Hospital Based RN Programs

Hi,

I graduated 27 years ago from a hospital based nursing school in Des Moines IA. You come out with more experience, but hospitals now are looking for BSN prepared RNs. I went back for my BSN in 1995 so I would be more marketable. Unfortunately, most BSN put you through hoops (writing countless papers, completing worthless care plans, etc). It takes BSN prepared RNs a year or two to catch up with the diploma graduates in my opinion. I would not change my path of nursing education. My hospital based program prepared me for my career.

I graduated in 1981 from an ADN program at a Community/Technical college and continued with college to obtain my BSN in 1985. I agree that as an ADN graduate I was prepared to go to the hospital environment, we had so much med-surg clinical experiences that I was very marketable at that time. There are very few hospital based Diploma RN programs, I will say most of the Diploma RNs that I have worked with over the years had the absolute best clinical training. They pretty much ran the hospitals. The ANA(American Nurses Association) had really made it difficult for these nurses to remain employable unless they continued their education for their BSN. The BSN programs have less clinical experiences but more theory and more integrated courses. I knew I was a good nurse when I graduated from my ADN, getting my BSN was to keep me on top of the requirements being mandated by the ANA. There are a few HB nursing programs in some hospitals in Delaware and Virginia that I know of. They are few and far between. You will still get a very good nursing education, but the market is calling for higher educated RNs so be aware that you may have difficulty finding work if you attend a HB program.

Diploma in Nursing - Bridgeport Hospital, CT

St. Margaret School of Nursing

Hey, check this one out! It has a picture of world-famous Kelly Thomas, RN! (anyone know what I'm referring to??)

Welcome to Lutheran School of Nursing

Hello, I'm interested in knowing if anyone recently graduated from a Hospital Based RN Program. I want to know if you feel like the training was adequate and if so where did you graduate. I know they are a rarity but I'm interested in attending a HB RN program.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

I think the question you really need an answer to first is whether you'd find employment in your geographic region (or any region you might plan to move to) without a college degree in nursing.

While it's true that diploma schools do still exist (and many have had EXCELLENT preparation for someone intent on a nursing career), today it is not only expected that a new grad have a nursing degree (not diploma) but most of the time, it's preferably a Bachelor's degree in nursing.

Just a good consideration before you get too far in your plans. Good luck!