BSN Only? Give me a break!!

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  1. BSN only need to apply

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I have been a RN since 1989, graduated with a ASN. Since that time I worked in ICU, Open heart surgery, PICU, Med/Surg and Behavioral Health. I have had the pleasure to have worked as a Nurse Executive only to be told after 25 years to get a BSN. I have a BS in Public Policy and Organizational Leadership and Master of Arts in Theology/Counseling. I asked my employee why after working 13 years a their Executive Nurse on Med/Surg/Peds that they thought I needed a BSN. No answer just demands or lose my job. I told them to stuff it! At 57 I was not going back to school for a BSN when it would only achieve increasing my debt ratio.

Since then I haven't been able to hire on anywhere but a Nursing Home. Let me tell you it is a blessing to work in geriatrics, yet the BSN's that work there are clueless, needing alot of training and retraining which I don't mind doing. It just saddens me that at the end of my career Nursing still has its quirks like they did in the 80's. Remember the period when medical assistants where hired to work in ICUs? That fiasco lasted less then a year.

God bless all of you who have had to face this new fiasco of BSN only apply. I am wondering who agrees with BSN only need to apply?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

employers may advertise any old way they prefer.

with the current number of nurses looking for work in some markets there is no incentive for employers to be more inclusive in their hiring practices.

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I'm puzzled by your fifth option on your poll. "Legislate to get rid of BSN only need apply"?? No state legislature is going to pass a law telling employers they can't require a higher than minimum education level for potential employees.

Regardless of what any of us may think about this trend in nursing employment, employers can and (many) do choose to require (or, at least, prefer) BSNs of their nursing applicants. The "handwriting has been on the wall" on this issue for many years now (and there are a kazillion threads on this topic on this site). I'm surprised by the number of people who post here who seem to have been caught unawares by this. We can disagree with the idea, and get righteously indignant about it, as much as we like, but it is what it is. It's not likely to change until there once again is a real nursing shortage, and, even then, it might not change.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

I understand your frustration at the situation. You have a lot of experience and on top of that your are "bachelor/masters-prepared" if not a BSN.

In your 25 years and 13 years at the exec level did you never have an employer that offered tuition reimbursement?

Sent from my iPhone.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

This is a much discussed topic, and practice seem to vary by region and specialty. Some areas it is impossible to get a hospital position at all without a BSN, other areas ADN is fine. I doubt if there are many ADN educated nurses in acute care management, but in LTC there are ADN RN and LPN managers.

I am sorry you got stuck in this spot, and I don't blame you at all for not wanting to take on student debt at this point in your life. If I had decided on a hospital supervisory career track I would probably be in the same boat with you. Fortunately for me I prefer LTC and live in an area where having an ADN degree doesn't hold me back. However, if I for some unforeseen reason decided to switch to an acute care setting I would probably have a hard time finding a job between my age [well north of 40], my years of experience and degree.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Unfortunately, you are just now experiencing what I experienced as an LPN. But being an RN in your position, you haven't been privy (or have been blinded) to the struggles of your subordinates. I come with a shipload of acute care experience with the majority of it being as an LPN. Who knows? I could have been the one who knocked on your door while you were in management, but the guard dogs at the gate wouldn't let me in because I was "just an LPN". So, I went back and got the RN. Knocked on the door again and was told "congrats on getting the RN but you're 'just an ASN'; we want a BSN". So, I took my time, but i 'just' completed the BSN. But I apologize in advance for the next employer who feels compelled to tell me what I'm 'just'.

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Yep, it's a mess. I'm in my 40's. I have a BS in Biology/Chemistry, and am an LPN. Total of 23 years working ED within various titles. And completely barred from doing what I do best. Still trying to figure out how I'm going to afford additional schooling. I have family members, and a girlfriend with children that depend on me. I'm really not sure how this is going to play out, but I keep searching for something I can afford.

Except, when I do find a program I can utilize, I'm not stopping at BSN. If one thing remains clear following these moves, it's that getting ahead of the bar carries the uptmost importance. I've no desire to be in this position all over again in 10 years or so.

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BSN is not required in many areas of nursing. Just need to get away from the bedside.

I have an ASN, work for a large insurance company.

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BSN is not required in many areas of nursing. Just need to get away from the bedside.

I have an ASN, work for a large insurance company.

I'm curious about the insurance jobs. When you have the time; could you share some more information? Possibly resources? This sounds like something I could get into that's more stable than working agency. And could really be helpful? PM me if you feel it necessary...

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

I don't have a problem with it for new nurses, but I do think RNs already in the field should be grandfathered in. I think the schools need to get on board though, because in all the time I've been going to school, a bachelors wouldn't be any different than what I'm doing. Taking all the pre-reqs and THEN entering the program to end up with TWO associate degrees. Drives me insane that there aren't any schools near me that offer BSN unless you're already an RN.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Oh, but wait, Guys! That's not the end of it! You now need to make sure that your degree is a BSN and not a BSn. Yep, that's right! Since BSN is the going thing these days and some of us did or are going back, the infamous 'they' have decided to complicate things even further. It seems that there is a difference between a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing. Someone started a thread here on this a few weeks back and I decided to just lurk on that thread because I figured "really"? But then a couple of days ago, I got a call from a potential employer who wanted to clarify that I indeed had a BSN and not a BSn.

Whoever is attacking the nursing profession like this really should be removed from position. Are they doing the same thing to those with other Bachelor of Science degrees? With the three or four doorways into nursing, are they now trying to split one of those doorways as a means to force even those with a BSn to go back and take a few more courses? If it's money that 'they' seek, why not just cut to the chase and say, "unless your BSn cost $$$$$ dollars, we're not going to accept it as the BSN.

FWIW, mine is a BSN and if it's the other one that you seek, I'm happy to report that I'm not interested in working for you as I choose not to work for anyone who insists on continuing to divide this profession. What difference does it make! I took the same NCLEX a as every single RN in this country. Is the NCSBN being questioned as to why an ASN, BSn, and BSN are all delivered the exact same exam? I don't think so!

BTW, I still don't know what the difference is. Is one prelicensure and the other is not? I think I will google this...:down:

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I am wondering if anyone can rationally explain what makes a 25 years RN Veteran who has a BS in another field and a MA in another field less qualifed than a new grad with a BSN or even a 5 year Vet with a BSN. My position is any BS or MA will prepare a person to research and write white pages as well as manage other.

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