Hospitals only hiring BSN's?

[txhopeful13]

when i interviewed for my current position as a student health assistant the clinical manager asked what my goals were. i explained to her that i am pursuing my adn. she told me that hospitals are not hiring nurses with adn's anymore and that you must have a bsn to be considered. is this true, or is it only for certain hospitals? i don't want to try to obtain my adn and not be able to use it.

[BaltimoreHon, BSN, RN]

It definitely depends on the local job market. Here in Baltimore while there are a lot of hospitals there are also tons of area nursing schools just pumping out the new grads every six months. There are so many new grads that the hospitals can afford to use ADN vs BSN as a criteria for selecting who will fill an open position.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Here in my area you can still be hired as an ADN. That being said, I've noticed more and more job postings that state ADN required BSN strongly preferred. I've even seen ADN required BSN preferred. Candidate must obtain BSN within X amount of years from hire date. (big red flag that they are going all BSN soon)

I'm currently doing an LPN to RN (ADN) program. From there once I obtain my RN license I'll do the RN to BSN program's nursing classes (I have many of the additional classes for the BSN program and I'll keep taking more until I grad in May 2013). If it were possible for me to do an LPN to BSN in my State I would have done that, but there are none.

More and more hospitals in my area are jumping on the BSN required bandwagon.

[happyinillinois]

Why would they freeze BSN, but hire ADN's?

[DoGoodThenGo]

Not sure when various branches of the US military began mandating the BSN, but yes prior to that even the only main qualification was that one be a properly licensed RN without any restrictions.

Some branches were more selective about whom they chose, but since diploma grads were the majority of RNs prior to the introduction of ADN programs (and for along time afterwards) the military would have faced even greater shortages during WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam if it limited itself to BSN grads only.

What did happen was late during WWII nurses were given commissioned officer status (regardless of degree or merely being a diploma grad). IIRC this was done for several reasons but mainly to improve recruitment of nurses as there was a dire need. No one knew how long the wars in Europe and Asia were going to continue and the military was planning on needing way more nurses than it was getting. Indeed there was a bill in Congress that would have allowed for the drafting of nurses into the military. It didn't come to pass as Germany surrendered thus freeing up good parts of the military for the otherside of the world (Asia/Japan).

IIRC the Army Reserves does accept diploma/ADN grads, however they cannot reach the rank of major unless they have obtained their BSN.

[DoGoodThenGo]

Im close to finishing my RN to BSN program. To be frank about it, if not for the recession giving healthcare facilities the boldness to start showing a strong preference for BSN grads, I likely never would have done it.

I remember when the recession started and the talk about BSN prepared nurses becoming the min requirement followed. Many, including myself for a short while, said exactly what you are saying. I changed my mind though.

First, and most importantly, the economy is not going to improve any time soon. I remember people insisting it would be a one year thing.......and that was three years ago. The media and politicians are working overtime trying to convince us things are slowly getting better. It is no coincidence that they are doing so during an election year. If it were not an election year, the reporting would be pretty much what it had been before: more job loss, unemployment running out and the nation is bankrupt. It is going to be a very long time indeed before we see any positive changes that are not the result of biased reporting.

Then, when things do get better, the degree in which they do improve is going to be minimal. It will not be a case where we all walk out our front doors one day and enter a world that resembles pre-recession times. The America that stands before us after recovering from all of this will resemble what it is like today more so, with some slight improvements here and there.

Further, said improvements will be in financial areas other than healthcare. We will get help through osmosis as our patients will no longer put off care, but not enough help to make up for severe compensation cuts. Insurances and medicare/medicaid will continue to save themselves by expecting us to provide better care for less.

I considered/pondered all of this when I went into the RN to BSN program that I am now close to completing. It is what drove me back to the classroom. I think being more marketable is no longer a luxury but is a necessity for nurses and many other career paths. So far, the predictions I made that I believed in enough to act on them and return to school have held strong.

I also predict that we BSN grads will be filling the roles ADNs used to take, and the competition for steady employment will become so fierce that ADN prepared nurses will be forced to accept lower salaries. It will be BSN vs BSN for acute care positions, ADNs will not be in the picture. In essence, BSNs will take ADN positions and ADNs will become the new LPN, but wages will be stagnant. Wages do not increase, but the education level of the people filling the role will. The end result will be increased requirements to fill the role without increased compensation. That's what the healthcare providers have been waiting for.

To the OP: I strongly suggest getting your BSN. I am not one of those people who will tell you it will make you a better nurse. My opinion of my RN to BSN training is that it is a lot of formalities and posturing meant to make you earn a title. But, staying employed is enough of a priority to me that I'll tolerate it. Things are not going to improve any time soon, may as well be prepared for it.

One last thing: I most definitely do not suggest entertaining the popular notion that ADNs will be "grandfathered" into keeping their positions once the push for BSN trained nursing is complete. I used to work as a travel nurse, and on two occasions I was brought in to fill in gaps on the schedule that were created when hospitals suddenly decided to do away with LPNs. One such hospital called in the LPNs and informed them they could go home, they would be paid for that day, and their positions had been eliminated. Some of them had been loyal to the hospital for >20yrs. They didn't get "grandfathered". Don't drink that poisoned kool aid. If you want more info on that matter, ask about it in the LPN forum.

