3 Reasons Getting an Associates Degree In Nursing Is Worth It

Anyone who is considering becoming a nurse and going to nursing school is going to wonder if it’s worth it to get an associates degree in nursing or if they need to get a BSN.

There are lots of different articles online, and if you ask two nurses, you’re going to get two different opinions.

This brief article won’t go into the benefits of one degree over another from an academic lens. The discussion of the advantages to an associates degree in nursing will be strictly from a recruiting and employment vantage point.

Working as a Nurse is one of the best ways to make money. This is why nursing attracts so many people who are looking for immediate work and high pay. The work is not dependent on performance or results; you simply show up to work and are paid your hours.

Nursing is an extremely popular career path for everyone who wants a flexible schedule, fast money, and vibrant job market where employers are always hiring. A nurse who has an associates degree can even sign up for and get high paying travel contracts to places like Texas.

And all of the benefits a BSN has are there for Associates in Nursing as well. Here are 3 reasons getting an associates degree in nursing is worth it.

An Associate’s Degree is Cheaper and Faster Than a BSN

In order to get a job as a nurse it is necessary to have a nursing degree. It’s illegal to work as a nurse in a hospital, clinic, or nursing home unless you have a degree and license. All nurses need to have a degree.

There are two types of nursing degrees that a person can get.

• An Associates Degree in Nursing
• A Bachelors of Nursing

Of the two, an associate degree in nursing is the cheaper and quicker way to become a nurse. It’s at most a two year course, with some nurses able to run through it much faster.

It’s also much cheaper. While a BSN is a four year program, an associates degree is shorter and therefore it costs less in tuition.

Many people who are looking to go into nursing school come from disadvantaged backgrounds and are not able to pay for expensive schooling.

Nursing is a great pathway out of poverty and the lower economic strata. Many nurses are working in retail jobs before attending nursing school, so the fact that an associates degree is less expensive a BSN is important.

For instance, a typical nursing student might work at McDonalds or a retail chain store. They simply do not have the funds to pay for a BSN.

While many nursing programs offer case managers who can help students sign up for grants and government funded student loans, the fact remains that a nursing degree is expensive.

An associates nursing degree is going to be less expensive than others, which makes it very attractive to nursing students on a budget.

It’s important to know that you can always come back later and advance your initial associates degree to a BSN at a later date.

The first associates degree is cheaper, and can get you immediate work as a nurse and start your career off.

You Can Work Anywhere a BSN Can Work with an Associates Degree in Nursing

Just because an associates degree in nursing is shorter than a BSN, it doesn’t mean that you can’t find the same sort of work that a nurse with a BSN can do.

While a BSN is a more advanced degree, the truth is that most places that hire nurses don’t care.

You can find work in clinics, hospitals, schools and non-profits with an Associates degree. A nurse with an associates degree can even find work as a nursing case manager.

When you are searching for jobs online, the main item that is required by the hospital is a nursing license.

Nurses who have a BA or an Associates degree have the same license. There is absolutely no difference between the two types of nursing license.

There are some nursing jobs where they prefer people to have a Bachelors in Nursing. This is because there is an understanding in the medical field that people who have a BSN are more professional and more dedicated to the project.

So, in some instances you’ll see that a hospital is seeking a BSN for their union role. This is not that common, however it can sometimes be an advantage when applying for a hospital role.

The fact remains, though, that as long as you have a proper nursing license and are a registered nurse, you can legally work in any nursing environment. This includes hospitals, medical clinics, out patient care centers, nursing homes, and schools.

In addition to these locations, an associates degree in nursing will enable you to work for the government. The many nursing roles that are available to people in government run facilities are great because they pay high salaries and provide federal or city /state funded pensions.

A nurse who works for the government can easily make 100k a year with 4 weeks paid vacation and retire at 40 or 50 with a full pension for life.

You Can Get Your Associates in Nursing Online and at Night:

One of the biggest advantages to getting an associates in nursing is that you can get the degree at night. This makes it the perfect option for people who have to work their way through nursing school.

Nursing school and nursing students are different than students who attend college or university. The average nursing student is working, often full time, or else has family commitments such as children.

For this reason, having the flexibility of going to nursing school at night make obtaining your associates degree much easier.

An associates degree is worth it for working people who want to become a nurse. They can continue to work during the day and attend classes either online or at night.

The acceptance requirements for nurses who are taking associates degree programs are also not as stringent. This makes the associates degree a good option for students who may not have done well academically in high school.

Nursing students who go to school for an associates degree can often avoid any of the problems that full time students have. The associates degree in nursing is less strenuous for those people who have to worry about childcare, part time jobs, retail jobs with tough hours, and poor academic performance in high school. It’s a more forgiving and open program.