What are the pros of getting your BSN?

DelGR · Jun 16, 2005

Are the ANY majors in college that dont require writing papers/giving presentations/doing projects? I think even computer science and economic business majors have to do them or am I wrong?
I had no clue that nurses who work in clinics are paid a lower salary. I can imagine why though :)

Browsing,

Unfortunately you are not going to get out of doing papers, giving presentations, and doing projects in any higher learning institute. You would be doing even more if you were enrolled in an online course. The University of Phoenix online is nothing but individual and team work papers in concentrated 3-6 week classes. BSN classes are 5 weeks, I believe. MSN classes are generally 6 weeks. You don't have to do oral presentations but you do have to do PowerPoint projects from time to time.

I went the ADN, BSN route and now I am completing my MSN. My ADN and BSN required specific "breath of knowledge" general courses: Chemistry, Algebra, Micorbiology, Biology, Physics, English Composition, History, Sociology, etc. I waiting over 5 years between my ADN and BSN and had to retake my sciences and math (I had already taken A&P, Chemisty, Micro, Algebra, etc. in my ADN). I also had speech and philosophy in my ADN. I didn't like speech at all. Scared to death. The BSN required many oral in front of the class presentations and group work. SO, unless you just want a job where you make money without having to do much in the way of administrative type of stuff, I would suggest a technical field that doesn't required the type of classes you seem reluctant to try. I'm not trying to be mean, just realistic. Nursing is a continuous life long learning experience. Once you get into it, you will see what I mean. Who knows, you may find your niche and really enjoy it and be eager to pursue higher education.

As the others stated, you DO have many more options with a BSN. And when you physically can't do the bedside tasks anymore (as happened to me), you will be very thankful that you had the BSN to explore those other options.

I wish you much luck and a brighter successful future.

browsing · Jun 16, 2005

Nurses who work in clinics/doctor's offices typically get paid much less than those who work in hospitals. However, for some people, the benefits (regular hours, no weekends/holidays) and reduced stress level make the pay cut worth it.

How much lower? I was planning on working at a doctor's office or a small hospital after graduation. I know I'm applying tot he ADN program and not a BSN program, but maybe later I will find a longing to go back to school and finish it up I just can't imagine studying for five more years (one yr pre-req and four years BSN) before working right now :uhoh3: I'm hoping the working experience will even out the education?

browsing · Jun 16, 2005

Browsing,
Unfortunately you are not going to get out of doing papers, giving presentations, and doing projects in any higher learning institute. You would be doing even more if you were enrolled in an online course. The University of Phoenix online is nothing but individual and team work papers in concentrated 3-6 week classes. BSN classes are 5 weeks, I believe. MSN classes are generally 6 weeks. You don't have to do oral presentations but you do have to do PowerPoint projects from time to time.
I went the ADN, BSN route and now I am completing my MSN. My ADN and BSN required specific "breath of knowledge" general courses: Chemistry, Algebra, Micorbiology, Biology, Physics, English Composition, History, Sociology, etc. I waiting over 5 years between my ADN and BSN and had to retake my sciences and math (I had already taken A&P, Chemisty, Micro, Algebra, etc. in my ADN). I also had speech and philosophy in my ADN. I didn't like speech at all. Scared to death. The BSN required many oral in front of the class presentations and group work. SO, unless you just want a job where you make money without having to do much in the way of administrative type of stuff, I would suggest a technical field that doesn't required the type of classes you seem reluctant to try. I'm not trying to be mean, just realistic. Nursing is a continuous life long learning experience. Once you get into it, you will see what I mean. Who knows, you may find your niche and really enjoy it and be eager to pursue higher education.
As the others stated, you DO have many more options with a BSN. And when you physically can't do the bedside tasks anymore (as happened to me), you will be very thankful that you had the BSN to explore those other options.
I wish you much luck and a brighter successful future.

Is ADN a higher learning in your term? I don't think I will be doing nursing until the day I retire. It won't be healthy for me or the patients. I will know when to quit because I want to start my own business. Don't get me wrong. I have the passion to work as a nurse. But I know it is not what I want to do for the rest of my life and I think this is better than sticking to it till the end just for the money when you don't even want to step a foot in the hospital anymore.

