Is having a ADN useless these days?

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Do employers favor those with a BSN ?

I know for sure Children's hosp. Los Angeles only takes BSN into their residency program but as soon as the baby boomer's start to retire the demand will shoot up again and everyone will be hurting for RN's.

Just so you know, a certain country that already supplies nurses to the USA has been making some interesting noises lately. If one "Googles" this country along with "BSN nurses", more than a few news article appear stating clearly that as hospitals and other clinical settings in this country move towards BSN nurses, there simply won't be an adequate domestic supply, and guess who is gearing up to send all those "BSN" nurses to these shores?

Said country for years now has been revamping it's nursing education programs, moving to four year nurses versus two degree, and unless nurses on the ground in the USA get involved *now*, future ADN grads may find themselves replaced by immigrant BSN nurses.

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Said country starts with a P and used to be ruled by the US up until 1946, right?

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i'm in the new york area, many more hospitals are hiring BSN nurses, however, the pay differential is about 50 bucks more than an ADN nurse.

but I encourage everyone to get a BSN just for job security. Its more marketable and flexible. ADN is very limited if you want to go up the later in nursing career...

Say this as one who has an Associates degree in a non-nursing major; all two year degrees are pretty much limited to whatever field/major they are granted. Found out the hard way that many employer's do not even consider an A.A.S or whatever a even a "college degree".

If not just for nursing, having a BSN means one has a four year college degree which puts you on an even footing with other college grads, and that includes employment outside the healthcare area.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Having an ADN is not useless, but it really depends on what part of the country you live in right now. I know that some hospitals are moving towards magnet status, which will require all their nurses to have BSN's.

*** That is a myth. I don't how that particular myth became so common but a myth it is.

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Said country starts with a P and used to be ruled by the US up until 1946, right?

Give the young lady a Cupie Doll!:D

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Just so you know, a certain country that already supplies nurses to the USA has been making some interesting noises lately. If one "Googles" this country along with "BSN nurses", more than a few news article appear stating clearly that as hospitals and other clinical settings in this country move towards BSN nurses, there simply won't be an adequate domestic supply, and guess who is gearing up to send all those "BSN" nurses to these shores?

Said country for years now has been revamping it's nursing education programs, moving to four year nurses versus two degree, and unless nurses on the ground in the USA get involved *now*, future ADN grads may find themselves replaced by immigrant BSN nurses.

*** I don't buy that for a second. Sure the BSN might be used as an excuse to import those nurses but not the real reason. I suspect the real reason have more to do with getting more subservient nurses, less likely to stand up for themselves as new immigrants often are. That plus reduced wages for all nurses.

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I don't think any amount of education is useless.

However, I do wonder why nursing is the only profession that tends to criticize/devalue higher education. It really, really boggles my mind. :mad:

I 100% agree with you. For some reason there are some nurses out there that think just because they can get by with the bare minimum, they never have to improve themselves again. To be honest, I would much rather hire a new grad BSN that values education than an ADN with 25 years of experience. I mentioned previously that here there is a 10 cent difference in pay for new ADNs and BSNs, but that would not deter me from pursuing higher education and I think it's a shame that some people don't think it's worth it. Those aren't the type of people I want to work with.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I know that some hospitals are moving towards magnet status, which will require all their nurses to have BSN's.

As someone else mentioned, this is not true. I can speak from experience - I have an ADN and was just hired at a magnet hospital.

I believe magnet status requires a certain percentage of your RNs to have a BSN or to be working on it. I don't think there is an actual specified percentage, though.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

24 years in the ER as an ADN. I have to change my phone number to get recruiters to leave me alone. Recently got a generic BS for intrinsic reasons, hasn't made any differance to the recruiters. My feeling is experience comes first and ADN vs BSN isn't a big issue. At least not anywhere I've been.

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A lot of nurses with 5 plus years experience are saying that not having a bsn didn't stop them in their careers. But its a different place and time now,and someone like me would absolutely need a bsn to compete. The need to become marketable and employable,and if I attain a bsn and make 10 cent more in a hsopital the thing is at least I was considered for the job. Some places I know when they see adn. They probably pass over the resume.

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I have an ADN and four years of experience as an RN and I have had *no* problems finding work when I recently relocated to a different state. I was hired with no problems, and this was a magnet hospital.

You are lucky,but not too many adn grads are. In Nj adns are no longer being considered for hospital positions,so therefore most,like me,cannot even get in the door for the experience.

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Specializes in NICU, Vascular, Oncology, Telemetry.

I do know that by 2020 all Magnet facilities will have BSN-only prepared nurses. I'm starting to see some Magnet hospitals already acting on this -- here is a direct quote from a hospital job opening for an experienced RN:

"Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. BSN is required within five years of hire. Current RNs must obtain a BSN or be actively enrolled in a BSN program by 2020. "

Obviously this is Magnet specific, but I do foresee it becoming the standard.

I myself have my ADN but have decided I better get moving on my BSN. I had a Bachelor's in another field and didn't really have much motivation to get my BSN, but have changed my mind. It's something I want for myself and my future.

Is an ADN useless? Heck no! Only if you don't use it. ADN=RN=valuable.

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