Associate and Diploma RNs

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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I am diploma RN and I feel I have just as much skill and knowledge as a BSN prepared RN coming out of school now being that I have been in the field for 20+ years...but I now feel as if we are being pushed out of the hospitals as more and more go to a policy of hiring only BSN RNs. What to you think?

Specializes in Critical Care.

The hype might exceed the actual differences in finding and keeping a job with an ADN vs BSN. The only numbers I'm aware of show only a 4% difference in the likelihood of finding a job at 6 months post graduation. My employer has included "BSN or MSN preferred" for all bedside positions for almost 10 years, the postings are written by someone in another state. The managers who actually do the hiring typically have no preference.

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I was really just interested more in peoples thoughts on this subject.... maybe I should have worded the thread differently. I think this will further stress a system that is already about to its breaking point. I am more than half way through my career...I have 1 kid in college and next year I will have another one starting college. Going back to school for me is not an option...but like I said earlier, if I did it would be for something else...not nursing. There will be jobs...the hospitals are not the only places to work. I am not concerned about that. Just wanted to throw it out there and see what others thought.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

There are many, many threads on the BSN requirement debate over in the Registered Nurses: Diploma/ADN/BSN category farther down from the general nursing discussion.

You are correct that the "BSN-in-10" rule would exacerbate the already short career span of the average nurse. Continuing education is a must in nursing, regardless of degree. As ADN to BSN program become more workable for nurses, particularly nurses with families and other factors that aren't really conducive to more traditional ADN to BSN programs, the requirement might have more of a chance.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

The thing is, though, is that in most of the country, it's not "stressed to its breaking point" - in most places, there are about 50 applicants for every open position. So hospitals are able to be more choosy, and pick the ones with the best CV, including greater education.

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Specializes in HIV.

Unfortunately (for some), the BSN is the wave of the future. I started as an ADN and quickly obtained my BSN afterwards with zero debt incurred, instead of going straight into a 50K BSN program. I'm glad I got my Bachelors degree. I've always wanted to do so. I think nurses, as all other professions do, should try for higher education continuously. However, I am debating on going to grad school for something entirely different than nursing, because the BS is crawling up the walls in nursing.

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Specializes in ICU.

More education is not a bad thing.

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Nursing just happens to be a profession where there's lots of entry points to any given position.

Diploma RN's work for a number of years, may get certifications, work successfully--all the same as an ADN or BSN. After any number of years, it is made known that to continue to do your job exactly the same as you have for a number of years, you now need to go back to school and get a higher degree. Not because with the number of years you have put into the position have been unsuccessful, but rather some non-specific reasons known only to facilities.

This strikes a chord in many a successful nurse. However, there are more than one of a facility who will not consider anyone other than a BSN moving forward. And start the "you need to get your BSN" to the current nursing staff. Not because we all stink at what we do, the patients are not well cared for, or any reason that is clear. And that makes people who need to work do a bit of a panic. Especially nurses who are paid, and become competent in. making conclusions based on facts present. And there's not a whole lot of facts present when a unit is a successful one, diploma nurses, ADN's, etc who run the place.

Again, by master prepared managers who lack much nursing experience, but have a great deal of business skill. And facilities may be in the business of people, but the people are wayyyyy down on the ladder when talking about the bottom line.

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Specializes in ICU.

It's a true story. I got my AAS in 2005 and was able to get a job before even passing the NCLEX. Life changes made me transition out of the ICU after 5 years and that didn't work out so well and finding jobs even though I had critical care experience, the job descriptions were saying they consider new grads with BSN's and experience will not be considered an equivalent.

ive worked with some BSN's where were far less competent than I. It's a truth. But no one really cares.

i have a non bedside job that hired me without my BSN. I planned on staying here forever, but with the IPPS changes, my future is uncertain. So I am taking advantage of the tuition reimbursement and finally after 9 years, I'm getting my BSN.

whether I like it or not, it is what is.

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It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I know here the schools are having trouble filling the the nursing spots. Fewer RNs graduating and then a lot can't pass the NCLEX after they do and give up. Both of my kids said they wanted to become RNs but I have talked both of them out of it. Telling them it is not the same profession I went into years ago. I guess after all these years I am a little burned out. People are not the same, we are abused a lot more than we were when I started...and we used to be taken up for some...not anymore....the patient is ALWAYS right! Sorry got a bit off topic there.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I know here the schools are having trouble filling the the nursing spots. Fewer RNs graduating and then a lot can't pass the NCLEX after they do and give up. Both of my kids said they wanted to become RNs but I have talked both of them out of it. Telling them it is not the same profession I went into years ago. I guess after all these years I am a little burned out. People are not the same, we are abused a lot more than we were when I started...and we used to be taken up for some...not anymore....the patient is ALWAYS right! Sorry got a bit off topic there.

I know nursing is not the same profession it was 20 years ago, but you should let your kids decide what career path they want, even if it is nursing. Also, I wonder how much of this is do to your geographic area, as nurses in the South tend to be paid less and treated with less respect compared to nurses in other areas of the country. I work in a major urban city as an RN, I have a manager that stands up for me, I am paid a fair wage and make more than my husband with his white collar job.

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OP I totally understand where you are coming from. Trust me, if I had your experience I would not bother with getting my BSN. I personally believe experience outweighs a BSN any day. I would rather have a experienced nurse care for me then a new grad BSN any day. Unfortunately, if I want to keep my job as a bedside nurse I have to get my BSN, so therefore I'm in a BSN program at the time. Everyone has different goals in life. If everyone was meant to have a BSN we would not have CNA's, LPNs, ADNs, and etc. Ofcourse there is never any thing wrong with education but that is not everyone's goal and I respect that.

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Specializes in ICU.

The other reality is hospitals want to achieve magnet status which requires 80% of their staff to be BSN trained. So while they may maintain their associates nurses, they surely aren't going to hire a new one.

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