Which matters more, school name or degree?

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I'm considering either RN or BSN and not sure which matters more; where you go to school, or the fact that you HAVE the RN or BSN? I am thinking of applying to John's Hopkins, but it would require my family to move. Would it matter if I got my RN from there, or from my local community college? Do people hiring care about that at all? Does it matter more for the BSN, or not at all? Just wanted your opinions...thanks ;)

Specializes in HD, Homecare, Med/Surg, Infectious Disease.

The thing that matters initially is that you are an RN. However, the profession is heading towards requiring all RN's to have a BSN and if you want to move up in the clinical ladder you WILL need a BSN. If you have the option to get your BSN now, I would definitely say go for it. It does not have to be a private university bc as someone else stated they do often have lower NCLEX pass rates. School name as far as I have seen is quite irrelevant. I live in CT and Yale New Haven Hospital no longer hires Associate nurses and plenty actually prefer BS educated nurses. Considering the way the nursing job market is right now hospitals have the ability to be very picky, so I would think you would want to be seen as a more desirable candidate.

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Specializes in HD, Homecare, Med/Surg, Infectious Disease.

They only care if you pass bc that will also mean you are licensed.

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The thing that matters initially is that you are an RN. However, the profession is heading towards requiring all RN's to have a BSN and if you want to move up in the clinical ladder you WILL need a BSN. If you have the option to get your BSN now, I would definitely say go for it. It does not have to be a private university bc as someone else stated they do often have lower NCLEX pass rates. School name as far as I have seen is quite irrelevant. I live in CT and Yale New Haven Hospital no longer hires Associate nurses and plenty actually prefer BS educated nurses. Considering the way the nursing job market is right now hospitals have the ability to be very picky, so I would think you would want to be seen as a more desirable candidate.

So, now I wonder, should I just skip working after i get my RN and bridge right into BSN? some schools require (like one of our locals) that you have work experience to get into their BSN program. But, one other local school doesn't require it.

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Specializes in HD, Homecare, Med/Surg, Infectious Disease.

Well I definitely would not skip working. If you can start working...DO IT. Experience seems to be a really big deal right now for employers and this is the main reason so many new grads are having a hard time finding a job. If it s an AS to BSN bridge program it would make sense that they require experience bc I think some of the content they expect you to know bc you should already have experience.

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Well I definitely would not skip working. If you can start working...DO IT. Experience seems to be a really big deal right now for employers and this is the main reason so many new grads are having a hard time finding a job. If it s an AS to BSN bridge program it would make sense that they require experience bc I think some of the content they expect you to know bc you should already have experience.

There is an accelerated program here in town that will give me a BSN and also sit for the RN exam when graduating. Should I go with that, or the program that requires experience for the BSN? I am confused as to which program is better, as far as knowledge and learning goes. I don't want to go into my first job lacking any really important info/ and or experience...

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Specializes in ED.

Sarah--

From some of your questions and responses I sense a small misunderstanding: RN stands for Registered Nurse. BSN just means you got your Bachelor's of Science in Nursing.

But whether we complete an ADN, AAS, or BSN program we all sit for and pass the exact same test - the NCLEX - and you are then a licensed Registered Nurse (RN).

There is a push in many areas to require a "BSN in Ten" - meaning if you got your RN license after completing an ADN or AAS program your state requires that within 10 years you get a BSN to maintain your RN license.

So you really have a lot of options - but since you are coming in "cold" from another profession, as I did, I would say find the program that is the most convenient for you and your family location-wise and financially.

What's working for me is a Community College ADN program, and once I am a licensed RN I plan on getting my BSN part-time. I am a single mom and I have to get back to full time work as quickly as I can so I chose this slightly shorter and cheaper (3 years) ADN program. my school is 10 minutes from my house, offers day or evening classes and has an excellent reputation and high NCLEX pass rate. I love the program, the instructors are top notch.

But if you have the support and ability to go for your BSN then I would go for it right out of the box. You get paid better once you are hired, you're never crossed off the list for a job because you are an ADN, and the door is open sooner for pursuing an even more advanced degree like Masters level, Nurse Practitioner (NP).

