RN with BSN and feeling stupid

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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I graduated 3 months ago with a BSN, passed boards and started a nursing residency. Almost everybody else in my nursing residency has ADN/ASN degrees. We have now been deployed to our units. We all do the same jobs, get paid the same and are treated exactly the same. I am questioning my investment - in time, money and effort - in getting a BSN. It appears there is NO ADVANTAGE! Seriously, what is the point? I am feeling really stupid for having studied twice as much and spent eight times as much and getting no recognition whatsoever for all of that. It just seems unfair. Sorry, I need to vent.

Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

I really think is according to area, like I said on my former post. The hospital that in employed and do clinicals for school at DOES have BSN preferred on a half of the jobs ousted even some floor jobs, and they've been adding that "Preferred BSN" for the past 5 or 7 years and have hired mostly ADN new grads those past 5 to 7 years.

I think it can really go either way. Just because their Magnet, it doesn't mean that they don't hire ADN or ADN new grads, and just because it says "BSN preferred" doesn't mean they will automatically hire a BSN nurse over an ADN nurse. It is all about who has proven themselves via interviews, resumes, and experiences to be the best candidate for the job, more so when it comes to staff/floor nurse jobs.

I really think is according to area, like I said on my former post. The hospital that in employed and do clinicals for school at DOES have BSN preferred on a half of the jobs ousted even some floor jobs, and they've been adding that "Preferred BSN" for the past 5 or 7 years and have hired mostly ADN new grads those past 5 to 7 years.

I think it can really go either way. Just because their Magnet, it doesn't mean that they don't hire ADN or ADN new grads, and just because it says "BSN preferred" doesn't mean they will automatically hire a BSN nurse over an ADN nurse. It is all about who has proven themselves via interviews, resumes, and experiences to be the best candidate for the job, more so when it comes to staff/floor nurse jobs.

Right...with the stipulation that they get their BSN as you said. That's a little different than just leading people to believe that they can be hired just as easily as anyone else with an ADN period. There are stipulations attached because of the whole magnet issue. I don't know why it's even an argument. :confused:

Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

Yes. That's true.

Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

Right...with the stipulation that they get their BSN as you said. That's a little different than just leading people to believe that they can be hired just as easily as anyone else with an ADN period. There are stipulations attached because of the whole magnet issue. I don't know why it's even an argument. :confused:

Yes you are correct. I just didn't think I needed to re-emphasize, but I guess it makes sense for convenience sake. My main point was that YES ADN nurses are being hired, maybe not so much in some areas, but easily in others.

I don't think anyone is trying to argue, just clarify for those who might read this and think what's in one area might apply to nursing employment everywhere, and we all know that's not the case. Finding a job in my corner of the world, even for new grads, is not the daunting task that some other nurses on here have had.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I don't think some people realize the issue with the magnet status. They might think that just because there are ADN nurses working at X hospital then that means they DO employ ADN nurses. That's true...they do employ the ones who are there...but they don't hire them..

I'm sure there are magnet hospitals who "will" hire ADN nurses

Um, OK I guess. Have it your way.

I don't think some people realize the issue with the magnet status. They might think that just because there are ADN nurses working at X hospital then that means they DO employ ADN nurses. That's true...they do employ the ones who are there...but they don't hire them. It's not only the hospitals that ARE magnet, but also the ones "seeking magnet" because in order to seek magnet you have to submit a plan showing you have intentions to have an 80% BSN staff...and part of making that plan realistic would not include hiring more ADN's as 80% is a big number.

How do you even know if a hospital is seeking magnet or not? It's not really publicized until they achieve it.

Check their website, they DO advertise it!

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
First of all, I'm not "back pedaling" on anything. They don't "require" a BSN because they CAN employ a certain percentage of ADN graduates, but to mislead people into thinking that they have an EQUAL shot of getting hired at these hospitals is...well...misleading. Again, it's not only the magnet hospitals, but the ones who are seeking magnet as well.

I'm having trouble finding where anyone said they had an "equal" shot. Why does that matter to Any Nurse Applicant to Any Hospital in Anytown USA anyway? Put in application. Pray to the gods. Be Ms. Right Place Right Time. Profit.

Personally, the BSN is a great advantage. I graduated with my BSN from George Mason University. Im currently certified as a AMSN. I work at a Magnet hospital, which only hires BSN nurses. After the completion of the Nursing Residency Program, we are allowed to take the Charge Preceptor class. I graduated two years ago, and have been rotational charge nurse on my unit. So dont ever second guess your decisions about education. Good Luck

Specializes in ED.
I don't understand how anyone could think that anyone ever said that.

It is implied in many threads in this section of Allnurses. People make statements like:

"well the charge nurse is an ADN"

"there are lots of supervisors who don't have even a BSN"

"you'll have lots of student loans to pay off and not as much experience"

"why would taking all of those other classes make you any better at being a nurse?"

One can draw the conclusion that those people do not value the education involved in getting a BSN or higher.

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