Is having a ADN useless these days?

Students ADN/BSN

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Do employers favor those with a BSN ?

PMFB-RN, RN

5,351 Posts

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Some do. It very much depends on where you live. My hospital hired 8 new grads for it's nurse residency program (currently only for specialty areas like SICU, MICU, PICU, ER & PACU). Four of them are ADN grads. I know this because they post nurse resident profiles on the hospital intranet.

onetiredmomma

295 Posts

I think the only time employers pay more for BSN is speciality areas. The Children's Hospital in Denver has always had a BSN only requirement as far as I know. Sometimes an ad will say required or preferred but I know plenty of people who have ADNs and have still applied and gotten the job.

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Since the economy has turned to crap and the so-called nursing shortage has gone away in many areas, it's interesting to see how some employers are strongly favoring new grad BSNs over new grad ADNs. My state BON did a survey of new grads and found ADNs are experiencing higher rates of unemployment compared to BSNs.

It makes me think, at times, that employers were just tolerating us new grad ADNs due to the shortage.

CrazierThanYou

1,917 Posts

All the above statements are probably accurate but I would hardly say the degree was "useless".

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
All the above statements are probably accurate but I would hardly say the degree was "useless".

Right. An RN license is a very, very valuable thing.

PMFB-RN, RN

5,351 Posts

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I think the only time employers pay more for BSN is speciality areas. quote]

*** Here in Wisconsin no hospital I know of pays any more for a BSN, or for that matter an MSN. There may be some I don't know about, but I can say for sure than non of the large hospitals here pay any more for a BSN. Across the river in Minnesota they do but it's a paltry amount. Seems to me that if BSNs where so valuable then they would pay them more.

morphed

230 Posts

Since the economy has turned to crap and the so-called nursing shortage has gone away in many areas, it's interesting to see how some employers are strongly favoring new grad BSNs over new grad ADNs. My state BON did a survey of new grads and found ADNs are experiencing higher rates of unemployment compared to BSNs.

It makes me think, at times, that employers were just tolerating us new grad ADNs due to the shortage.

I don't think they were just tolerating ADNs, but I think now that they have the option of hiring someone with a higher level of education, they will. Here, a new grad BSN gets hired for only 10 CENTS more per hour than the ADN. So, basically for 10 CENTS more they get someone with a higher level of education. Business wise, it makes sense. Plus, the BSN will have less limitations than an ADN. For example, some places require charge nurses to be BSNs. I've also heared that some ICUs require you have a BSN.

Indy, LPN, LVN

1,444 Posts

Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

My ADN is not remotely anything that I would call useless. Nor do I see anyone in my area preferring to hire BSN's. I do see management positions asking for batchelor's degrees, that's it. I am about as interested in management as I am in watching paint dry.

Specializes in Home Health Care.

Not in my area (Iowa). ADN's are wanted and needed. There is no pay difference for bedside BSN.

This melarchy has been rumored for years. So has phasing out LPN's. It "aint gonna happen." Every so many years hiring trends freak nurses out to boost the BSN programs. Associate Degree RN's and LPN's are here to stay. We are cost effective. You do the math.

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
This melarchy has been rumored for years. So has phasing out LPN's. It "aint gonna happen." Every so many years hiring trends freak nurses out to boost the BSN programs. Associate Degree RN's and LPN's are here to stay. We are cost effective. You do the math.

An experienced ADN will beat a new grad BSN 99.9% of the time for hospital jobs. I think the issue is more relevant for new grads.

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