Late bloomer ADN - Should I get my BSN?

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Aug 27, 2015

I think the answer depends on how many more years you plan to work and in what area. I am your age and have an ADN. I may (hopefully) only work another 8.5 years and it would not earn me any more money than I make now so it doesn't make financial sense for me.

If my employer paid for it I would do it.

Jules A, MSN · Aug 27, 2015

I think the answer depends on how many more years you plan to work and in what area. I am your age and have an ADN. I may (hopefully) only work another 8.5 years and it would not earn me any more money than I make now so it doesn't make financial sense for me.
If my employer paid for it I would do it.

I agree and before you decide you can't get a job at a hospital try looking around, make some contacts and get the inside story not just local lore. I know many older ADNs who work in hospitals at magnet hospitals, make great money, enjoy their jobs and would not financially benefit from getting their BSN. There is a lot of pressure to continue with nursing education with little financial benefits, personally I think you need to keep in mind what is best for you.

If you are looking for personal enrichment I would consider courses/seminars with skills geared toward your specialty interest which would actually be fun and useful. I did the BSN because it was a stepping stone to my MSN but found it fairly useless in the big picture with regard to nursing knowledge or skills. If I was going to remain a floor nurse, no interest in admin or management, the BSN would have been of no value to me. Good luck.

vwhite2013 · Aug 30, 2015

I am also 53 years old. I graduated with my ADN in 2013. I made the decision to earn my BSN and started working on it this Spring. I'm still finding my niche in nursing and am finding that many employers are requiring/prefer candidates with a BSN. I am taking mine at Southern New Hampshire University. They made the admission process easy, the classes are all online and nine weeks long, and their tuition is not as high as other schools. I plan on working until at least age 68, so hope that it will pay dividends for me. Good luck on your journey!

lrgarletts · Aug 30, 2015

I say yes because it will give you more employment options as you age. I am in nursing school as an older student. Did it like you, slowly. I plan to get my BS while I work, online.

enuf_already · Aug 30, 2015

After over 30 years as a diploma grad, I got my BSN. Why? Because my Magnet institution made it impossible for me to transfer from my current position (which I love now, but will I always?). They paid a portion of my tuition. I did not get an increase in pay nor did my job title change.

I plan to work until I'm 70 or maybe longer. I've actually considered going back for my MSN. I will say I have absolutely no regrets in going back.

nancyerun · Aug 31, 2015

Thank you all for your comments! I am definitely still weighing my options and have not decided, but I appreciate the feedback. I have interview tomorrow for a position with the VNA, and at the moment I am putting all my attention on finding a position where I can learn and gain experience. Hopefully a position that offers financial help with continued education. Financial assistance will be a big factor in the decision making process:)

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Sep 1, 2015

I agree with JulesA and check out the hospitals and not just the local lore. I constantly check the hospital websites in our area for posted jobs and I have only found one hospital that has said in their ads BSN required. And it was for a more specialized dept. Some say BSN preferred. But that is not the majority of them. I was at a local hospital orientation the other day and they want to go magnet status but that only required them getting rid of the floor LPNs and hiring RNs. ADN and BSN not just BSN as I have seen people put on here. Go talk to the people who do the hiring in the hospitals around your area.

Getting more education is never a bad thing. The thing with going from your ADN to a BSN is that you can do it online and you can still work. There's no extra clinical hours required so you could feasibly do a class at a time if you want. You could then apply to hospital jobs and tell them you are in the process of getting your BSN which would make you even more marketable in my opinion. Just don't listen to what other people tell you. You need to hear it straight from the horses mouth. So get your resume going and start applying.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 1, 2015

Going from ADN to BSN can be done at a leisurely pace -- and can be relatively inexpensive if your employer offers any tuition benefits. If you plan to continue working into your mid-60's, then I would think the BSN would be worth it. It will open up other opportunities that may interest you.

However, I don't think a BSN will be a "magic ticket" into an acute care job. You'll have to still make a strong effort to break into acute care. Fortunately, even being enrolled in a BSN program can sometimes help there -- even before you graduate. Just don't think of it as any guarantee.

NurseFifty · Sep 8, 2015

What are your considerations?

Is it worth the money you ask? Just do the math, how much it will cost you vs how much salary you hope to gain, how many more years do you intend to practice. What would you have lost in salary if you went to work instead of study.