in the northeast want a bsn. I started in home care 8 months ago. As much as I think i settled for a position I could get, I really love it. It came with a 20% pay cut, that hurt.

I could see see myself staying in home care, but I don't like feeling boxed in and stuck. My search for a bsn this time has lead to Western Governers university. The competency based format and 100% online classes make it a good fit. The price and option to accelerate through the program makes it a no brainier for me. If all goes as planned I will have my BSN in 1 year at a cost of roughly $6,500.

Op, if you want to stay in bedside / hands on care, a BSN is becoming (has become) the standard minimum. I felt the same way as you this time last year. I fought hard against the "you must have a bsn " mantra. I don't think a bsn makes someone with a lot of experience a better bedside nurse. I'm not a nurse that feels "called" to nursing. I'm a good nurse, and I like it well enough. I made the decision to go for my bsn because yes, it's the only way to stay competitive. Nursing offers me a decent salary, a job I enjoy (most of the time) flexibility and diversity. I couldn't start over in another field that offers me all that without spending way more than the $6500 I will spend to get my BSN.

So, for what it's worth, that's my story.

[caliotter3]

i just sucked it up and will be attending Thomas Edison State College in July.

I will be taking my time though,as working 80 hours/week is a MUST in Pdn,and on top of the fact i have to pay for the classes myself.

Luckily I get in-state tuition.

Total cost? $15,898

Good for you. And good luck with your program. I am anxious to see what you decide to do with your career after you obtain a BSN. Are you looking to remain in home health or are you hoping to find another area of nursing? Just curious.

[smartnurse1982]

Good for you. And good luck with your program. I am anxious to see what you decide to do with your career after you obtain a BSN. Are you looking to remain in home health or are you hoping to find another area of nursing? Just curious.

Thanks!

I plan on remaining in Pdn as a field nurse.

I really cannot see myself doing any other nursing specialty.

[smartnurse1982]

This conversation is very relevant to me.

I could see see myself staying in home care, but I don't like feeling boxed in and stuck

That is all the more why i thought long and hard about this.

Most non-acute care employers are not pressuring ADN's to have a Bsn.

At this point in time,most employers that are acute care are making Adn's go back for the Bsn.

As you probably know,Private Duty Nursing agencies are not pressuring Adn's to have a Bsn to stay employed.

I do not think they could afford to.

There also is no extra pay for having a Bsn in this field either.

I am not too sure if having a Bsn would make me more marketable in acute care.

Why?

All of my nursing experience is in non-acute care.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Most of the studies I've seen through obtaining my BSN mentioned education was the greater factor past the beginning years and, of course the best scenario is at least BSN with several years of experience in that particular specialty. Off the top of my head, I know Linda Aiken has conducted several of these studies.

How surprising. Aiken finds that more of what she is selling (higher education) results in better patient outcomes.

[chare]

How surprising. Aiken finds that more of what she is selling (higher education) results in better patient outcomes.

Where exactly do you find fault in her results?

[smartnurse1982]

I wonder what Aiken said about the outcomes of patients of Rn's who work in non-acute care?

I cannot find that information anywhere.