CNA VS RN, Should You Become an RN? Understanding Where You Can Be In Ten Years….

CNA-to-RN – Where Will You Be in 10 Years? 

 

In every job industry, there are entry-level positions that allow employees to ‘get their feet wet,’ learn the ropes, and develop a desire to move up in the ranks. In the nursing world, the Certified Nursing Assistant profession is one of those common starting points. And while being a CNA comes with its own set of unique returns, going back to school and entering an RN program undeniably unlocks the door to opportunities that will only increase as healthcare demands continue to grow. In the long run, becoming an RN is one of the most financially rewarding decisions that a CNA can make.

 

“The field is a bit limited as a CNA, but there are so many directions you can pursue as a [registered] nurse,” says Angil Tarach-Ritchey RN, GCM, who started out as a nurses’ aide before there were training and certification requirements to fulfill.

 

As a CNA, deciding to become an RN is one of the most important journeys you’ll ever experience regarding your future in healthcare. But before you can enjoy the benefits (including a financial payoff that truly can make dreams come true), you’ll first have to prepare yourself to invest a great deal of time and energy, as you’ll be navigating a more concentrated, advanced curriculum.

 

Studying to become an RN also involves making a few sacrifices, and the most successful students tend to create a healthy balance between work, studies, finances, and their personal life.

 

Tarach-Ritchey stresses that attending nursing school requires serious commitment, and says, “The only [cons] I can think of is giving up most of your social time while you go to school.”

 

While the promise of making more money is quite tempting, you still just might not be ready to take the plunge yet until fully understanding why becoming an RN is well worth its weight in gold.

 

Let’s take a tour of what the next ten years can look like when making the transition from CNA to RN…

 

[Year 1] – An RN Education that Fits Your Needs.

 

“You are not able to move up from being a CNA unless you go to college, get your degree, and pass boards,” says Tarach-Ritchey. “When you are an RN, there are lots of opportunities to move up in your career.”

 

As you start your quest to become an RN, you’ll need to choose an educational approach that best accommodates your current circumstances and desired expectations for the future.

 

“I would recommend a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) as this is becoming the standard entry level that many hospitals are requiring,” says Marie Fagan, RN, BSN, PHN, MN. “However, there are so many educational paths for someone to take that you could go to a community college to obtain your associates degree, then work with your associates and attend a BSN program.”

 

As prospective nursing students figure out the best way to balance school with their other responsibilities, such as work and family, the CNA-to-RN transition is different for everyone.

 

“For me, it took approximately 3 years part time while I worked in the banking industry, and then 2 years (4 semesters) at the local community college,” says Fagan, who is now the Director of the Annenberg School of Nursing.

 

 

NURSING CREDENTIALS	AVERAGE TIME COMPLETED	INSTITUTION
Nursing diploma	2-3 years	Teaching hospital program
ADN degree (Associate Degree in Nursing)	18 months-3 years	Community college, technical college, or vocational school
BSN degree (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)	3-4 years	College or university

 

When choosing an RN program, you may want to take into account the difference in pay for ADN nurses versus BSN nurses. Pursuing the three-to-four-year BSN program as opposed to an ADN program typically nets a greater salary potential because employers tend to choose baccalaureate-prepared RNs for job positions with a higher level of responsibility (and income). Surveys conducted by various sources, such as RN magazine and HRSA’s National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, reveal at least a more than 10 percent difference in salaries. According to Drexel University, the salary for a BSN nurse will generally outpace the salary of an ADN nurse by $6,000 per year.

 

While obtaining your RN education, you will most likely work as a CNA at the same time and depending on your previous years of experience, location, and specializations – you will earn a median salary of $24,420 for every year of school that you attend.

 

“When you start school, commit fully and don’t give yourself an excuse to fail or quit, because there are days you may want to,” says Tarach-Ritchey. “School really does fly by, so the tough times are temporary – you will have many more good times than bad.”

 

In your first year of an RN program, don’t be afraid to take time to evaluate your decision. Cynthia Hill-Meriwether BSN, LMT, suggests you make sure nursing is the career option that you really desire, and that you’re not solely motivated by just making more money.

 

“Nursing is a career where there is high burn out,” Hill-Meriweather warns. “If you aren’t sure this is really what you want to do for the rest of your life, don’t.”

 

“Spending all the time, effort and money just to quit a few years after graduating just isn’t worth it,” she continues. “However, once you do, there are many options out there to use your RN [degree], and not just [at] hospitals and convalescent centers.”

 

[Year 2] – Offset Education Costs with Financial Aid

 

“Check out financial resources and be cautious of programs that try to sell you their program because of financial aid to fund your schooling,” Hill-Meriwether suggests. “Unless you are able to get scholarships or grants, you have to pay this money back and it can cause horrendous debt if you’re not prepared, and trying to use the money to both live and go to school.”

 

While enrolled in an RN program, you can still continue to explore financial aid options that will minimize the amount of debt owed after graduation.

 

“Student loans do have very low interest rates comparably, but you still have to pay it all
back with interest,” Hill-Meriweather adds.

