I heard some news today from a hospital secretary that saddened me. I am coming to you guys to see if any of you heard anything about this. Starting in January 2010 I am told that nurses in Florida have to have their BSN in order to work. They are getting rid of LPNs and cutting down on nurse techs responsibilities (more work for the nurse). This is supposed to be state wide. Please tell me that this was just some rumor.
For the moment it is a facility requirement only and not state. Some of the hospitals in my area are starting to require BSN even to get scheduled for an interview. It's not happening now but I do forsee it in the future. Particularly with todays economy and if it continues the facilities can "pick and choose" as they see fit. St. Augustine requires BSN now. I think if you have time to knock it out now in preparation for down the road - do it. I recently interviewed for 2 different research nurse positions who also now require BSN only.
My mother graduated from LICH with a nursing diploma in 1958. Since she first "passed her boards", there have been rumors that you HAVE to have a BSN and it is just about to happen. She has been retired for years!
My sister did get her BSN in 1983....and it was this week they announced that the hospital was going BSN only for new hires.....(on long island, ny)....my brother got his ADN 4 yrs ago and is making over 6 figures working in oncology in Manhattan. {Prime example of hospital not state policy}
Next, I am in NE FL. In both Baptist dwntwn and OPMC (where I have done clinicals) all the nurses I met were ADNs (with 1 or 2 LPNs and a handful of PCTs). At OP, the one I worked with on Sunday just finished her 1 yr mark after having graduated with her ADN at FSCJ.
Rumors like this fly all the time. As the economy continues to rebound, censuses (sp?) will increase and the need for RNs with it. Hiring will resume even for GNs.
It can't hurt to go for your BSN someday.....but I don't think there is a huge rush. (JMHO)
I did hear that they will grandfather ADNs in and they have to get their BSN within a certain time (some hospitals will pay for it) however this would not be good news for students who are looking forward to working when they get their license because some of the hospitals here are on a hiring freeze. Traveling would be the best thing to do but for some it is not feasible.
I don't know anything about Florida in particular, but as I recall there has only been one State that has ever required BSN+ for RN licensure. It was either North or South Dakota. And then they revoked that requirement a few years later as they couldn't staff their hospitals. Their populations are nowhere near that of Florida so I can't imagine Florida would shoot itself in the foot that way. The hospital I worked for in Florida was not near a university and I bet there were only about 10-15% BSN's.
I support BSN only for RN licensure, wish I had gone that route, but lack the inspiration at this point to do anything different. There is no financial incentive if I want to do what I'm currently doing and I don't have aspirations to "climb the ladder".
I work at a hospital that does not employ LPNs. My hospital is applying for magnet status so they are "encouraging" all the nurses to get their BSN. Eventually, they will switch over to hiring only BSNs to be in compliance with the magnet status or so they say. They are currently removing all non-BSN nurses from charge positions.
If someone really implements something like that to just work, my facility will be out of an entire MDS department! Well, I guess no one will have a job then, cause if there's no MDS, there is no facility payment.
There's a difference between individual hospitals requiring BSN and the entire State. The hospital where I work is a magnet facility and they "encourage" BSN, but I would estimate 50% of the RN's are hired with an ADN, though many do go back to school. Many go back to school in part due to the support from the facility.
In addition, very few LPN's/LVN's work in the acute care facility, none in the ICU areas. They are employed in the long term areas. I would venture to say that if we were more rural and further away from the multiple RN nursing schools, it would likely employ more LVN's in the acute care areas.
What I've seen where I live is that hospitals do not hire LPNs, 2 yr RNs are hired and encouraged to get BSN. But right now there's a lack of new jobs for new grad LPNs and RNs.
Not true at all. THe hospital I work in has recently hired both LPNs and ADNs, and there is no push for ADNs to get their BSN. Additionally, local schools are still offering LPN and ADN programs.
OnceMore
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Hospitals in my area are listing postions for both ADNs and LPNs so I doubt it is true.