How much difference in pay do two year rn's get than four yr??

Mika11 · Apr 22, 2008

no, no background as a nurse. I have only been a nurse's assistant and home health aide. Honestly, I have no idea what you have to go through to get your license here (aside from going back to school and starting over here) but maybe you can contact you state board of nursing and ask what steps you need to take. Good Luck!

ok, thank you!

:)

tg27 · Apr 29, 2008

Why is the attitude that a BSN is earned only if you want to go into management, the military, etc. No one encourages BSNs to ask for a higher starting wage to reward the higher edication (and in fact, most nurses resent that BSNs want to be paid more). Are our patients not deserving of health care provider who has a four year college degree? Would you accept teachers for your children who only had an Associates Degree in Teaching? Or a three year diploma in teaching? Or a one year, "Licensed Practical/Vocational Teacher?
In my experience the BSN program where I live in South Florida is mainly theoretical, and has the same amount of clinical time as the ASN program. Therefore, the experience that the hospitals are looking for is the same. I don't know how it is in other areas, but experience is key here.

wabisabi · May 3, 2008

Usually less than one dollar per hour difference. It's quicker and easier to obtain national certification in your practice area (CCRN, CPAN, CNOR, CEN, etc) and get as much or more money than it is to spend thousands of dollars and years of time for not much return. Many ADNs have Bachelors or Masters degrees in other fields, by the way, so it's not as if they're less well educated.

labrador4122, RN · May 3, 2008

$0.50 cents

Castymiss · Feb 8, 2009

AT my work the BSN does get 5% more pay. I obtained my BSN after having an AA degree for 20 years. Having

a BSN opens up many more doors. If there is ONE job and there is an AA degree nurse and a BSN degree nurse vying for the same job...guess who will get it???? Of course the BSN nurse will. So I encourage all to return to school and get theirs.

JNW504 · Apr 10, 2009

As a nursing student in a BSN program at one of the top nursing schools in the country, I have a major problem with the fact that someone who has their ADN thinks that they deserve the same pay as a BSN!! As an ADN, yes you passed the same NCLEX exam as the BSN student, but that is the only thing that you have in common with a BSN. Most ADN programs only prepare you to pass the exam and nothing more. A BSN program focuses on that and much more in depth knowledge that just the need to know things. There is no way that you will have the same amount of knowledge or experience when you graduated in two years when a BSN graduates in four years!

Any other profession makes more for each degree they receive: doctors, teachers, business majors...everyone! If you have your ADN that is wonderful that you obtained any sort of degree... I commend anyone for graduating college! But don't knock people who have gone to school for longer than you that expect better pay. It is common sense that the longer you go to school the more knowledge you attain.

Like I said, I am a student, and in clinicals it is easy to see the difference between an RN with an ADN and an RN with a BSN. I'm sorry to burst your bubble but BSNs are simply more qualified.

I have friends who are in ADN programs, and their requirements and exams can not even compare to the requirements and exams at the university I attend.

Education is a very important aspect of life, and there is no reason that nurses with their BSN should not demand more pay for their degrees. This is why we have more and more BSN nurses leaving the bedside to do management.

I didn't sign up to do management. I'm in nursing because I want to take care of patients. That is my passion!! Not necessarily med/surge, but either way I want to be bedside!

I'm sorry if this sounds like I think BSNs are better than ADNs because as people no I don't think that! But I do think BSNs are more qualified and have a higher degree so they should make more money!!!

Nacki, MSN, NP · Apr 10, 2009

As a nursing student in a BSN program at one of the top nursing schools in the country, I have a major problem with the fact that someone who has their ADN thinks that they deserve the same pay as a BSN!! As an ADN, yes you passed the same NCLEX exam as the BSN student, but that is the only thing that you have in common with a BSN. Most ADN programs only prepare you to pass the exam and nothing more. A BSN program focuses on that and much more in depth knowledge that just the need to know things. There is no way that you will have the same amount of knowledge or experience when you graduated in two years when a BSN graduates in four years!
Any other profession makes more for each degree they receive: doctors, teachers, business majors...everyone! If you have your ADN that is wonderful that you obtained any sort of degree... I commend anyone for graduating college! But don't knock people who have gone to school for longer than you that expect better pay. It is common sense that the longer you go to school the more knowledge you attain.
Like I said, I am a student, and in clinicals it is easy to see the difference between an RN with an ADN and an RN with a BSN. I'm sorry to burst your bubble but BSNs are simply more qualified.
I have friends who are in ADN programs, and their requirements and exams can not even compare to the requirements and exams at the university I attend.
Education is a very important aspect of life, and there is no reason that nurses with their BSN should not demand more pay for their degrees. This is why we have more and more BSN nurses leaving the bedside to do management.
I didn't sign up to do management. I'm in nursing because I want to take care of patients. That is my passion!! Not necessarily med/surge, but either way I want to be bedside!
I'm sorry if this sounds like I think BSNs are better than ADNs because as people no I don't think that! But I do think BSNs are more qualified and have a higher degree so they should make more money!!!

