Why You Should Choose a BSN

Having a BSN is quite overated for determining ability. Background knowledge is definitely wonderful. But in my opinion, a nurse is NOT a good nurse until she can walk and chew gum at the same time. On the job training determines who will make the cut. I am a proud nurse with an ASN degree and 6 years experience. It's sad that I will probably have to get a BSN or MSN to further my career, but I guess you have to follow the rules of the game.

Good Nursing judgement and good Nursing care do not depend on a degree. I've worked with new BSN grads and they didn't know their way around the floor or how to do or give good beside care. They were excellent at nursing the paperwork, and giving out assignments.

I am a BSN and get LESS than newly hired ASN's....I also have my med surg certification.
None of that means anything in terms of money other than i had more student loans to pay back.
The new nurses are getting their loans paid back by employers.
I decided to move into teaching, as i am very good at it, BUT that requires a MASTERS with the commitment to work toward your doctorate......wow. watch your step with furthering your education..I would have been better off staying with my origonal ASN.

I'm 24 years old. I'm a mom and a Nursing Assistant on the Telemetry unit. I never thought about going into nursing but now I want to go straight for my BSN. I've always had high goals. The nurses on my shift really think I should pursue a degree and my Nurse Manager committed to backing me 100% after baarely 6 months on the job!!

I resent this -
“If the career goals are always to work at the bedside, then the associate’s degree is perfectly fine,” Qualey says. “But if you’re younger and want to teach or go higher in management, then you would go on for your advanced degree.”
Why would you have to be younger to want to teach or go higher in mangement? Im 42 yrs old and in an ADN program and definitely planning to go straight into a BSN program and eventually obtain my Master's. I have two friends in their 50's who share the same goals I do. Education has nothing to do with age.

I know this is true but I don't have to like it esp. since the nurses that I personally know with higher degrees do not even consider doing patient care. What will happen with the nursing shortage then?

I am a proud holder of a Diploma in Nursing. I have a great deal of respect for those of us with a BSN because I feel that having a BSN just makes the profession as a whole; more professional which may lead into higher wages or salaries. I started in nursing as a CNA in 1979. I was a CNA for 3 years before going back to school to became a LPN. 17 years later, I went back to school and was graduated as a Diploma RN at the age of 40. I personally believe that learning should never stop and I hope that I can continue learning and be graduated as a BSN before I retire. I encourage any and all young nurses to go for the gusto!

I have my BA in a non-related nursing field. I have looked into getting my MSN at the local University, but I can't afford to quit my job. I have to pay bills and I am trying to buy a house. I just don't have the money or the time to go to a full time MSN program. If there was a part time MSN program that had clinicals at night I would choose that in a heartbeat, but the University forbids students to work at all during the first year because of clinicals. The goal of getting my ADN is much more attainable. With the shortage of nurses... you would think states would take extra steps to make sure there were night programs available for those who want their BSN or MSN...