I am taking a speech class the coming semester and a philosophy class as pre-reqs. The classes that you mentioned are the ones that I will be taking pretty soon before applying for the nursing program. Did you have to give presentions in your ADN program? By yourself or with a group? I don't know what is wrong with me. Do I not want to give presentations because I'm tired of school? I need a slap on my face right now and wake up if I want to survive nursing school :rotfl: One more year of general education and I'm applying for nursing school and after that no more complaining! So for now, please try to understand and answer my questions without getting annoyed :chuckle

HopefulRN2006 · Jun 16, 2005

Hi guys,

I have a question fror you...I read thru the posts, that if you want your BSN, you will need to give presentations.

Alot of BSN programs are now offered all online (as well as your MSN), like with Univerity of Pheonix....if you do this all online, how could you give presentations?

Thanks for all your info, guys!

DelGR · Jun 16, 2005

To Browsing,

I commend you that you are going to try. Yes, I do think an ADN is higher learning (post high school). Anyway, I'm not annoyed. I hope you were not offended by my remarks. I just wanted to caution you about what to expect both in school and on the job.

In my ADN class, I did not have to do group projects. I did have to give individual oral presentations form time to time. They were short and informal and not a formal stand in front of the group type of thing. The speech class was the only one I had to do in front of the class (several times). After all, that was what speech was about; presenting something to a group.

Make sure you have a good grade point average with your general classes. Some ADN programs want good general course GPAs (I believe my ADN program would not let anyone apply if they had less than 3.2 GPA). I know other programs may expect 2.8 or higher GPA.

Believe me, I understand your comments about being tired of school. I've told all my friends, family and co-workers to take me out back and shoot me if I mention going for a PhD. I've spent a total of 11 to 12 years of my life (while working full time always) going to school.

To Hopeful RN 2006,

Many of the facilitators at UoP online consider a PowerPoint project as a presentation. They will tell you that they want a specific number of slides with speaker notes and give you a specific length of time for the presentation to last such as 10 or 20 minutes.

So, you do the PowerPoint and present it to yourself first to see if it meets the timeframe. Then you add it as an attachment to a specific newsgroup. Some facilitaors want you to add special features such as audio and animation, etc.

Hope this is an adequate answer.

browsing · Jun 16, 2005

From what others told me online nursing is not a good idea :stone

Wow school for 12 yrs while working full time? You deserve a pat on the back :coollook: I would never be able to pull that one off :uhoh3:

I have all A's and one B right now so I guess I can say that my GPA is pretty good :) I'm applying to Cerritos nursing program and they accept students by lottery. All I have to do is keep a C average in all of my general ed classes, but there is no way I'm going to slack off at a junior college.

Do ADN and BSN nurses have the same responsibilities/can do the same tasks or are there limits to what an ADN nurse can do compared to a BSN nurse?

Trauma Columnist · Jun 16, 2005

Browsing - the duties of an RN are dependent on the licensing (RN) versus the education. However, the caveat here is that with an advanced practice certificate (NP, CNS, CRNA), your scope of practice is broader.

I did the University of Phoenix online for my BSN and MSN. While there were no oral presentations, there were plenty of written papers and PowerPoint presentations. It helps to have some public speaking skills in order to provide patient education and be able to focus the information you need to impart in an organized, logical and easy to understand manner. Good luck.

DelGR · Jun 17, 2005

ADNs and BSNs do the same. Responsibility is the same. Same license. Like all have said before. you may have more options for specific positions from your employer. I have known ADNs who were the only ones to apply for Nurse Manager positions and got them even though the description of the job says BSN perferred.

It depends on the facility and Position Descriptions. For instance, my job as a Risk Manager is to have a BSN. In some facilities, they will not allow those with ADNs to apply for specific BSN required or even preferred positions. That is why a BSN gives you more flexibility and options.

newbsn · Jun 20, 2005

Just wanted to add to the topic....
I am a pre-nursing student here in NC, and as far as pay rate ADN v. BSN, there is NO difference. Since I am only 24 years old, I KNOW that I want to go to grad school one day, so the best option for me is to get my BSN. Why not? I feel like I am too young to limit myself....
LB good choice. I had a similar issue with a waiting list and determined that I could get my BSN in the same amount of time. Well, three years later, I have graduated...and am sooo thankful that I chose this degree. I am now looking at Grad schools.
Some hospitals in the state of NC do offer a higher pay rate for BSN's, you just have to figure out which ones. I only know of three.
To respond to the initial post: the major difference in programs (ADN/BSN) is the time frame and the 'arts' courses required. ADN students have to learn the exact same info as BSN students in 6-8 weeks, where BSN students have 12-16 weeks.
Also, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and a truckload of other courses are available as electives and count toward your credits for graduation. Plus, BS students are required to complete a community health course and some programs require research and/or statistics.
Truthfully, we all come out of school functioning at similar levels (the differences are individualized). Some just have a little more time to grasp the info. :wink2:
:balloons: NEW GRAD May 7, 2005!!! Passed the NCLEX 6/9/05:balloons:

mitchsmom · Jun 20, 2005

Also, pathophysiology, pharmacology, ... are available as electives and count toward your credits for graduation

These classes are a required NUR core courses in my BSN program.

homehealth · Jun 20, 2005

Hello. I haven't begun my nursing studies yet, but I was wondering if going for BSN after receiving an AA degree in nursing is a good idea. What are the differences between a nurse with a BSN and one with an ADN from a community college? Are they both considered a RN? Is there a salary difference? Does having a BSN make a nurse look more favorable to recruiters? Also, are there materials/experiences that a nurse will never learn if he or she never enters a BSN program that will affect work performance in the real world? Is an ADN not enough???? And would that be a reason why nurses continue their education? Who knows if I may feel that I need more school education later on, but for now I'm planning on enrolling in an ADN program at a near community college and find work right after because I do not want to spend three additional years after graduating from a two year nursing program studing and doing rotations. Is this a bad choice? Will people look down on me or think that I'm not capable of carrying out certain tasks because I do not have a BSN? Are nurses with BSN and ADN basically the same is what I would like to end this post with :) Please help. Thanks.
OH and this is an edit. I'm not a shy person and I love to talk, but I have a fear of public speaking. I totally blank out for no reason at all I love to perform in front of an audience, but no public speaking. Would I have to do some oral presentations while in nursing school (ADN and BSN)? If that is the case, I guess I have to deal with it

From Home Health

I got my ADN in 1979 and worked for many years before considering my BSN. What I experienced in the workplace was that BSN graduates with no experience felt they were better than ADN graduates. They didn't seem to have as good clinical skills as ADN graduates. They knew a lot of theory but that doesn't help as much as more bedside nursing. Whether or not you decide to get A BSN is up to you. It doesn't get you more pay but can help if you want to be in management. I feel I am a better nurse for having experience before I got my BSN. It opened up a whole new world for me. I am going to start my MSN soon because I want to be a teacher of nursing. Only you can decide what is right fior you.

been there · Jun 20, 2005

Hello. I haven't begun my nursing studies yet, but I was wondering if going for BSN after receiving an AA degree in nursing is a good idea. What are the differences between a nurse with a BSN and one with an ADN from a community college? Are they both considered a RN? Is there a salary difference? Does having a BSN make a nurse look more favorable to recruiters? Also, are there materials/experiences that a nurse will never learn if he or she never enters a BSN program that will affect work performance in the real world? Is an ADN not enough???? And would that be a reason why nurses continue their education? Who knows if I may feel that I need more school education later on, but for now I'm planning on enrolling in an ADN program at a near community college and find work right after because I do not want to spend three additional years after graduating from a two year nursing program studing and doing rotations. Is this a bad choice? Will people look down on me or think that I'm not capable of carrying out certain tasks because I do not have a BSN? Are nurses with BSN and ADN basically the same is what I would like to end this post with :) Please help. Thanks.
OH and this is an edit. I'm not a shy person and I love to talk, but I have a fear of public speaking. I totally blank out for no reason at all I love to perform in front of an audience, but no public speaking. Would I have to do some oral presentations while in nursing school (ADN and BSN)? If that is the case, I guess I have to deal with it

I had to take a speech class and give oral presentations. As a BSN I often have to speak in front of groups (MDs, nurses, MSWs, family members, etc). I see no difference between the groups of RNs but there have been rumors around here for years that a BSN earns 2,000 / year more but has to take a whole lot more bull and stress. I have been faced with the problem of having RNs as my boss who did not have a BSN and they had reactions to this that, in some circles, would be called childish. I just look at all nurses, LPNs, ADNs, whatever, as nurses and I don't care about the letters behind the names unless it is something that an RN must do by law. I wouldn't recommend going to school for a BSN because and RN is an RN is an RN.