How Did a BSN Help Your Career (Or Not)

hpcat · Jan 11, 2007

"Many states are now requiring a BSN to work as a nurse. NY is considering this. They will give current RN's 10 years to complete the 4 year degree."

The bill died in committee (probably due to the shortage, a possible shortage of slots in schools, plus some groups were complaining it discriminated against lower income people who wanted to go into nursing).

However, I think to maximize your potential for the greatest # of opportunities, you need to get as much education as possible. Due to how complex nursing is becoming due to new technologies, I doubt that an ADN will be sufficient in another 10-20 years.

I have a BA in social sciences and am working on my ADN. The college I got my BA from has an online MSN program that you can get into with a nursing portfolio, RN and any Bachelor's degree. If I go into their RN to BSN or MSN program, I have to take 5 more pre-req courses totaling 17 credits. The individual MSN program requires only 2 more credits over the RN to MSN program and no pre-reqs.

So even though I am not working in a social sciences field, my BA is still working for me.

hpcat · Jan 11, 2007

Hi! I'm definitely going the ADN to MSN route (with my BA in social sciences) - if you can avoid any extra time or cost (like pre-reqs), go for it!

mwhittin · Jan 11, 2007

Even though I am an Associate degree graduate from the 1980's, my experiences have allowed me to move through different roles including management, i.e. Director of Nursing, Administrator, and now New Hire Support/Retention Specialist. But, I do feel that I have had to justify my knowledge and abilities just because I do not have that B.S.N. I am certainly capable of doing particular jobs, but I have been "passed over" solely on the lack of credentials. More than anything I want to prove to myself that I can complete that Bachelor's degree. So, now, after 20+ years, I am breaking down and starting classes in order to complete the B.S.N. Do I think that I will be a better nurse? I don't know, but I am certain that I will learn a lot, mainly because I am finally in the space that I want a B.S.N., not feeling like that I have to get one to make other people happy. Also, I am certain that additional opportunities will be available to me with that credential. Who knows? Maybe this "dyed in the wool" ADN will even advance to a masters or doctorate. Wish me luck!

Monica RN,BSN · Jan 11, 2007

I Am too an ASN then BSN nurse. The BSN has allowed me to hold upper managemnet positions as I have been a DON, ADON, and supervisor in several capacities. I am also an educator throughout our community with a Fla Board of nursing contact hour provider number. That is how it has helped me..Good Luck toall who are pursuing the BSN programs.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2007

many states are now requiring a bsn to work as a nurse. ny is considering this. they will give current rn's 10 years to complete the 4 year degree.

i have to say that this continual idea that ny is going to require all their rns to have a bsn has been around for many years. it was talked about when i was in nursing school back in 1973!!! so, it is not an old idea in ny. with the state of healthcare and current national shortage of nurses i wonder that it is even feasible to enact unless the state makes for, or mandates employers to make for, some serious money available for this to be accomplished by the nurses. there are huge repercussions when monumental decisions like this are made. when governor schwarzenegger signed the legislation mandating the lowered patient to nurse ratio staffing law out here in california several years ago, a number of hospitals, i believe it was 45, had to close within a year because they couldn't meet that mandate. that had a backlash on the other hospitals in those communities who had to assume the burden of taking on those patients that would have previously gone to those hospitals. i would think that there are people in the ny legislature that are aware that something of a similar nature could happen in ny and would want to build protections against such a backlash. another problem i can see is that not all rns are going to be scholastically capable of doing the schoolwork necessary to get a bsn. what kind of provision are they going to make for those rns? and, how about the rns who came by their licenses as a result of completing a course in a hospital school of nursing outside the state rather than in a college?

nfahren05 · Jan 13, 2007

Outside of staff nursing, an RN will do little for you today or tomorrow. A BSN today will open new doors everywhere, managment, consulting, education, insurance, research, pharma, public health, policy - or completely outside healthcare - a college degree says "I can hack it". Go for it.

Actually, outside of nursing, it doesn't matter if your bachelor's is a BSN. Consulting, public health, and pharma companies generally prefer the highest related degree and most professional experience available. Even inside nursing, the only real incentive for picking the BSN is a desire to teach or to get a advanced practice certification (CNM, NNP, PNP, etc.) If you are thinking about management, you will do as well by getting the BA/BS, and then follow up by pursuing an MBA, MPH or MHA, any of which will generally give a stronger administrative background than most MSN programs. This is not to say that the nursing programs are not without some advantages, but access to nursing programs is limited in many parts of the country, and those nurses who have better access to non-nursing programs may want to at least consider them.

