A little frustrated/confused about BSN/ADN

[hellfirecat]

Hi everyone,

I'm a little frustrated, I was speaking with a fellow student in one of my classes (non-science pre req) who is also a pre-nursing major. Upon hearing I was intending to go the ADN route he proceeded to tell that 1) ADN's were going to be meaningless and obsolete by 2020 (okaaaay) and 2) you won't have the same responsibilities as someone with a BSN. I was always under the impression that we all took the same exam to get our RN license and thus were essentially certified to do the same things. I'm totally open to the possibility that I may be dead wrong about how this and told him so. He seemed to become almost hostile and insisted he was right and I was wrong. I started to think I may be wrong and decided not to pursue the matter any farther. Guys, am I wrong???? I plan on getting my BSN immediately afterward anyway so it doesn't make much of a difference to me, I just figured I'd save a whole lot of money that I can't really afford to part with right now. I was planning on trying to get a job after passing the NCLEX and doing an online bridge to BSN while working but now I'm a little concerned.

[The_nerve]

I work for a large teaching hospital in the Midwest. We have lots of local adn and bsn programs. Probably half my coworkers are adn but I really couldn't tell you which. There's no differentiation. They're starting to push bsn now but haven't said anything abut requiring it. The smartest/most skilled nurse on the unit, been there for like 20+ years, is in online bsn and it's a completely joke and a waste of her time. I see no reason for experienced diploma/adn nurses to be pushed into bsn.

[Shortcake_BSn]

It's all about magnet status. In order for a hospital to be considered magnet, one of the stipulations is that a certain amount of BSN nurses is required. But there are a lot of hoops for hospitals to have to jump to in order to become magnet. As far as differences in scope of practice, there aren't any. That was just someone trying to put you down. Don't have further conversations with this person. Good luck in nursing school!!!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I was planning on trying to get a job after passing the NCLEX and doing an online bridge to BSN while working but now I'm a little concerned.

I see you are located in southern California, a part of the country that is infamous for its preference for BSN-educated new grad RNs.

Therefore, it might take a year or longer to secure employment with the ADN degree. In addition, you might need to accept non-hospital employment at a nursing home/SNF, home health company, group home, hospice, private duty case, prison infirmary, or jail intake center.

[Eschell2971, BSN]

Stop fretting! Just because someone is more or equally adamant about something does not mean they are right/you're wrong. This is an important life lesson, as well as in this instance.

All RNs must take and pass the NCLEX, which licenses you to work as an RN. Your ADN/BSN or other educational endeavors are just that, educational endeavors, which, at a minimum, the ADN degree, is the basic educational credential any RN must obtain BEFORE taking the NCLEX.

Some employers will hire ADN-RN graduates on the contingency that a BSN will be obtained in a specified amount of time. Some employers will only hire BSN-RN graduates. Some facilities (mostly Sub-acute, Transitional Care Units, LTC) will hire LPNs or RNs, and the educational level may or may not matter for hiring (the license is what matters), but, may make a difference in pay levels.

Finish where you are, what you have started and get your license as an RN. As you probably already know, many nurses, at all levels, continue their education, even some nurses who have been licensed for years are just obtaining their BSN degree. Do not be discouraged!

[TrunIzzy18]

This is absolutely a magnet thing. The more nurses a hospital has with higher degrees the more likely they will be awarded magnet status. This means more money for the hospitals through press ganey surveys!!!

[Sweetmemi, BSN, MSN]

I live in California and have been inform that hospitals are phasing out ADNs. The hospital I volunteer at no longer is hiring ADNs. I also asked a nurse anout her journey (30yrs as an RN) and she told me she had to do a bridge Rn-BSN program. So if you do end up going the ADN route, you will have to do a bridge program right after

[Shanua]

I recommend just looking at what your future plans are. Some positions and hospitals require a BSN. Some don't. What programs are closer to you? What are the costs? What is the graduation rates and NCLEX pass rates? Either route leads to being a nurse but you may want to make your choice based on future plans. If you want to work a specific place, see what they prefer. Look into the cost of ADN and then BSN or just BSN. Depending on where you live, it could be cheaper one way or another.

Everyone takes the same test. ADNs make great nurses as do BSN programs. To do certain positions such as leadership, management and education sometimes requires a BSN. Some hospitals won't hire ADNs or require it within 4 years.