If you have an Associates degree in Nursing, do you have less previledges than someone with a BSN?
I will be attending school in January 2009 to work towards my ADN. I was told by one of my co-workers that you do not have the same job privileges as someone with a BSN if you only have your Associates degree in Nursing. I just wanted to know if that was true.
There are some positions in nursing for which a BSN is a requirement. Even at the entry level. Those would include positions such as public health nurse. Often the positions as listed by the US government are BSN required. If they find a good ADN candidate for the position, they will hire them in a position as a graduate nurse, which limits their income, and career potential. Many health care facilities are now making a BSN or higher a requirement for any supervisory nursing position, so the BSN becomes important for job mobility.
You will also find the often, while positions do not require a BSN, they are listed as BSN or higher preferred, so it is a discriminator when looking for those positions.
As far as the abilities of RNs once in the functional area, an ADN and a BSN working in the same job will have the same scope of practice and privileges, based on their license and any certifications and additional education they have had.
At many facilities ADNs and BSN make the same base salary for the same position. However, some facilities will pay an additional differential for the BSN, and in government positions the degree will usually result in a higher rating level.
Many ADN graduates find the need to return to school to take a BSN completion program once they are working, to achieve their career goals. Often the health care facilities will offer tuition assistance for this education. Also as the BSN is a prerequisite for the advanced practice nursing programs, it is often needed if you choose to become a nurse practitioner, or a CRNA, etc.
