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

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In most other careers those with Bachelors make more then those with Associates, and I don't quite understand why it is different in nursing???? Can someone please clear this up, thanks :)

Zenman is ALWAYS like this. He can't help talking down to others when it comes to this issue.

"Always"..consistency is good, right? At least I'm not a wavering politician. Perhaps my words are just a blank screen upon which you project your own movie.

I think he does it to get a response... or, he just gets so into the discussion he doesn't realize that he's putting people off. And, as most of us ADN nurses know from our theraputic nursing courses and real life, putting someone off isn't a good way to get your point across.

As adults, we "should" be able to have a discussion without the participants choosing to feel that they are lower than anyone else or feeling put down. More psychology courses are needed in nursing, I think! Getting a response is a therapeutic technique in many situations.

Anywho, there is no difference. They both do the exact same job, just as well as the other one does. Period. It's all a piece of paper.

I think I addressed this in an earlier post.

I've seen some idiot BSN nurses and some exceptionally bright ADN students. It's all about the student or nurse, not the program they graduated from. They are all supposed to be accredited, and as far as I know it is by the same exact agencies for both ADN and BSN.

I wonder why this non-related issue..along with "we all take the same test" keeps popping up?

BTW, I'm an ADN working on my BSN... I graduate in July.

And I still think its just a peice of paper!

Then why are you wasting your money?

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:balloons: I am an ADN, and I work with diploma, ADN, and BSN graduates. There is no difference in pay for degree. Same boards, same job. We do get more for speciality certifications, CEN, CCRN, ONC, etc. The Community College I attended consistently has board passing rates of 98-% to 100%. I cannot say that about the area BSN programs. Why??? who knows. one BSN grad who did not pass boards told me that she wished she had more actual hands on patient care. Diploma and ADN grads have more bedside time, more variety in clinical settings than most of the BSN programs. Most of the admin at my facility started off as diploma or ADN-some have BSN's some do not. No matter what the degree the patient has to be taken care of, they do not make a distinction between degrees, as long as a nurse is there to care for him.

I will agree with this. Depending on how long you are planning on staying "on the floor", your ADN with additional certifications will do. Keep in mind though, that some certifications ALSO require BSN. Ah, the rub. I'm currently studying for the 'C' to my RN. :p Getting the 'C' will get me extra compensation in my facility. They pay a bonus on initial certification, and a yearly bonus for keeping it.

Additionally, certification moves me higher on the clinical ladder with a corresponding increase in wages.

So.....right now, while I can't afford to get back in school full time (I want to graduate again from my alma mater...they're expensive), I can still improve education through other means.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Interestingly, our ADN program did have higher pass rates than the BSN one up the road. Why I have no clue. But that does not make our program it "better" necessarily----but we were just better-prepared to take the NCLEX. Our ADN program did turn out some DAMN good nurses----it was like 2 years of Basic Training and the attrition rates were not easy to take. We lost 2/3 by graduation. I was charging my OB unit within 1 year after graduation. Dont' think I lacked much the BSN upstairs did charging hers.

Anyhow, like I said, I think BSN pay should be considered; I think they do deserve an educationn differential, just as we do cert differentials. No problem w/that concept.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Our recruitment party was attended by people from the University of Texas Health Science Center hospital representatives looking for nurses to work in their many facilities. When asked why they didn't just use the graduates from their BSN program they said, "Because they don't have enough hands on patient experience to work on the floors. We hire them into the entry-level management postions we have open." I was there for this comment and can attest to that fact that it was indeed said by the person responsible for hiring. Says a lot about the difference in the direction of the courses.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

So make em managers w/o a clue as to what goes on on the floor? Sounds like business as usual.

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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!

If I concentrate really hard, will you be able to guess what I'm thinking? My weight? My mother's maiden name? :) Just kidding. Really :chuckle

Really, though- what exactly differentiates these nurses for you? What would make you look at me and think "she's a BSN/ADN/Diploma."

Exactly how do you determine a nurse's educational level by watching their interaction with patients?

I seriously cannot believe that you can tell 100% of the time.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Our recruitment party was attended by people from the University of Texas Health Science Center hospital representatives looking for nurses to work in their many facilities. When asked why they didn't just use the graduates from their BSN program they said, "Because they don't have enough hands on patient experience to work on the floors. We hire them into the entry-level management postions we have open." I was there for this comment and can attest to that fact that it was indeed said by the person responsible for hiring. Says a lot about the difference in the direction of the courses.

That is so interesting. Guess in some cases, it's not a myth after all.

Wonder what "entry level management positions" are. We don't have any of those around here. All of our management positions while they require BSNs, require experience. Interesting.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac Medicine, Retail Health.

Race, gender, degree, when will it ever end?????? We are our own worst enemy :o

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Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

All ADNs and BSNs are not equal. We all graduate from simular programs; the BSN has more depth , the ADN has more skills so we can go out there and work.

The biggest difference is the background before coming to nursing school.

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IN SOME HOSPITALS BSN'S WILL RECEIVE 50 CENTS MORE AN HOUR, I'VE SEEN ADN'S IN MANAGEMENT POSITIONS, ONLY THEY CAN'T TEACH ON A COLLIGIATE LEVEL, BSN'S HAVE MORE NURSING THEORY CLASSES,ZO,CHEM,BIO, BUT AS FAR AS CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IT'S ALL THE SAME.:rolleyes:

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Randy, I still don't think you can "smell em out" the way you profess to. I will never believe it's that simple.

You don't have to believe me and like you say, it's not worth arguing over. Observing people is part of the training I taught with bodywork students. Many good bodyworkers will tell you what is wrong with you before they place their hands on you. I used to teach 60 or more students a year to "turn on" their senses in ways they did not think possible. Nurses who live in the country versus the concrete usually have better sensors also. Many nurses also have highly developed senses and can tell what's happening with a patient before it happens. Sense of smell...you need to meet my wife. When I used to take people out a lot for business lunches, she would get in my car later and say, "I see you took 3 women and a guy out to lunch." Alas, I could never have an affair :o "Is that candy I smell?"

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If I concentrate really hard, will you be able to guess what I'm thinking? My weight? My mother's maiden name? :) Just kidding. Really :chuckle

Really, though- what exactly differentiates these nurses for you? What would make you look at me and think "she's a BSN/ADN/Diploma."

Exactly how do you determine a nurse's educational level by watching their interaction with patients?

I seriously cannot believe that you can tell 100% of the time.

I posted the answer in an earlier post as did another person. It's not 100% of the time.

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