Pre-RN student with some questions

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Jul 16, 2008

Does it matter where you obtain your BSN?

-No as long as it's accredited. I would definitely look closely at NCLEX pass rates and graduation rates.

What is the salary coming out of school? Sign-on bonuses?

-Depends where you work. Urban pays more than rural, teaching usually pays more than private. Union always pays more than non-union. Every facility differs in what it offers new grads/employees as far as sign-on bonuses and starting pay. IMHO, if they need a signon bonus to attract nurses to a particular unit, something's fishy. They'll make up for losing the money by paying you a lower-than-market rate salary.....

Check out http://www.salary.com to see average BSN salaries in your area.

I made $19/hr base as a new grad in SC. Plus $5/hr extra on weekends and $3/hr extra for nights. Here in NYC a new grad can make what comes out to $38-40/hr plus benefits. Cost of living about makes up for the difference though...

JSFCC · Jul 17, 2008

Is there a big pay difference between ASN and BSN?

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Jul 17, 2008

$1200/yr at my hospital. Most places pay no differential...

silentRN · Jul 18, 2008

I think it may just depend on the hospital. I work at a teaching hospital and everyone starts out on the same base pay out of school. They require that you either have a BSN or are currently working on your BSN to get into management here. I've worked at a past hospital where BSN got you a 50 cent to a dollar more an hour and they put it on your badge RN, BSN. But even then, there were still managers who only had ADN. It may just relate to where the hospital is located. I lived in a rural area where the hospital was surrounded by community colleges and one distant University hundred miles away, so the majority of their work force was from the community colleges. So I take it they compromised to it.

-David H.

mcknis · Jul 21, 2008

Yeah the difference in pay is small but in the long run,a BSN will allow you to move up in mgt, and other various positions. I for one will be going back to get my BSN to allow me other opportunities that I may not be able to get with my ADN. At my facility there is $1-2/hr increase for BSN and its fairly standard for other facilities as wel. Good luck!

7daysatsea · Jul 22, 2008

Just from CNA experience and what I've picked up on from other nurses.

Non-Unions seem to be low rates. At the University hospital, for instance, (Union) they start at $23. At the non-union, $18.

ErraticThinker · Jul 22, 2008

It really does matter on the facility and the area. I work in Massachusetts for a large teaching hospital thats union... everyone starts at the same level and you get raises based on experience basically. they're called steps. every year you go up one step. Tends to go up regardless as we negotiate new contracts lol i've been a nurse two years and make about 31/hr plus differentials. since i tend to work weekend overnight shifts, i make like 40 an hour. If i do a double the last four hours are double time. so not too too bad.

I started with my ASN and there wasn't a pay difference, but a nice perk was the tuition reimbursement to get my BSN. i also get a whopping five dollars more a week added to my paycheck for having a bachelors degree. 10 dollars a week if you have a masters degree. I think a big difference in the boston area is that it's so much more competitive because its such a big college town. all these schools are cranking out new grads with BSN's so recruiters and managers can be pickier. with that, to be more competitive out there it's a good idea to get the BSN.

Cost of living does factor in since Massachusetts is a very expensive state to live in, but all in all, I can't complain about what i make while having 4 days off a week.

MassED, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2008

I think it may just depend on the hospital. I work at a teaching hospital and everyone starts out on the same base pay out of school. They require that you either have a BSN or are currently working on your BSN to get into management here. I've worked at a past hospital where BSN got you a 50 cent to a dollar more an hour and they put it on your badge RN, BSN. But even then, there were still managers who only had ADN. It may just relate to where the hospital is located. I lived in a rural area where the hospital was surrounded by community colleges and one distant University hundred miles away, so the majority of their work force was from the community colleges. So I take it they compromised to it.
-David H.

and I'm having a hard time getting my manager to fill out the paperwork to get my BSN on my badge... I'm about to put it on there with a SHarpie... but then I'd get in trouble for defacing property, probably...