A Ban=Bsn?

[smartnurse1982]

I found a program that costs 9,000 and will take 2 semesters.

The downside? Its a Ban(Bachelor of Art in Nursing)

I have written on this before(didnt get many responses,but as new members have joined Allnurses will ask again.

Do hiring managers consider a Ban equal to a Bsn?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

This is a topic I'm following with great interest! I had never heard of a "BAN" prior to seeing this thread.

First thing that concerns me, I suppose, is whether a potential employer will be as educated on the similarities/differences between BAN and BSN....and whether ignorance of what a BAN is would impact negatively on being considered for a "BSN only" position.

Just because something shouldn't be disregarded as inferior doesn't mean it won't be. Perception of the hiring team/hiring manager (and the policy of the facility in question) is really all that DOES matter in these things.

I think I'll do some more reading :)

[klone, MSN, RN]

Thanks, klone. Forgot about the private college aspect. I was just thinking I may need fewer classes. You're probably right.

I tried to PM you, your box is full. :)

[PMFB-RN, RN]

First thing that concerns me, I suppose, is whether a potential employer will be as educated on the similarities/differences between BAN and BSN....and whether ignorance of what a BAN is would impact negatively on being considered for a "BSN only" position.

Your concerns are unfounded. I have known dozens and dozens of RNs who hold a BAN and none has even had the slightest difficulty obtaining employment or getting accepted to any graduate program (despite what some misinformed here claim). I have observed BAN grads be readily hired into hospitals from Florida to Alaska, Hawaii to New York.

I think you will find much less ignorance among potential employers than has been exhibited here.

[pfchang]

Any thoughts on the keyword searches in a resume submitted online? If the job says BSN required or preferred and one has a BAN, it seems like that might mean immediate rejection of the resume. I am not arguing, just wondering again about the real world aspects of the BAN.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Ya, pretty much. I assumed that since certain people where posting in

a rude and condescending manner that their desire was to receive condescending replies. Here are some examples of what I am talking about.

Ah. That explains everything right there. Hopefully you do not act like that offline. You’re making assumptions like a BAN would be eligible for any job that advertises a BSN. Clearly you must have personal knowledge into every hospital system. Also, you know dozens? Does that mean your local area has a program that offers BANs and may be more inclined to accept a BAN right out the door? In my area, a BAN is not popular at all and I have never met a nurse in person with a BAN after her name. I’ve met nurses with other degrees with a degree in education or psychology. The job postings that require a degree ask for BSNs, not BANs here.

PMFB, do you have a BAN or pursuing one? You seem really defensive about it.

Here’s an old topic to read: https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/anyone-have-bachelor-488242.html

Other uses address the same concerns that I had regarding other fields not looking at a BA the same as a BS. Someone actually called a hospital asking about a job posting and was told that the bachelors of arts was not eligible to apply although I think HR made an incorrect statement.

Another warning to keep in mind is that HR tends to look over resumes before it goes to a hiring a manager to make sure that the person matches the minimum requirements. So I would make sure to write out the full name of the degree in the resume. It may trigger the keyword too.

It’s really a buyer beware situation. Know your area and make sure that your hospitals will treat it the same. Know what you want to do with a degree and what schools you may want to attend later to make sure everything transfers. It’s really the same advice I give to people looking to do an ADN program. Each area is unique.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Ah. That explains everything right there. Hopefully you do not act like that offline.

I belive in the "Golden Rule". Spout off rudely to me and I assume that is what you desire in return, online or face to face.

You’re making assumptions like a BAN would be eligible for any job that advertises a BSN.

No I am not making assumtions. I know though long experience with BAN prepared nurses in every part of the country I have worked as an RN.

you know dozens?

Over my career maybe a lot more than dozens. There used to be a lot more BAN program than there are now.

Does that mean your local area has a program that offers BANs and may be more inclined to accept a BAN right out the door?