Good luck-

Armygirl

P.S. - since you said you didn't do too well in science I recommend a great book you can play around with before you enter school called "Get Ready for A&P" by Lori Garrett. My A&P I Professor recommended this book and it was a huge help to get my hard math and hard science brain to wake up from it's years of arts-world slumber!!

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Sarah--

From some of your questions and responses I sense a small misunderstanding: RN stands for Registered Nurse. BSN just means you got your Bachelor's of Science in Nursing.

But whether we complete an ADN, AAS, or BSN program we all sit for and pass the exact same test - the NCLEX - and you are then a licensed Registered Nurse (RN).

There is a push in many areas to require a "BSN in Ten" - meaning if you got your RN license after completing an ADN or AAS program your state requires that within 10 years you get a BSN to maintain your RN license.

So you really have a lot of options - but since you are coming in "cold" from another profession, as I did, I would say find the program that is the most convenient for you and your family location-wise and financially.

What's working for me is a Community College ADN program, and once I am a licensed RN I plan on getting my BSN part-time. I am a single mom and I have to get back to full time work as quickly as I can so I chose this slightly shorter and cheaper (3 years) ADN program. my school is 10 minutes from my house, offers day or evening classes and has an excellent reputation and high NCLEX pass rate. I love the program, the instructors are top notch.

But if you have the support and ability to go for your BSN then I would go for it right out of the box. You get paid better once you are hired, you're never crossed off the list for a job because you are an ADN, and the door is open sooner for pursuing an even more advanced degree like Masters level, Nurse Practitioner (NP).

Good luck-

Armygirl

P.S. - since you said you didn't do too well in science I recommend a great book you can play around with before you enter school called "Get Ready for A&P" by Lori Garrett. My A&P I Professor recommended this book and it was a huge help to get my hard math and hard science brain to wake up from it's years of arts-world slumber!!

I think you may be getting me mixed up with another poster...I never said that I have trouble with sciences, in fact they are my strong suit. And I also DO understand the diff. between RN and BSN- what I was getting at with my questions along the way was whether to do the RN and work for a couple of years, or just go straight to a BSN (without work experience)and then find a job. I'm also still researching the programs here in town trying to figure out which school has the best program/ highest scores on the NCLEX, etc...

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Specializes in emergency room, general med/surg, ortho.

Our field is moving to nurses having a BSN, reasons for this I understand has to do with advancement. If you want to do more than floor nursing, you will absolutely need a BSN. you will need to do research on places you are interested in working at and find out what they require. GOOD LUCK!!

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Specializes in ER.
Our field is moving to nurses having a BSN, reasons for this I understand has to do with advancement. If you want to do more than floor nursing, you will absolutely need a BSN. you will need to do research on places you are interested in working at and find out what they require. GOOD LUCK!!

it's been the thing to say since 1965, advancement for RN's and to phase out ADN programs in favor of BSN only. Never will happen. Nurses are too high in demand and getting nurses churned out of a 2-3 year program is quicker in meeting that demand.

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To be a Magnet status hospital, the nursing staff must have a certain percentage of BSN over ADNs. So some hospitals have a preference for the BSN. There are 25 year old debates over whether all RNs should have BSNs to start, but over 55% of new RNs have ADNs. I have noticed some hospitals only want BSNs for PICU, NICU, CCU, and ICU.

If you know where you might like to work, either specialty or hospital, give HR a call or check out the website and see what the qualifications are to be hired. This might help you make your choice.

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Specializes in ED.

i agree, with our profession heading into more BSN as entry, the degree would be more important. ive been looking at jobs and they require a BSN. i just applied to a couple already.

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If you take a minute and read the employment opportunities available right now I think you would find that a large majority say something like (Check out indeed.com). Minimum one to two years experience required, Bachelors preferred. Experience required bachelors preferred would make me lean toward getting my ASN, try getting the experience while you take a accelerated or part time BSN program.

I think you would clear up a lot of confusion if you did not use the word RN or BSN. The question should say should I start working with my ASN or skip the experience to go on to get my BSN. It is possible to graduate from your local college or university with a ASN or BSN, never pass you Nclex meaning you are not an RN but you would still have a BSN.

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