Why do RN's with ASN and BSN make the same?

begalli · Feb 28, 2005

I can pick out all 3 types of grads almost 100% of the time by watching them on the floor.

I'm just wondering what is it that stands out in each that makes you able to differentiate between the 3 during a typical day on the floor?

This is a non-existent topic where I work. The only time "what school did you go to" comes up is during small talk with a new grad orienting to the unit, and even this is rare, because it really doesn't matter.

Kyriaka · Feb 28, 2005

I am working on my BSN and have had many people in the ADN program ask me why I am bothering.

For me, it isnt as issue so much of money as of the belief (to me) that more knowledge and more education ALWAYS pays off. The payoff may be in something other than money.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 28, 2005

Zen, how do you do that??? (pick who is whom)??? And, what is your assessment of each? I am curious. Why??? cause.....

I don't buy it. Not for a NY minute. Everyone here KNOWS You are a BSN proponent. That is ok; I can respect that. But dont' try and tell me you would know my degree of preparation by my performance and/or professionalism, because you would not. Lo and behold, professionalism and critical thinking were emphasized in our ADN program, just as they were in the BSN program 90 miles up the road.

And how do you ever account for ADN's who hold prior baccalaureate degrees or higher? How do you pick THEM out??? Just wondering.... :)

Where I work, you can't tell who has what degree. I actually work the floors at times with a PhD, and she is amazing, but I would not know her degree of education simply by observing her work on the unit. She performs at least as well as the BSNs and ADNs working with her, but no differently, and is not "better". She is very professional but then, so is the ADN who is our assistant manager. :) I have worked in several hospitals, and no one knew who held what degree unless asked. Most were consummate professionals with extremely capable critical thinking skills and topnotch professionalism.

You see, it's a myth, propogated mostly by BSN proponents, ---- that you can "pick them out" like that.

There simply IS no picking them out; professionals exist who had all 3 types of entry into RN practice.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2005

same license same job same pay

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 28, 2005

Oh and I did get sidetracked. I believe BSN grads deserve a differential. I believe they SHOULD be paid more. Otherwise, what point would there be to advancing one's education? (besides one's own betterment). Virtually all other areas of work/careers recognize advanced degree preparation/achievment. I hate that nursing is lacking in this, myself. And I am an ADN grad. saying this.

RN34TX · Feb 28, 2005

I'm a BSN student. The starting pay I was told by a hospital administrator was $16 and some change. Maybe I should look around....

That's insane and yes you do need to look around. I'm guessing that this is a small town hospital?

I say that because I know that no hospital in Dallas or Houston could keep RN's working for them at $16/hour. Even new grads, no way.

As a new RN my lowest offer was $19/hour and I laughed when I told them that would mean a pay cut from my LVN job that paid $22/hour.

Keep looking, don't get ripped off.

begalli · Feb 28, 2005

I believe BSN grads deserve a differential.

I disagree. Same job, same pay. I do think nurses should be able to get what's owed them however for their longevity and involvement in their working environment. For example, if I act as charge nurse for a shift, I except to be paid a differential for taking on the extra role. And if I'm there 20 years, I should be making more than the nurse whose been then 2 years.

I DO think though that the degree for entry level into nursing should be uniform throughout. But with the lack of nursing school spots available and the demand for nurses so huge, it has to be they way it is now until something can be done about this availability.

p.s. ALL nurses on our unit have the opportunity to charge if they want regardless of their degree. I think where I am, the opportunity to charge has more to do with a person's innate ability to deal with people. Having one degree or the other doesn't automatically make one a good "people person."

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 28, 2005

Sorry you disagree.

I still think education SHOULD be compensated. Why bother otherwise? People are not paid to be "good people persons", begalli, but for a job done and the education they achieve IS most often recognized everywhere BUT nursing. This is why I think all BSN entry in the future is NOT a bad idea. It WOULD elevate us a more even playing ground with other professions, and cut down in this in-fighting among us.

HOW to make it happen, is another story. :rolleyes:

mattsmom81 · Feb 28, 2005

"But for most of us in this field, the money isn't the primary driver, is it? Hopefully, it's the gratification to help our patients get well! "

----Smile123

We are professionals and deserve the compensation and respect of professionals. We need to get past the altruistic 'nun' and 'angel' ideals that many like to attach to nurses. It holds us back IMHO.

begalli · Feb 28, 2005

I think education SHOULD be compensated. Why bother otherwise?

BELIEVE me, SBE. I'm all about education. I truely thought that I was going to end up being a life-long college student. I went to school for about 12 years, the last four being nursing. I'm considering returning to school now. My 2 20 something daughters have 3 degrees between them, one is returning to school in the fall for nursing. At one point all three of us were undergrads at the same time!

I disagree that all other areas with higher degrees make more money. My daughter with the Master's degree doesn't make a ton of money. She's in education and working at a large, well-known private University.

My 16 year old son, I hope, will find his niche soon so we can start planning where he wants to go and what he wants to study. But if he doesn't know what he wants to study that's okay because he knows he's going to college and if it takes him a couple of years to decide his major while experiencing life as a young adult, again, that's okay.

I think one's drive to education is about so much more than the end result of possible money. I don't think it's wrong to want more money for a higher degree, but to some, education is more about the experience of having at least some knowledge of how this crazy world works and loving what you do.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 28, 2005

I hear what you are saying, Begalli. And like I said, I am an AD nurse saying all this. I am VERY Pro- ADN. I think we are consummate professionals deserving of respect.

But, I just think nursing cannot have its cake and eat it, too. If we want to further our stature in the medical world and end up on equal footing with OT, PT, Pharm and others, we need to step up our education some. Money talks. I think if BSN's were to make more, and the money were appreciable, more people would go back and get one. I see many people getting their RN, C for the pay raise. Why not BSN, too? I think it's high time nursing valued education like "most" other fields do.

zenman · Mar 1, 2005

I'm just wondering what is it that stands out in each that makes you able to differentiate between the 3 during a typical day on the floor?

Their interaction with patients, their organizational skills, the way they solve problems...or call me with one such as last night from the telly unit "Where can we get a chemo sign?"

After much thought on how to handle this difficult one, I replied, "Why don't you try calling the oncology unit to see if they can help you."

Also, I can usually identify which country you come from. For example, every UK nurse I've run across has been a really sharp cookie. I need to check out their educational curriculum when I get time. I will not mention the worse one!