I have worked with BANs in California, Oregon, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona and Pennsilvania. I regularly precept BAN students and observe them get hired in hospitals all over the country. I have assisted them in filling out online applications, written reference letters for them and spoken to many hirging managers who called to check references.

In my area, a BAN is not popular at all and I have never met a nurse in person with a BAN after her name.

That is very suprising to me as your comments lead me to belive you had a lot of experience with them.

The job postings that require a degree ask for BSNs, not BANs here.

Do you know of a health system that will not hire a nurse becuase she has a BAN instead of a BSN? If so who told you that?

PMFB, do you have a BAN or pursuing one? You seem really defensive about it.

I already addressed this question.

Another warning to keep in mind is that HR tends to look over resumes before it goes to a hiring a manager to make sure that the person matches the minimum requirements. So I would make sure to write out the full name of the degree in the resume. It may trigger the keyword too.

When filling out online applications that require "BSN" box to check they simply check it and explain in their cover letter that they have a BAN and not a BSN. The degrees are the same, in fact I would say that the BAN is a better degree than some of the BAN programs out there since all BAN programs are at very high qualiety colleges.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I have always been surprised at how little the average nurses knows about their own profession.

This seems a bit harsh, as you are suggesting that the average nurse is ignorant if they are unaware of a (relatively) obscure degree designation. Or, perhaps more accurately, it is more obscure in some geographic regions of the US than others. Reminds me of when someone is visiting a different area of the country, asks what XYZ is on the diner menu, and everyone laughs because "everyone" knows what that is, is the visitor stupid or living in a bubble because they don't know it? Of course not, but there's smug laughter all the same. Also harsh, and inaccurate.

In my area of the country, in my region where I live and am employed, there are NO schools that offer a BAN. In light of this thread, I have checked. I'm talking a VERY wide swath of geography. There are NO coworkers I have ever worked with, or work with now, that possess this particular degree; educational background has come up many times (as it obviously has come up for you). And I do mean ZERO co-workers, plus administrators who have their degrees noted somewhere to be viewed (which is the HUGE majority).

Every.Single. Job. that I see posted online in a wide-sweeping spread of geographic region around me lists degree minimums or preferences as "ADN/ASN, BSN, MSN". NOT. ONE. SINGLE. reference have I found regarding preference (or minimum standard) allows for a BAN if BSN is mentioned. Not one.

So please be careful about throwing around how ignorant the "average" nurse is regarding a much-less-traveled pathway to a nursing degree. Frankly, I WOULD expect that jobs that are firm about a BSN minimum WOULD toss an applicant with BAN in the education column, if only for the fact that it did NOT meet the job minimum requirements (regardless of how anyone might insist it is equivalent--and it very well might be). You said that my concerns were unfounded, when I wondered if this might be an issue.....but you can't argue it's all the same if you can't get your resume in the door....and you can't know it's NOT a problem when you find NO ONE with this designation anywhere around.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

This seems a bit harsh,

Ya, it is a response to rude and harsh things said in this discussion.

as you are suggesting that the average nurse is ignorant if they are unaware of a (relatively) obscure degree designation.

No, not that alone. All the time we hear silly falsehoods about nursing repeated by people who really should know better.

DNP will be required by 2015.

Magnet hospitals only hire nurses with bachelors degrees.

You must have a bachelors in nursing before you can earn a masters in nursing.

Nursing shortage!

Just three examples of many we often hear.

In my area of the country, in my region where I live and am employed, there are NO schools that offer a BAN. In light of this thread, I have checked. I'm talking a VERY wide swath of geography. There are NO coworkers I have ever worked with, or work with now, that possess this particular degree

I am sure that is true for many nurses. Exactly why so many of the comments about BANs were so mystifying. People who admit they know NOTHING about the degree make statements about how BANs will have difficulty getting into grad schools, or getting jobs that require a bachelors degree, or that is might affect Magnet certification. Those who make such statements are speaking from a position of ignorance, this despite several posts early in the discussion educating them about the nature of the BAN.

