Should hubby get an Associates RN or BSN?

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Hi,

My hubby was a high school teacher for 3 years, has a bachelors of music ed, and is completing pre-reqs toward an Associates RN degree.

He then learned that because he has a bachelor's degree already, he can go to a special program to get a BSN instead. It's 2 classes + 1 semester longer than the Associates RN program, and it's at a huge accredited university. Right now he's at a respected & accredited community college for the RN.

My questions - Will he be seen as overqualified if he has a BSN, but is applying for an entry-level RN position? Will he even be considered?

My dear friend who was an RN for 20 years or so thinks the employer would prefer BSN status in an RN position, due to higher technical experience. I just don't know... if I were the employer I might prefer the associates RN because I'd assume they would want lower pay. Hubby doesn't need higher pay for the first couple years, he just wants a job. But is he shutting himself out of any RN entry-level position if he goes for the BSN?

BTW the only BSN jobs in our area are management positions, for people with 3+ years experience managing many health care workers. Hubby has no experience in this area, so it would be something to aim for at most, although we both think he'd prefer bedside care to admin work.

Can you tell we are green to this field? Any advice is greatly appreciated. :)

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An entry-level RN is basically a RN/Graduate nurse with no nursing experience whatsoever. Upon graduation, BSN or ADN, he would be considered a graduate nurse and will need to apply to these positions.

As far as whether he should get a BSN or ADN- this is up to him. There is no pay difference between ADN and BSN nurses. Employers pay the ADN nurse the same amount as they would a BSN nurse.

What does he ultimately want to do in nursing? If he wants to do bedside/floor nursing, then the ADN is the way to go. If he wants to do bedside/floor nursing, and may want to go into that managerial position one day, then the BSN is the way to go. If he does do the ADN and decides that he wants the BSN, he can always return back to school and attend a RN-to-BSN program. These are usually completed online.

In other words, nothing is set in stone. :) Good luck to you and your husband!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

BSN is rapidly becoming the hiring standard for hospitals in many areas of the US. This is closely tied to 2 factors: research on patient outcomes & Magnet certification. Large scale studies have provided strong evidence that increased percentage of BSN staff are associated with better patient outcomes. In order to obtain Magnet certification, hospitals must comply with specific standards that have been found to have a positive effect on patient outcomes, including BSN-prepared nurses, so those hospitals will generally have 'BSN preferred' hiring standards. Here in Houston, all of the hospitals in The Medical Center require BSN.

Keep in mind that an accelerated BSN is a very intense program that requires 100% focus. The workload and pace do not allow many outside activities or employment.

Best of luck to you both.

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Thanks for the replies, they are so much appreciated.

One of his teachers mentioned BSN is always preferred over RN at the primary hospital in the nearest metro area. Because of that & HouTX's comment, I wonder if he might be cutting himself off from potential employment by going the RN route. The closer hospitals advertise for RNs only on the floor (no BSNs except in management), but they are not known for quality and he will probably try to avoid them.

wetzoo, you mentioned that he could always go back to get a BSN if he wanted it. The dilemma is that this BSN program he's looking at takes only one additional semester + 2 relatively basic classes (nutrition & statistics) versus an RN degree. If he did the RN degree and then returned, I think it would be a much longer program to add on the BSN later - like 1.5 years? He is looking into the exact requirements.

HouTX, thanks for the info on the accelerated program's pace. He is somewhat aware of this just because it's full-time, but it's good to hear this in advance so we can further prepare. He doesn't work regular hours (we work at home) so luckily we are flexible on that.

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Nah, if he can afford the time then go to the BSN program. If he just has to start working ASAP then go for the associate's but quickly (like as soon as he graduates) start a state university-based RN-BSN online program. I actually just presented a research paper on this topic, and it's more cost effective and timely to go straight through a BSN program from the beginning than to go through an associate's degree RN program and then follow up with a bachelor's degree later. The BSN may not offer more remuneration immediately, but it's the preferred credential for specialty positions, leadership, and hospitals with Magnet status need it.

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Thanks ImThatGuy. We looked at credit hours today. If the RN program takes X hours, the immediate BSN option takes X + 21 credit hours. In comparison, the RN-BSN alternative takes X + 44 credit hours. Much faster to do the immediate BSN option.

The only drawback is that the immediate BSN option means traveling 1.5 hours, one way, every day for two years (as opposed to 30 minutes one-way for three semesters for the local community college's RN degree). Because of that we will definitely be considered an RN-BSN option. We haven't looked into those online-only options but it would certainly save time & travel.

Thanks again!

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Yeah, I'd go with the straight RN program (ADN) given those circumstances as well. Good luck to him. It's not nearly as bad as people make out.

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Specializes in M/S, Psych, ART, CM, MT.

I am desperately searching for advice on where I should complete my Grad level class "Pathophysiology." Anyone aware of a grad level course that students nickname it "an easy a?" or an instructor who never fails a student? Or maybe a super genius in patho would like to make extra $$$

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

If you two can swing the extra time & money for him to enter as a BSN, do it.

In the long run it's worth it.

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