Diploma nurses are worthless?!

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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I didn't expect to be insulted and frowned upon during my very FIRST interview, but that is exactly what happened. This was an interview for a new-grad position and one I was well prepared for and more than qualified to take on. But I wasn't prepared for THIS. At first they weren't even expecting me to be there because HR forgot to tell them, that should have been the first warning flag.

Initially I'm being asked all the normal questions and given "what would you do?" scenarios. The woman tells me I did well and answered what they're looking for. Well of course I did! I passed the NCLEX first try and I'm appropriately trained, right? WRONG. When the topic of my education came up and she learned that I was a diploma graduate, the interview took a 360. She informed me that diploma nurses were only "techs" in the nursing world and that I really should just go back to school for my BSN because she will pick the person with the BSN over the diploma nurse only based on that fact. She stated that diploma nurses are trained to take on the basic nursing duties however BSN know how to distinguish good research vs. garbage and apply it to their work environment. Well hey! That may very well be true and that's fine and dandy but we are talking about a new grad entry-level-get-eaten-alive position and it doesn't matter if you have a diploma, ADN, or BSN. ALL are qualified for this entry-level position. You pass the boards, you're capable. I am MORE than happy to go back to school and get my BSN, BUT I need a job first because surprise surprise, college isn't free! Who knew?! I could see getting a reaction like this if I had applied for a nurse manager or nursing supervisor position. But new grad? Infuriating! I gave up my WHOLE life. And I'm not just talking about time for fun and games and relaxation. I'm talking about my family, when the father of my child left me for another woman stating that I was "too dedicated to my education". I'm talking about single parenthood and still managing to finish my last year with an A. I'm talking about lost friendships and time with my daughter that I will NEVER get back. And for what exactly? To be told that my school is worthless? My education is worthless? I'M worthless? Unbelievable! The quality of a diploma education is one of a kind. You do spend time in the classroom but LIVE in the hospital practicing all of the necessary skills and graduate feeling prepared and ready!

Other thoughts?

This is good to hear that you finally get a job!! Wish you all the best! Still, I don't think that I are able to apply for an internship due to my age, i think they prefer younger nurses. I can try, though.

Good luck to you!

One of the nurses hired into our specialty intern program was in her 40's... Mostly, though, I think you're right.

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Hello nurses; haven't commented in a while because I've been busy fighting another piece of idiocy called Obamacare. Which by the way was endorsed by the so-called nursing leaders and because of facility consolidations, declining reimbursements to providers and reduction in Medicare spending (over $600 billion that we currently know of was siphoned from Medicare to help fund the new law) is expected to result in the loss of at least 800,000 healthcare jobs in the next few years.

That being said; let's look at the wonderful critical, life-saving content in RN-BSN programs: Foundations of Nursing Theory, Nursing Leadership, Ethics, Research, Current Issues and my all-time favorite, Sociology of Nursing. All of this content (with the exception of the ludicrous Sociology course) is and would have been integrated in any Diploma or Asscoiate's RN program otherwise it is unlikely they would have been accredited. Universities re-package them with a 300 level number, sell them as RN-BSN courses and make students write a few more APA format papers. Wow, I'm sure the critical patient in 213B would be reassured to know that their attending nurse can write a darn good paper but can't put in a catheter or start an IV!

The truth is that the person who interviewed you was a dumb twit who has no knowledge of what nursing education is and most likely got that management job through connections. Patient satisfaction reports have already shown that BSNs do not automatically make better nurses. It's the person that makes the nurse, and not what RN program they graduated from. The BSN push is fading and soon hospitals will go back to hiring nurses based on what they can bring to the table. Just like the marketing campaigns; "95% of doctors recommend Bayer...." and "Over 95% of people prefer the taste of Coke to Pepsi" the BSN push will fade. Even the individual who initiated the push with a ridiculous flawed study back in 2003 filled with so much self-affirmation refused to defend their point of of view to a reporter I had call this person. Apparently this individual will only talk in the presence of their like-minded academic colleagues.