Every.Single. Job. that I see posted online in a wide-sweeping spread of geographic region around me lists degree minimums or preferences as "ADN/ASN, BSN, MSN". NOT. ONE. SINGLE. reference have I found regarding preference (or minimum standard) allows for a BAN if BSN is mentioned. Not one.

SO what? The conclusion you draw from that is that a nurse with a BAN would not be qualified? Youa re sure none of those jobs say "bachelors degree in nursing"?

So please be careful about throwing around how ignorant the "average" nurse is regarding a much-less-traveled pathway to a nursing degree.

It's not that people are ignorant about the BAN, that is somewhat understandable. It is that despite that ignorance, so many were ready to make absurd claims about it.

Frankly, I WOULD expect that jobs that are firm about a BSN minimum WOULD toss an applicant with BAN in the education column,

You would be incorrect. This has already been addressed in this discussion.

If only for the fact that it did NOT meet the job minimum requirements (regardless of how anyone might insist it is equivalent--and it very well might be). You said that my concerns were unfounded, when I wondered if this might be an issue.....but you can't argue it's all the same if you can't get your resume in the door.

Getting the resume in the door is no issue, at least not more of an issue for the BAN than it is for the BSN, as has already been explained in this discussion. Your concerns are totally unfounded. As I have pointed out I know dozens of BAN prepared nurses, I precept BAN students and none of them have had the slightest difficulty getting hired all over the country or getting accepted to any grad school or into military nurse corps.

...and you can't know it's NOT a problem when you find NO ONE with this designation anywhere around.

I have worked with BAN nurses in every state I have worked in. There are not many of them but they are wide spread.

[klone, MSN, RN]

It's not that people are ignorant about the BAN, that is somewhat understandable. It is that despite that ignorance, so many were ready to make absurd claims about it.

Except that you made that comment to me, and I did not make any absurd claims about it. I just said that I have never heard of a BAN before this thread.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Well, I will be paying more attention to what "flavor" of bachelor's degree might be inquired about, now that I know it exists (even if, as I said, it doesn't seem to in my area). One never knows where one will move, transfer employment, etc, and it IS good to know that there are more options out there than previously thought.

My current employer will pay for continuing my schooling in 2015, so I will continue to look toward options....although, as I said, BAN isn't going to be one unless I choose an online-only school that offers them....AND my employer agrees. Despite the idea that "a bachelor's is a bachelor's", my employer can be VERY funny when it comes to rules and regulations....and breaking them. Or perceiving to.

Perhaps a BAN will not be an issue, perhaps it will. Just have to wait and see.

[pfchang]

I am still wondering about keyword searches on resumes and applications which ask for BSNs. If one is networking and has a personal contact, it may be reasonable to think one can enter BSN and explain later. But having spoken to people who do recruiting, not having that BSN can get an application or resume thrown out immediately. The BAN may not make the same pass through the initial screening of resumes or applications as a BSN would. Does anyone have actual experience with this aspect of the BAN?

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I am still wondering about keyword searches on resumes and applications which ask for BSNs.

It simply isn't an issue. Personally I have only seen a tiny few job descriptions that use "BSN". Most use "Bachelors degree in nursing" or similar.

If one is networking and has a personal contact, it may be reasonable to think one can enter BSN and explain later.

The nurses I know who hold a BAN just check "yes" when faced with that question.

But having spoken to people who do recruiting, not having that BSN can get an application or resume thrown out immediately.

Sure, if not having a BSN mean not having a bachelors degree in nursing. When they say they throw them out immediately did you ask them if they also throw out the applications from nurses who have BANs? I bet you didn't. The BSN is just a screening tool.

The BAN may not make the same pass through the initial screening of resumes or applications as a BSN would. Does anyone have actual experience with this aspect of the BAN?

Yes, I have experience with this exact thing. As I explained previously. It simply does not happen. Ask you hiring manager if they would be interested in hiring a great candidate who graduated with their bachelors in nursing from an excellent university.