Cons for Getting A B.S.N.
Chelsea Heston & Julio Rivera
Kean University
Abstract
The main focus of this paper is to bring out the other side of a very popular topic for nurses, “Is getting my bachelors worth it?” There are many things in life that can be affected by an extra two years of school. Not only must one pay another $30,000 plus out of their pocket but this is also taking time away from their personal life and time they could be working. For the pay rate only averaging a dollar more an hour, with a bachelor’s degree it makes you wonder if it’s really worth it. There have been many nurses who have dramatically impacted the way health care is today simply by proving themselves without a bachelor’s degree.
Cons for Getting A B.S.N.
Over the years nursing has had a great impact on the way nurses care. In 1966, nurses earned around $5,200 a year. Now nurses make about or up to $72,000 dollars a year. The demand for nurses has dramatically increased over the past fifty years. The role of a nurse has expanded to a wide range of specialties. Another change we see today is the increase role of a male nurse. The increase of technology has made a huge impact on how nurses work more efficiently.
The average cost of a four year bachelors nursing program cost $35,000. That could be the same cost as a Mercedes Benz c250, BMW 128i, or the Audi A3. Research shows that nurses with a bachelor’s degree only earn one dollar more an hour. Is that really worth all the time and money? Bachelor’s program takes an extra two years which means two more years of tuition payments and student loan debt. After receiving a nursing degree everything is fresh in mind. This allows the nurse to jump into the work force faster instead of spending two more years in school. With the knowledge the nurse already learned, they get hands on experience right away. The cost of a two year program is from the range of $40,000-$60,000. This cost does not include the expenses of books, uniform, affiliation fees, and more. After having spent all this money it’s a financial challenge for many to get their bachelors.
To those who are going back to school after many years of being a nurse it can affect one’s lifestyle. For example, they would have less time working, less quality time with loved ones, would give more time in class and completing work. Many nurses have families that they need to schedule their lives around. This makes it hard for nurses when setting their priorities. The nursing program could also affect religious cultures and morals. For example, the Jewish community practices Sabbath from Friday sun down to Saturday sun down. During this period they cannot drive nor do any work because it is their time of rest and worship. This gives them less time to focus on school and homework.
What is really the difference of what one is learning in a BSN program? The classes in a BSN program surround the ideas of bioethical issues and moral problems. Are these concepts necessary in making a better nurse? Is the information we are learning worth $35,000? The nurses today without a bachelor’s degree have been successful in creating a healthy medical field. One can learn these theories by researching on their own time without having to spend a lot of money.
In the past many theorists have proven their theories without having a degree. For example one of the greatest nurses of all time, Florence Nightingale, went to school but she did not have a degree. Florence Nightingale impacted the medical field in many ways. She nursed wounded men in the Crimean war and was given the nickname, “the lady with the lamp” because she worked at night. Florence Nightingale also took professional nursing to the next level by establishing a modern nursing school. She had a huge impact on the world and the nursing field without going through all the time and money spent on a BSN. Instead of spending much of her time
