ADN's being pushed out

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

I work for a large Magnet hospital. As nursing becomes more popular, and nurses not in short supply, I have noticed something ominous has being going on lately. Several of our older and very seasoned ADN nurses are being fired. The excuses for firing are ridiculous. I have sadly seen some excellent nurses lose their jobs. I am wondering if they want to get rid of the ADNs so they can look "better" with an all BSN staff. Or perhaps they want rid of older nurses who have been there longer because they are higher on the pay scale. Either way, it is very scarey. I myself am BSN, and i am not ashamed to say that what I know does not hold a candle to these fired nurses. Any thoughts?

Why don't I want it? Because I don't really need it. An ASN isn't every nurse's one and only degree. And yes it is a pain. Anyone who has taken statistics would probably say it's a pain, unless they're mathematically inclined!

But if that's the "standard" then why not? I guess if a hospital job isn't for you then I can see that, but unfortunately things change as time goes on. It may not be the case of all areas of nursing but since most are now requiring a BSN, I'm going to go ahead and do it - especially if the hospital is going to help you in the process $ wise.

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You may call it the new normal; I call it idiocy. Take a look at some more new normals:

- Help the 15% uninsured by taking the 85% who are insured and happy with their plans, make them uninsured, then re-insure them with higher premiums, deductibles and out of pocket maximums.

-Telling kids not to fight back if being picked on. Wait until the bully is done beating the crap out of you, then report it to a teacher, if you're able to.

-Funding Obamacare by taking well over $200 billion from medicare and the growing numbers of seniors who will need it.

What a bunch of robots you all are. But if nurses want to spend thousands of dollars to write papers in APA format on garbage such as; The Sociology of Nursing, Theoretical Foundations for Nursing and Multicultural Aspects of Nursing, that's their prerogative. I'll spend my money buying into a business before I spend it on crap like that. The teachers and people who run these programs know it's crap, the so-called nursing leaders know it's crap and their literally laughing behind your backs for buying into it.

Anyone who doesn't believe the BSN push like the Magnet Status push is purely money-driven is an idiot. The evidence in evidence-based and the peers in peer-reviewed are that which supported the pre-determined conclusions of the 2003 study and its redundant spinoffs right from the beginning.

No one gives a crap about your degree. All they care about is if you can do the job. If you're good at what you do, people will seek you out.

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Sorry you feel that way. *shrug*

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I think many *would have* initially opted to pursue a BSN if we had not already earned a bachelors (or even higher) in another field. I know there are the often quoted studies which show improved pt outcomes with BSN prepared nurses. I have conflicting feelings about this study and wonder if a study comparing outcomes of BSN prepared nurses vs diploma/ADN prepared nurses who already hold a bachelors or higher in another field would have comparable results. I know my first degree was a great precursor to nursing.

I took anatomy, physiology, sociology, MANY psychology courses, statistics, and medical terminology, as well as a level 490 course on Research & Evaluation, a gerontology class, and leadership classes. I realize most degrees do not require these courses, but I don't want to spend a large sum of money on an RN - BSN program unless it will improve my NURSING practice.

Oh, and because everyone seems to assume that every ADN prepared nurse attended a community college, I'll also mention that I earned my ADN at a state university. The program became a BSN program after I graduated and continues to enjoy a good reputation in the area.

I think learning should be a lifelong endeavor and I am so glad I have a bachelors degree but think concentrating on pursuing certifications and specialized training can be more beneficial for many RNs than going through an RN - BSN program that may not teach them much new knowledge that is truly applicable to their nursing practice.

Phew...that was a lot to type on my phone. I hope my thoughts are clear and legible, lol.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Ugh....I swear I tried to use paragraphs when I typed the above. Sorry for the huge block of text. Maybe someone from admin can fix it? :confused:

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Thank you, Esme! :)

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
But if that's the "standard" then why not? I guess if a hospital job isn't for you then I can see that, but unfortunately things change as time goes on. It may not be the case of all areas of nursing but since most are now requiring a BSN, I'm going to go ahead and do it - especially if the hospital is going to help you in the process $ wise.

I disagree that it's the "standard," but I wasn't telling you that you shouldn't do it. Just answering why I don't want it. I don't feel I need it for any of the reasons that you stated, since I already have a bachelor's degree and beyond. But I will probably end up getting it anyway, so the pencil pushers can check off that box on their little list that they keep.

