RN Associates or BSN?

I haven't ever heard of a hospital that will pay for your RN to BSRN.

At least, not since the 1960s.

Unless you mean, via your paycheck.

Here...
Both can find work easily,
BUT the work is very different
RNs are paid a little more than half of what BSRNs are paid.
School is only 6months difference
(18mo of pre reqs, then
2 years of nursing school vs
2 years for associate transfer degree, then
2 years of nursing school)

Each also typically have a "lag year" between prereqs & acceptance
So
4.5 years
5 years

Have you checked this site out? http://allnurses.com/
It's so neat. I found it a few years ago when I was trying to figure out a few different paths towards nursing. There are a bunch of nurses/students in nursing programs who will answer questions. It's similar to this site, but for nurses and nursing students.

Do consider that a first year nurse with an associates earns much less in comparison with what a first year nurse with a BSN earns.
First year nurses are a really big hassle for employers, so it's hard to get a job no matter what. But I've heard it's much harder with an associates.

I know several BSNs and they all say the same thing - it makes no sense to do it half way. They aren't hiring them in this economy, the "real" nurses hate working with you because you don't really know what you are doing and they end up having to teach you everything, and you get stuck with the crappiest (literally) jobs. Just get the full degree, if you can.

They're right...and they have no reason to lie to you.

2 year degrees in the medical field are essentially worthless in the current economy. My mom got an associate's degree as an MA. She had a 4.0 and couldn't find work. Another friend of mine got her AS in nursing, got her RN, and couldn't find work that provided pay decent enough for her to have TIME to complete her BSN bridge program. So she ended up quitting and going to school full time to get it done. She got a great job after that.

Go get your BSN.

If this is your dream profession, get as much education as you possibly can. The two year program was great about 20 years back but now it is not. Put in the time in the beginning and then you will have more options on the back end.

My husband had two BSNs while he was seriously ill. We bonded with both. The younger one went on to get her masters so that she could open up a foundation without having to answer to someone else.

I don't know your age but nurses can work into their 70s so you may have a good 30 years in the field. Money may not seem like a lot right now but it will later when you are older.

Good luck on your career.

The other S.

You can find a nursing job, per the need in your city.
Then, although you may find nursing jobs, the levels of it, will vary, depending on your schooling/degree etc. and what your "goal" is, as a Nurse. Meaning, how high on the rung do you want to go?
A 2 year degree, is different than a 4 year degree.
Different requirements.

If a 2 year and 4 year nursing degree were the same, there would be no need for a 4 year university nursing school orBSN, anywhere.
My friend, got her BSN. And the hospital she did her internship at and worked at part-time initially, did not pay for her university BSN.

I would just go for the BSN. If you want to work in a nursing home go for RN. With a BSN you can go much further. The hospitals here only want nurses with BSNs.

In my experience, BSN's in the clinical setting make very little more than RN's. When I graduated, my friend that graduated at the same time as me with a BSN only made about $0.50 more per hour. If you are looking at more of an administrative/management position, you'll need at least a BSN, and some places/positions are now requiring MSN. If clinical nursing is what you want to do, an RN should be fine.

That being said, I know that the hospital system I work for is pushing for all nurses to get their BSN, and within the next 5 years will be limiting opportunities for advancement based on having it or not. But I do know that the same hospital system offers tuition reimbursement and even some scholarships. I've never had any problems finding a job as an RN, but if you are looking to do more than clinical nursing, be aware that further education is increasingly preferred, and may eventually be necessary.

I personally would go for the BSN from what I'm hearing and seeing. Hospitals are going towards nurses with it rather than an associates degree, plus it offers you more options and flexibility once you're working, on top of more money. Remember, your friends are already in the field so starting out may have been different for them, you haven't entered it yet.

Find out who's paying for nurses to get their BSN before you rely on doing that, my friend says the only thing she's aware of is some tuition reimbursement IF the position you're in requires certain classes. This dear friend's daughter recently made the decision to go for her BSN, no hospital here in SoCal has hired her after she obtained her associates degree, even the one her mom has been employed at for many years, they're looking for those with their 4 year degrees. Another friend at the same hospital decided to retire after the hospital repeatedly asking her to go for her BSN, she could see they weren't backing off. She'd been an Emergency nurse for 22 years and didn't feel like going back to school. The 2 year degree is becoming the new LVN.

My daughter did the 2 year associates. she is working at a nursing home. she makes $28 an hour and has great benefits. She is planning to do the Rn program actually only has 3 classes she has to take to have that. But she was not able to get a job in the hospital. So depending on your needs then you can decide. The pay is not a huge amount more for the RN but if you want to be in a hospital setting then the 4 year thing is what your looking for. If your looking to get to work right away and don't mind doing some more classes at the same time then go for the 2 year and get to work and then trade up. Most hospitals want you to have a year of skilled care experience before they will hire you anyway so you can get that out of the way at a nursing home.

I think there are plenty of jobs if you want to work in a nursing home but if you want to work in a hospital get your BSN. My best friend is a nurse and she told me the new nurses her hospital is hiring have their masters degree and that having your bachelors degree is not enough anymore.