National RN Salary Trends ADN or Diploma vs BSN

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Hi,

I'm presently in a BSN program in SC. I am writing a professional issues paper and I wanted to research a point. It is my understanding that the majority of facilities across the US do not differentiate their starting salaries in regards to the level of preparation of the RN (Diploma/ADN/BSN) given that everything else is equivalent. Please tell me what your experience has been. Thank you.

Specializes in Med-Surg, , Home health, Education.
My hospital, a magnet facility, starts all new grads out at the same amount. Additional money to the base pay is added for previous health care experience, not for type of nursing degree. For ex, a LPN i know who was an LPN for 10 years before graduating RN school would have started out at the pay level of a RN with 5 years experience.

I was an LPN for 15 years before I graduated as an RN. I actually took a .50 cent cut in pay as a GN before I passed my boards! After I got the RN my wages went up and I think they've changed that so a new nurse wouldn't take a cut in pay going from LPN to RN.

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WOW that is a BIG incentive $5/hr more!

The two biggest local hospital systems here pay 2% more for BSN and 5% more for MSN degrees. This isn't much when just starting out but at least it's something.

Where I live, they are beginning to hire BSN grads at $5 more per hour than they pay ADN's. There is a movement of hiring more BSN grads over LVN's, and ADN's. I should state that I agree with the bedside care. One of the best nurses I ever met was an LVN...and he was one of my preceptors in my BSN program! He had fabulous bedside manner!
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Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).
There has been a lot of jokes made regarding the "extra" classes that a BSN nurse must take to graduate. However, all of these classes are not "filler." I am just a BSN student, but where I go to school, we take extra classes in:

1. Health Assessment - 3 Credits

2. Nursing Research - 3 Credits

3. Nusing Leadership - 6 Credits

4. Community Healthcare Lecture - 3 Credits

5. Community Healthcare Clinical - 3 Credits

TOTAL: 18 Credits

All of these classes in addition to the mandated University requirements and the core Nursing classes make up the degree. The 18 credits listed above are classes that are not included in the ADN/ASN programs where I live.

I am an ADN student and take all of those courses you listed, with the exception of Research.

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Moderator's Note:

Please keep the discussion civil. Discuss the topic at hand and avoid personal attacks or inflammatory statements. Thank you :)

PS. This is not directed towards the last posters....

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

The first hospital I ever worked in was Magnet and they gave a differential for both BSN and certifications. The current hospital I work at only gives differential for certifications.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

There are only 2 hospitals in my metropolis city that pay extra for BSN degrees. I happen to work at one of them and have an ADN. It's back to school for me :uhoh21:

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Specializes in Emergency.

the last hospital i worked staff at paid 50 cents/hr more for a BSN............makes me wanna run out pay tuition and get one!!!!

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I was a License practical nurse for years and I can say that I was pretty good at it. My pay was no so good. Then I decided to go back to the ADN program. and yes my skills were probably at the highest level compared with the new ADNs; however, one thing that I did notice after I graduated and passed the boards was my level of assessment knowledge I've acquired while ADN program. Then I started wondering, with the skill I acquired as an LPN, level of assessment ADN, how it would be at the BSN level....and let me tell you. the sciences courses are all the same, but the level is way higher than ADN, we got trained (at the University) to assess at the nurse practitioner level, and the way I assess my patient are even more detail than before.....yes we do not get more for that........but that the chance you take for higher education......now I'm wondering about MSN-NP?:uhoh21:

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I have a BSN. I can assure you, since I am actually WORKING in a hospital setting, there is no possible way for you to tell the difference between an diploma, AD or BSN nurse. Some of the BEST nurses I have worked with are LPN's:rolleyes: Also, if anything, the BSN nurses come out of school KNOWING more, but having less useful practical skills. They simply don't have enough time in a clinical setting. I see your a nursing student and I assume you just don't know any better, but please, until your in the real world, working among some AWESOME nurses, please keep that opinion under your hat. Real world experience will teach you how very, very wrong you are.....

On the other hand, I DO feel as if I should get reimbursed more for my degree. As an RN, I make more than an LPN for my extra time at school, why shouldn't my college education account for something? The only acknowledgement I get for the time I went to school is the $35.00 bonus I get one time a year, lol. OH, I figured it out. For a 32 hour a week girl like myself, that would be a WHOPPING 0. 021cents an hour. :rolleyes:

Where did you get the impression I am A student? I do work bedside nursing. I didnt mean to offend you, But I can express MY opinion.

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...one thing that I did notice after I graduated and passed the boards was my level of assessment knowledge I've acquired while ADN program. Then I started wondering, with the skill I acquired as an LPN, level of assessment ADN, how it would be at the BSN level....and let me tell you. the sciences courses are all the same, but the level is way higher than ADN, we got trained (at the University) to assess at the nurse practitioner level, and the way I assess my patient are even more detail than before.....

I agree. My ADN program was good, but the BSN classes I am taking are very helpful. So far I've had Rural Nursing (not applicable to my practice), Nursing Theory (helpful), Health Assessment (VERY helpful) and Nursing Research (helpful) and I feel they really add to my practice. I'm looking forward to taking the rest of the classes.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Where did you get the impression I am A student? I do work bedside nursing. I didnt mean to offend you, But I can express MY opinion.

(I think she was replying to the post in quotes in her post... not your post, just wanted to clarify)

at my hospital, I have no idea who has ADN or BSN... you start out the same pay as a grad nurse no matter what your degree. I don't know if advancement and that kind of thing is related to your degree level, haven't been there long enough to think about that yet just trying to make it as a new nurse still :cool:

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Very true Rachel. We all start out as grad nurses no matter what. Something I'm going to obtain in May! :) (still can't believe it!)

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