MSN but offered the salary of ADN

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 17, 2019

There are many places that don't pay differently for those doing the same job with a different degree. They pay to the license, not the letters behind one's name. I would negotiate based on experience.

Golden_RN, MSN · Oct 17, 2019

14 hours ago, Rose_Queen said:
There are many places that don't pay differently for those doing the same job with a different degree. They pay to the license, not the letters behind one's name. I would negotiate based on experience.

This is my experience. No employers in my area pay more for BSN or MSN, even magnet status hospitals. My last hospital job was in a union facility and they pay according to years of experience/service.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 17, 2019

I've never worked for a hospital that paid BSN's more than ADN's. They've all paid the same wage for the same job.

I've got a PhD, but have been in a position that is listed as "MSN required" -- and I make the same as my MSN colleagues. I've never been paid extra for my additional education.

JKL33 · Oct 18, 2019

On 10/16/2019 at 9:32 PM, peaceluvandnursing said:
I thought it was pretty standard that a BSN was paid more than a ADN.

Not standard at all.

On 10/16/2019 at 9:32 PM, peaceluvandnursing said:
Recruier stated that they didn't pay more based on education.

If they believe the role requires (only) the lower degree, there is no motivation to pay someone more just because they have additional education which the employer has already stated is unnecessary. It is superfluous to them.

On 10/16/2019 at 9:32 PM, peaceluvandnursing said:
I know they are shooting for Magnet status in the future so.....

That's where their footing starts to fall apart in my opinion. Now they do generally want nurses with additional education for various roles, but they aren't willing to compensate for it any differently than when they didn't require it.

IMO/observation, we have been snookered big time (as least as far as how additional education translates to relationships with employers). Our professional groups had their own vision of how additional education would "elevate nursing" and in vigorously promoting that, they completely failed to support other initiatives alongside it that are required to actually elevate the status of (regard for) nurses. So what we have now is a situation where nurses have done the work of obtaining additional education without realizing that the only thing corporations were ever interested in were the letters, which they can use for marketing and bestowing more awards upon themselves.

On 10/16/2019 at 9:32 PM, peaceluvandnursing said:
Fair is fair and I have wroked hard for these degrees and my level of knowledge is greater than that of a 2 year degree. And I am not dissing 2 yer degrees as I would not be here with first getting my ADN.

That's why its important to carefully weigh educational decisions and see how they are going to realistically pan out and to realistically get an idea of how nurses are valued (or not valued) by employers. Everyone wants to be proud of what they have accomplished and most people feel they have worked hard and deserve recognition. Corporations are in a position to not care squat about any of that.

Very disappointing as far as how we handle ourselves in this profession. We are completely willing to rabidly promote things that could be good for us but are much more certainly good for someone else. Then we are all shocked and disappointed when others get without giving. ??‍♀️ It isn't rocket science. I am not sure how any nurse anywhere ever thought that BSNs running around sweating and punching a clock and doing mandatory overtime and fretting over constant administration pettiness was going to be one smidgen better than having ADNs do the exact same thing. Any plans to "elevate" nursing without finally laying down the law about staffing and professional treatment are null from the start and should be considered invalid.

Anyway. You are impressed with yourself and proud of your accomplishments and therefore have failed to see the situation as employers do. Your problem is that you need this job. What would be most excellent at this moment would be if you could walk away and find a job where your MSN was desired for the role and the prospective employer was willing to compensate you for it. But...they don't need you, you need them....so they win. ?

I would be very sure that you can't find anything else before taking this, because their disregard for your education won't be limited to the financial aspects.

Wuzzie · Oct 18, 2019

On 10/16/2019 at 9:32 PM, peaceluvandnursing said:
Fair is fair and I have wroked hard for these degrees and my level of knowledge is greater than that of a 2 year degree.

But the job you're doing is the same. Why is that unfair? What does your MSN bring to the table that is a plus for the employer? That's what they care about. "More education" is a nebulous concept that doesn't always translate to the bedside. It boils down to this, if you want to be paid as an MSN then get a job that requires an MSN.

Oldmahubbard · Oct 19, 2019

Your MSN usually doesn't mean anything until you are a prescriber who can bill and you prove it by your productivity.

I am sorry that you didn't know this.

Way too many people going for meaningless MSN's.

Especially in Psych. I sincerely hope you are not a CNS. You might as well hang yourself.

The degree is totally meaningless.

allnurses Guide · Oct 21, 2019

Your MSN only holds as much value as the position requires. Since the position you are taking can be done seamlessly by someone with an ASN or BSN, it isn't going to realistically pay for an MSN. If you want MSN pay, get an MSN job. That you have "earned" the degree holds no bearing. Jobs pay, generally, according to how many people in the market place can do them. The more people who can do the job, the less the job will pay. There are more ASN nurses and BSN nurses (and the two combined) than there are MSN nurses. If the job doesn't need an MSN, why would it pay for an MSN? Your "deserving" more money doesn't translate.

Good luck!

Meagan, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2019

The hospitals in my area just recently changed the pay scale for ADN vs BSN and it wasn't by much.. Is there any reason you aren't reaching for an upper level position now that you have you MSN?