salary of rn vs bsn in TX?

Calixan · Apr 15, 2011

A BSN is an RN. Now if you are wanting to know the difference of salary between ADN vs BSN, there isn't one if you are a floor nurse. Both degrees are RN's and both start out the same as floor nurses. (At least in my area of Texas). Here the starting Salary is 21.50. Dallas or bigger cities may be a little higher.

It also depends on who the manager is on each unit to determine where you can start out when you first graduate. I started out in the ER when I first graduated. Had an interview there before I finished nursing school and was hired. Some hospitals and/or managers over certain units wont hire new grads in ER or ICU's just because they want the new grad to have med surg experience first. Won't hurt to apply to you dream unit though.

Oh one other thing, do you just have no experience as a nurse at all, or no medical experience period? I had been working in a hospital for 3 1/2 years before working in the ER. I worked as a Sitter/Unit Secretary/Nurse Extern so I wasn't completely blind to the medical field.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2011

Most DFW-area hospitals will pay a new grad RN between $22 and $25 hourly, and a BSN degree will usually not do anything to increase the pay rate.

Hospital new grad internships are very competitive in the DFW area these days due to the poor economy, and specialties such as the NICU and pediatrics are extremely difficult to break into. Even specialties such as med/surg are difficult to get hired into as a new grad with no experience. Many experienced nurses have been moving to DFW from all over the U.S. over the past two to three years, and hospitals find it more cost-effective to hire the nurse with experience who needs no orientation than to spend thousands on training a new grad who might quit before the end of the year.

Generally speaking, the specialties with high employee turnover rates and plenty of physical labor are the ones that are new grad friendly: med/surg, ortho, oncology, acute rehab, telemetry, neuro/stroke recovery, etc.

bubbasmom · Apr 16, 2011

i am applying for nursing school in july.just wondering if it is worth getting a bachelors as far as pay rate goes.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Apr 16, 2011

bubbasmom said:
i am applying for nursing school in july.just wondering if it is worth getting a bachelors as far as pay rate goes.

Depends on if you want to be a bedside nurse forever or not.

allnurses Guide · Apr 16, 2011

Pay is not were the benefit to BSN is at. Getting hired at all right now is, then being able to get out of bedside nursing and into management, case management, desk jobs etc. I graduate with my ADN in December but will be going immediately in January on to earn my BSN.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2011

bubbasmom said:
i am applying for nursing school in july.just wondering if it is worth getting a bachelors as far as pay rate goes.

The benefit to the BSN degree is the enhanced job opportunities. For example, if you are a new grad with an associate's degree in the DFW area, some hospital systems absolutely do not want you because the poor economy has resulted in a glut of too many nurses. This means that hospital systems can adopt more selective hiring processes that weed many great applicants out.

The BSN degree is a new weed-out tool for new grads. For example, the HCA hospitals (Medical Center of McKinney, Medical City Dallas, Medical City Children's Hospital, Medical Center of Arlington, Denton Regional, Medical Center of Plano, Plaza Medical Center, North Hills Hospital, Green Oaks Hospital) have resorted to only considering BSN degree-holders for their new grad RN internships. This means that the many wonderful new grads with associates degrees won't be working for any of these facilities unless the economy turns around (or unless they have an inside connection to HR).

In addition, floor nursing is grueling to the body and mind. After a few years of floor nursing, the BSN degree might lead to opportunities that will allow you to sit behind a desk and earn your living if you ever become too injured to work at the bedside.

bubbasmom · Apr 16, 2011

i am planning on getting my bsn after i get my rn license.i already have a bachelors in business. its scary to think i wont b able to get a job with just an rn degree.

djNyla · Apr 22, 2011

bubbasmom said:
i am planning on getting my bsn after i get my rn license.i already have a bachelors in business. its scary to think i wont b able to get a job with just an rn degree.

I'm in your boat, but about to graduate, previous degree in business. I chose an ADN program because they are more hands-on skill focused when it comes to educating...we are told by many people in the hospital where we have clinicals that we really "dive into" caring for the patients...I'm not saying that BSN students do not do the same (I believe they work just as hard as we do)...just repeating a comment from what was heard by the staff members...

However, when it comes to finding a job in this market, many of the hospitals want BSN for new grads and will not consider you if you do not have at least that degree. As an upcoming ADN grad, many of us (classmates included) are having a difficult time getting an interview. You have to know someone on the inside to pull you in to get you a chance at interviewing with anyone. GPA is not a factor when there is someone who might have a lower GPA but a BSN degree.

There is no difference in the starting pay between a BSN vs ADN, BSN provides more opportunities for growth in the hospital, can put you on a management track, etc... (this is mainly for the magnet hospitals). If you do decide to pursue an ADN-RN degree, try to get certified as a nurse aide after your first semester and get your foot in the hospital that way.

Good Luck!

bubbasmom · Apr 22, 2011

i was thinking about becoming a cna after my first semester or an lvn after my first year.which is better?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2011

bubbasmom said:
i was thinking about becoming a cna after my first semester or an lvn after my first year.which is better?

Since I was an LVN for more than four years, I am biased toward the LVN license. I earned decent money and lived comfortably on my LVN pay rate while pursuing my RN license. Living off a CNA's wages is somewhat rough because they do backbreaking work and are not well-compensated for all that they do.

medpro32 · Apr 30, 2011

No pay difference in Houston. I have heard Methodist (medcenter) pays more to BSN's in a roundabout way. The have a clinical ladder that affects pay and if you don't have a BSN you hit a ceiling, effectively limiting your maximum pay. I know of no facility that pays an outright differential.