How seriously are RN-BSN graduates taken?

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Im finishing up prerequisites for my ADN. My plan was to finish my ADN, bridge online to my BSN at one of the universities in my state, and hopefully relocate. However, I've began wondering how seriously RN to BSN applicants are taken? I know youre supposed to stay away from diploma mills and for profits, but are regular schools seen that way too? Furthermore, what if you want to go for higher education? 

4 Answers

Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

No one cares.  Get your BSN.  What matters is certain jobs require a BSN.  Like the military requires a BSN.  Maybe a nurse manager job will require a BSN.  As long as you meet that qual it is then up to the person.  Literally no one has ever asked me where I got my BSN.   No one cares.  They care do I meet the requirements? check. Do I have a good work history. Check.  Etc, etc.   

Specializes in CTICU/ER/Dialysis.

It doesn't matter. Once you have the BSN, you have your BSN. Nobody will look down upon you I promise. 

Most jobs especially hospitals and any other outpatient or affiliation with larger hospital system has it written in contracts that even if you have an associates of nursing you will pursue admission to a BSN program within 2-4 years of start date (depends on hospital). This is because research suggests that nurses with BSN have higher patient safety ratings and competency levels to advocate for overall better patient care. It's a liability thing and getting a BSN is the best bet. Honestly most nurses I have worked with even get their degrees from ECPI and other private schools and they are not looked down upon. Experience talks, especially in nursing.

As long as the RN to BSN program is accredited (look for CCNE or ACEN), you're totally fine - especially if it's from a public university in your state. Employers care more about whether you have the BSN, not where you got it. I've seen nurses go on to grad school from all kinds of bridge programs with no issue at all. Just avoid for-profits or diploma mills and you're good. Focus on learning and getting through the program—that's what really counts.

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