Is having a ADN useless these days?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Do employers favor those with a BSN ?

Perhaps it's a reflection of age and how I look at things more for what they are and less idealistically now. I went to a very selective big 10 university and I now see the peripheral courses I took as a waste of my time and money. The well-rounded deal is something you naturally become in the perfection of your art- not by handing precious money and time to a university for something not needed. You take the fluff only as a means to buy the degree that you need to be allowed to BEGIN learning. So... in getting my ADN I was able to reduce the junk.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

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I 100% agree with you. For some reason there are some nurses out there that think just because they can get by with the bare minimum, they never have to improve themselves again. To be honest, I would much rather hire a new grad BSN that values education than an ADN with 25 years of experience. I mentioned previously that here there is a 10 cent difference in pay for new ADNs and BSNs, but that would not deter me from pursuing higher education and I think it's a shame that some people don't think it's worth it. Those aren't the type of people I want to work with."

*** I find your position that any RN who does not hold a BSN has not improved themselves preposterous.

I will give one example of a nurse I know personally who does not hold a BSN. Misty is her name. She graduated from a ADN program and worked as a staff ICU nurse for 6 or 7 years. During that time she studied for and achieved CCRN and CEN certification. She also became the unit educator for IABP and temporary pacemakers. Plus she was the VAP prevention and oral care nurse for the SICU and MICU. While she was VAP prevention nurse the SICU went from having 7 or 8 cases a year to none. She also studied for and earned a BS in health care administration. After (I think) 7 years in the SICU she was hired as the assistant manger of the ICU of a nearby hospital. While doing that job she earned her MPH degree and is now the director of patient care services (basically she is the boss of anyone except physicians who touches a patient in the hospital) for a 150 bed community hospital and makes lot's and lot's of money and has the respect of her peers.

So much for those who do not hold BSN don't value education.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

This thread has really degenerated. So much for pragmatic discussion about the changing economy, career outlook, and nursing degrees. Can't we lose the defensiveness on all sides and just talk about what may be changing in nursing?

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PMFB, now your Misty is a great example of perfecting one's art.

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An ADN just might be enough to get my foot in the door. That's all I need. I think I can probably live without 3 credits of "Nursing as a Profession" (total fluff). Besides, I would be a grade A idiot if I let some stranger trying to justify their own choices, guilt me into dropping an additional $15-30k for a buck more an hour and break room bragging rights.

Well, what about for intrinsic reasons? I wouldn't pursue a BSN in order to tell everybody else I was a BSN--I don't think I would advertise it either, except for in an interview. But would you want more knowledge? At my university we were required to take 3+ courses in two field of study that were drastically different than our major. For example, if you were major in the natural sciences, you had to take a sequence of 3+ courses that complemented each other in the social sciences and 3+ courses that complemented each other in the humanities.

Some people here would call those courses fluff, but it has made me a more well-rounded person. I can hold a conversation about Jung or Faulkner.

I do agree with you on one point: As a floor nurse, there is basically NO financial incentive to get a BSN. I mean, in this economy it might give you a better chance of landing a job in certain places, but by no means is it a requirement. In fact, I think it's very smart to just get an ADN first and then work your way through a BSN as you work as an RN. And career-wise, unless you're going to go into managment, again there is no critical reason for a BSN--many people have been great nurses with an ADN for a LONG time. The incentive is more personal, if anything.

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"

I 100% agree with you. For some reason there are some nurses out there that think just because they can get by with the bare minimum, they never have to improve themselves again. To be honest, I would much rather hire a new grad BSN that values education than an ADN with 25 years of experience. I mentioned previously that here there is a 10 cent difference in pay for new ADNs and BSNs, but that would not deter me from pursuing higher education and I think it's a shame that some people don't think it's worth it. Those aren't the type of people I want to work with."

