Is it really worth getting my RN to BSN?

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2009

I'm signed up for classes for my RN to BSN, but I'm debating if it is really worth tacking on the extra debt to get my BSN when it doesn't really appear that hospitals are paying out for even having a BSN. What are your opinions?
-David

Hey David, I was also a non-BSN nurse (diploma RN) that made the decision to go back to school to get my BSN. My hospital pays $0.50/hr more for a BSN, which I know isn't much, so I know what you mean by not feeling like you'll be financially compensated. I feel like I learned alot in the classes, be it research skills, evidence based nursing, and leadership. Do I think the BSN will help my clinical skills? Absolutely not. I do think that it will help open doors for me later on, be it grad school or non-clnical jobs (ie case manager, nurse co-ordinator, manager). I don't think a BSN will hurt, and with this economy, I would rather have one, just in case it does get harder for an RN to find a job.

Straydandelion · Aug 8, 2009

I have a BSN and have found salary-wise it wasn't helpful. However the extra training opened doors that would have been unavailable without. I think a lot depends on what you want to do with your degree. Management, education, specialty field.. it definitely would help.

mappers · Aug 8, 2009

To reiterate what everyone else has said, it isn't about the money you'll make right out of school. It's about the future you'll have. More educations is rarely ever a bad thing. Just like any bachelor's degree, you'll open more doors for yourself by having one.

I saw a 20/20 story one time about how people graduating with degrees (in any field...business, psychology, English, etc) where complaining that they were getting the same customer service jobs as their friends who chose not to go to college and were wondering if it was worth it. I say Yes. In 10 years, those friends will most likely have the same customer service jobs, where as the one with the degree will have been promoted much more quickly and be making much more money. I know, I've seen it over and over.

When I look around at the nurses I work with on the floor, none of them who've been floor nurses for more than 5 years have BSNs. All the case managers, educators, unit managers and more have at least a BSN. Those ADNs are great nurses and love working the floor. More power to them. If that's you goal, don't bother with the BSN.

rngolfer53 · Aug 8, 2009

I can't answer your question straight out, because I don't know your circumstances, desired career path, etc.

What is happening to nursing as well as many other jobs is an increasing demand for formal education--those little letters-- as gatekeeper for new and higher positions.

I'm in my mid-50s, and a BSN. If I was 10 years younger, there's no question I'd be taking classes for my MSN. Otherwise, I'd be too limited in my choices 10 years from now.

There are plenty of moves afoot to make MSN the standard for many nursing jobs. To get there, you have to have the bachelors first.

Like most things, in nursing if you're standing still, you're getting passed by.

Jules A, MSN · Aug 8, 2009

I'm getting mine as a stepping stone toward my MSN. Like others have said it surely won't make a big salary difference but for promotions and opportunities it could. That said I'm not for going into debt even for education so if you work and save the money to pay the tuition or maybe take one class at a time it would be ideal, imo

silentRN · Aug 8, 2009

Thanks for all of your answers. I will stay with it. I will be done in Dec of 2010. It's just very discouraging because of all the wage freezes. I'm still making New Grad pay and I've been an RN for 15 months now, and have also transferred to the Trauma-Surgical, and, I'm going to be a mentor for nursing students going to UofA. My worst fear is that now I will just be a RN with a BSN who will still be making New Grad pay when I am done with school. I had my first evaluation already and I would have been getting over a dollar raise. I am very discouraged about the pay right now. On the brighter side, I started reading my text book for one of my classes and it got me excited about the program and to go back to school.

I really like what I do. I see myself as a career nurse. But man, they really need to start giving us nurses some incentives to continue on. Taking away tuition reimbursement, wage freezes, no bonuses, and adding to the patient load while I was on my old unit... doesn't bring much encouragement to the table.

tomsusandono · Aug 8, 2009

We just turned down a remarkable internal candidate for a starting level management job because State regs require a BSN.

Education is never wasted. Look ahead 10 to 15 years---are you going to need additional education to get your NEXT job!

KateRN1 · Aug 8, 2009

I'm still making New Grad pay and I've been an RN for 15 months now, and have also transferred to the Trauma-Surgical, and, I'm going to be a mentor for nursing students going to UofA. My worst fear is that now I will just be a RN with a BSN who will still be making New Grad pay when I am done with school.

I realize how difficult it is to feel that you are not being valued, but please stop to consider all the new grads (and grads from a year ago) who have been able to land that first nursing position. Although it's nice to be rewarded monetarily, you are getting something that many newer nurses aren't getting right now--a paycheck.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Aug 8, 2009

I couldn't have the job I have today without my BSN. I was a diploma nurse in the hospital for 17 years before I decided I wanted a different area of nursing and needed the BSN. If you get it now, you won't regret it later. And no, the BSN did not make me a better nurse. It was just the required degree for the job I wanted.

neatnurse30 · Aug 9, 2009

There is a nurse ( new grad) who moved from other state to our area, because in her area the hospitals are only hiring RNs with BSN and she only has an associate degree. I'm currently enrolled in college for BSN and it took me some time to go back to school ( 3 yrs after getting RN license). I'm glad I'm finally doing it and my only regret is that I didn't start taking classes earlier. In our hospital you don't get paid more for having BSN, but that's not the reason not to do it.

If you plan to stay in nursing profession, I think BSN is a minimum nowadays to have.I often see positions for RNs requiring BSN ( for ex. public health nurse etc., case managers), and even if I don't look for such positions now, I know that in the future I might change my mind and want to explore other fields of nursing. You never know. There are plenty RNs on the floor who don't want to bother with BSN, but that's their thing.

You don't have to quit your job to go back to school, I work per diem in the hospital and take 2-3 classes per semester in a state college( in -state tuition is not bad), so I pay as I go for classes and don't accumulate any debt along the way.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Aug 9, 2009

As a VA nurse my boss told me that having the BSN gives me an automatic plus for career development and progression.