Is having an ADN really a terrible choice?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Hello!! I just recently graduated with an ADN degree one week ago and waiting to take my boards. I been.an LPN 8yrs amd finally decided togo back for my RN anf here i am...but i digress...

Is having an ADN REALLY that? I already have a job lined up and i will be starting soon....the main reason i offered the position was becuz of my RN completion and i will be takin my NCLEX soon. Grant it, it at a LTAC facility but i figure this is a great way for me to get experience and.not become part of the sooo many new grads (ADN&BSN) that are not employed becuz they soooo desire to work in a hospital.

So please can someone clarify, IS HAVING AN A.D.N. DEGREE A TERRIBLE HORRIBLE NO GOOD VERY BAD WASTE??

(some post i read sure makes it feel that way) :-(

If you don't phase anybody out,guess what?

Too many nurses and not enough jobs,similiar to what's happening now.

All OUR wages would decrease because the pool of nurses would be large,and degrees and titles would mean

NOTHING.

I think Adn Rn should be downgraded to Lpn,and Lpn to something else,maybe nurse tech?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

As a former LPN, I do not support "phasing out". There are a lot of areas besides acute care, and I think it would probably be hard to attract RNs to these positions (i.e., methadone clinics, corrections).

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
I think Adn Rn should be downgraded to Lpn,and Lpn to something else,maybe nurse tech?

And I suppose you think Diploma RNs should be down-graded to what...housekeeping?

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Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.
BSN Prepared Nurses Connected to Fewer Patient Deaths

This is one of the reason. New York will stop hiring ADN next year. I don't know which classes BSN students take which is not in the ADN program but if that equates to lesser mortality, BSN is worth pursuing.

Hmmmmmm, I had not heard New York was not hiring ADN's anymore...where exactly did you get that information from? Kind of interesting considering the article you posted is from Pennsylvania.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Hmmmmmm I had not heard New York was not hiring ADN's anymore...where exactly did you get that information from? Kind of interesting considering the article you posted is from Pennsylvania.[/quote']

NY is pushing hard for it, though the bill did not pass in 2012, it is up again for 2013.

http://www.aorn.org/News.aspx?id=24283

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
My question is why are you considering phasing out LPNs? I work in an acute care hospital that is doing just that. We have lost a lot of experienced very smart nurses. Nurses that taught me a lot. I understand that there are different levels of nursing care, however, just because the initials behind your name state LPN doesn't meant that they are less of a nurse than one that has BSN behind theirs.[/quote']

^This... :yes: Former LPN here...let's be safe and not state opinions unless one has had the education and the full scope and opportunities as an LPN...I was an IV therapy certified, step down rehab nurse that basically had the same scope as the RNs I worked with side by side-some RNS I worked with couldn't draw off PICC lines; I wasn't just proficient at the "tasks" however I still have the education of nursing knowledge; LPNs don't necessarily have "less knowledge", we still are educated the SAME; in order to know our scope we have to know the same knowledge as the RN and the providers; SAME thing in a RN program.

The ONLY reason I went for my BSN is a) I couldn't become certified in my specialty or ANY specialty and b) saw that ADN and BSN was the same amount of time, and cost; made more sense to get the higher degree. My CC has a high tuition rate for YEARS...wasn't any cheaper to go that route at ALL...plus they didn't have a part time program to allow me to continue to pay my bills and work. Best decision for ME.

I agree...NO ONE needs to be phased out; the issue is what has happened now-a shortage of experienced nurses from phasing out those LPNs.

To get back on track to the thread, the writing is on wall; nursing and healthcare is changing; a competent nurse prepares for the changes; was well as questions the changes objectively; if it looks funny, that's where the advocacy comes in; get involved and push back...more toward better wages, and safe staffing...pushing back against education ONLY (not tuition reimbursement) is a questionable view; how about become involved in tailoring nursing into the Benner model and helping it shape nursing to be better suited???

This is a horse that doesn't need to be beaten, but suitable to ride IMHO.

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MissChrissy,why should phase out either Lpn or Adn?

Why not phase out both?

What's going to happen to Adn's? Can you really downgrade them to Lpn's?

You do realize those are 2 different degrees?