We all float down here.

Don't know about your area of the country but here in NYC ADN and BSN grads work at the bedside and or on units. The latter may get a few quarters more per hour and be able to take charge roles, but otherwise there is little difference at the moment. As the saying goes, a nurse is a nurse is a nurse.

Going forward even if many NYC hospitals stick to their "BSN preferred" for new hires it could take decades to phase out all ADN grads, aside from wholesale firing that is.

Unlike LPNs who have their own scope of practice to the best of my knowledge no state has divided RN roles by type of degree. For a hospital to simply tell all ADN grads to push off just wouldn't fly legally.

Those around long enough have seen the "BSN only" craze come and go. What usually happens is hospitals find themselves in a some sort of bind after weeding out associate grads and start hiring them back again.

As for BSN only nurses raising the pay scale overall, yea that is going to happen. *LOL*

Again BSN nurses are working side by side here with ADN and diploma grads for almost the same money now, why would a hospital suddenly want to pay teh latter more just because the former has gone?

[Over-the-hill-Nurse]

I just read an article in regards to hospitals hiring nurses. The comment in the newspaper stated that ALL the Hospital's in Ohio are not considering hiring ADN's. Their requirements will be for a BSN or higher to be considered in a hospital setting for hire.

Another thing that I read in the news is that there is a hospital in Mass that will not hire anyone that has a bmi of over 35. Their rationale was that they didn't want their nurses to be obese and try to teach people on weight loss. Didn't mention if they were going to insist on nurses who are over the BMI that are working there already lose the weight or they are out of a job.

Never know what this world is coming too.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

A lot of it has to do with hospitals pursuing Magnet status (a certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center).

I agree there is a correlation between the desire of a hospital's administration desire to hire BSN nurses and their desire to pursue Magnet. However it is not a causal relationship. There is nothing about becomeing Magnet that requires a hopital to hire only BSN staff nurses. Rather both indicate the mentality of that hospital's administration. That and the current state of the economy and glut of nurses that allows them to be picky.

Having spent most of my career in Magnet hospitals, including working in two during their "Journy to Magnet" I am pleased to say that I have found a great position in a no-Magnet hospital were nurses are treated well. In my area Magnet hospital have aquired a well deserved reputation as not being good places to work.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

FWIW I work part time in a large Magnet hospital with a 7 month Critical Care Nurse Residency program. It is for new grads going directly into SICU, MICU, PACU, PICU, NICU & ER. The ony hire new grads ADNs for the residency for those going into the SICU. It doesn't say anywhere that BSN grads are not hired but they arn't. Many, many apply but they are not considered. The only exceptions I have seen in recent years are those who were already long term SICU employees (CNAs, HUCs) and completed BSN programs.

[PennyWise]

Don't know about your area of the country but here in NYC ADN and BSN grads work at the bedside and or on units. The latter may get a few quarters more per hour and be able to take charge roles, but otherwise there is little difference at the moment. As the saying goes, a nurse is a nurse is a nurse.

Going forward even if many NYC hospitals stick to their "BSN preferred" for new hires it could take decades to phase out all ADN grads, aside from wholesale firing that is.

Unlike LPNs who have their own scope of practice to the best of my knowledge no state has divided RN roles by type of degree. For a hospital to simply tell all ADN grads to push off just wouldn't fly legally.

Those around long enough have seen the "BSN only" craze come and go. What usually happens is hospitals find themselves in a some sort of bind after weeding out associate grads and start hiring them back again.

As for BSN only nurses raising the pay scale overall, yea that is going to happen. *LOL*

Again BSN nurses are working side by side here with ADN and diploma grads for almost the same money now, why would a hospital suddenly want to pay teh latter more just because the former has gone?

I think you quoted the wrong post. Maybe you meant this response to be for someone else.

We all float down here.

[MunoRN, RN]

Why would they freeze BSN, but hire ADN's?

Cheaper (shorter) training period, we save between $6,000 and $10,000 per new grad by hiring ADN's vs BSN's.

[mammykat]

I recently graduated with my ASN and began working in a hospital. I am in Knoxville, Tennessee. One large hospital here only hires BSN nurses due to their magnet status, I don't know what they are doing about their ASN nurses. Another large hospital corporation here is requiring new hires to complete their BSN degrees within 5 years of hire. My hospital system hasn't addressed this, but I start the BSN program this fall. I don't want to but I feel this is where nursing is headed, at least here. I want to be employable.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I recently graduated with my ASN and began working in a hospital. I am in Knoxville, Tennessee. One large hospital here only hires BSN nurses due to their magnet status,

*** There is nothing about obtaining or maintaing Magnet that requires a hospital to hire only BSN, or a certain percentage of BSN staff nurses. Many Magnet hospitals do not discriminate either way. Even a few that actually prefer to hire ADNs. The two things, Magnet & BSN only hiring are not related, except that both are clear indicators of the mentality of hospital administration.