Different job markets for ADN's & BSN's?

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Do Associate Degree Registered Nurses Fare Differently in the Nurse Labor Market Compared to Baccalaureate-Prepared RNs? David I. Auerbach, PhD, Peter I. Buerhaus, PhD, RN, FAAN, Douglas O. Staiger, PhD

Disclosures Nurs Econ. 2015;33(1):8-12.

Link to full article (via Medscape): Medscape: Medscape Access

The ADN vs BSN topic has been beaten almost to death, but there has not been a lot of objectivity in many of the arguments. This recent article in Nursing Economics is a dispassionate look on the ADN-BSN debate and is worth reading. Among its observations:

• There has been a rapid increase in ADN educational programs over the last 10 years.
  
• ADN-prepared RNs appear to be experiencing diverging labor market outcomes from BSN-prepared RNs - 82% of new BSN graduates were employed in hospitals within 18 months of graduation compared to 67% of ADN graduates.
  
• It is unclear whether ADNs are shifting away from hospital settings out of necessity because hospital jobs are unavailable, or if their skill set is better suited for less-acute nonhospital patients.
  
• ADN programs may find it in their interest to specialize in, and focus on, the kinds of skills increasingly critical to enhanced ambulatory settings such as care coordination, communication, teamwork, population health, and education and prevention.
  

[anewsns]

Many ADN candidates do this as a cheaper and faster option and desire to pursue their BSN afterwards and go into acute care. I think continuing to do clinicals the way they are is wise if we're all going to be taking the same test. all of us need to be as

prepared as possible to do our jobs. However, it would be nice to have like maybe 6 month (or 4 month, or whatever ) possibly optional practicum in our field of choice before starting work. Would make us more marketable and prepared and cost less for hospitals when training ASN RNs

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I think a big issue though, is that the NCLEX is so acute-care focused--good, bad, or indifferent. Nursing school has to prepare students to sit the NCLEX.

I'd also hate to see ADNs have all this training primarily focused on non-acute and ambulatory care, and then have difficulty finding jobs. I mean a lot of those positions are going to LPNs and MAs. I do think all nursing programs need to teach more about these settings because of healthcare in general becoming more focused in this area...but for that to be the primary focus at the expense of other foci for thousands of nursing students, when clinic positions for RNs are relatively scarce...that's not maximizing their chances of getting jobs.

Also, many of the skills listed in your final bullet point are huge priorities for public health nurses. Who need at least a BSN.

[smartnurse1982]

I think a big issue though, is that the NCLEX is so acute-care focused--good, bad, or indifferent. Nursing school has to prepare students to sit the NCLEX.

I'd also hate to see ADNs have all this training primarily focused on non-acute and ambulatory care, and then have difficulty finding jobs. I mean a lot of those positions are going to LPNs and MAs.

You would think that the jobs are going to Lpn's and MA's but in my area LTC facilities are asking for Rn's with any degree.

I believe that Adn's are being pushed to non-acute care roles,and i actually think that Associate Degree programs should focus on that.

[eggyweggy, MSN, RN]

Hmmm. My ADN program was very acute-care focused and had very little content geared toward other types if nursing. My RN-BSN program was primarily public health oriented. In terms of nursing skills, I did not enhance my knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, prioritization, or critical thinking in my BSN program. I did, however, learn mad personal time management skills due to juggling school, a fulltime job, and a family. I also learned how to quickly spew out 12 pages of APA formatted regurgitation of whatever the professor wanted to hear. I learned a lot about community health, which I found interesting and relevant, though not terribly useful on the job.

But....jumping through the hoops for my BSN did open more doors for me professionally and also came with a higher starting salary.

Doing the ADN program and working while completing my BSN was more cost effective for me as I earned more working as a ADN in home care and LTC than I did in my non-nursing career. Many of my LPN coworkers have said that they know they will have limited opportunities if they don't get their RN eventually. I think the same holds true for the ADN prepared nurse that doesn't go on for the BSN.

I don't think the content of the ADN program should change to reflect the reality of the job market, though. If we all have to sit for the same NCLEX, then the focus of the ADN program still needs to be acute care. I'm not convinced that four semesters of fluff and paper-writing makes me a better nurse, but my employer seems to think it is worth something and hence the push for a workforce of BSN prepared nurses.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I guess I live in the only area in the country where ADNs work in hospitals. Why should ADN programs focus on nursing homes? My clinical rotations are done at the same places as BSN programs and we all take the same test. This just happens to be what works for me right now. And from what I have seen I shouldn't have an issue finding a job.

[Newbie_RN17]

My ADN program did a majority of first semester clinicals at a LTC facility (I was in the only clinical group in acute care). However, all of us who have found jobs are in acute care in different specialties; OR, ICU, ER, Med-Surg, and Ortho being the ones I know of. I think it varies by where you live and the nursing job market in said area.