just to let you know..

i think CHOP is "bsn preferred" but they must look at other criteria...i was hired as a new grad from a cooperative diploma program...i do have a 4-yr degree (BS in psychology & early childhood education) but not a bsn. i have a strong academic history and hospital / healthcare work experience but, obviously, no RN experience. :)

Where exactly is this going on??

This is news to me.

I was also told Jefferson is only hiring BSN's, not sure if it is set in stone yet.

I was searching for RN jobs for May which is when I graduate and saw that there were a lot of new RN jobs posted on Pennsy Hospital website but all of them say "BSN required." So I called up HR today and they told me as of March 1 they are only hiring BSN grads. If you really want to work there and have an associates/diploma, I guess it doesn't hurt to apply.

As far as CHOP, I'm not too sure about what their deal is, but like rntobenj said, I have noticed it does say "BSN preferred" not "BSN required." I have a BS in accounting and I was told that doesn't mean anything.

I heard from fellow classmates that Jeff is only hiring students who have an ASN if they currently work there now as a nurse extern. However, that's what other students told me. That's not from HR directly so if you are interested in working there I would look into that.

Good Luck!!

Now, maybe I have a lil' bit of a biased opinion with my diploma-program RN and Bachelor's in another field....

But.. you would think with the state of nursing practice today, and the extreme shortage of nursing that a facility would not be so omnipotent... to only accept BSN's???

I think it has to do with trying to get Magnet status.

Most Magnet hospitals employ a mixture of diploma, ADN, and BSN nurses and consider having this diversity an asset.

Don't get to upset. I have seen hospitals do that in the past. They had to back down pretty quick when the shortages got sever. We will see.

OMG, you all have me scared to death to apply to the 3 diploma programs I'm interested in.

I had all but decided to do the BSN at LaSalle or Holy Family (Im still trying to decide...uggghhh) or the diploma program at one of the hospitals in the area.

After reading this, I just don't know what to do now. HELP!!!!!!! :smackingf

MsDizzyDolores- When I first found out about this I was freaking out. I especially got fired up when I took the Hessi and got my results.. They give you one chart that shows how well people in associate programs vs. those in bachelor programs. Well guess what? The people in asscoiate programs did better than those in bachelor programs!!! But I do get that BSN programs focus more on nursing research (or at least that's what I've heard) than ADN programs. Without a doubt I would still check out ADN programs, you just got to weight the risks vs. benefits (cost, how long is the program, etc.)

I just graduated w/an ASN and had a fairly easy time finding a job a few minutes outside of Philly. I know a lot of the students in my class got jobs at Hahnemann too. Also there were students who got jobs at Jeff, Presby but they worked there throughout the school year. But when I think about it, I'd much rather make a $1.50 less an hour, not have to pay for parking, be in a safe area, and only have to commute 15 minutes to get to work!

There are a lot of accelerated BSN programs if you already have you ADN so you should keep that in mind. But if I were you, I would go to whatever school has the best program and is the quickest.

Good luck!!!

Even if this is the case now, I agree with oramar. There is no way that they will be able to keep doing that. The shortage of nurses is just too bad. There aren't enough BSN nurses to staff the hospitals of a major metropolitan area like philidelphia.

Years ago, ADN/diploma nurses were supposed to take the places of LPNs so they could be phased out. LPNs are still going strong. They aren't being hired in acute care anymore but there are still plenty of jobs available for us. Don't worry. I've been told for years that soon the hospitals in the pittsburgh area are only going to hire BSN nurses but it will never happen.