Are there any ADN advocates out there??

[pbstrums]

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.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

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...

This had been pushed for over twenty years. I doubt it's just about money. If anyone was really serious about it they would stop letting ADN grads take the NCLEX.