More than ever, registered nurses with BSNs are attracting better job prospects and higher pay offers in New Hampshire than those holding an associate’s degree or diploma. In fact, some facilities that currently hire nurses in the state are even making a BSN degree the base minimum requirement.
For example, St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, New Hampshire recently made headlines by requiring all of its OR nurses to obtain a BSN degree by 2020. This new mandate specifies that all new and aspiring nurses will need a BSN to qualify for employment in the hospital. In addition, all licensed RNs and LPNs without a BSN are required to enroll in an LPN-BSN program by 2015.
This growing favoritism toward BSN-educated nurses in New Hampshire is being reflected in high enrollment levels in local nursing programs.
According to the American Associate of Colleges of Nursing, there were 1,788 students enrolled in bachelor and graduate nursing programs throughout New Hampshire in 2013. In that same year, 375 successfully completed a bachelor or graduate nursing program in the state.
BSN Nurses Receive Some of the Highest Salaries in the Field
The largest percentage of registered nurses in have at least a BSN in order to achieve high pay standards. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the following distribution of education among registered nurses between the ages of 25 and 44:
- Bachelor’s Degree: 46%
- Associate’s Degree: 1%
- Master’s Degree: 7%
- Some College/No Degree: 2%
- Doctoral or Professional Degree: 8%
RN-ADN Salaries Vs. RN-BSN Salaries in New Hampshire
Registered nurses with BSNs in New Hampshire receive substantially more clinical training during their lengthy degree programs and therefore earn salaries granted to experienced professionals.
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found that RNs with ADNs in New Hampshire earned an average annual salary of $52,800 and an average hourly wage of $25.37. On the other hand, RNs with BSN earned a much higher average annual salary of $76,700 and an average hourly wage of $36.28.
LPN-ADN Salaries Vs. LPN-BSN Salaries in New Hampshire
Like registered nurses, licensed practical and vocational nurses that obtain BSNs also receive notably higher wages than co-workers with ADNs.
In 2014, the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security reported that LPNs with ADNs working statewide received an average hourly wage of $19.23. Comparatively, LPNs that entered into the workforce with a BSN or returned to school in order to earn a BSN received an average hourly wage closer to $24.86.
Regional BSN Salaries in New Hampshire
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics devoped the data table found below to showcase salary and wage averages for RNs with BSNs employed in several metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of New Hampshire: