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Why You Should Choose a BSN
Monster Contributing Writer Lisette Hilton
Degree as a Stepping-Stone
For others, though, the associate’s degree is a first step on the road to advancing in nursing.
Stacy Vicknair, RN, ADN, a public health nurse for the Brazoria County Health Department, has no plans to return for her BSN but might take classes to further her career.
“These would be credentials that will go with my ADN,” she says. “I anticipate taking a forensics nursing class and classes that will further my career within the county.”
Regina Porter, RN, BSN, MSN, a nurse clinician III on the cardiac telemetry unit at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, is glad she went back to school after getting her ADN.
“By going back to school, you definitely get more insight, more experience in your clinical practice, more critical-thinking skills,” she says. “I think you have a different perspective on things.”
Patricia Miller, BSN, a staff nurse on the medicine/telemetry unit at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, says getting her BSN after the ADN helped her hone her leadership skills to take on bigger roles.
“Now I’m considering going to graduate school,” Miller says.
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allegrarn
over 3 years ago
2 comments
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.
danirn
almost 4 years ago
4 comments
The argument behind RN's obtaining their BSN (as entry level into practice) is that it will allow nursing to be regarded as a profession like many other professions that require at MINIMUM a Bachelors degree to practice. I agree. I was an LPN, then an RN,ASN and then graduted with my BSN. While it is true that the letters don't make the nurse, the letters will give society even more reason to respect our profession and compensate us accordingly.
2Leilani
about 4 years ago
10 comments
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.
niksmom
about 4 years ago
4 comments
I am 33 years old (not young but not old:) and graduating on May 16th with my BSN. It was the best decision I have ever made. I feel like I am a step ahead. Not to mention, most hospitals north of NYC are only hiring new grads if they have a BSN. Education in nursing is vital to furthur expand us as a profession. My goals include FNP and then a doctorate in either nursing education or DNP. Ultimately I want to teach and inspire other new nurses the way I was during my 4 years of school.
marvan8kbs
about 4 years ago
6 comments
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.
smschafle
over 4 years ago
50 comments
I graduated from a 3 yr. hospital program in 1975, and a RN to BSN program in 2006, and earned my PHN certification in 2007. However, it is only now, Dec. 8, 2008, to be exact that I will finally be hired as a PHN, RN and use my credentials. Warning to the Baby Boomer Nurses: Getting an advanced degree is costly and many places won't hire you because of your age. It is cheaper to hire a "young" BSN,RN then one with experiece. Education is not cheap and working a shorter number of years after your degree (if you can get hired) is not enough time to break even financially, much less get ahead. Therefore, if you are a Baby Boomer, please make a game plan and look at the cost and returns before re-entering the scholastic forum and save yourself the money, frustration, and disappointment that comes with the advanced degree.
NurseMizzle
over 4 years ago
4 comments
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!!
kaoni2000
over 4 years ago
12 comments
I agree with Poliwog. I am 45, graduated as an RN June 2007 and now I want to go for my BSN. I am not sure that I want to "MOVE OFF THE FLOOR". I enjoy and WANT to stay bedside. The only thing holding me back is having more student loans. I can only benefit myself and my patients by furthering my education.
Poliwog
over 4 years ago
8 comments
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.
slh25625
over 4 years ago
2 comments
The hospital I work for only gives a BSN 50 cents an hour more than an ADN. So I don't think the cost of the extra education is worth it right now.
racynote
over 4 years ago
10 comments
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?
snowbunnyRN
over 4 years ago
254 comments
I am a 51 yr old with a ADN and I'm considering going on for my BSN! I won't be making a whole lot more money with a BSN, however, I'm thinking that I'll be working probably well into my late 60's-70's and I don't know if my health will be good for doing bedside nsg!! I'm thinking I could get into management or possibly school nursing when and if my health declines in my "old age" !! I have to wait at least a year before I'll pursue this, because I'm presently paying for my 20 yr old son attending an LPN program!!
maryrn62200
over 4 years ago
14 comments
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!
elpasofire
over 4 years ago
6 comments
I agree that a BSN does not make you a more competent nurse. Competence is somehting the individual must personally attain. I am about to graduate in Dec with my BSN, but before I attained my ADN I ws a Paramedic, so I had lots of experience. The ADN made me feel more complete, and my knowledge, skill and experience showed. I returned for my BSN because I want to be a FNP. But with my background, I am the Bioterrorism Coordinator for the Fire Department in my City.
ablack
over 4 years ago
46 comments
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...