Get your BSN or "Get Out"

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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The entire nursing staff at my facility received word from management and HR that the ADN/RN staff have less than ten years to get at least a BSN degree. All RN positions by "D Day" will be required to be filled by an RN with a BSN degree or they will essentially be fired. There are more than a few ADN RN's affected where I work. I feel really bad for all the ADN's. I have so many questions;

Is BSN the new ADN? Is this happening anywhere else? Is it really legal to be able to re-write the conditions of employment after you're already hired when it comes to level of education? There is no grandfathering in of ADN's unless they've hit the big 6 0 by "D Day". I'd really like to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Some places (like my hospital) only allow five years. Ten years is VERY generous, so really, if you can't find time to do a couple more semesters' worth of schooling in the next decade, that is all on you.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

It seems extremely silly. But yes, they can do that. And ten years is good notice. It still strikes me as extremely silly.

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What is happening here is that some of the hospitals have had BSN required for quite some time and have stood by that without wavering. Other hospitals are beginning to say that and issue ultimatums to existing staff with time limits of approximately five years (by 2018 edict issued in 2013). In addition the ADN programs are having difficultly procuring clinical sites because the hospitals are saying, "We aren't going to hire your grads; why should we give clinical time." The ADN programs are now beginning to partner with the 4-year schools so that the ADN student can get their RNs and at the same time complete a few BSN classes. So they are dual registered with the 4 year school. The BSN classes are done during summers or other breaks, I think. One thing I found frustrating about my ADN program was the amount of off time off for holiday breaks and summer. It would have been good to be able to use that time to make some headway to the BSN. The message to the ADN students now is, you need a BSN ... and put the MSN on your radar screen too if you plan to practice in a major metropolitan city. New grad ADN nurses are still able to get jobs here in some of the smaller, more rural hospitals. Experienced ADN nurse are having great difficulty getting jobs in the metropolitan hospitals and new grads it is next to impossible, even if currently enrolled in BSN program. There are some exceptions made in a few of the hospitals less committed to the all BSN staff concept. One of the major hospital chains here just hired a slew of new nurses for a PACU training program and some of them were ADN nurses. So it makes you wonder because they are saying one thing and doing another.

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Specializes in ER.

In all honesty, while I don't agree with it it is the wave of the future. In all fields what was once a high school job people need at least an associate degree. What an associate degree could do will now be a bachelors degree. It's the same for all fields. It is a bit sad but that's the way it is going to go.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
There are several programs to get your BSN in

Agree. :yes:

OP, I wouldn't wait for the 'shortage' to return; if you like your employer, find out what schools they may have some agreement (reduced tuition, etc.) and go from there.

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Specializes in ER.

My advise to anyone is to start working on that pesky BSN right now! I'm in my mid-50s, so won't be bothering with it, but if I were 10 yrs younger I'd already be signed up. The writing is on the wall, ladies and gentlemen. It's they way things are going.

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10 years? Wow that is generous! In ten years, mine will be in college. I have been able to do the BSN classes one at a time and it will only take about a year. If I were to double up classes I could knock it out in 8mos. I like my one at a time for now. It is the phase and the the future of nursing. I am choosing to go before they tell me I am required however I have a feeling it wont be long.

Good luck!

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Racket ! Yes, as one that has been an ADN for over twenty years ,and just finished my BSN recently and multiple certifications - I can honestly call the push for BSN -again- Racket . Even worse, with the right people presenting their very own Evidence Based Practice ( with the backing of Universities=more tuition $ ) nurses may find (coming to a theater near you ) themselves looking at MSN to empty bed pans . Don't be fooled it's all money-CEUs, Certifications , BSN,MSN, etc. all about money-just keep us coming back. Matter of fact , if you have the time and no budget you can have it all. You see , when I was in the military (USMC) if a guy/gal attended a speciality school i.e Combat Diver , EOD, Scout /Sniper, Tanker, etc. when he/she came back to the unit and a situation arouse for that speciality it was time for that person to " Cowboy Up " because no one else in the unit had been trained. Go figure , nothing changed after getting a BSN/Certs ( No Cowboy Up ! ) but lost time and tution reimbursement money. I'm still doing the same thing that I could have continued to do with an ADN ,and that would be everything except L&D and actual surgery . You name it I can do it.

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