Are there any ADN advocates out there??

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Specializes in critical care.

Are there any advocates for the ADN RN? After being a nurse for over 30 yrs. my hospital has stated if nurses do not have a BSN (within 6-8 yrs.) per hospital policy they will not remain employed.

I work in a magnet facility. I thought magnet requirements were the 80/20% rule for BSN requirement.

At 60 yrs old I do not want to go back for my BSN.

I can not afford it (hospital pays small portion of reimbursement); I am still paying for childrens college parent loan; working overtime leaves no time for writing papers etc. and I am a cancer survivor and really can not deal with the extra stress.

I actually did go back recently with thoughts that I would get my BSN. The first course was "how to be a professinal nurse". Really, after nursing for over 30 yrs? I have to admit that was a total turn off. I am not interested in theory, leadership or research and that is basically what the program was about. I could not go on because I could not continue my schedule, afford the program and fulfill paper requirements. (for the record I did receive B average in my first semester).

Over the years I have taken courses, gone to seminars, fulfilled required hospital competencies etc.

It is not like I stopped learning or educating myself once I graduated nursing school.

It is very disheartening, and quite frankly very disappointing that the ADN nurse is being made to feel inadequate, or not competent without a BSN.

I still practice in critcal care, and always have excellent evaluations but now when I go to work it is with a heavy heart.

Not all ADN nurses can go back to school. I think it is deplorable that the ANA etc. is not willing to make some provision for experienced, qualified practicing nurses that are unable to go back to school.

So after working all these years we will be told we are no longer qualified, and that a BSN grad. is qualified. It feels like a slap in the face. All the years of hard work and many sacrifices for the hospital for nought. (at least I can value the fact that I know I have truly made a difference for many of my patients and their outcomes). Thank you for listening.

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I wish. I could not afford to get a BSN, but I am a new nurse. People treat me like ignorant garbage because I am an ADN and I also cannot get a job besides in a nursing home. I wouldn't have spent all my time in school if I knew I'd end up working in a nursing home. Although I don't dislike my job, it's not what I wanted. I feel for you, as I feel there is no advantage to the BSN unless you are into theory and management, which I also am not, but I am about to enroll in an online program I can't really afford and don't want to do so I can get my BSN, so then I can hopefully get a hospital job like I wanted originally. It's unfair how they are treating ADN RNs, we take the same test as the BSN RNs, we're just as good as they are. I don't mean to be negative about any BSNs, they are great too, but to force people to take expensive courses they don't want to, it's not necessary.

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Specializes in critical care.

please note, i inadvertently misspelled professional!

thank you for your response. i wish you the very best and hope you get the hospital job you desire. i sincerely hope someone will advocate for us.

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You're welcome. Just cause we are "only" ADN/ASN RN's doesn't make us not good enough!

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
Are there any advocates for the ADN RN? After being a nurse for over 30 yrs. my hospital has stated if nurses do not have a BSN (within 6-8 yrs.) per hospital policy they will not remain employed.

At 60 yrs old I do not want to go back for my BSN.

I am not interested in theory, leadership or research and that is basically what the program was about.

Not all ADN nurses can go back to school. I think it is deplorable that the ANA etc. is not willing to make some provision for experienced, qualified practicing nurses that are unable to go back to school.

.

It's your hospital, not the ANA forcing the change

Can you just run out the clock?

Age 60...keep working up until the deadline, and retire at 68?

Maybe look at other programs, some are better than others, and maybe you'll find one you like better.

Good luck to you

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

OP, in your particular situation, I would think that it will not matter a lot because if your hospital is implementing this policy right now ... by the time you reach the 6-8 year mark you will be retiring at age 66-68, no?

It would appear that the onus is really on your coworkers who are about 10 years younger than you -- they have some hard choices to make.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

With almost 40 years experience, there is absolutely no reason for you to get a BSN at this point in your career. You wouldn't see a return on your investment unless you're planning on working another 15 or so years.

I think it's silly that hospitals don't pick a number of years in experience (say, 20) and consider that equivalent to a BSN.

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Specializes in OR, Education.

Find out how many of your colleagues are ADN nurses, and use that statistic to take to management. Also, get the statistics for the state/country nursing shortage.

Good luck!!

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Specializes in Med Surg.

For you, it doesn't make sense. To see financial gain you'd have to work well past when I bet you want to retire.

If they do force you to do it, can you take a class a semester so it looks like you're working on your BSN? that might buy you some time.

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Specializes in rehab, neuro, ortho.

I think it is incredibly cold and ignorant of hospitals to start threatening ADNs with termination if they dont get their BSN, I also see it as class discrimination. Most ADNs are so because it was not financially possible to go to a 4 year college. We are not all born with a trust fund. Honestly, most of the nurses that Ive worked with over the years that I have looked up to are ADN RNs, some got their BSN later, most did not. I have alsoworked with a lot of BSN nurses that I wouldn't trust to care for my cat. They write pretty care plans and set nice goals but lack physical skills. I want my BSN, but because I want to be the first in my family to have one, I hate that I feel like my career depends on it. I am a fairly new RN, but It really burns me to hear some of the BSNs make negative comments about seasoned ADN RNs. I just think it is so out of line. Thats my rant for the day!:devil:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I wonder if hospitals are using the whole BSN/ASN/qualification thing as an excuse to save money. They figure if they make it mandatory for people to get their BSN, a lot of long-time employees will quit. They will be able to hire new grads that they don't have to pay as much.

BSN vs ASN will turn nurses against each other and weaken unions. Hospitals like that!

I have an ASN and I'm happy, but if my hospital makes it mandatory to get the BSN, I'll do it. Too bad they are cutting back on tuition reimbursement...

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Another ridiculous hospital policy.

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