"Don't waste your time getting your BSN..."

diane227, LPN, RN · Mar 18, 2009

One of the reasons that I got a BSN was because I wanted to graduate with a full college degree. My minor was in biology. The BSN has turned out to be a good choice for me because it has allowed me to move up in the management chain to the level of director. It is the minimum requirement for most management jobs, head nurse and above in most hospitals. I never made it into a vice president position due to the fact that I did not have a Masters degree, even though I had hours toward an MBA. I know that in my course work I had to manage an outpatient clinic in a public housing project and I did management rotations on the med surg floors. Other than that, unless you have those goals I believe that an ADN is perfect, especially for people who don't have enough time or money to go through a 4 year program. I work with many nurses who have an ADN and they are great nurses and as far as clinical skills they were trained just as well (sometimes better) than I was. So I think it is all a personal choice based on your needs and your situation at the time. You can always go back to school later if you want.

ColleenD54 · Mar 19, 2009

I have experienced in California that a BSN is required if you want management positions. I have an AD and am a RN and let me tell you ... if you do not know anyone here you can work for registeries but forget the full time positions in San Diego, Cal.

This area gives clicks and good ole boy positions a whole new MEANING.

paytron · Mar 22, 2009

As the nursing profession gets older and seeks recognition from other disciplines then the demand for BSN trained RN will increase. I have a 2 bachelor's degrees disciplines other than nursing along with an ADN so for me a BSN is not a priority as I can go straight to an RN-MSN program without too much difficulty. That being said, a lot of management positions are using a BSN as the minimum requirement for the job. It simply becomes jumping through another hoop if you want the job bad enough. I have run into a few BSN-trained nurses who mistakenly believe the ADN programs have less in the way of clinical components than their BSN counterparts. I have found just the opposite to be true in regards to my ADN training. Compared to some of the BSN programs I am familiar with, the ADN program I was a part of seemed to be more rigorous in terms of clinical requirements. My belief was also tempered by the fact that in my first interview for a job the recruiter told me she perferred ADN trained because of that fact.

The truth of the matter is this: A BSN can't hurt, but if you don't have one then it could be used to disqualify from certain jobs. Your skill as a nurse isn't diminished by having an ADN or Dipolma degree as opposed to a BSN.

Keep this in mind, there are some MD's and DO's who never completed a bachelor's degree before med school. I have a friend who is a ENT surgeon who left went to med school after our 2nd year in college no one cares if he got his bachelor's. The medical profession by design is made to mastered by exposure and repetition in the field.

BigIsleBound · Mar 23, 2009

I have already completed 2.5 years undergrad when I was majoring in Criminology. Now I'm going back to the same college to finish my Bachelors by getting my BSN. I've already gotten almost every single pre-req/liberal arts class out of the way, with a 3.75 GPA to boot. So to get my BSN will take me about 2 years, since I always take summer classes, too. Tops it will take me 3. That's about how long it would take to get the ADN/ASN anyway, so I figured why not. The only downside is that it will cost more. I want to move out of the cleaning up poop type nursing tasks and into the more managerial tasks ASAP, so I'm hoping a BSN will help with that, lol

debfay · Mar 23, 2009

There are differences besides management options. More and more hospitals are hiring only BSNs--especially those that are seeking Magnate status. You are also limited in the type of work you can do. Anything to do with education, such as a Diabetes Educator, requires a minimum BSN. Community health nurses, school nurses, and research nurses have to have a BSN. Staff nursing gets old and more difficult as you get old. Fewer hospitals are even hiring LPNs now, and the ASN or ADN has become what the LPN once was--bottom rung of the ladder and limiting in career options. The pay scale for a staff nurse isn't worth it, but the career options you'll have definitely makes it worthwhile to get your BSN. For whoever asked in another post, an ADN is an Associate Degree in Nursing.

tferdaise · Mar 25, 2009

There are a few things some people need to be thinking about, first, most hospitals are trying to get Magnet Status, 2nd, with the current economic down turn hospitals have slowed down in hiring.

So some are wondering what does Magnet Status have to do with BSN, to get Magnet Status you need to have a ratio of MSN to BSN to RN's. Many hospitals are now offering BSN and MSN programs to help with them to get thier ratios up.