The BSN push is just that; BS without the N. Nurses know it, the professors know it and even our president knows it ( I disagree with him on most things but this I do agree with). The BSN is not needed to be a good competent nurse with excellent critical thinking skills. If someone needs four years to become a nurse, they probably shouldn't be one.

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The BSN push will continue schools are pumping out way more ASN students than BSN. There is no more nursing shortage and the job market is getting saturated. ASN or a diploma was acceptable when being a nurse was not desirable but now every student coming out of high school wants to be one.

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The BSN push will continue schools are pumping out way more ASN students than BSN. There is no more nursing shortage and the job market is getting saturated. ASN or a diploma was acceptable when being a nurse was not desirable but now every student coming out of high school wants to be one.

I agree they'll keep on trying to push it in the short-term but even now it has lost some of its momentum. Remember it was never about advancing the profession, it was all about increasing revenue for all those institutions and people who stood to benefit. People are starting to realize now that a huge student loan debt is not only undesirable but puts you at a disadvantage early on in life. And as patient satisfaction scores are not correlating with higher nursing degrees, the push will dwindle further. As far as many high grads wanting to be nurses; that's interesting and I would like to research further.

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Specializes in Inpatient psych, LTC.

The BSN push is just that; BS without the N. Nurses know it, the professors know it and even our president knows it ( I disagree with him on most things but this I do agree with). The BSN is not needed to be a good competent nurse with excellent critical thinking skills. If someone needs four years to become a nurse, they probably shouldn't be one.

I agree. I got my BSN and it was mainly fluff classes. Everything I needed to know as a nurse I had already learned in my ADN program...

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ASN and diplomas provides nurses with the skills necessary for bed side nursing, however BSN programs prepare students to further their career in the role of administration or community health nursing.

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diploma nurse. You mean LPN? Or ADN? Sorry, I'm confused.

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Remember it was never about advancing the profession, it was all about increasing revenue for all those institutions and people who stood to benefit.

That is quite a statement -- do you have some evidence or documentation to support that?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
diploma nurse. You mean LPN? Or ADN? Sorry, I'm confused.

No there are three entry points to RN 3 year hospital based diploma nursing school, "2 year" ASN often community college, or "4 year" college/university BSN. LPN is most often a vocational diploma but may be a one year community college certificate or even an associates degree

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
diploma nurse. You mean LPN? Or ADN? Sorry, I'm confused.
A diploma-educated RN is neither an LPN nor an ADN. There are four educational pathways that one may complete to become an RN here in the US.

1. Three-year diploma in nursing

2. Associate degree in nursing (ADN)

3. Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)

4. Direct-entry master of science in nursing (DEMSN)

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If someone needs four years to become a nurse, they probably shouldn't be one.

I disagree with you respectfully,

If I was a patient I would rather have a nurse that studied nursing for four years take care of me then a nurse that studied a year or two. Same goes with any field, nursing is no exception.

You have to know the complete knowledge (which a BSN offers, such as evidence based research, leadership roles that lower degree (ADN and Diploma) don't offer) and then when you do, experience will come into play. These classes are very important in nursing. That is the reason why many hospitals prefer BSN prepared nurses.

The BSN degree will be the preferred degree now and in the future.

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
I disagree with you respectfully,

If I was a patient I would rather have a nurse that studied nursing for four years take care of me then a nurse that studied a year or two. Same goes with any field, nursing is no exception.

You have to know the complete knowledge (which a BSN offers, such as evidence based research, leadership roles that lower degree (ADN and Diploma) don't offer) and then when you do, experience will come into play. These classes are very important in nursing. That is the reason why many hospitals prefer BSN prepared nurses.

The BSN degree will be the preferred degree now and in the future.

Then sadly for you there wouldn't be any nurses to care for you because the first two years of a BSN education are pre-reqs and gen-ed classes not nursing classes. And you are mistaken when you say that diploma/ADN schools don't offer EBR and leadership courses. So here's hoping you don't get very sick because you will be SOL!!!

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