(I personally favor phasing out the Lpn,as they have the least education of all nurses)

Also,I don't understand how people can talk about phasing out Adn's when they have more education than Lpn's.

Why is no one thinking about phasing out Lpn's?

You must be a joy to work with....love the superior nurse attitude....ugh.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I don't understand why some folks seem so bent on eliminating LPNs or ADNs. There's plenty of room for everyone. AT least most of the debate is now laying off diploma nurses . . . THAT debate went on for thirty years!

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I think the benefits of having an ADN greatly depend on where you live. Speaking as an LVN in southern CA, the market is so ridiculously saturated with LVNs as well as ADNs. I'm taking the LVN to BSN bridge because I have no other choice. LVNs were phased out of hospitals here and ADNs are quickly heading down the same path. It's near impossible to find work here as a new grad ADN or LVN, yet schools are pumping them out by the hundreds. I'm sure there's many opportunities for ADNs in other parts of the country, but it's not the best choice in my neck of the woods.

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For those that didn't understand me,I want the USA nursing education similar to Canada. There,lpn's are 2 yr degrees nurses,and Rn's have Bsn.Something I wish people would stop saying......there isn't enough room for everyone. This is one of the reasons we have unemployed new grads; we don't have room to absorb them,because there aren't that many jobs.

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^This... :yes: Former LPN here...let's be safe and not state opinions unless one has had the education and the full scope and opportunities as an LPN...I was an IV therapy certified, step down rehab nurse that basically had the same scope as the RNs I worked with side by side-some RNS I worked with couldn't draw off PICC lines; I wasn't just proficient at the "tasks" however I still have the education of nursing knowledge; LPNs don't necessarily have "less knowledge", we still are educated the SAME; in order to know our scope we have to know the same knowledge as the RN and the providers; SAME thing in a RN program. I was an lpn 6 yrs ago.The ONLY reason I went for my BSN is a) I couldn't become certified in my specialty or ANY specialty and b) saw that ADN and BSN was the same amount of time, and cost; made more sense to get the higher degree. My CC has a high tuition rate for YEARS...wasn't any cheaper to go that route at ALL...plus they didn't have a part time program to allow me to continue to pay my bills and work. Best decision for ME.I agree...NO ONE needs to be phased out; the issue is what has happened now-a shortage of experienced nurses from phasing out those LPNs.To get back on track to the thread, the writing is on wall; nursing and healthcare is changing; a competent nurse prepares for the changes; was well as questions the changes objectively; if it looks funny, that's where the advocacy comes in; get involved and push back...more toward better wages, and safe staffing...pushing back against education ONLY (not tuition reimbursement) is a questionable view; how about become involved in tailoring nursing into the Benner model and helping it shape nursing to be better suited???This is a horse that doesn't need to be beaten, but suitable to ride IMHO.
I was an lpn six yrs ago. My scope of practice in NJ was limited. I could not do an initial assessment,couldn't go near Iv's, and couldn't insert g buttons. Even if an lpn was iv certified,they weren't allowed to do anything with them.
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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I was an lpn six yrs ago. My scope of practice in NJ was limited. I could not do an initial assessmentcouldn't go near Iv's, and couldn't insert g buttons. Even if an lpn was iv certified,they weren't allowed to do anything with them.[/quote']

That is my point; if you were in a neighbor state, you could do this; depending on the scope and facilities; I am from one of those neighbor states; an this neighbor state JUST expanded scope of practice of all nurses recently.

There is a place for everyone because no one state or facility operates the same; you can't paint a brush on education until there is a uniform standards of care for all facilities; until then, which least likely is to change anytime soon, there will be room for EVERYONE, at least experienced-the "experienced nurse shortage" is us to the cuts of LPNs at the acute care level...more shortages will come if they cut ADNs...a high percentage of these nurses were very proficient and were excellent educators and preceptors. There is room for EVERY ONE of those competent nurse who are and have been on the phasing block; the new generation of nurses NEEDS these nurses, and millions of patients need them too. :yes:

The main issue is to stop pumping out new grads, invest in the nurses now, and start to help nurses transition into areas of research, advocacy and education (clinically and academically) and community settings where the nursing care is needed.

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