First, I do not want to challenge nurses with several years of clinical experience that are ADN or diploma trained nurses or those nurses that graduated recently with a ADN, and I do not want to challenge anyone by saying that there is a difference between the ADN versus the BSN prepared nurse.
There is a push for all nurses to be BSN prepared or for ADNs to achieve their BSN; however, there is no increase in wages for the majority of those with their BSN or those going from an ADN to a BSN. I find that as a workforce, we do not understand our worth. Why do we need the BSN as it costs more and it has no pay benefits. Students that have an ADN from a community college have less student loans, and they make the same a student that has a BSN; however, the BSN student has increased student debt with no increased monetary income to show for their degree.
I challenge the nursing workforce to acknowledge our value as a profession, and demand an increase in pay if we are to have a BSN. The current yearly income of a nurse is based on the costs of an ADN level of education; however, it does not match the cost of a BSN cost of education. If I am required or it is preferred that I have my BSN, I need to be paid accordingly. I do not practice nursing strictly for the income, but I do appreciate putting a dollar value on the work I do.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Are you saying your employer actively discriminates against those with a BSN? Is this because they are cheaper? Or, is it because the managers are the ones who lag in education and have not advanced their education level? Either way it does not speak well of your facility to put a hold on education.
My employer discriminates aginst BSNs in some areas. While both ADN grads and BSN grads are hired interchangably into the Critical Care Nurse residency program for MICU, NICU, PICU, PACU, L&D and ER, only ADN grads are hired into the program for the SICU.
FWIW ADN RNs have no trouble getting into NP programs. They do so all the time. I can name 8 or 9 NPs who work in my hospital right now who were ADNs who went to NP school. I know several others in NP school right now. There is no need for them to get a BSN to do it either.
The ironic thing about your comment is that it is the grad schools who are actually recognizing that ADNs are pretty much = BSN minus a few credits. That is exactly why there are so many ADN to MSN NP programs out there that allow ADNs to do 6-12 bridge credits and then enter the MSN NP program directly.
Please post some links.
I was not aware only an ADN was all it takes to get into NP school. Is this true in all states or just your state?
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
In your preadmission session do you explain about the advancing standards and that many employers now want a BSN? Or, do you paint a very rosy ADN picture and that it will be THE degree forever and nothing will every change?
I think there is very little debate about BSN for nurses. Where the debate is for entry to practice.
My employer discriminates aginst BSNs in some areas. While both ADN grads and BSN grads are hired interchangably into the Critical Care Nurse residency program for MICU, NICU, PICU, PACU, L&D and ER, only ADN grads are hired into the program for the SICU.
It is a Magnet hospital, very much up on EBP.
Is it because the ADNs are paid less or that employer knows they will not be job hopping since other hospitals may prefer BSNs?
Interesting that a Magnet hospital is not promoting higher education. Why bother with the Magnet status unless it is only a publicity stunt.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Is it because the ADNs are paid less
LOL!, Like most places nurses are not paid more or less depending on the degree they have. No, ADNs are not paid less.
or that employer knows they will not be job hopping since other hospitals may prefer BSNs?
Actually ADNs are seen as MORE likely to job hop, especialy when faced with poor/unsafe working envioments or poor treatment from managment. It's part of the reason so many hospitals prefer or require their grads to have BSNs.
Interesting that a Magnet hospital is not promoting higher education.
Wow! That statement is being made from a position of ignorance. Ignorance of both this particular health system and ignorance of Magnet.
Why bother with the Magnet status unless it is only a publicity stunt.
Uh, Magnet _IS_ a publicity stunt at best. It's whay so many of the better hospitals have dropped it. Our hospital has anounced it's intention to NOT seek recertification, like many of the better hospitals.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Don't fear the future.
LOL! Don't be absurd.
Nurses in the US are lagging behind what other health care professions and nurses in other countries have already gone through.
Really? What do you base this postion on? When I applied for my New Zealand RN license my ADN was evaluated and found to be equilevent with their 3 year BSN and I was granted a license. Have you ever worked as an RN in any other countries? I have and saw no evidence at all that US nurses were lagging behind in any area. Quite the opposite in my observation.
I am currently in a diploma program and one of my teachers last term told all of us level one students that it is definitely best to go on and get our BSN's after we get our RN. I definitely agree and plasm on doing so and am considering going further. I think it is going to take a while for this to become the entry level standard, and while I agree it should, I think the majority of the curriculum is the same across programs because you have to be prepared for the nclex. Not everyone gets accepted to BSN programs right away, I got wait listed for one. I am still very happy that I got into a program and I absolutely love it. I'm honestly not that worried about finding a job after graduating because my program is hospital based and they aren't going to not hire their own graduates and I will get my BSN one day. I just think right now people's situations have a major impact on the route they take and in the end we will all be licensed RN's.
Really? What do you base this postion on? When I applied for my New Zealand RN license my ADN was evaluated and found to be equilevent with their 3 year BSN and I was granted a license. Have you ever worked as an RN in any other countries? I have and saw no evidence at all that US nurses were lagging behind in any area. Quite the opposite in my observation.
You may laugh at the advancement of education for nurses in the future but I still believe the BSN is possible as the entry.
Are you working in NZ now?
Working in another country is on my bucket list. But, some of us have already been to other countries through the military and do have some idea of their medical systems.
I base my opinion on the many nursing journals and personal experience. They have provided more factual resources without resorting to all the drama which is what you have presented.
There are many published comparisons for nursing in different countries.
It is also very difficult to make the comparison in "years" due to the difference in the educational system. It is a known fact that the US does lag in this area as a whole. Most European, Canadian, UK and Australian countries are doing what we consider "community college" studies while in their equivalent of high school.
I have also been fortunate to work with NP who have at least a Masters and DNP from universities. I can not believe they would be granted a license with such responsibility after only an ADN and a rather quick NP course from what seems to be private colleges. I guess I will have to lower my opinion or expectations of NPs now since I see entry is relatively easy. I will be more diligent in double checking with a doctor on the orders written by them. Thank you for enlightening me.
Our ICUs use only BSN degreed RNs. Those who were ADNs got wise several years ago and advanced their education. They do get paid more for their step level and their ability to float to several areas throughout the hospital. NICU is probably one of the exceptions but even then they can float to a different nursery. From your many posts I get it that you are not pro BSN and probably because you don't want to go back to school. But that does not mean education or the BSN is bad. Look at all the other professions which have raised their standards. It would be very naïve to say you have not noticed this or taken note of the fact that CMS loves education.
Take off the blinders. Medicine is advancing. Haven't you noticed all the well educated professionals you work with in all the different disciplines? Change happens. You can not keep living in the past assuming your ADN will always be adequate. I also take it to be true you have not worked in NZ to know what it is like and if your ADN is really equivalent.
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PMFB-RN, RN
5,351 Posts
My employer discriminates aginst BSNs in some areas. While both ADN grads and BSN grads are hired interchangably into the Critical Care Nurse residency program for MICU, NICU, PICU, PACU, L&D and ER, only ADN grads are hired into the program for the SICU.
It is a Magnet hospital, very much up on EBP.