BSNs Need Not Apply

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I work in the SICU of a fairly large (by area standards) Magnet (whoop-T-doo) hospital. We have a 7 month Critical Care Nurse Residency program for new grads to go directly into the critical care units. It used to only be open to BSN grads. In 2006 they admitted their first ADN prepared new grad (me). The residency program requires signing a two year contract with a buy out if a nurse chooses not to continue to work for two years. After several years of 2/3 or more of each class buying out their contract after one year to go off to CRNA school and, ever increasing buy out cost, they decided not to recruit or hire new grad BSNs into the program anymore. Starting with the new class (Feb 2009) all nurses hired into the residency program will be ADN or diploma grads. This was explained to us in our unit meeting yesterday.

Currently ADN prepared nurses are far outnumbered by BSN nurses (both in the hospital and the SICU). there are even more RNs with MSNs working in our unit than RNs with ADNs.

The thinking is that ADN prepared RNs are less likely to go off to CRNA school and even if they do it will take them two years to get their BSN and they will fulfill their contract.

[RN1982]

How wonderful for them to think that. I'm an ADN prepared nurse working in SICU and am attending a university to obtain my BSN and shortly after that will apply to CRNA school. The administrators at your hospital are fools.

[RN1982]

I'd like to add that its sick and digusting how this hospital is perpetuating a rivalry between ADN/BSN. As if one is better over another.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

It sounds like your unit is actually interested in retention which is a positive thing, even if they are going about it in a twisted way.

That wonderful 7-month residency/orientation program can only be maintained as long as there is strong leadership within the unit. A revolving door does not promote that goal.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I guess they think that the ADNs will need to spend some time getting their BSNs first.

Still that's no way to recruit. It's offensive to all nurses, IMO.

What they should do is raise the cost of the buyout.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I'd like to add that its sick and digusting how this hospital is perpetuating a rivalry between ADN/BSN. As if one is better over another.

*** I agree with you that they are going about it the wrong way. However they certainly are not perpetuating a rivalry between ADN/BSN. They have basically discovered that one is not better than the other but that ADN nurses tend to stay in the unit longer.

Those hospitals perpetuating a rivalry are those that put "BSN prefered" in front of their job opening IMO.

[RN1982]

Probably true. And I wish hospitals would rid themselves of "BSN preferred" for staff RN positions.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I guess they think that the ADNs will need to spend some time getting their BSNs first.

*** That is exactly the thinking.

Still that's no way to recruit. It's offensive to all nurses, IMO.

*** No more or less ofensive that "BSN only" job adds.

What they should do is raise the cost of the buyout.

*** They have with every class. Currently $12K.

[Jolie, BSN]

I guess they think that the ADNs will need to spend some time getting their BSNs first.

Still that's no way to recruit. It's offensive to all nurses, IMO.

What they should do is raise the cost of the buyout.

Or create a working environment conducive to long term employment.

Just imagine if they created a cooperative program with a local university that allowed nurses to work part-time while studying part-time in an advanced practice program. They would retain their staff (probably for an average of 2-4 years), promote continuing education which would benefit the staff and patients, and have a ready supply of advanced-practice nurses already familiar with the hospital.

Naw! That would just be asking way too much!

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

*** No more or less ofensive that "BSN only" job adds.

Oh, I agree. And I don't even apply at jobs that say BSN preferred.

I'm in my ADN-BSN program now, and I still wont' apply at those places. They're on their own..

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

The reality is that BSN-prepared nurses are more likely to move from the floor. And I can't blame them. But that sure doesn't help the unit.

It does, however, stink that getting more education is limiting opportunity for them.

[Lovely_RN, MSN]

This is only unfair to the BSN nurses who plan to stay at the bedside for a while.