BSN Required?

[latebloomer74, LPN]

Is a BSN required to work in a children's hospital?

[llg, PhD, RN]

Technically, the answer is "No." However, children's hospitals tend to be very popular places to work and there are generally many many applicants for every open position. Where I work (a children's hospital), with this bad economy... we are getting several dozen applicants for every open position.

A lot of hospitals (like mine) are being very particular about who we hire these days. We tend to hire nurses with experience (with children or as a nurse) and/or new grads who have done externships, preceptorships, CNA's, etc. in a pediatric setting. While we do hire some ADN's, we do prefer to hire BSN's if all other things are equal. In order to get hired, the ADN has to have something "extra" -- such as previous experience.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

llg, I wish that were the case at my workplace! It seems our manager will hire anyone with a pulse.

[latebloomer74, LPN]

Technically, the answer is "No." However, children's hospitals tend to be very popular places to work and there are generally many many applicants for every open position. Where I work (a children's hospital), with this bad economy... we are getting several dozen applicants for every open position.

A lot of hospitals (like mine) are being very particular about who we hire these days. We tend to hire nurses with experience (with children or as a nurse) and/or new grads who have done externships, preceptorships, CNA's, etc. in a pediatric setting. While we do hire some ADN's, we do prefer to hire BSN's if all other things are equal. In order to get hired, the ADN has to have something "extra" -- such as previous experience.

Does having 4 year old twins count as experience with children? I'm thinking no, but you know....lol

[llg, PhD, RN]

No, I'm afraid not. It doesn't count.

[latebloomer74, LPN]

No, I'm afraid not. It doesn't count.

Darn. Thanks for the advice, I'll keep it in mind for the future:):)

[Redhead28]

If Peds is your passion go ahead and apply. A BSN does not make someone a better nurse.

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

I think a lot of it depends on the area where your trying to work. In some places (especially the bigger cities) it seems to be that larger hospitals require new grads to have a BSN or else be an ADN with at least a year of previous experience. But if Peds. is your passion then do whatever you can to get yourself in there.

!Chris

[HelloooNurse84]

BSN is technically not required. I say apply also. I was told that I would never get a job in peds as an LPN and I have been working in pediatrics for 5 years now. I love it. I am back in school for my ADN and plan to stay in pediatrics as well.

[guiltysins]

Depends on your area. in NYC the children's hospitals prefer and usually only hired BSN nurses.

[caliotter3]

Generally, no. But some specific hospitals may require the BSN to apply for RN positions, or persons with a BSN degree may have an advantage in the selection process.

[CLC172]

Go ahead and apply. I'm a new grad ADN and I didn't think I had a prayer to get hired at the hospital I recently started working for in their RN Internship program. I did volunteer for them for 6 months to get my foot in the door, and to get to know people. Nowadays, getting hired at ANY hospital is at least partly dependent on who you know. This is a Magnet-designated teaching hospital in a very large city, located right next door to a large university with a nursing BSN program. That being said, out of the 25 new grads the hospital hired, 5 of us were ADNs. But you'll never know if you don't try!! Every community hospital I talked to required not BSNs, but experienced RNs for pediatrics. Good luck!