Pay rate for ADN with prior BA?

hikernurse · Feb 23, 2008

Where I live, an RN is an RN as far as pay goes. All the new nurses start out at the same salary regardless of education. I have an ADN and my orientation group was about half ADNs and half BSNs. Made no difference here, but it might in other areas.

Qtp2t RN · Feb 23, 2008

As far as I'm aware, previous degrees in other fields bear no weight on RN pay. Like hikernurse said above, an RN is an RN. I've heard of some hospitals paying BSN prepared RNs anywhere up to $1.00/hr more than ADN & diploma prepared RNs, but that seems to be more the exception than the rule. Many hospitals pay the same whether you are a BSN, Diploma, or ADN prepared RN, whether you have a previous degree or not. In the end, everyone takes the same NCLEX.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2008

Where I live there is a 50 cent/hour difference in pay for ADNs vs. BSNs. Other degrees outside of nursing does not influence the pay for a Staff RN at the hospitals in my area. On the other hand, other degrees and experience outside of nursing will assist an experienced RN in obtaining positions in management and positions that are health care related but within other industries such as finance, insurance, business management, manufacturing etc... I am already eye-balling a number of opportunities myself because one can never look too soon. GL!

sshannon · Feb 23, 2008

I live in Central Texas and in the hospital system that I work for all RNs, regardless of degree preparation, begin at the same hourly wage.

jackson145 · Feb 23, 2008

At my hospital there is one rate for all RN's and one rate for all LPN's. There is a differential for night shift, weekends, holidays, and charge. Beyond that, you need to be a department head, which requires MSN, to make more $ than the floor nurses or the infomatics nurses.

Kind of off subject, but our nightshift/weekend RN's end up earning the same $ as the NP's at the OP clinic. Of course, the NP's work M-F 8-5 which is kinda nice.

dg05, RN · Feb 23, 2008

For what it's worth, I have a MA and will have a BS in nursing in a few months and was told that the MA will not count for extra $$$.

dg

WDWpixieRN, RN · Feb 23, 2008

RN pay is the same here, with the exception of one hospital which I understand pays a .50 differential for a BSN.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 23, 2008

I understand why some people expect that their non-nursing degrees will raise their pay in a nursing job and/or qualify them for advanced positions in nursing ... but think about it this way.

If we, as nurses, were to go to school in an entirely different field (e.g physics, architecture, mathematics, English literature, etc.) -- we would expect to start out as a beginner in that field. And we would expect to be paid as a beginner. We wouldn't expect our nursing degree to get us an advanced job or advanced pay in engineering or financial management, etc. The same is true for people who enter the nursing profession with a background in another field.

MN_NursingStudent · Feb 23, 2008

Thanks for all the input! Actually, here in MN, most hospitals do have a pay differential for ADN and BSN nurses. It varies, some places it's a dollar and others it's 50 cents. I was told by a prior instructor that those with prior 4-years make the same as a BSN here. I don't know if that is still true. I'm aware I'm starting as a beginner, and certainly don't expect to make any more than a BSN. I also know I'll need a BSN before moving up to higher nursing positions. Maybe I should have phrased part of my post differently - for the job part I was meaning when I am looking for RN jobs, if an employer may look at my previous education and, all other things being equal, give me an interview over another ADN? However, that's probably an individual thing and varies greatly. I have a prior degree in Communication, and I'll say that has helped me a LOT in both the writing and interpersonal aspects of nursing. Half of nursing is communication, whether it be writing or interpersonal. I don't feel I should get special treatment, or be above the level of BSN, but I do believe that additional, relevant education should never be discounted. I know I'll be a better nurse because of it.

On a sidenote, I actually received a pay differential in a prior hospital job because I had a BA. Didn't even matter what the degree was in. It's possible that here in MN, that is more common than other places.