*** I find your position that any RN who does not hold a BSN has not improved themselves preposterous.

I will give one example of a nurse I know personally who does not hold a BSN. Misty is her name. She graduated from a ADN program and worked as a staff ICU nurse for 6 or 7 years. During that time she studied for and achieved CCRN and CEN certification. She also became the unit educator for IABP and temporary pacemakers. Plus she was the VAP prevention and oral care nurse for the SICU and MICU. While she was VAP prevention nurse the SICU went from having 7 or 8 cases a year to none. She also studied for and earned a BS in health care administration. After (I think) 7 years in the SICU she was hired as the assistant manger of the ICU of a nearby hospital. While doing that job she earned her MPH degree and is now the director of patient care services (basically she is the boss of anyone except physicians who touches a patient in the hospital) for a 150 bed community hospital and makes lot's and lot's of money and has the respect of her peers.

So much for those who do not hold BSN don't value education.

Clearly the person you mentioned bettered herself. Perhaps I was too specific by saying BSN. I think of any higher education (certifications, degrees, etc.) as bettering yourself. Certainly I wouldn't disagree that a BS (and MPH!) is great, too :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

morphed-- I really think you hit the nail on the head with your last post. In my life personally, getting the BS is something that I wanted to do as 1. an accomplishment, 2. a possible leg up in the hiring process, and 3. a foundation for a master's degree in nursing.

I agree that there probably isn't much of a difference on a hospital floor between an ADN and BSN RN. There is literature out there that says mortality is reduced with more BSN's in patient care, but I don't know the logistics of that and haven't taken the time to read through or find evidence.

With the job market changing, having a 4 year degree can do nothing but help a new grad in the job-hunting process. I don't think that ADN program should be "shut down", but there should certainly be easier and less expensive routes for ADN's to continue their education.

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morphed-- I really think you hit the nail on the head with your last post. In my life personally, getting the BS is something that I wanted to do as 1. an accomplishment, 2. a possible leg up in the hiring process, and 3. a foundation for a master's degree in nursing.

Thanks :)

I forgot to include the part about a BSN being the foundation for a master's degree, you're so right! What Masters programs are you looking into? Good luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
Thanks :)

I forgot to include the part about a BSN being the foundation for a master's degree, you're so right! What Masters programs are you looking into? Good luck!

I'd like to complete a FNP program within a few years after I graduate (graduating in May) with the BSN. Eventually - when I'm older :) - I would really like to teach, but we'll see what happens. I may be too worn out at that point to continue on for a PhD, lol!

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Specializes in Psych.

I just finished my ADN - my job will pay for me to get a BSN or bridge to a MSN. I can get my BSN online in one year for 5k. While working... or do the ADN - MSN bridge in 4 years; also while working. I think an ADN is the right choice for some people - and I believe with all of my heart that it was the right choice for me.

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I just finished my ADN - my job will pay for me to get a BSN or bridge to a MSN. I can get my BSN online in one year for 5k. While working... or do the ADN - MSN bridge in 4 years; also while working. I think an ADN is the right choice for some people - and I believe with all of my heart that it was the right choice for me.

I think it's great that you found a path that's working for you and your lifestyle. If going with an ADN helped you on your road to whatever your end goal is, then you absolutely did the right thing.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Some courses are only tangentially related to the practice of one's profession, but weed out based upon intelligence. .

My husband's RN-BSN program is online, and as such, requires a lot of communication with other students in a message board format. I've been frankly appalled at the level of intelligence of the students in his classes, based on how they present themselves in the written venue.

Honestly, I've met enough mediocre BSN nurses to not be too impressed with the scholarship (or lack thereof) necessary to get the title.

Believe me, I'm a nerdy geek who puts high priority in higher education. I'm not speaking from a place of feeling inferior. I hope to get two Master's degrees in the next 5-6 years. I will probably go for my DNP at some point, simply because I can see myself being bored without a book in front of me. I just don't place a particularly high value on the BSN, compared to an ADN degree, based on what I've seen of the classes necessary to earn it, and the relative scholarship of the students in said classes.

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