Should BSNs be paid more?

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I know ADNs and BSNs both sit for the same NCLEX exam, both have approximately four years of education, and at best have negligible differences (over time) in their nursing skills. BSNs take courses than broaden their overall knowledge; however, ADNs have more clinical experience prior to entering the workforce. Should there be a differential for BSNs, or should the reward for obtaining a BSN lie in the ability to advance one's career?

I'm not trying to start an ADN vs BSN bashing, I'm just curious to see what you all think.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Perhaps not Tweety---I don't know. I am all caught up in the middle. I believe in the value of higher education, but I see your point about drawing the line. I guess it comes down to this:

Do we value advanced education in nursing or do we pay lip service to it, as we always have done?

I don't see nursing advancing very far at all as a profession, if we continue as we are.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
:confused: :argue: :smackingf :deadhorse :nurse:

rofl til we all have the same, standardized education as nurses in the USA, I daresay. And that will be a long, long ----LONG time. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.
No, not practical right now at all, but eventually it will happen. I remember when I got my LPN in '84 and they said they were phasing out the program. Yeah, right. :chuckle Over the years, I took many charge positions as "just an LPN" :rolleyes: , did L&D and did psych nursing that I certainly couldn't do today as an LPN. It took 20 years to get to this, but finally LPN's are pretty much limited to home health and LTC; job security is exactly why I went on to get my ADN. There were few BSN's around 20 years ago, too, but that has sure changed. So, yes, BSN will eventually be the minimum requirement, but I'm not holding my breath! (And certainly not going to worry about going for it myself at 49!)

I work side by side with LPNs, i work on cardiac stepdown unit, in ohio we don't seem to be phasing out LPNs, I think it varies from state to state as with most things.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I work side by side with LPNs, i work on cardiac stepdown unit, in ohio we don't seem to be phasing out LPNs, I think it varies from state to state as with most things.

I work side by side with LPNs too. There is a hiring freeze on them and no new ones are being hired into the hospital where I work. New grad LPNs who want to work in a hospital are having a hard time getting a job. It's not impossible but now it's more of a matter of "who you know" that gets you the job.

I live in west central Florida.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Perhaps not Tweety---I don't know. I am all caught up in the middle. I believe in the value of higher education, but I see your point about drawing the line. I guess it comes down to this:

Do we value advanced education in nursing or do we pay lip service to it, as we always have done?

I don't see nursing advancing very far at all as a profession, if we continue as we are.

As evidenced by the opinion that much of our education is "fluff", it's disheartening to see how little education is truly valued in nursing.

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
And I don't think it would necessarily be a bad thing.

SBE...re: the all BSN thing....I agree, it would be a good thing. Evening the playing field is the only way to resolve this debate. I predict 20 years till all nurses are BSN's. Oh, and I would never knock education! If I were a little younger I'd be on my way back to school, but it's my turn now and school just isn't the priority anymore.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Evening the playing field is the only way to resolve this debate.

Even taht playing field, and then (like someone else said somewhere) you'll have the school vs. school debate. It'll never end.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

School versus school will always go on....

but I agree that a standardized entry point is long overdue.

You will never resolved the university versus university thing. That is everywhere. But at least professions having a baccalaureate or higher as entry are respected and recognized as such. Not so, nursing.

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I'm not sure I understand why some are so adamant about not receiving higher pay for more education. Wouldn't an increased hourly rate be a nice incentive for nurses to continue their education? Other professions reap that reward. It seems as though those whose mindset is so set against it are only shooting themselves in the foot (or wallet) - Diane

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Specializes in NICU.

forget it

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I agree, and no one can seem to answer WHY. Everyone just seems to say "well if I'm not getting paid more, neither should you!!!!!!"

The main agruement I've noticed from those opposed is simply: same job, same NCLEX, same pay. period. It's a valid point. I disagree with it, but it's a valid point.

It's hard to give a differential or a raise because sometimes those not getting it feel management doesn't think them good enough. "I'm just as good a nurse as a BSN, why should they get paid more". When it's not that, it's just a differential.

The same thing happened here when RNs got an across the board raise as a market adjustment and LPNs and other departments didn't. It was simply a supply and demand thing and nasty notes were posted around the hospital "this hospital doesn't think respiratory therapy or LPNs are as good as RNs.". When it was simply a market adjustment.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

A lot of people are adamant about the same pay for the same job.

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