Are LPN and Associate RN degrees really being phased or rumor??

SugarPlumRN · May 30, 2012

I have my ADN, my first job didn't "care" what degree I had, just as long I passed state boards. I have also worked as a hospice nurse case manager and now doing triage. My company now is encouraging me to go back for my BSN. I start next week. I am also going through the interview process with a large magnet hospital, which I must sign a contract that I will obtain my BSN within 3 years. It seems like BSN will be the requirement....

2BRN123 · May 30, 2012

It's hard for me to understand the whole Magnet status thing as it relates to Nursing degrees. If Magnet hospitals are requiring BSN's, why are there 3 Magnet hospitals in my city that have RN Diploma nursing programs???

malenurseFl · May 30, 2012

Sounds like the same old rumors. What the hospital wants and what they are going to get are two different things. Unless you want to be in the military I don't see any benefit in being a BSN.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 30, 2012

An overload of too many nurses are in local job markets in the U.S. due to the slumping economy. Many hospitals are now taking advantage of the current economic situation by either preferring or demanding nurses educated at the BSN level. After all, when you have 100 nurses applying for only 10 available jobs at the hospital, the BSN degree is an easy weed-out tool to minimize the number of nurses that they must interview and screen.

HelenaHandbasket · May 30, 2012

They have been "phasing out" LPNs for at least 30 years (as long as my mother has been an LPN!). There are still jobs out there. Same goes for ASNs.

I plan to continue to BSN as well, but I think each degree level has it's own niche in the field. A BSN might be over-qualified for an office nurse position.

As Medicare cuts continue and reimbursements continue to decline, companies won't be able to afford BSNs in all areas. The cold facts are LPNs and ADNs cost less to employ than BSNs. Until the state changes the scope of practice for LPNs and ADNs companies will always opt to employ only who will keep them within regs.

janice o. lvn · Jun 4, 2012

I know that many hospitals are now transitioning to "Magnet" status, and thus require all nursing to have BSN degrees. How will this affect LPN or associate RN nurses? Im greatful that I will be obtaining a BSN, but what about those who are satisfied with ASN and/or just dont care for continuing education??

I've been an LVN 12 years now an I've seen this before but not like this. Make no mistake, the ONLY reason hospitals are going to "Magnet" status is to increase their reimbursement levels as Medicare requires it. Bottom line...it's all about the money!

reagansm · Jun 5, 2012

I will graduate from an ADN program in December, and I have been hearing over and over that most of the hospitals in the market I live in will only hire BSN grads. They do not even care if you are already enrolled in a BSN program (which I will be). Actually I already have a Bachelors and could go straight into an MSN program but I have been hearing of hospitals that don't care if you have a MSN they want those 3 stupid letters. Right now y view of the RN to BSN program is a year of busy work that I am going to have to pay about $9000 for, so that I can add those 3 little insignificant letters. Believe me I will be MUCH more proud of my BFA and ADN than my BSN.

I do think that the hospitals are forcing out the ADN programs. One that has had its own program through my school, is no longer allowing us to have clinical there because they do not think it is right since they will not hire any of us!?! However, I am not sure about the LVNs, nursing homes are still using them - and they are cheaper than than RNs by a little at least.

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 5, 2012

I know that many hospitals are now transitioning to "Magnet" status, and thus require all nursing to have BSN degrees.

*** Magnet does NOT require hospitals to hire BSN nurses, or a certain percentage of BSN staff nurses. I sat in two hospitals Magnet commitees during their "Journy to Magnet" and I have seen the requirements. It's more a case that the hospital is Magnet, or seeking Magnet AND they wish to hire only BSN prepared RNs. The Magnet does NOT cause the BSN only hiring. Rather both are indicators of the mentaliety of the hospitals administration.

In my area of the country Magnet hospitals have aquires a well deserved reputation as not being good places to work, in particual among ER & ICU types. It was a happy day for me when I was able to find a great job at a non-Magnet hospital, though I continue to manain part time employment at the last Magnet hospital were I used to work full time.

"It's hard for me to understand the whole Magnet status thing as it relates to Nursing degrees. If Magnet hospitals are requiring BSN's, why are there 3 Magnet hospitals in my city that have RN Diploma nursing programs??? "

*** It's very simple, Magnet status is unrelated to nursing degrees for staff RNs. Magnet does require degrees for nursing leadership, but NOT for staff RNs.

niteguy65 · Jun 5, 2012

I know that many hospitals are now transitioning to "Magnet" status, and thus require all nursing to have BSN degrees. How will this affect LPN or associate RN nurses? Im greatful that I will be obtaining a BSN, but what about those who are satisfied with ASN and/or just dont care for continuing education??

I have seen several articles that there is a shift in education for the RN to have as a basic and it has been decided that the BSN should be the level I read an article in Nursing 2012 and all saw on medscape there is an article in which it states that New York will be the first state to require all RN's to have at least a BSN. The article stated that starting in 2015 they will no longer renew either diploma or ADN nurses and they will have 10 years to get their BSN or after the time they will simply not renew their license.

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 6, 2012

I have seen several articles that there is a shift in education for the RN to have as a basic and it has been decided that the BSN should be the level I read an article in Nursing 2012 and all saw on medscape there is an article in which it states that New York will be the first state to require all RN's to have at least a BSN.

*** I don't know how NY can be the first when North Dakota required BSNs for all RNs years ago. They had to eventualy drop the BSN requirement for obvious reasons.

The article stated that starting in 2015 they will no longer renew either diploma or ADN nurses and they will have 10 years to get their BSN or after the time they will simply not renew their license.

*** Never happen. If and when BSN becomes to sole entry point the diploma and ADN RNs will be grandfathered in. There is not other way it can possibly work. When pharmacy when the a preactice doctorate all the bachelors degree phramacists where gandfathered in. Same for NPs & CRNAs without masters degree, and for physical therapy. I see no reason why nursing would be different. Besides the whole BSN and sole entry point and DNP are all about nursing feeling it must ape the other professions.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2012

I have seen several articles that there is a shift in education for the RN to have as a basic and it has been decided that the BSN should be the level I read an article in Nursing 2012 and all saw on medscape there is an article in which it states that New York will be the first state to require all RN's to have at least a BSN. The article stated that starting in 2015 they will no longer renew either diploma or ADN nurses and they will have 10 years to get their BSN or after the time they will simply not renew their license.

Actually, North Dakota was the first state to legally mandate the BSN degree as the minimum entry level for nurses. This law went into effect back in 1987. The law was repealed in 2003 because too many nurses fled the state.