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I disagree that it's the "standard," but I wasn't telling you that you shouldn't do it. Just answering why I don't want it. I don't feel I need it for any of the reasons that you stated, since I already have a bachelor's degree and beyond. But I will probably end up getting it anyway, so the pencil pushers can check off that box on their little list that they keep.

I agree with you that it sucks. But I think someone stated before that the hospital system is a business like others and we are at their will at the end of the day.

If I did HAVE to would I get a BSN? Prob not... I do have a life, family, Etc I could really put that time and money toward - BUT for job security and more choice at where to work and the way i look on paper - yes I'm going to

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Specializes in Emergency.

My diploma program became a bsn program 2 years after I finished.

I'm almost done with a rn-bsn program. What have I personally learned beyond apa formatting? Nothing.

Well, actually I learned that I know a hell of a lot more about management and informatics than any of my bsn instructors.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
I think by now we all know who's driving the BSN push and why. I am an RN with a previous Bachelor's in Business Management. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would consider that a common sense substitute for the almighty BSN. But being realistic I know that 4 year colleges, the ANA, IOM and AACN don't stand to gain by allowing for common sense. I live in Phila., PA, with the University of Pennsylvania (the school that published the research). The individual who headed the research is nurse who probably hasn't touched a real patient in well over 10 years. As a matter of fact, I spoke with nurses at Univ. of PA hospital who don't even know who that individual is. The bottom line is that the research was funded and supported by the very people who stand to gain financially by forcing nurses to run back to school. About every three years, she publishes another study to to give a booster shot to the BSN push. And to the argument about what higher degree pushes have done for other professions; I've spoken to PTs, OTs and Pharmacists who told me the only thing it's done is make more expensive to graduate with nothing more learned that will benefit patients in the least.

We also know that Magnet Status is nothing more than a marketing gimmick meant to make the uninformed general public feel better about one hospital versus another. I have spoken to many nurses who work at magnet hospitals who told me there is no better care given and in many cases it's made conditions worse. More time spent on the computer and less time spent with patients? Someone tell me how that is providing superior care. Hospitals pay the ANA thousands of dollars for this false seal of approval and then receive a large stipend from the federal government for obtaining and maintaining magnet status. Would you also believe that here in Phila., all nurse hiring is done online. For a job that requires the utmost of interpersonal skills, they don't even want to talk to you. Is it any wonder patients here are complaining of inadequate care.

This is why I've been talking to the media. This is what I'm going to make sure the public knows about.

Well, if you're so smart (AND have a business degree) how come you didn't just go out and do the right thing for yourself and get your BSN to START with? I started BSN in 1972- no it's not a typo-

19SEVENTY2 and the writing was on the wall then. I also had previous BA before starting BSN. Was able to go to school and work at the same time so didn't rack up a lot of debt. But education was relatively cheaper way back in the stone ages when we toiled for BSN. Your rants only shoot the messenger.

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Well, if you're so smart (AND have a business degree) how come you didn't just go out and do the right thing for yourself and get your BSN to START with? I started BSN in 1972- no it's not a typo-

19SEVENTY2 and the writing was on the wall then. I also had previous BA before starting BSN. Was able to go to school and work at the same time so didn't rack up a lot of debt. But education was relatively cheaper way back in the stone ages when we toiled for BSN. Your rants only shoot the messenger.

I was originally accepted into a BSN program. But since I already had a Bachelor's Degree and the BSN cost more than 3X the tuition at the 3yr straight the summer hospital-based program, I know I made the right decision by being educated on how to be a nurse instead of just earning another degree. Bu the clincher was when I compared the programs. The BSN was a lot of BS without much N. I'm sure it was different back when you went to school. Degrees had more substance and Americans had more common sense.

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That is my sentiment too but it has happened quite a few times to several techs that we in school with me. The hospital just did not require them to return the tuition if they could not find a job there. What's more is that once you pass and get your license you can no longer work as a tech because it is "outside your scope of practice" and are therefore now out of a job. The HR policy is that you have about 8 months to find employment as a nurse before you lose your job. Some have been getting around this by taking boards in another state so they are not "officially" licensed in the same state as the hospital. They get away with this because it is one the largest employers in the region and can cherry pick anyone they want to higher from hundreds if not thousands of applications. It seems hard to believe but it is sadly true. This is the Magnet legacy at its finest....

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