It’s also never too early to research and consider alternative repayment possibilities for after graduation, such as the NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program, which provides substantial loan assistance to RNs in exchange for service in critical shortage facilities. The scholarships and educational loan repayment grants of the Health Professions Education Foundation also assist nursing students and graduates committed to practicing in rural and urban underserved regions.

 

[Year 3-Year 4] – You’re Ready for the Higher Paying Jobs, Now.

 

By the time you graduate from an RN diploma or degree program, an approximate three to four years will have passed by. If you worked as a CNA while earning your RN credentials, you’ve already made an estimated $73,260 to $97,680 during those years.

 

A downside that comes with finishing your nursing program is that according to the American Society of Registered Nurses (ASRN), roughly two-thirds of nursing students graduate with loan debt, and with the exception of receiving scholarships, financial aid, and grants, most nursing students will have accumulated an estimated average of $30,000 of education debt – up from the reported $23,200 in 2008, which increased from $18,650 in 2004.

 

The upside to completing your RN program is that you can now earn more money to pay back your loans and enjoy better financial security by qualifying for higher paying jobs.

 

As an RN, you now have the potential to earn a median salary of $65,470 a year (and up to more than $94,720 a year) as opposed to the $24,420 median salary paid to a CNA. Your yearly salary will also depend on your location and place of employment.

 

[Year 4-Year 6] – Get Extra Money with Signing Bonuses.

 

The CNA that chooses to become an RN may take advantage of incentives offered to recent graduates of a nursing program or to RNs who have one to two years of experience under his or her belt. In an effort to attract registered nurses when the demand for their services is high, healthcare facilities (especially hospitals) tend to offer RNs an attractive signing bonus. And, in some cases, the prospects are too good to be true. For instance, nearly five years ago, McAllen Medical Center in Texas offered a $50,000 sign-on bonus to RNs in exchange for a four-year commitment.

 

Signing bonuses are generally offered to RNs who can:

 

• Relocate to a Region in Need  – When Stanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota was hit with a nursing shortage, they paid a $15,000 signing bonus to new nursing recruits with at least two years of experience that agreed to work in the area for at least three years.

 

• Fill Positions Requiring a Specialty – At one point, RNs with at least one year of experience specializing in emergency-room and neonatal care received $15,000 signing bonuses from two of the largest hospital chains in Central Florida.

 

• Satisfy a Need to Boost Numbers – The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps offers a new $25,000 accession bonus for nurses who sign a 4-year active-duty agreement.

 

Another benefit to accepting a position with a signing bonus is getting a jumpstart on your accumulated education debt; therefore, a $10,000 or $15,000 signing bonus can easily erase a nice chunk of your debt.

 

 

[Year 7] – Yet Another Way to Increase Your Earning Potential.

 

As an RN, you can take your skills and experience anywhere there is a hospital or doctor’s office, and the chances to increase your earning potential is constant.

 

For example, after entering the RN workforce, nurses can enhance their earning potential and qualify for more higher-paying jobs by pursuing certifications or specializations within the nursing field. For example, some of the highest-paying nurse specialties, such as Neonatal Nurses, Orthopedic Nurses, and Pediatric Endocrinology Nurses, stand to make between $75,000 and $81,000.

 

[Year 7-Year 8] – Get Your Dream Car. Purchase Your Dream Home.

 

“I would strongly advise all certified nurse aides who have the aptitude and passion for the field of health care to pursue an education as a registered nurse (RN),” says Evelyn H. Shinn, EdD, MS, MA, BSN, who is the Undergraduate Program Chair of the Denver School of Nursing. “The main reason is the intrinsic rewards that being a RN offers, including the ability to impact the health and well being of individuals and families of those who are sick or injured.”

 

Shinn adds, “A nursing career also has other benefits such as job stability, opportunity for advancement, variety of employment opportunities, and an income to support an independent and moderate lifestyle.”

There’s no doubt that becoming an RN can involve a few serious lifestyle changes – you can afford a fancier car, you can take a family vacation in Paris, and you’re certainly many steps closer to buying your own home.

 

One of the most important variables that banks take into consideration when people are looking for help to fund a large purchase, such as a dream home, is their source of income before tax deductions. As a CNA-turned RN, your higher income will help improve your loan acceptance rate. With each passing year, the ability to pay off car notes, the mortgage, student loans, and other bank loans greatly increases as you continue to make good money as an RN.

 

[Year 8] – Start Saving. Empower Your Family.

 

A couple of years after becoming an RN, the higher salary earned means that you can also strengthen your safety net, augment your retirement fund, or save for your child’s college education.

 

In addition to making a bigger impact in the lives of patients, Brittney Wilson, RN, BSN, says, “You will have a much better ability to provide for your family…”

 

As a former teacher of a diploma RN program, Hill-Meriwether says she often recommends that CNAs go back to school if they are willing to put in the time and effort, and have a good support system in place.

 

“Many of those I recommended [to] go back were single moms,” she says. “Single moms just can’t really make it [in] today’s world on a CNA’s salary, especially if they are not in a hospital where they can promote up to nursing tech.”

