ADN and travel?

Published

Just wondering how limiting a 2 year degree will be when looking for travel contracts? Is it enough to just be a good hard working nurse or will having a 2 year degree come into play when looking for MS contracts? Just kinda planning ahead. I only have about 1 year MS exp at this time so I'm not there quite yet.

Specializes in Neurology.

Cross country trav corp hired me when I only had my ADN. They work with Nova Pro and a slew of other companies. As long as you have a year of med/surg, it is not a problem.

Specializes in ICU, and IR.

Agreed I am a traveler with only an ASN, however I am working on my BSN and will be done this summer. There are a number of BSN programs that are online you could do while traveling...Some companies give tuition reimbursement too so check with the company you work for if you truly want to get your BSN. I have heard that NY requires a BSN but I have not confirmed that.

A particular hospital may require a BSN but no nurse practice act requires it. Travel assignments requiring a BSN are very rare, an ADN or diploma is enough to keep you busy as a traveler.

Depends on where you go. NYC and New England hospitals prefer BSNs. I have an ADN so I just don't go there. I stay in California where there are plenty of travel jobs for ADNs.

Specializes in OB.
Depends on where you go. NYC and New England hospitals prefer BSNs. I have an ADN so I just don't go there. I stay in California where there are plenty of travel jobs for ADNs.

I have worked multiple contracts in CT, NH, and ME With an ADN.

Why is it that travelers are excused from this requirement?

Does anyone think this may be a problem in coming years?

Specializes in ICU, and IR.
Why is it that travelers are excused from this requirement?

Does anyone think this may be a problem in coming years?

we all take the same boards I don't see the issue, I think this has only been a hot topic since magnet recognition requires a certain percentage of BSN.

Why is it that travelers are excused from this requirement?

Does anyone think this may be a problem in coming years?

BSN, or working towards one, is a staff requirement. Nothing to do with any BON requirement, and the hospital is certainly free to employ any licensed nurse - or may choose not to. So far, the number of affected hospitals as a percentage of all hospitals is rather small, and even smaller for those requiring BSN prepared travelers.

The deal with getting travelers is experience trumps education every time (for any rational manager). Rapid functionality. Theoretical educational concerns or magnet status are unimportant compared with having a nurse who has never worked at your facility before practice safely and competently with a minimum of orientation.

I would certainly recommend to anyone considering nursing to go for BSN if they have no previous college. The total time required for an ADN versus a BSN is only one semester. Kind of a no brainer!

North Dakota experimented with a BSN entry level for RN back in the 1980s. Total failure and has left an ongoing mess once they reverted. Back then, the plurality of nurses were diploma prepared so you can picture why it failed. Now there is a plurality of BSN prepared nurses so such an experiment could be tried again I suppose with a higher likelihood of successful implementation. But any such a trend toward a BON BSN RN requirement is probably at least another 20 years away before a majority of states can implement it. I would think ADNs would be grandfathered in any state(s) in which they were licensed.

Non-issue for this ADN holder. Only for those considering nursing degree options.

+ Join the Discussion