Gennaver, MSN · Jan 13, 2007

Please ... this is NOT an ADN vs. BSN thread. I don't want to go there.
I am merely asking BSN nurses if they feel the bachelor's provided more career opportunities, or not. If so, what kind of career opportunities.
...
Do you feel that the additional costs, time invested, lost overtime, etc. for the BSN was or will be worth it?
Thanks.
:typing

Hello,

I see from your comment, (about lost overtime) that you are questioning RNs who are going for BSN completion programs.

My current program is entry level, (MS entry) and I am not loosing any overtime or RN salaried work because my Associates and Bachellors were not entry to Nursing degrees. I am not a nurse yet and not missing what I couldn't have.

As an entry to nursing degree my master's should be very helpful, (as would a BSN or ADN entry degree) because without it I could not sit for the NCLEX-RN in the first place! :)

Yet even if it was post RN I would think my Master's would be helpful too.

I am still interested in learning and do not have any intention of stopping at this level either. Do I think it will help in nursing? For me, yes, (and personal perception is a major motivator in the benefit of pursueing higher degrees).

Cheers,

Gen

edited due to poor wording and run on sentances!

Gennaver, MSN · Jan 13, 2007

Please ... this is NOT an ADN vs. BSN thread. I don't want to go there.
I am merely asking BSN nurses if they feel the bachelor's provided more career opportunities, or not. If so, what kind of career opportunities.
Or, did you see more benefit by getting your master's?
...
Thanks.
:typing

Hello Lizz,

And how do you feel about the bachelors and career opportunities and or getting your master's by the way?

:)

Gen

Gennaver, MSN · Jan 13, 2007

My immediate benefit from the BSN was an extra dollar/hour. But it also helped me view nursing as a profession, not just a job.

This is a great post!

A higher degree changes one's mentality from mere vocational training to perform a "job" to being a Professional.

When someone asks, "why bother with a BSN or MSN...what good will it do you or what difference will it make?" it clearly screams of vocational mentality. I mean, if I just wanted a "job" then I'd have stayed back in food service or factory work or as a cna and so on.

You said it clearly and succinctly.

Obviously not everyone is interested in becoming a professional and do not see it as a benefit, (vocational mentality).

Gen

p.s. as a patient I would not want to be someone's mere job...

loricatus · Jan 13, 2007

$0.64 more per hour in the NE (no differential from working in the state I graduated from, though) and the ability to start on my Masters without having to take any more prereqs. Clinically, the ADN's were more prepared after school because I spent my last 6 months writing paper after paper rather than learning skills related to bedside nursing. :smilecoffeeIlovecof

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2007

$0.64 more per hour in the NE (no differential from working in the state I graduated from, though) and the ability to start on my Masters without having to take any more prereqs. Clinically, the ADN's were more prepared after school because I spent my last 6 months writing paper after paper rather than learning skills related to bedside nursing. :smilecoffeeIlovecof

No clinicals the last six months??? That is highly unusual. All the programs around here ADNs and BSNs are doing clinicals/preceptorships up until they walk down the aisle. :lol2:

Sorry. Off topic. I just found that interesting. Carry on with the original topic of how a BSN has helped an individual person, or not helped.

zahryia, LPN · Jan 13, 2007

This is a great post!
A higher degree changes one's mentality from mere vocational training to perform a "job" to being a Professional.
When someone asks, "why bother with a BSN or MSN...what good will it do you or what difference will it make?" it clearly screams of vocational mentality. I mean, if I just wanted a "job" then I'd have stayed back in food service or factory work or as a cna and so on.
You said it clearly and succinctly.
Obviously not everyone is interested in becoming a professional and do not see it as a benefit, (vocational mentality).
Gen
p.s. as a patient I would not want to be someone's mere job...

I really think you're generalizing to think that all ADNs see nursing as a 'job'. My mom has been a nurse for more than 20 years and doesn't even have a ADN. She has a diploma. This woman is SO passionate about her patients and her work. She can run circles around a lot of nurses-despite their degree.

How about we focus on why we want to get a higher degree without talking about why others don't want to.

Personally for me, I wasn't going to bother with a BSN, since I already pursued my MPH. But management doesn't seem to 'get it' with my education and want that BSN no matter what. I still haven't made a final decision yet, but if all they're looking for is a bachelors', I got one of those already.