 

[Year 8-Year 9] – Avoid Early Retirement and Career Burnout.

 

“If a person has dreams of having a longer career and wants to pursue management or administrative professional positions later in their lifetime, it is worth the money to further their education to become a Registered Nurse,” saysKelli M Hansen RN, BSN, CMCN, LNC, CSA.

 

Hansen also points out that you can continue to make a high salary for a longer period of time without succumbing to the physical burnout many CNAs tend to experience.

 

“As you age, the physical work that is required as a CNA can become more difficult; but as a Registered Nurse, the types of work settings can be changed to accommodate your physical abilities,” she says.

 

[Year 9] – Additional Monetary Perks that Come With Time.

 

“In addition to salary, there are many other perks that RNs will often get over CNAs, like life insurance for example,” says Hill-Meriwether.

 

As the CNA-turned RN continues to gain more experience, he or she will accumulate a greater number of monetary perks. RNs may earn small bonuses for referring new recruits that can range from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000. Some hospitals incorporate annual bonuses into their benefits packages for RNs as a way to reward those who exhibit a high level of commitment to his or her job. Overtime and on-call opportunities often see RNs earning time-and-a-half for the extra hours of work.

 

It is also not uncommon for travel nurses to receive free basic life insurance, as well as accidental death and dismemberment insurance coverage.

 

[Year 9- Year 10] – Explore More Lucrative, Unique Job Opportunities, Or Just Travel the World.

 

“RNs have more job options, including non-traditional nursing jobs,” says Wilson.

 

RNs with seniority and experience often encounter the chance to explore a greater range of lucrative job opportunities – some of which include the chance to explore America and see the rest of the world. For example, you can become a travel nurse, and take short-term and/or long-term assignments in some of the neediest regions in the nation and abroad.

 

Travel nurse companies often recruit and handsomely reward RNs who accept job placement away from home. Depending on the company, a travel nurse may enjoy:

 

• No housing expenses
• Signing, completion, and referral bonuses
• Guaranteed pay
• Tax-free travel reimbursement
• Discount programs and special rates on luggage, cell phones, roadside assistance, etc.
• Free continuing education opportunities

 

Becoming a travel nurse is one of the most uniquely well-paid job opportunities for an RN to pursue where some professionals earn an annual salary as high as $110,000.

 

[Year 10] – You’re One Step Closer to Making Even More Money…

 

CNAs who become RNs with an ADN or BSN are one step closer to making even more money when choosing to pursue advanced studies, such as entering a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. An MSN degree qualifies a nurse for a career in education, business management, policy-making, nurse midwifery, or nurse anesthesia – an occupation that typically pays a median salary of $148,160.

 

“Having lesser degrees might get you started, but ultimately, you may find that you are going to want to go back and pursue furthering your education,” says Hansen, who is currently in a Master of Science in HealthCare Operations Management program.

 

“I have been a registered nurse since 1997,” adds Hansen, who started out as a CNA before graduating with a BSN from Kent State University. “…and have continued to move up the career ladder.”

 

Overall Salary Data and Job Growth Potential for RNs

 

So, how much will a CNA who decides to pursue an education to become an RN make in ten years?

 

Salaries for any healthcare professional will vary according to contributing factors, such as state-related statistics, including median salaries and the number of available jobs. For example, higher salaries are generally paid to nurses who live in states where the cost of living is greater, such as New York City.

 

“There are huge benefits for CNAs to invest their time and money into education to be an RN,” says Wilson. “First and foremost, their salary potential will triple, if not quadruple.”

 

As of May 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) identifies the median salary for CNAs as $24,420 with the highest-paying state in the nation being Alaska.

 

RNs working in the United States typically earn a median salary of $65,470. According to the BLS, RNs employed in Oregon ($78,530), Alaska ($80,970), Massachusetts ($83,370), Hawaii ($84,750), and California ($94,120)  earn the highest median salaries in the U.S.

 

Based on a $24,420 median salary for CNAs and a $65,470 median salary for RNs:

 

• In ten years, a CNA will have earned an average of $244,200.

 

• Over the course of ten years, a CNA that returns to school to become an RN has the potential to earn around $490,400 [which includes 3-4 years of working as a CNA during school + 6-7 years earning the median salary of an RN]. Depending on the overall cost of education and type of RN program, the average amount of education debt per nursing school graduate is $30,000.

 

• Over the course of ten years, an RN with an associate degree earns an estimated $590,470, while an RN with a BSN typically earns more than $650,470, if the salary of the BSN nurse continues to outpace the salary of an RN with an associate degree by an estimated $6,000 per year.

 

In conclusion, CNAs pursuing an RN education face the pros and cons of an investment that not only increases career prospects, benefits families, and provides stable financial security, but also offers endless opportunities to grow and change alongside an ever-shifting healthcare system. In ten years, you’ll look back and agree that it’s probably one of the best moves you’ve ever made in your life.

 

Adds Hansen, “You won’t regret the time, money, and effort it takes to become an RN once you have a great career, and many options in the job world.”