Florida Nurses: Hospital Acceptance only for those with BSN?

Nurses General Nursing

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Is it true that in order to be hired by a Hospital, you must now have your BSN and that hospitals are no longer accepting those with their Associates in Nursing Degree? My goal is to obtain my Associates degree in Nursing, but now I am not so sure what path to go on... Advice? Suggestions? Thank you.

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

The health system I'm working for is hiring almost exclusively ADNs, at least on my unit. But pretty much everyone who isn't a new grad is in an online RN to BSN program, so I wouldn't be surprised if there's a policy that you have to get your BSN within a certain amount of time.

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I can't speak for Florida, but certainly this is the trend in the NorthEast. The big 3 hospitals in my state all prefer BSN nurses in the most acute areas, but a couple still hire ADNs in some of the lower acuity specialties. You could always do your ADN and then do an RN to BSN program, but the risk is that you can't get an acute care job straight out of school which might make it harder to get in to acute care once you get your BSN. Having an ADN and no inpatient experience might hurt your chances of getting a foot in the door. I find BSN nurses have a greater choice.

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

I just realized I didn't specify that I'm in Florida. Yes, a BSN gives you more options. But if an ADN is what you can afford, go for it. Maybe you don't get into the more competitive, large teaching hospitals, but you can get in to a hospital with an ADN no problem. At least in the St Pete/Tampa bay area.

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