Can a hospital legally force you to get your bsn if you are an adn

srgmom · Dec 15, 2010

Quite frankly,. I see this hospital struggling to staff. They would be stupid to get rid of experienced RNs with an ADN in favor of new BSNs...I am all for more education but I do not get paid anymore for having a BSN vs an ADN. I am currently in school for a BSN with plans to get MSN. I have been a nurse for 23 years and just get tired of the crap about the BSN arguement. We are a profession that struggles daily to have enough help as it is. So much needs to change and the fight about BSN is just so ridiculous.

icunurse42066 · Dec 15, 2010

So do they pay for it or reimburse? Yes...there is a difference. For me, I haven't obtained my BSN because I can not afford to go back to school. I don't have the money to pay out in order to be compensated back. I can not get a student loan (as i am so far in debt with loans from when I was in school) Nor do I have extra time in my schedule for classes with work and family and kids.
I have been a nurse for 6 years and thought for sure I could pay down my loans enough by now to go back to school and get my BSN. But life happens. Financial hardship happens, family happens. I really don't see it happening for a long time. I don't feel i have missed out on anything either. I have been a charge nurse. I have been a case manager, I have been relief PACU coordinator, and I have been offered DON before (but I was wanting out of the facility so declined). All things I was told in college I could never do without my BSN.

Totally agree!!!! I would love to go back and get my BSN and even my MSN, however, financially I can't afford it right now as I have a child getting ready to start college. If the employer wants to pay for my BSN, then YES I would go back, in a heartbeat!!! On the same lines, there is a hospital close to home that has said for years that they are going to stop hiring LPN's and hire strictly RN's, but yet, they continue to hire LPN's every time there is a graduating class

renge1 · Dec 15, 2010

Hello lv2brn

I am an lpn/lvn have been for 15 years. At the hospital that I worked at for almost 4 years, we were told in april 2010 that they were not going to hire anymore LPN. In sept 2010 we were told that by 2012/2013 the hospital would become RN BSN only............so saying it without saying it "we dont want LPN"......They finally encouraged LPN to get their RN, but those of us that are in RN school, we still would not have a BSN by 2012 or 2013......so still without telling us they dont want LPN....( we read between the lines) the LPNs are giving their notice and or slowly getting terminated or threats of termination for minor reasons. When I started working there there was at least 10-12 LPN we are down to 4.....................so i guess if you want to keep your job you can comply and get for BSN.

they arent working with us for school/work days....only certain people.....as for as reimbursement.....2500 per year if you are paying out of pocket.......6,000 per year or 500.oo per month but you have to work a year for each year they assist you and you have to be accepted into program already

irenekui · Dec 16, 2010

One word of caution regarding Excelsior. There is at least one state that will not approve graduates from Excelsior to sit for the NCLEX-RN for initial licensure -- i.e., not for the ADN or for the BSN if the degree granted is the one that made one eligible for licensure. It is possible, of course, for the new grad to go to a nearby state to get approved to sit for the exam and, if they pass, get a license. The person can then be licensed by reciprocity in the state I was in. I don't know about acceptance of a BSN earned from Excelsior as a prerequisite for a masters degree at other colleges and universities. Maybe someone else will know. Just keep that in mind as you pursue your dreams. Of course, there are a lot of other colleges and universities offering RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs where the didactic portion is online and the clinical experiences can be arranged local to where the student lives/works. If the institution offering the degree is appropriately accredited, the degree will be accepted everywhere. Many of those programs will allow the student to extend the time to finish the degree over several years. Just get online and start looking -- and ask around where you work to see if anyone recommends a specific program.

Obtaining a license by reprocity is becoming hard too for example CA, you pratically have to send transcripts of your school to them for review, GA as well even though you are an experienced nurse and have a license from other states you still have to meet their educational standards. I would not do Excelsior college, you will have trouble finding a state to let you do the NCLEX-RN without clinical requirements met. And if you did then that would mean you would have to stay in that state forever. Too many risks.

elkpark · Dec 16, 2010

What is the differance in a BSN ,to a ADN a couple of history classes and some more bio classes,

That's just not true -- I don't believe anyone is suggesting that BSN-prepared nurses are "smarter" than ADN-prepared nurses, or, by definition, "better" nurses, but there is no dispute that BSN programs contain more specific nursing content than ADN programs, and specific nursing content that is not included in ADN programs.

I'm not arguing that that means that BSN programs are necessarily "better" than ADN programs, but there definitely is a difference between the programs besides just the additional general ed courses.

dnewboles · Dec 16, 2010

Of course they can do this! They have every right to determine what the requirements for employment are.

Most places will give you 5 years to get started.

Guest717236 · Dec 17, 2010

I have been a nurse for 23 years and just get tired of the crap about the BSN arguement. We are a profession that struggles daily to have enough help as it is. So much needs to change and the fight about BSN is just so ridiculous.

I am a nurse for over 23 years, and many of us were caught in this BSN transition. This could have been solved by respecting a few different avenues of path to RN.

The original concept was to have the BSN as entry level,

however it was difficult years ago to work full time and also

attain a BSN. There were differences then, no internet, no online courses;), no part time classes for a BSN.

I agree with srgmom, help should be honored on all levels.

As an aside..

Nursing leaders need to be open minded. As a young business major I also took pre nursing as my electives.

.

My wish was to get two degrees, a BS in Management,and a BSN. I had good grades and graduated first in business.

My business professors were excited about a new technology involving computers and health records and the transfer of records via computer.

It would be a field that would need the input of nurses.

Talk about mistakes! When I met with the Dean I mentioned the above new field. I let her know I wanted to work in the nursing field,

but also help to design software for nurses and health systems.

Again in the 70s there were no laptop computers or pcs, and many of us could not imagine the scope of the

internet....

Well, she roared with laughter over my pipe dream and totally dismissed my request to talk with one of my professors....

Her parting words, "I would never waste a nursing student position on a foolish idea as this.....I only want real nurses"

The pipe dream is now called Nursing Informatics....

Weebee, LVN · Mar 16, 2011

Well Legal???? HELL NO... No once can LEGALLY Force anyone to do anything....

BUT

If you want to stay employed at that hospital.......

caliotter3 · Mar 16, 2011

No, they can't force you to further your education, but they can terminate your employment if you refuse to meet their standards.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2011

The hospitals are pushing this in order to obtain Maggot Status...I mean Magnet Status.

Weebee, LVN · Mar 17, 2011

The hospitals are pushing this in order to obtain Maggot Status...I mean Magnet Status.

I see this "Magnet" word being tossed around a lot in these forums... can someone explain to me what your refusing to?

Chin up · Mar 17, 2011

Yep, Absolutely, yes.