My college professor told me I have a Professional Degree in Nursing (not a BSN) and that somehow this was the best one out there. Oh really? If that's the case then why do I get paid the same as an Associate degree's nurse or an experienced LPN? What's the point of even going? I only got mine because I want to go for my Nurse Practitioner but honestly the baccalaureatte by itself seems useless in the working world.

 IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU WORK. MOST HOSPITALS REQUIRE A BSN FOR NURSING SUPERVISORS AND EXECUTIVE POSITIONS. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NURSE PRACTITIONER'S:)

To advance in nursing a BSN is required.  You can make a living as an ADN.

Hello... I have been in top management for YEARS!  i and i repeat  DO NOT have a BSN!!!!It is NOT required in many places to be in management,some people still even rate you on your experience and intelligence.BSN's do get paid more ..usually 10cents- 25 cents/hr. Many places ARE requiring a BSN now.That was not my case...ever. I have an A.A.S in nursing, a B.A. in health care management and a M.S. in Management.  I GOT THOSE degrees after I had been in Management for 6 years....

frankiecash says ...

To advance in nursing a BSN is required.  You can make a living as an ADN.

 Oh ! of course....I made a good living as an LPN for years,But my aspirations was starting to preceed my scope of practice and my options were limited.I saw the many changes that were in the horizon for nursing. I wanted to have some say in my furture when thoses changes were put into place,so I went back to school. First for my ADN and then for my BSN.  Yes, 10 years ago in the mist of the nursing shortage Passing of your states nursing boards was about the only requirement needed to get a job. But  slooowly..... that stared to change.

I saw experienced diploma and ASN nurses lose out positions to less experienced nurses who were Bachelor's prepared. This nursing shortage is about to let up SOME and   jobs are becoming  much more discriminating.( At least they are here in the NE) So That's why I tell young students to get their Bachelor's .it will give them a better footing in a  market that is going to become very competative.

rndrew01 says ...

experience will always count...but i do say go ahead with your BSN..it is still not a necessary evil...yet....:)

 I 'd  alwys go with experience.

I have my A.D.N degree. I'm happy with it, but I'm planning on going for my BA in healthcare management.   I get paid the same amount as someone who has their BSN. I work with other nurses who have their ADN and some who have their BSN. I think it depends on what u want to do in the future.

 I'm 52.  I graduated with a BS in biology in 1977 and a BSN in 2007, after raising 4 children and doing some teaching, etc.  I started an Assoc. degree program several years ago, but had to withdraw during the 3rd semester of clinicals in order to care for my mother who was newly diagnosed with cancer.  When I later tried to re-enter the ADN program, I'd lost my place in the class and was going to have to re-take the previous semester of clinicals.. practically starting over... and still have to be on a waiting list to get into ANY clinical.  However, I learned I could commute 50 miles away to a BSN program and start right away, so I spent 2 and a half years (5 semesters) commuting to the university program to earn my BSN instead of waiting (for an unknown period of time)  for 4 semesters of clinicals in the ADN program.

I graduated a year ago and still feel quite inferior to the experienced ADNs, LPNs, and nurse techs on my floor.  I love them and appreciate all they've taught me!  I doubt I'll ever catch up with their knowledge and experience.  I make a dollar more and hour than I would have with an ADN.  So... working 3 twelve hour shifts per week... comes to a grand total of... drum roll... $36 per week!!!  Will that pay for the extra tuition I paid for a BSN?  Well..... I doubt it... for the little time I plan to remain in the hospital.

I don't know that I'll ever be interested in management, but for the young nurses, I do encourage them to go for their BSN.  I think a lot of those in management in my hospital are ADNs, but they are there only because there were few BSN and MSN degreed nurses available a few years ago.  Our hospital is now seeking Magnet status and is pushing lots of BSN nurses to do research and go for their Masters.  They seem to actively now recruit on university campuses where they once went to technical school campuses.

My former college roommate is a home health physical therapist the upstate of South Carolina.  Although it's not true in our area, she said her upstate agency won't hire a nurse without a BSN degree to do home health.  She really encouraged me to get a BSN b/c I'm interested in eventually going into home health after I gain enough hospital experience and am ready to give independent care.

I don't see that any one degree is "better" than the other.  It all depends on what type of nursing one wants to do and what it takes to get there.  I've learned that no two nursing programs in our state are the same, regardless of if they are ADN or BSN.  More education certainly never hurts and will never be wasted..... although some may argue that it may FEEL like a waste, at times.  Any time we are learning and coming in contact with challenging people and material, we are growing as individuals.  However, everyone must always count the cost of time and finances and determine if it's worth it to them personally.  Some may need to delay going onto the BSN program due to limits of money and time. With an ADN, there is always the possibility of later doing a completion program.

We need to appreciate that everyone has his/her own life to live and respect individual choices and consequences of those choices.

This whole discussion reaffirms my interest in the nursing profession.  There are so many different avenues you could persue.  It seems like you could always find employment to suit your interests; whether they focus on work environment, patient needs, or schedule preferences.   

I have an ADN, and plenty of job offers.  I do think anyone who plans to spend 20 years in the profession should seriously think about a BSN, or bridge program.  Bottom line is, education is never a bad thing to have, and the more education you have, the more options are available to you.  Who knows, someday, you might have to have a BSN to get an entry level job.  I don't think that is tomorrow though.