Would I be more likely to have a job if I were a BSN?

U.S.A. Minnesota

Published

Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

So here I am, 8 or so months from when I graduated with my ADN. I realize that I am also 39 weeks pregnant and so time wasn't really on my side to begin with and neither was the economy. But I have been accepted into Bethel's CAPS program to get my BSN. This is a MAJOR financial commitment. We took a hit when I started my ADN program, and were not expecting that the economy would stink the way it does now.

I've been doing some research, and it seems like all the arrows are pointing to "get your BSN and you're more likely to get in the door". In fact that is what Health East is requiring in order to get into their new grad RN thingydoo (and probably requiring their potential RN's don't use words like "Thingydoo"!) I recall Childrens had the same requirement, and I understand that the VA Hospitals have been BSN only since 2005 (I read it somewhere...I could be wrong). So, I mean...I know trends come and go- when I was almost done with my LPN I was hearing that they were nixing LPN's for Medical Assistants... and now I'm hearing that not only are they NOT nixing LPN's they're making it harder to pass NCLEX PN, and making the degree an associate degree. I've heard the same thing about Health East pertaining to Allina and North Memorial as well as HCMC- BSN required (or proof of acceptance into said program by the time you start the new grad program).

Now granted, in the long run I would HAVE to go back for my BSN- I want to be a nursing instructor some day. I'll need my Master's for that. The thing is, as I said, this is a big risk. I'd start the program in Feb 2011, about 4 weeks after I have the baby. We've been unemployed (hubby and I) for a LONG TIME. We're on EBT and Medical Assistance, if that tells you how bad off we are. I've thought "well, if I can't find an RN job, my LPN doesn't expire until 2012- but who will hire an LPN who is an RN? Wouldn't they assume "well, she's going to be held to a higher standard, so she needs more pay-?" :down: or "when an RN job comes along she's going to ditch us?"-:down:

I know right now the economy stinks. I know there really isn't a nursing shortage, or if there is, the people making hiring declensions are in denial about it. SO, I would like to know, from an outside or other person's viewpoint, is this (rather risky) investment in my education going to give me some sort of leg up? Are the articles I'm reading true? To be fair, near the end of the ADN program I was in (Century, which was a wonderful program, I say) they were already telling us to prepare to go back. I had my preceptorship at St. Paul Children's, and all of the RN's there were BSN's, and those who weren't were in school to get that degree. Is this inevitable? :confused:

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short answer yes. i interviewed at two places and both prefered bsn's for two reasons. first is to have and retain magnet status you need to have a certain percentage of bsn's. the second goes along with the first because both managers i interviewed with said that they don't like to hire adn's because even if they say they are going to get their bsn they often dont because life gets in the way.

so i would get your bsn and not wait if at all possible.

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Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

Thanks for giving me some insight. It looks like I'm all set to start at Bethel. I'm actually pretty excited, to be honest- after having baby (January 12th!) I feel really stoked to get looking again (maybe being in the hospital and having all these nurses ask where I work and giving me the pity look when I say I haven't gotten a job yet:no:)

Is it kosher to ask where you interviewed at?

Peace,

Max's Momma.

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i interviewed at fairview ridges in burnsville and st. mary's in rochester. got both jobs (have a bsn) decided on st. mary's because it is an icu. even though i get the vibe that rochester is going to be a boring place st. mary's seems like it is going to be an awesome place to work. :yeah:

good luck to you. oh and dont feel bad i had my son in august after i interviewed at st.mary's but before i found out if they hired me. the cna that was working had graduated in May also but had not found a job yet either, not even at her own hospital, hcmc.

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I think it's a shame that some of these facilities feel that having my RN licensure is not good enough because I am a graduate of an Associate's Degree program. This is how I feel about it: I took and passed my boards on one try, the same board exam that a BSN is going to take. Anyone who takes this exam and passes has proven that they are an entry level nurse and can provide safe patient care. I have unfortunately met both ADN and BSN grads alike that I would not trust my teddy bear's life to. I am not trying to knock getting a BSN, because I think further education is a great thing and will help better yourself. I do, however, feel that if this is what is going to be required, ADN programs should just up and disappear then. Good luck to you! Enjoy going back to school!

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Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

I also think it's pretty much outright discrimination. But I'm giving in for the many reasons I said. However, trying my best to see it from the other side- it's true that it seems like nursing IS one of the few professions that doesn't require a higher degree when I started college 13 years ago I THINK one could have an associate degree and be a physical therapist or occupational therapist, had to have a B.S. for sure, now these are master's level professions.

Also they're taking away a lot of an RN's responsibilities and giving them to people with less training. Trained medication aides can pass meds, even narcotics if I'm not mistaken, nursing assistants (and God bless them really, my PCA's after I had my baby were all just awesome) can pull IV's and Foley's and one of my nursing instructors at Century was saying that there was talk of training CNA's to insert foleys and start IV's.

LPN's are getting a lot taken away from them too, many places have lab techs giving immunizations and doing throat cultures. Some clinics don't even hire LPN's- they prefer CMA's because they are cross trained and can be paid less than an LPN. Many places have made the LPN an associate degree. When I graduated from LPN school I was in the last diploma class. Everything in the medical field has become so darned specific and specialized and I bet there's a method to the madness, and I'm sure all these people are needed on many levels I certainly can't understand. So I don't know if it's the nursing community's way of reclaiming something they're losing or what, but I guess I'm going to follow suit. Hope like crazy the promise of having BSN in hand by 2012 will satisfy!:cool:

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MaxsMomma, can you PM me?

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