Should BSNs be paid more?

mommatrauma, RN · Jul 30, 2005

A few things...I have an ASN. It was 2 years, in and out..no pre-req's at all...except for math for nurses which was a 1 week course that was given a month before school started. If the ASN degreed nurse and the BSN degreed nurse are working in the same exact capacity, then no, I don't think the pay should be any different...That's like me as an ER nurse with my Med-surg certification(which I got when I was working med-surg) expecting to get paid more because I got extra education. There are plenty of things that I do in my job that I get educated on and get compensated for, ie CEN...there are also plenty of things that I do educationally because I like to learn that don't necessarily pertain directly to my job as an ER nurse that I don't get compensated for...and I think that it is appropriate to be dealt with that way....If you are in a position where you are required to hold a BSN then yes, pay those poor people...and also to address something Roland said about pay not being based on those who deserve it....Yes it is true that our base salary is based mostly on what the market and local hospitals are doing...however, don't over-generalize...In my hospital we get merit raises based on our yearly performance and evaluation...if you get a bad evaluation, you do not get that raise (which by the way is over and above our yearly cost of living raise). And yes, our management does withhold raises for poor performance...so they don't just sign off cause it's easier, there is truly an evaluation done.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 30, 2005

Not a nurse but will have to say no they should not. ADN and BSN should get the same but more as experiece increases.

amber1142 · Jul 30, 2005

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.

If a BSN is paid more for her bachelor's, I want to be paid even more for my two master's degrees.

I believe you should be paid according to what you are required to do.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2005

Yes

Here it's part of our "pay per skill"..........4% for certification, 4% for ACLS, 4% for a critical care certification, 4% for doing charge,4% for reading and learning telemetry, 4% for precepting, 4% for a BSN. The more education and work experience you recieve the more you get paid. I like that idea.

That way you're getting paid for not only what you do. But also for education.

austin heart, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2005

Pay should be equal since both are held to the same standards.

Ditto! Why should they be paid more for doing the same job as I do? If they want to use their BSN go into manegment and make more money.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 30, 2005

To those who say we should be "paid what we are worth"....

well then, how do we justify professional ball players making millions and us peanuts then? (just a random thought---NO ONE is paid what he is worth in the USA---we are either grossly under or over-paid, period)

Anyhow, I did digress. One more thing: wish we could quit comparing ADN/BSN programs...it varies too much by state and city. Where I went to school , our clinical hours were literally identical, just when we did them varied. The BSN nurses had community health, research and senior practicum, as well as statistics and a few other electives over us. Yes, they did have more educational hours. But ALL OF US were prepared to assume the role of RN/Charge nurse in Oklahoma.

The differences between ADN and BSN nurses cannot be discerned just by watching them work side by side, either. Or by "listening to them talk". I have heard people say then can tell a "BSN from an ADN" a mile away. Bull pockey. Anyone who says that, to me, is seeing things through some very shaded lenses--and it's usually a BSN or higher nurse making such claims.....anyhow.....

Truly, I do think we ought be paid commensurate our education AND background/experience. I think there OUGHT be an incentive, of sorts, to advance one's education. WHY THE HECK NOT? What is so wrong with paying people with more education better? Why is nursing so "hung up" here???? If someone chooses to gain a baccalaureate degree or higher, well then, PAY THEM FOR IT. Maybe more of us will advance our education and improve the overall educational status of our profession. Why should it be so different than making cert. differentials?

I say the time for education differentials is long overdue. Pay people well for their education and experience, and overall, you will have a MUCH stronger, better and competitive nursing workforce! It only makes sense.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 30, 2005

Yes
Here it's part of our "pay per skill"..........4% for certification, 4% for ACLS, 4% for a critical care certification, 4% for doing charge,4% for reading and learning telemetry, 4% for precepting, 4% for a BSN. The more education and work experience you recieve the more you get paid. I like that idea.
That way you're getting paid for not only what you do. But also for education.

absolutely!

fergus51 · Jul 30, 2005

I don't know why people have a problem with a BSN differential or a differential for certifications. Yes, we all do the same job but, I am doing the same job as a nurse with 20 years experience yet she does get paid more because of her experience. I don't see why education should be treated differently.

sunnyjohn · Jul 30, 2005

This one just won't die, will it?

It just keeps coming back in different forms.

If we spent half the time we devout to the ADN V. BSN debate protecting ourselves from the outside forces that seek to marginalize us (the insurance companies, abusive clinicians, callous hospital administrators, the well-meaning but ignorant public) nursing would be a much stronger profession.

Lets work to promote the profession, while at the same time increasing wages, benefits and working conditions. Doing this will enable us to provide even better patient care.

ADN, BSN, or hospital diploma, every nurse who works hard at his/her job is a lobbyist. I applaud you.

I do know many of you do work tirelessly to lobby and educate. For that I thank you you.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2005

I don't know why people have a problem with a BSN differential or a differential for certifications. Yes, we all do the same job but, I am doing the same job as a nurse with 20 years experience yet she does get paid more because of her experience. I don't see why education should be treated differently.

Good point.

BETSRN · Jul 30, 2005

Yes
Here it's part of our "pay per skill"..........4% for certification, 4% for ACLS, 4% for a critical care certification, 4% for doing charge,4% for reading and learning telemetry, 4% for precepting, 4% for a BSN. The more education and work experience you recieve the more you get paid. I like that idea.
That way you're getting paid for not only what you do. But also for education.

If you look at that, all but one of those "additional educations" have nothing at all to do with the type of nursing program one attends. None of those skills has anything to do with the actual BSN. That was exactly my point. The BSN has little to do with actual skills that are aquired after the fact. Any type of RN can aquire any of those advanced certifications and they have absolutly nothing to do with a BSN.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2005

If you look at that, all but one of those "additional educations" have nothing at all to do with the type of nursing program one attends. None of those skills has anything to do with the actual BSN. That was exactly my point. The BSN has little to do with actual skills that are aquired after the fact. Any type of RN can aquire any of those advanced certifications and they have absolutly nothing to do with a BSN.

I wasn't saying they do have anything do with the BSN. I'm just pointing out the BSN is included in the skill/education program where I work, in addition to those other skills.

In fact as an ADN nurse I have all of those skills, certification, etc.. I'll get a 4% raise when/if I get a BSN.

I was saying I support differentials for more skills and education, even those that don't come from the BSN, but I support the differential for the BSN as well.

This pay for skills is very rewarding to the ADN as well. I make a lot more money than a BSN nurse with only a BSN under their belt and doesn't possess any of that other stuff. As it should be as I've more skills and experience.

I'm in no way saying BSN should make more money than ADN just because they have a BSN.