Trust me there are many ADN nurses you will not be able to tell the difference from BSN nurses. You could probably learn something from a few of them. :icon_roll

P.S. Many nurses who are in management positions don't make as much (or much more) as bedside nurses...even those of us with a ADN degree.

Castymiss · Apr 10, 2009

Most straight BSN grads are NOT the better qualified....but rather the AA degree nurse who has much more knowledge as a bedside nurse. I have gone on and obtained my BSN degree from a top notch school as well. BUT I have those 20 years of experience behind me...and TRUST me...that BSN degree did NOT teach me much more than I already know. Sure we had to write lots of papers, do powerpoint presentations, and a lot more garbage JUST to get that piece of paper....but I dare those BSN grads to even attempt to put down the AA degree nurses. ...Nurses should be sticking together instead of splitting us apart. I say if one wants to advance, great. Those that choose not to should not be ridiculed by some student nurse or any nurse. I have seen TOP managment with only an AA degree.

Freedom42 · Apr 10, 2009

True, the new grad does not yet have that experience. But what's also true is that as long as associate degree nurses continue to argue that BSNs should not be paid more, the longer ADNs will continue to shoot themselves in the foot. By arguing that higher education does not merit more pay, the ADN who supports this is essentially cutting herself off (along with everybody else) from higher earning opportunities. I agree with the above poster in that nurses should stick together. Imagine how we could advance as a profession if all existing ADNs and diplomas were grandfathered, the BSN became the minimum entry level requirement for newcomers, and pay for all nurses went up. It's up to nurses to make it happen. Hospitals have no incentive to stop nasty name calling and divisiveness; indeed, it's to their advantage that arguments like this persist.

Castymiss · Apr 10, 2009

OK...I will say that because a BSN HAS gone through more education, they SHOULD be paid more. But this BSN student sound way too cocky. I am NOT in favor of ADN or diploma nurses being GRANDFATHERED in. I was not. I had to EARN the BSN and pay money to get that degree. Why should a AA degree just be given the BSN on a platter because they chose to not obtain the BSN???? I just do not agree that a BSN is a better qualified bedside nurse. Even though I have my BSN. I have seen Masters trained supervisors who are not very good at problem solving, being a good leader, and clueless at the bedside. We just need to stick together as a profession. This AA and BSN debate has gone on forever. It should be the entry level option. Then maybe we would all stop arguing about this topic. Physical Therapists must have a MASTERS degree and so must a LCSW. Why is it that an RN can only have an AA degree? I think experience is what makes the nurse a great nurse, NOT a degree or piece of paper. But if one opts to get the BSN...then yes, more money should be coming our way. At my job, they DO recognize that and ALL BSN nurses obtain 5% more pay. I would encourage all AA nurses to one day go back to school and get that BSN. If there is one job and two nurses...they WILL pick the nurse with the BSN degree.

Freedom42 · Apr 10, 2009

OK...I will say that because a BSN HAS gone through more education, they SHOULD be paid more. But this BSN student sound way too cocky. I am NOT in favor of ADN or diploma nurses being GRANDFATHERED in. I was not. I had to EARN the BSN and pay money to get that degree. Why should a AA degree just be given the BSN on a platter because they chose to not obtain the BSN???? I just do not agree that a BSN is a better qualified bedside nurse. Even though I have my BSN. I have seen Masters trained supervisors who are not very good at problem solving, being a good leader, and clueless at the bedside. We just need to stick together as a profession. This AA and BSN debate has gone on forever. It should be the entry level option. Then maybe we would all stop arguing about this topic. Physical Therapists must have a MASTERS degree and so must a LCSW. Why is it that an RN can only have an AA degree? I think experience is what makes the nurse a great nurse, NOT a degree or piece of paper. But if one opts to get the BSN...then yes, more money should be coming our way. At my job, they DO recognize that and ALL BSN nurses obtain 5% more pay. I would encourage all AA nurses to one day go back to school and get that BSN. If there is one job and two nurses...they WILL pick the nurse with the BSN degree.

They need to be grandfathered in because that's the only way to get them to agree to work to make it happen. If they don't benefit in some way, they'll never agree to it. You can say you encourage all ADNs to go back to school to get the BSN, but why should they unless and until there is a financial incentive? Most hospitals don't recognize the extra education with higher pay. If they did, of course many ADNs would pursue the higher degree -- and the hospital's labor costs would go up.

The BSN is not necessarily the better qualified nurse, only the better educated nurse. It's difficult to quantify experience.

Castymiss · Apr 10, 2009

NO, they should NOT be grandfathered in...period....WHY then would I have gone back to obtain my BSN degree? Maybe because I CHOSE to do that knowing it would advance me later on, which it has done. WHY does a nurse just want to remain forever in a hospital setting???? Do they not have any goals to go further with their career???? Grandfathered in, Heck no...I had to struggle to obtain my BSN degree, why should someone come along and just get the BSN given to them....NO way....let them go earn it themselves if they wish to. I am making more money than I ever made in my life working OUTSIDE Of the hospital.......If the AA nurses are grandfathered in ever, they will NOT have the respect of ANY of the more educated nurses. So we can just fight about that as well..hahaha