Dispel a rumor OR validate a truth...

[gapelaez]

Hello Everyone -

Hope everyone is well. I am humbly requesting insight on a matter that was brought to my attention today.

I heard that when hospitals (or other relevant employers) are reviewing resumes for RN's, they would go with the candiate with a BSN and not with a ADN or ASN. I can understand the latter, however, for someone like me who already holds a BA in Psych and a MBA (don't ask), I cannot justify going back to school for another bachelor's degree, granted I am open minded to it if it will help me at the end of the day.

I had surgery this past summer, and I found the opportunity to chat with the nurse who was in charge of my post-op care. I told her about my situation, and she told me she has a BA in history and an ADN from the community college where I'm taking my pre-reqs at. I asked her if her employer is requesting she get a BSN, and she replied "no", and I recall her saying that as long as you have a bachelors degree (nursing or otherwise), you would be a good candidate. (Note: This nurse is employed by a reputable academic health system in West Los Angeles for many years, so I feel she has some credibility.)

So, assuming that I have graduated with a ADN, passed my licensure/boards, and a hiring manager is comparing my resume with another candidate with a BSN only, who will be courted with a job offer?

Any insight advice will be appreciated. I'm given a second opportunity to delve into a new career, and I want to do it right.

Thanks in advance,

GP

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

Hello Everyone -

Hope everyone is well. I am humbly requesting insight on a matter that was brought to my attention today.

I heard that when hospitals (or other relevant employers) are reviewing resumes for RN's, they would go with the candiate with a BSN and not with a ADN or ASN. I can understand the latter, however, for someone like me who already holds a BA in Psych and a MBA (don't ask), I cannot justify going back to school for another bachelor's degree, granted I am open minded to it if it will help me at the end of the day.

I had surgery this past summer, and I found the opportunity to chat with the nurse who was in charge of my post-op care. I told her about my situation, and she told me she has a BA in history and an ADN from the community college where I'm taking my pre-reqs at. I asked her if her employer is requesting she get a BSN, and she replied "no", and I recall her saying that as long as you have a bachelors degree (nursing or otherwise), you would be a good candidate. (Note: This nurse is employed by a reputable academic health system in West Los Angeles for many years, so I feel she has some credibility.)

So, assuming that I have graduated with a ADN, passed my licensure/boards, and a hiring manager is comparing my resume with another candidate with a BSN only, who will be courted with a job offer?

Any insight advice will be appreciated. I'm given a second opportunity to delve into a new career, and I want to do it right.

Thanks in advance,

GP

'

I like nurse, RN, MBA or hows "nurse, MBA, RN"

[freeflowchi]

Definitely do the BSN. I have an ADN with a bachelor's in another field and it seems to be hurting me. I chose the ADN also because of the cost, only after speaking with several nurses who assured me it would not make a difference. If there is any way you can come up with the money, do the BSN.

[freeflowchi]

I work in the SICU of a large teaching hospital. We only hire ADN new grads into our 7 month nurse residency program for new grads who want to be trained to work in the SICU and MICU. It doesn't say anywhere that BSN grads are not hired but they are not and have not for the last several classes. I know of at least one other ICU doing this as well. We are a Magnet facility. BSN new grads are hired into the residency program for other units like ER and PACU.

Where I work an ADN with a 4 year degree in anything else other than nursing is simply an ADN. The other degree counts for nothing.

Would you mind letting me know what facility? [email protected]

[fiveofpeep]

if you want a BSN try CSULB or CSULA. The programs are cheaper than a private school, not super hard to get into like ADN programs, and are very reputable

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Your degrees would put you in good stead here, including at the one magnet hospital.

[littleneoRN]

I work in the SICU of a large teaching hospital. We only hire ADN new grads into our 7 month nurse residency program for new grads who want to be trained to work in the SICU and MICU. It doesn't say anywhere that BSN grads are not hired but they are not and have not for the last several classes. I know of at least one other ICU doing this as well. We are a Magnet facility. BSN new grads are hired into the residency program for other units like ER and PACU.

Where I work an ADN with a 4 year degree in anything else other than nursing is simply an ADN. The other degree counts for nothing.

Can you enlighten me on the logic of only hiring nurses with ADN but not nurses with a BSN? I know that in specific towns sometimes there may be a sub-par BSN program but a great ADN program, which could affect hiring preferences. But in the absence of that special case, I have a hard time understanding why a hospital specifically seek out nurses with less education. Do they think they can get away with paying them a lot less? (They shouldn't). It just blows me away that I would put in additional time and money to get a higher degree only to limit my job options to not being able to work in the ICU. My employer has a preference for BSN-prepared nurses but is also very open to hiring ADN nurses. All else equal, the BSN nurse would probably get the job, but how often is all else equal? Almost never.

Editing to add...I think there are many fantastic ADN nurses, and I'm not suggesting they're not as good. Just not sure how they would be considered categorically better than BSN nurses. I'm just curious.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Can you enlighten me on the logic of only hiring nurses with ADN but not nurses with a BSN? I know that in specific towns sometimes there may be a sub-par BSN program but a great ADN program, which could affect hiring preferences. But in the absence of that special case, I have a hard time understanding why a hospital specifically seek out nurses with less education.

*** They have proven to be poor investments. It costs our unit thousands of $$$ to put a new grad through the 9 month nurse residency. Few of the BSN finish their contracts. For example in my class of 9 there where7 with BSNs and 2 with ADNs. Of the 7 BSN prepared nurses one is a stay at home mom and the other six have gone to CRNA school with 5 of those leaving before the end of their 2 year nine month contract. Both ADN prepared nurses, including me even though I have since done RN to BSN, still work in the SICU. The experience with subsequent classes has been similar.

ADNs have proven to be a much better investment. FWIW I don't agree with the unofficial policy.