Is a BS with an RN degree as competitive in the job market as a BSN? In Bremerton, WA

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  1. Will a BS in Micro with an RN degree be as competitive as a BSN in the job market?

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I just finished my last pre-nursing course (nutrition, dosage, pharm), and I am waiting to see if I got in to the Olympic College ADN program. I went to UW and graduated with a BS in microbiology in summer 2012, and decided to go back and do the ADN program locally (I have 3 kids under 6!!). I was just curious if employers would see that I have a BS degree (although not a BSN obviously), and my ADN (when I'm done), and think I was as competitive as someone with a BSN?? I'm trying to decide if its worth it to take another year away from my kids being inundated with school to obtain a BSN... Thanks so much for any input!!!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

The short answer no. Longer answer is that you might be slightly more competitive than an ADN, but that would depend upon the area of nursing you're going into. You will not be equally competitive as a person who has a BSN. I have a BS in Sports Medicine. I don't expect to have any advantage over any ADN grads unless it's in the area of physical rehab or orthopedics because that's a LOT of what Sports Med deals with. As a prior EMS worker, I don't expect to have any advantage over any other new grads (BSN or ADN) except perhaps some "notice" that I've had lots of patient care contact, so I won't be uncomfortable working with patients, but that's not exactly a HUGE advantage as we have been taking care of patients for a while...

Generally, you'll be considered the same as an ADN with a "nice to have" Bachelor's Degree, but that's NOT the same as a BSN.

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I have a BA in Biology and I talked to an alumni from my ASN program that had a BS in Biology and she said that it didn't help her at all when it came to getting a job - if it's not nursing, it's not relevant. Or so I hear...

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

A non-nursing BS degree with an ADN is the same as having an ADN by itself. You will not be as competitive as candidates who possess BSN degrees.

Employers/recruiters are specifically looking for the BSN degree.

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Another vote for BSN over ADN with another BS. Nursing is making a slow but steady move toward higher education for the same job, which will leave ADNs in a career limbo, eventually.

The program I'm about to finish is a 2nd degree BSN program: if you have an existing bachelors, you can skip right to the nursing semesters. I took 2 semesters of pre-reqs, then jumped right in to the program. I will have a BSN in 3 years, which is just one extra year compared to an ADN. To me, it was more than worth the extra year.

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I always find it helpful to reframe these kinds of questions: In Microbiology World, would someone with an Associate's in microbiology and a BSN be considered the equivalent of a person with a BS in microbiology?

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Specializes in ICU.
Another vote for BSN over ADN with another BS. Nursing is making a slow but steady move toward higher education for the same job, which will leave ADNs in a career limbo, eventually.

The program I'm about to finish is a 2nd degree BSN program: if you have an existing bachelors, you can skip right to the nursing semesters. I took 2 semesters of pre-reqs, then jumped right in to the program. I will have a BSN in 3 years, which is just one extra year compared to an ADN. To me, it was more than worth the extra year.

I have actually done 3 semesters of prereqs. So it is 3 years for an ADN. The problem is until the NCLEX is different between the ADN and BSN, there is really not a difference.

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Specializes in ED, Medicine, Case Management.
I have actually done 3 semesters of prereqs. So it is 3 years for an ADN. The problem is until the NCLEX is different between the ADN and BSN, there is really not a difference.

Not entirely true, at least not in Oregon. Attached is an example of how our CC nursing programs differ from BS programs. It is mostly in terms of leadership courses as well as population health, epidemiology, and statistics. It is true that both sit for the same NCLEX, but in terms of the education received, the BSN is more expansive.

http://www.ocne.org/OCNE_Curriculum_Framework_POS_Samples_Final_802.pdf

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No, I don't think it matters unless it's a degree in a prominent foreign language. Even then, it may not matter.

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