With the current slow down in our economy many hospitals are looking long and hard in hiring, they also will look at a ADN and a BSN to a position, and currently I have seen the BSN hired over the ADN.

Maybe this is the straw that finally pushed the scales to have BSN as the entry level degree in nursing..

Tony

pinkynbd_99 · Mar 30, 2009

IDK, I personally think that you need to know what you want to do with your nursing career to decide if you want to get your BSN/MSN. When I was applying to NS last summer, I was just told by both BSN/ADN advisors to just get my RN license, anywhere! The BSN advisors even told me with the strong competition there is with applicatants who want the entry-BSN program it's so hard to get in then those RN's who apply for their online RN-BSN program, those RN's get in easiler because the "competitiveness" isn't there, you're ALREADY an RN! Plus, once you're an RN, you can get your hospital to pay for you to get your BSN! Which is great, because I don't need any more student loans! :wink2:

I also think that while you're in NS, there tends to be the "ideas" of the professors that are in the BSN or ADN programs that may "insinuate" that having your BSN is better than a ADN and I don't know why, maybe some "old-school" thinking? maybe because they are proud of all their degrees and want to pass that feeling on to you as well and so there's this cycle that gets created. IDK!

But with the Nursing shortage that there is Nationwide and the lack of professors to fill in that Nursing shortage, I really think that the point is to get RN's OUT THERE, as quickly as possible. So that's why there are programs like the ADN and Diploma nursing, because if you just left it that you can ONLY be a nurse with your BSN, WE REALLY would be in a deep hole! So, in short, just get whatever you can get yourself in, apply everywhere and take it from there!

oneLoneNurse · May 31, 2009

Change of heart. Starting on my BSN this fall. It will take 26 credits or 9 courses. I think public health is where I might be heading and know that in Canada you either must have a BSN or be working on it to get a job in this field.

happyS09 · Aug 5, 2009

Really it is up to you. Do you think it will be a waste of time? If not, go for it. Do not let others discourage your goals. There are too many negative people out there. Sometimes they are jealous they did not get the opportunities you have and like to drag you down to their level. Don't let them stop you if you wanna do it.

tinediddy · Aug 5, 2009

I have been going thru similar worries myself about choosing ADN or BSN. I have a bachelor's already in another field so I'm thinking more to do the BSN instead. I am worried though about the clinical hours situation that I keep hearing about, that BSN programs don't get as much exposure to clinicals than ADN students. I don't want to be lacking in that area especially when all jobs mostly care about EXPERIENCE...

jjjoy, LPN · Aug 5, 2009

I have been going thru similar worries myself about choosing ADN or BSN. I have a bachelor's already in another field so I'm thinking more to do the BSN instead. I am worried though about the clinical hours situation that I keep hearing about, that BSN programs don't get as much exposure to clinicals than ADN students. I don't want to be lacking in that area especially when all jobs mostly care about EXPERIENCE...

First off, how important is to you for *your* nursing practice to have had a strong clinical experience in school? If that's key to you, then I'd recommend evaluating the various specific programs to which you considering applying. If you can't relocate, then perhaps forget the ADN or BSN question and go with the school that seems to offer the most comprehensive clinical experience. If you are considering relocating, then perhaps see if there are some BSN programs with a good reputation for providing very strong and thorough clinical preparation.

If you're mostly concerned about your hireability, there are several different factors to consider. Do facilities where you want to practice give hiring preference to BSNs? Do facilities in your area look more highly upon graduates from certain programs and avoid graduates from other programs? Is there a specialty area you would like exposure to? Some nursing schools offer more opportunity to get exposure to areas & facilities like NICU or a world-renowned specialty medical center.

Good luck with your decision!

tinediddy · Aug 5, 2009

jjjoy - thank you for your advice. I'm not sure as of where I will actually be living once I'm done with school. I am in Baltimore right now though. I may be relocating to Georgia depending on what happens with my husband's job. But, I do know I would love to work with children. That is and has always been my passion. So, whether it is NICU, L&D, or pediatric unit of a hospital, that is the route I want to go. I will definitely look into what you said about finding out the school's reputation for clinicals. Thx again. Got alot of research to do!