question

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Sep 27, 2015

If you want to work in a hospital, there is a very high chance that you will need it to be employed, especially by the year 2020. Many hospitals that are still willing to hire an associates degree RN right now are requiring them to sign a paper stating that they will complete their BSN within so many years of their start date. If you do not have a bachelor's there's a good chance that you would be working in a different field of nursing (such as LTC).

elkpark · Sep 27, 2015

"Worth it" is a v. personal consideration. Lots of nurses have long, full careers without one. There are reasonably priced BSN completion programs, and outrageously expensive BSN completion programs. In some parts of the US, it's v. difficult if not impossible to get a job without a BSN. If the choice is job vs. no job, I would think that would make a BSN "worth it." Having a BSN will open up a number of professional opportunities that require a BSN as the minimum educational preparation -- if those opportunities are of interest to you, that might make a BSN "worth it." The vast majority of graduate programs in nursing require a BSN. There are some programs that don't require a baccalaureate, but not having one would greatly reduce your choice of programs. But that is only a consideration if one is interested in graduate school. Etc., etc., etc. There's no single "right" answer to your question. Best wishes for your journey!