Hospitals only hiring BSN degrees, and no ADN?

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Nov 6, 2011

Is anyone else having an issue in their area about hospitals only wanting to hire BSN degrees and not ADN? I'm just curious what the thought process behind that is? Do BSN RNs receive a "better" education than ADN in your opinion? I know they receive MORE classes, but does it distinguish abilities in your experience?

It depends on the leadership at the particular hospital. The hospital I worked as CNA at cancelled their their new grad hiring altogether and will only accept BSN grads when they starting hiring again. Meanwhile, those bozos are hiring contract and travel nurses to fill needed positions. I'm glad they only take BSN candidates because I would probably be working there now.

The hospital that hired me is a magnet hospital, happily hires ADN grads, is part of a huge network of hospitals and clinics, and is in orders of magnitude better financial shape than the one that will only accept BSN new grads.

In this economy, many hospitals have the "luxury" of accepting only BSN candidates. I think this hurts that hospital in the long run, but that is their choice. When the job market swings back a little (as it always does) they will hire ADN grads.

I would suggest you look up an RN-BSN program and check out their course requirements to see exactly what classes separate the ADN from the BSN.

From my personal experience, what distinguishes one new grad nurse from another is their experience in direct patient care. The inexperienced ones don't develop as fast but catch up eventually.

jennileigh8182 · Nov 9, 2011

It really depends on the program. I am graduating from an accelerated second degree BSN program next month, and we put in more clinical hours than most other nursing programs in the area...BSN or ADN. It's one of the reasons I chose the program I did. Typically, we've spent the equivalent of one entire day/week in lecture, then 2-3 full clinical days/week throughout the program. Our program began last September and I'm graduating next month, so it was a quick, intense program with lots of hands on experience. Also, we have 4 men out of our class of 27. At my school, the traditional BSN program, which is 3 years, is actually heavier with men than the accelerated program...so I disagree with the anti-men argument.

Magnet status DOES have something to do with BSN v. ADN hiring. While hospitals don't have to ONLY hire BSNs, they do have to show that a certain percentage of their staff has advanced degrees, not just the minimum required by the state to practice.

For me, it took, I think, 1 month longer to get my BSN as compared to my ADN, and it was from a better quality school. I'm not content to remain a floor nurse long term; I'll work it for a few years, get some experience, then will be look at a DNP program or moving into education or management within the facility. To do the RN-to-BSN bridge program is 2 years. 1 month and a little more debt made more sense to me than 2 years later, especially when I know I'm not stopping with my BSN.

PMFB-RN, RN · Nov 9, 2011

Magnet status DOES have something to do with BSN v. ADN hiring. While hospitals don't have to ONLY hire BSNs, they do have to show that a certain percentage of their staff has advanced degrees, not just the minimum required by the state to practice.

*** Except that is true at all. The ANCC, as of 2003 the CNO must have a masters degree, though it doesn't need to be in nursing if there is a bachelors in nursing. As of this year (2011) 75% of nurse leaders (managers) must have a BSN or higher in nursing, as 2013 100% of nurse leader must have a bachelors or higher in nursing. There is no requirement for a certain percentage of staff nurses to have BSNs.

http://www.nursecredentialing.org/OrgEligibilityRequirements.aspx