Kristen Said:

what is the diffrence of the registered nurse with a bachelors degree than a associates degree?

We Answered:

Both have completed a course which enables them to sit the NCLEX-RN board to be a registered nurse if they meet the qualifications of their state.

The differences come in the additional classes provided to those in a BSN program. In addition to the supporting coursework required to obtain a bachelor degree from the college or university, the BSN programs have course work in Nursing Leadaership and Public and Community Health Nursing as well as Nursing Theory.

Contrary to contentions by some other contributors (who are of course welcome to their opinion) it would naturally be impossible to provide more experience in nursing in a 2 year program than in a 4 year program, thus the ignorance in that statement. Actually both produce an equally novice nurse, who will need additional skills to perform, but is generallly oriented and educated by their first position.

BSNs can work in public and community health positions, which are not available to ADNs without additional education.

Most hospitals and hospital systems in the country are now putting BSN required or BSN preferred on all supervisory and management positons (some even require a masters degree). There are many non-hospital nursing positions, such as research coordinators, etc, that are posted as BSN required. The US military requires all nurses on active duty have a BSN or higher degree.

Simply put the BSN provides more options.

As far as salary, for the initial job, most hospitals pay a small differential for nurses with the BSN. This is normally only $1 - $1.50 an hour. But the potential for additional positions and advancement is where the BSN could pay off.

Also, as all adavnce practice nurses require a masters degree (MSN), in general the prerequisite is a BSN or they require an RN to MSN bridge, where the BSN courses are picked up in route to the MSN.

In general, ADNs are excellent and competent nurses, but if your goal exceeds unit level nursing, the BSN has an advantage.

Oscar Said:

What opportunities do you have for a bachelors degree in nursing as a registered nurse?

We Answered:

The BSN will open up management / administrative / educational / case management / public health positions and other opportunities.

In most places you can not be a Public Health nurse without a BSN. Public Health nurses can operate in a variety of ways, working for your local county or state or agency, assessing at-risk populations and visiting them in their homes, offering assistance and referrals for services in your area.

Management could be in a hospital,nursing home, clinic, overseeing all the RNs and support staff (CNAs, unit coordinators, etc.) for a particular unit, doing the hiring, arranging training, discipline, budget, working with the higher administration of the hospital or clinic or nursing home. You will usually need several years of work experience as an RN doing patient care, then a few more years in a supervisory position like "charge RN" before getting into management. It's not entirely impossible to work your way into management with only an ADN degree, but it is definitely harder. Some rural areas or other areas with nursing shortages might be more accepting of ADN RNs with a lot of experience, but in most major metropolitan areas, in order to be competative you must hold a BSN, sometimes even an MSN.

You could focus on education, and work as an educator on a hospital unit, training new orientees and managing their annual mandatory education and CEUs. You could be a clinical instructor for nursing students in an ADN program.

Case management is working with a population of patients and sort of overseeing and managing their care and coordinating various services they might need, such as social work, physical therapy, out-patient resources, etc. They are also called "care coordinators" in some settings.

The BSN might not be very "necessary" in your early career as you start out doing patient care, but if you want to move beyond patient care, the BSN is wise. You can do the ADN first and complete an RN to BSN program later, you might even have an employer pay for it, since many offer tuition assistance as part of their benefits package.

Elsie Said:

would you get paid more if you had a registered nurse degree and were a xray tech?

We Answered:

Probably not; as the extra certificates/licenses, UNLESS required for the job, would be irrelevant. If they are hiring an RN, they do not care if you have an Xray license as you will not be working as an xray tech. IN other jobs that require you to have several certificates/licenses (such as a MA with a limited xray); you wouldn't be hired with out those certificates; so the salary is what it is.

The only way to make more $ with multiple certif/license is to get 2 or 3 separate jobs (but in each job you would be only doing that job not a mish mash of all 3).

Adrian Said:

Can you become a doctor from a degree of a Registered Nurse..?

We Answered:

Yes, you do need a bachelor's in something. I don't know if you have a BSN or not. If you are an RN as an associate's or diploma, it would be pretty easy to get a BSN transition program from a RN. You can get to medical school, but it is very competitive. However, in saying this, I am not trying to discourage you. I want you to continue to research how to get into medical school. Over 50% of all qualified applicants get rejected. Most applicants have a gpa of over a 3.5 (at least...in fact average is more like 3.7). Getting into medical school is the hardest challenge. You also have to declare being a "premed" which is important because you will more than likely have premed advisers at your college who can help you. Premed advisers are gold to you. Once you declare being a premed, you must take necessary courses such as physics, chemistry, calculus, organic chemistry, biology. (most of which your RN knowledge will come in handy since you, I am assuming, have completed some of these courses). Most premeds declare they are premed while completing their bachelor's degree, but some have declared premed after getting a B.S. and yes even a B.A. There are a lot of biology/biochemistry/related sciences who are accepted. In fact, 50% of biochemistry majors get in. About 23% of nursing majors get in which sounds small, but it is in fact pretty high. I hope I have been helpful, and I encourage you to pursue medical school.

Elsie Said:

Do you need a registered nurse degree to be a neonatal nurse?

We Answered:

You have to be at least an LVN or in some states LPN. There you can attend to neonatal patients, but you will always be "under" an RN and the doctor. If you become an RN you will have more duties and more responsibility, along with more pay of course. There are many ways to become an RN with a 2 year associates being the most common. From there when you get hired at a hospital you can try to get onto the neonatal floor, but most RNs will have to be in the ER before they will be considered for neonatal wing.

Kevin Said:

How much more would a registered nurse with a 4 year degree make, than a registered nurse with a 2 yr degree?

We Answered:

honestly they make about the same it would just be easier getting the job having a 4 yr degree in it than a 2 yr degree