BSN bigotry

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D.Nurse, BA, RN-BC

This should be the credentials behind many of our nurse's names but it seems this new push for "magnet" would have our accomplishments squelched and ignored completely. Indeed, Bachelor's educated women were sought out as nurses and even fast tracked through nursing schools, they were deemed so valuable. According to the nurses credentialing site, the highest EDUCATIONAL degree is listed FIRST as it cannot be taken away from you. These degrees are usually on campus not online. Many of us have twice over the number of hours a nurse has with an ADN plus online RN to BSN program. When I started working I was rewarded for my bachelors on the career ladder. Now it's for BSN only. How fair is it to change the rules in the middle or end of someone's game? Career nurses with years of experience being forced back in the classroom or early retirement?. Where is our grandfather clause? When did job and military experience stop being valued and acknowledged in the workplace?

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I'm really interested in what you are talking about but I can't keep up with the lingo. I am about to embark on Nursing school where I will hopefully come out with an RN, BSN. Can you explain in a dumbed down version what you are saying? Are you saying employers are putting more stock in the bachelors grads than the seasoned and far more experienced nurses?

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From my reading, it seems to me that the poster has a Bachelors degree in something else besides nursing and feels that employers used to take that degree into account, but now only recognizes BSN. They feel that past experience is no longer being valued compared to just having a BSN.

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I think in OP's case experience should keep them relevant to their career. If it was a new grad with OP's type of degree and no experience then I might understand the employer's perspective. I hope they aren't trying to phase the OP out simply because they have a different degree, their experience should be enough right?

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On a side note I hate when hospitals and nursing homes get rid of seasoned CNAs and Nurses. It makes me nervous working with a bunch of newbies!

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They are phasing out RN without BSNs in magnet hospitals. We have not gotten anyone to address nurses who already have a Bachelors degree as opposed to RNs with only associates or diplomas.

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Sorry, but what is OP?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Transplant..
Sorry, but what is OP?

OP = original poster

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When you say that you have 'twice the number of hours' as an ADN with online bachelors, are you referring to clinical hours during schooling? Or are you referring to overall hours of experience working as a BSN?

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They are phasing out RN without BSNs in magnet hospitals. We have not gotten anyone to address nurses who already have a Bachelors degree as opposed to RNs with only associates or diplomas.

I can understand the frustration of not getting the recognition you deserve for holding other degrees. But I always find it helpful to reframe these kinds of issues. What is your BA in, and how much would a nursing degree benefit you professionally in that field?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Just like other bachelor degrees, a BSN curriculum is focused on nursing. Although all education is definitely valuable, not all bachelor degrees are equivalent. Also - the push for BSN is actually based upon the 2010 IOM report in which the results of a very large study produced evidence that higher percentages of BSN staff had a significantly positive effect upon acute care patient outcomes. The recommendation was subsequently incorporated into Magnet criteria.

Employers can change the rules (of employment) whenever they like - as long as they don't violate legal statutes or labor agreements. I would assume this is what OP's employer did. I understand OP's resentment and feeling experience and loyalty are being disregarded. It may not been deemed as 'fair', but fairness is not actually a mandate in employment situations. My advice? Vote with your feet - seek employment with an organization that is more aligned with your values.

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

Moved to the RN/Diploma/ADN/BSN forum for more replies.

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