Associate Degree Nursing Program Texas?
My wife is in a quandry. She is currently enrolled in an Associate
degree program and has finished all her pre-nursing courses. She is
wondering whether the addtional work a of BS in nursing is worth
transferring to a four year program. Since both graduates qualify for
the licensure exam and hence become RN's, the question is does it
matter what your degree was?. Are pay scales different( btw, what
are the average starting pays)?. Are promotion opportunities limited
with an associate degree?. In short, what she really would like to
know is that after a considerably more time and effort, will she be
better off professionally with a BSN degree.?
I recently graduated from a BSN completion program, I was a diploma of
nursing grad. First, have your wife check to see if her pre-nursing
courses will transfer into a BSN program. In my state, technical college
credits and university credits, haven't always been seen as equivilent.
Also check how long a BSN completion program would take to complete. An
option would be to get her ADN and immediately transfer to BSN completion.
In my hospital, pay scales are not different. However, in the currently
changing healthcare environment, a BSN is going to be more useful in the
Home Health Care arena. Currently, my experience is that ADN grads are
being hired in nursing homes, and a few in hospitals. BSN grads will be
more marketable.
see a big difference as she continues her career. Eventually, she will probably obtain
the BSN. Many states are considering making the BSN level the one of choice for entry.
In Texas the Student Nurse's Association decided the same and are currently pushing
this decidion toward the ANA. Your financial situation will be the key to your answer.
A BSN will not be just 2 more years to obtain! As far as promotions and pay scales it
depends upon the institution that she works, she will obviously be more competitive with
a BSN or MSN or PhD. Average starting pay depends on where you live geographically and
what her interests are. Institutions that have a teaching emphasis such as Scott and
White hospital may pay less but will provide education (to earn a BSN) over the Veterans
Hospitals which tends to pay more starting. To conclude, if you have the time and money
and your wife has the will to earn a BSN degree I would say GO FOR IT!!! but make the
first step and have her talk to BSN school advisors, they will help her making that
decision
I began an ADN program and was into it for a year before I kicked myself
for not doing the BSN program.
It does make a difference in the rate of her advancement and how far she
can go.
Nursing is making great strides in defining itself. Health care is in a
great state of change and advanced prepared nurses are going to be
positioned to take the greatest advantage of opportunities