when you graduate, does it really make much of a difference as to whether or not you get a bachelors or associates. i know that if you want to be a supervisor or whatever you need your bachelors but I dont. I disagree with the above. Here's why.
If you want to be a bedside nurse, go to a school that focuses on educating bedside nurses. That would be a diploma or associate program (two years). If you go to a BSN program, they still only have about 2 years to do the nursing courses, so they have less time to spend on bedside skills because they must also teach the management, community assessment, research, etc classes.
A bedside nurse with a BSN usually makes the same money as a 2 yr grad, especially at first. The BSN does give you more options for jobs that can expand your career and pay.
I'm not saying a BSN is bad--it definitely SHOULD be a goal for every nurse. But once you get your RN, you can work and most hospitals have tuition reimbursement and they pay for part of the BSN. After you have worked a while, you will understand the health care system far better than you ever could as a student. As a result, when you do take the management classes, they will make much more sense to you and you will get more out of them.
As far as it being harder to go back to school once you are working, I'd bet you'll find it isn't that difficult. Many of your new colleagues will be going to school and it will be really easy to find someone 'to take a class with.' If you take one class at a time, you can still get it done without the concentrated time it takes to go to school full time.
Also, once you work a while and set your skills, you'll be ready and wanting to learn more. Nurses are learning all the time and a BSN gives you better assessment skills as well as a better understanding of health care as a whole--all things that help you deliver better nursing care at the bedside.
For many people, "eating the elephant one bite at a time" works much better than trying to do it "whole hog". Think about what your goals are, what your finanacial resources are and what your options are. Explore local 2 year and 4 year programs. Go and talk to the faculty and the students. See which ones "feel right" for you. Then DO IT!
Good luck! You will make more money with more education, and you will have more career options, too. It is really your decision to make, as you know best what you want to do. I would suggest you get your bachelors degree. My sister is a nurse, and this is the route she took. She was counseled at the community college she attended to not settle for the associates she was pursuing. I also have a friend who earned her associates, then worked as a nurse, only to decide 4 years later that she wanted her bachelors. She did get that, and then years...many years later went back for her masters. The bachelors degree will open opportunities that the associates won't. Besides, you don't know what your future will bring. You may decide you need a higher paying job because of circumstances in your life. Get the bachelors while you can go to school. Once you get into the workforce, it is more difficult to make yourself go back to school. |
