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Discussion

Previous 4yr degree helpful?

I don't want to debate BSN and ADN. My question is this: Is a previous 4 year degree in another subject (mine is business) helpful if you only want to get an ADN degree in regards to advancement possibilities at work? I know some suggest getting a BSN when you want to further your education or career so I was wondering would any 4 year degree count as helpful to someone hiring you and considering you for mgmt. types of jobs. Thanks!

Featured Replies

If you want to advance your education in nursing, most graduate schools require a BSN rather than a different 4 year degree (but there are programs out there for those who have an ADN and a BA or BS in an area other than nursing). Even though they are generally more expensive have you looked into an accelerated BSN. They tend to run 12-18 months and also tend to have smaller waiting lists than ADN programs.

Whoops, I gave you an answer that you already knew. :)

  • Expert

My BS degree is in Biology, not nursing, and it has never put a limit on what I could do........Bottom line is how could of a nurse that you are. Most of the requests say BS but not necessarily a BSN.

Good luck with your studies.......................... :balloons:

My experience with only the hospital I work in is that a BA or BS in anything other than nursing will not help you at all. Out in the more different areas of nursing it may, don't know. I would think insurance companies might like the BS in business. There may be others but mostly the BSN is king of getting elsewhere within a hospital.

  • Expert

I have a previous BS in business. I think it probably was helpful in getting my current job as a clinic nurse, altho the BSN was paramount. With health care becoming more and more intertwined with the business aspect of things (and having it trickle down to nurses needing to deal with it) it has certainly helped.

I believe it would also help if I wanted to advance, which I have NO desire to do lol.

Edited to add: I agree about the hospital thing - all they care is that you have a license and a pulse - pulse optional :). My brother is in health care administration in the corrections system with "only" a diploma.

  • Expert

If your highest nursing degree is an ADN ... having a BS in another field is better than nothing, but not as adventagious as a BSN. As other posters have indicated, it will depend on where you live, what kind of job you seek, etc.

For a research assistant position where they want a nurse, your background might be a terrific fit. However for some positions, such as staff development, it would not. I once worked in a place that hired a new nursing administrator who had an ADN and then a BS and an MS in other fields. It was a total disaster -- largely because it was a very academically-oriented institution and she just couldn't relate to the nursing leaders on her team who were very well versed in nursing issues, nursing research, theory, philosophy, etc. Her intellectual/academic understanding of nursing was at a level too far removed from everyone else in the environment to fit in with them.

llg

Think your business degree will be very useful and thus valuable. More and more in nursing, business principles are being stressed. Adds breadth and diversity to your background and education (and to your ADN).

The above is even more signnificant in the management areas of healthcare practice.

Believe you'll have a strong combo of degrees with the two.

Good luck!

The nurse manager of our ER has a BS in Business and an ADN in nursing. It's worked well for him. He was promoted from within the upper management knew him and his skills. It might have been harder for him to compete with BSNs if he was coming from the outside.

Good luck!

I asked my nurse manager the same question. She stated that a BSN is by far preferable to other BS/BA degrees. The other degrees don't really mean anything in the field of nursing. They do not lead to greater compensation, positions of leadership, or promotions.

I have a BS in another field (biology), but it's of no account to managers, human resources, interviewers, co-workers, etc... even though it was a much more difficult degree to obtain than my BSN!

That's the tunnel vision of nursing administration. What they don't acknowledge is that the BSN is not the only form of higher education for nurses. A BS in business or healthcare administration for a nurse being considered for management that already has nursing experience is every bit as good as a BSN. For those who have other degrees plus an ADN or AAS, look at going for a MSN program that will take a BS or BA plus an RN into the program. They exist and they GET IT. I can finish a MSN faster than completing a BSN so why fool with the BSN.

I'm currently working on my BA in Spanish before going after a degree in nursing. I think my degree may give me a slight advantage, but probably only because of the 2nd language aspect rather than the BA aspect.

Meghan

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