Local hospital now says "BSN or MSN preferred" for all bedside positions?!

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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My goodness, I was just getting used to seeing "BSN preferred" at many a big-city hospital in my region. It's not such a thing at the smaller community hospitals in my area as of now, though. Being that it is my Sunday off, I thought I'd look at the nearest big city hospitals' job postings and one in the area has the gumption to request not only BSN-holding, but *MSN* -holding nurses for all bedside positions. Not management. Bedside, direct patient care nurses. Do my eyes deceive me? Has anyone else seen or heard of this going on in their area too??

I'm sure more education is always a good thing, but COME ON! Do you think this hospital is asking too much?

Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

I enjoy the bedside currently, while I'm in my early 30s, I doubt my body would enjoy it by my 50s. I didn't get a raise for finishing my BSN, and my hospital has taken away tuition reimbursement. When I spend the money for grad school, it will be to leave the bedside, and leave night shift, and all of that sort of thing.

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"MSN preferred" for an entry-level bedside position is nothing but degree inflation run rampant in a bad job market.

If a MSN RN wants to apply for a bedside job, wonderful. More power to him. But to say MSN preferred for an entry floor nurse job.... I don't know.... some of these big-metro-magnet-we're the bestest ever hospitals are getting too big for their britches.

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"MSN preferred" for an entry-level bedside position is nothing but degree inflation run rampant in a bad job market.

If a MSN RN wants to apply for a bedside job, wonderful. More power to him. But to say MSN preferred for an entry floor nurse job.... I don't know.... some of these big-metro-magnet-we're the bestest ever hospitals are getting too big for their britches.

Sounds about right to me, Brandon! What's next, every patient getting their own DNP 24/7?! I'm all for continuing education, but I think this request for MSNs at the bedside is asking too much.

Add in the fact that employers are paying for current employees continuing educations less often, the high cost of living, and my student loan interest rate hike,

It's just not a realistic request, in my opinion.

I was already worried about my job prospects as a new grad ADN RN (right now I work in LTC for 18/hr). Now I just feel worse.

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Welp. There probably will be an ACTUAL nursing shortage. LOL

I know, right! It's great to set high expectations, but COME ON!!

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

Are there nursing master's programs that aren't admin, edu, CNS or NP? I can't imagine what you'd take if they aren't focused on one of those four areas.

Of course, I left out anesthesia, but we know someone with that degree isn't going to work at the bed, lol.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
Are there nursing master's programs that aren't admin, edu, CNS or NP? I can't imagine what you'd take if they aren't focused on one of those four areas.

Of course, I left out anesthesia, but we know someone with that degree isn't going to work at the bed, lol.

I am getting a CNL (clinical nurse leader) masters

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If everyone is a Master's prepared nurse--a clinical nurse leader, a nurse administrator or an NP, and they all are at entry level bedside positions, then eveyone would be in charge. No one would want to not be, after all, that is what they are educated to do. And MD's wouldn't have to round, as NP's could take that over. There would be no hierarchy, and nurses could direct themselves. Which is an interesting concept. But not for a "new grad" wage of an average of anywhere between $15-$25 +/- and hour.

There must be some sort of ulterior motive--maybe there's an extra charge a facility can collect to have MSN's at bedside. Or some sort of magnetic super-duper awesomeness award for having the most educated bedside nurses around. However, I am not sure if many nurses would ride that train. And I can't say I blame them. If someone is a Master's prepared nurse, then I am sure they would like to actually practice what they went to school for--unless the schools have come up with some generalized Masters of Skilled Nursing degree or something....

Wouldn't it make more sense for facilities who require more than an ADN to have bedside nurses who hold BSN's get certifications in the unit in which they practice? Why is it not feasible to have ADN's who hold/get these certifications just as desirable? It is all about the reimbursement/recognition of the facility at the end of the day.

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Specializes in ICU.

Almost every nurse I work with would get a BSN and/or Master's degree if the hospital would help pay for it. No one wants to go in debt to make maybe 25 cents more per hour, esp. to do the same job.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I have been telling you guys, the NE/mid-Atlantic region has been preferring MSN RNs for all positions for at least 4-5 years, but no one listened and some even called me a liar, lol. :no:

Education-get some. You're going to need it to stay in the game. And no, your employer should not have to pay for it, let go of that fairy tale right now.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I have been telling you guys, the NE/mid-Atlantic region has been preferring MSN RNs for all positions for at least 4-5 years, but no one listened and some even called me a liar, lol. :no:

Education-get some. You're going to need it to stay in the game. And no, your employer should not have to pay for it, let go of that fairy tale right now.

I'm in that area; there are MSNs who have been working at the bedside and are clinical instructors; nothing new for the past 10 years. :yes:

However, no postings for MSN preferred in my specific area unless you are going to be in a leadership position, clinical educator, or NP.

I will say that it will depend on the area for this MSN preferred posting...on the other hand it may be a posting for a specific person, NOT a new trend...think about that...it's called a "referral positing" aka the "who you know" people to get their foot-and whole body-in position. :blink:

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Are there nursing master's programs that aren't admin, edu, CNS or NP? I can't imagine what you'd take if they aren't focused on one of those four areas.

Of course, I left out anesthesia, but we know someone with that degree isn't going to work at the bed, lol.

All of this hospital's direct patient care RN positions stated "BSN or MSN preferred" at the bottom of the job listing. It didn't say if they care what the specialization of the degree was, just a MSN (or BSN, but I'm totally used to seeing that by now).

And yeah, I don't know any CRNAs who would (or could stand to) go back to bedside nurssing, lol

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jadelpn- I suspect youre right in that this particular hospital is attempting to elevate their status by providing the awesomest, bestest, patient feeling/experience thx to having the most educated nurses around. There are 2major health care systems in this area, and the one im talking about is an outlier, but a teaching hospital. I wish you could see these hospitals compete for business. Just last wk I read that one is disallowing the competion to pay for (and utilize) life flight services, leaving them reduced to a level two trauma ctr.

Im gonna call their HR on Monday to ask whats up with this MSN thing. Looks like I have nothing to lose at this point

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