ADN's trouble finding jobs?

U.S.A. Texas

Published

Specializes in NICU.

My boyfriend graduates from nursing school next week with an ADN (San Antonio.) He has been told by two local hospital organizations so far that while his application looks great, they are only hiring BSN's. Are other ADN grads finding this to be true?

While we knew getting a BSN is going to be necessary and he will continue on to BSN as soon as he passes NCLEX we didn't think this transition to BSN only hospitals would be happening so soon. I graduated only two years ago with an ADN and didn't find my ADN status to be a problem.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I'm in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Several major hospital systems in the local area have stopped hiring ADN-educated new grads. Their externships and new grad residency programs are open only to BSN grads.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

As usual, Commuter is right on target.

Pretty much all the larger hospital systems in Texas that haven't already achieved Magnet designation are moving in that direction. This means that 80% of their RNs must be BSN or higher. This is in line with recommendation #4 of the IOM's 2010 report "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health" This recommendation is for an 80% BSN workforce by 2020. All of the recommendations are evidence-based & clearly associated with improved quality and safety of patient care outcomes. If you haven't read it, I would urge to to do so. Here's a link to the IOM report -- The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health - Institute of Medicine

I believe that ADN nurses will continue to be welcomed into non-acute care settings, but acute care (including LTACs) are trying to go with the IOM goals. In Texas at least, achieving the IOM goal by the target date of 2020 is very doubtful, but the effort will continue. There is a silver lining for ADNs who are already employed - employers are providing an increasing amount of support for them to obtain BSNs.

Question - Are nursing schools informing potential students of this situation? I really think it would be unethical if ADN programs fail to inform their students because it has such a huge impact on their job prospects.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Question - Are nursing schools informing potential students of this situation? I really think it would be unethical if ADN programs fail to inform their students because it has such a huge impact on their job prospects.

agreed! i just graduated on 12/13 and my school has a very good reputation in the greater houston/houston area. our program director made it no secret she "expects" us to continue our education, both for our own educational curiosity/growth and because the tx med center primarily hires bsn graduates.

that said, the vast majority of may 2012 grads who arent in a bsn program full time have gained employment at this time, in one way or another. and a couple do indeed work in the med center!

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What about the RNs enrolled in RN to BSN program right after graduation?

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