Magnet Hospital Nursing Question

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In my STNA class today we had a guy come in and talk to us about continuing education and he mentioned that all the hospitals in our area are planning on getting magnet status. From what he said it sounds like in order to work in these hospitals you will have to have your BSN or MSN, is this true? I am currently debating between an LPN program or an RN program but it's not a BSN program. Does this mean that I will have to get my BSN in order to work at a local hospital? I don't really have the financial aid to go for a bachelor's degree so I really don't know what to do here. Anyone have any information about the magnet status? Anyone having problems finding jobs because of it?

Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

I was an ADN at a wonderful magnet facility working in open heart transplant... go figure, the unit where you'd see all the letters behind the name... but I came with 10 years ICU exp. I was encouraged, never forced into a BSN, annual review would be... go for your BSN and CCRN....yeah yeah... but no extra $$ in it.. so I didn't.

my point is that this hospital was hiring ADN's and strongly encouraged the BSN because Magnet want's a certain percent to have advanced degrees.

The financial yearly tiered system didn't provide enough incentive for me to invest at that time in a BSN, I had to take a 2% raise instead of 3%...... and that was it.

They have basic entry slots to fill... always... but you WILL loose a job offer to a new grad BSN, hands down any day. If your OK with that or not OK, you know what your decision is. I can't make it for you. The finances for a BSN never play out... but know that I'm working on it now... because I'm sick and tired of being the only ADN and in charge and teaching these newbies that have advanced degrees, but little financial incentive.

other facilities may be more generous to encourage a higher education, so keep that in mind.

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I believe that hospitals are currently in a position to hire only BSN's. However, we will see that change once the economic situation lifts. It does look good for hospitals to hire nurses with higher levels of education. After all, most other professions are at least entry-level bachelor's anyway (ex.... physical therapists = masters degrees; pharmacists = doctoral degrees). However, once the economy turns around, hospitals may not be in that same position to be so "choosy" with their nursing levels of education. There are simply not enough BSN's to care for the additional 26 million people that will be insured once our new healthcare plan goes through. So, I don't think this is going to be a permanent thing.

You should further your education because you WANT to, not necessarily because you HAVE to. Magnet does have alot to do with this whole BSN thing. Many hopsitals aren't quite ready to get their Magnet status as of yet. If this is going to continue to be a strong recommendation from Magnet, then hospitals may eventually start providing more tuition reimbursement for higher education. There's nothing wrong with getting an ADN, and then making your employer to pay for your BSN, if that's an option for you......

Hang in there!!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Magnet hospitals have a requirement for new grad program-BSN. If you are new grad and they have other people for the same position, than BSN applicant is a preference.

*** I work for a large tertiary care, academic teaching hospital that is Magnet certified. We have a 7 month Nurse Residency program. For most of the hospital they absolutely do not care what degree a new grad has. The only unit where it matters is the SICU. They will not hire new grad BSNs into the residency program for SICU. They will only hire new grad ADN nurses for the SICU. They will hire experienced ICU nurses who have BSNs, but not new grads.

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What do you all think about having a 4 year degree in another healthcare field? I am a dietitian and have a 4 year degree in food and nutrition sciences. I'm planning on getting my ADN only b/c there is a night program in my area. I can't get my BSN right now, b/c all the programs in my area are not compatible with my work schedule. :mad: So, here I am with a 4 year BS degree and hopefully an ADN in the next 2 years afraid that I will have no luck getting a job b/c I don't have a BSN. I know what I have is not a BSN, but it a BS degree. So, just wondering what thoughts are about this? Thanks!

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

No matter what level of education you get, the RN licence is the same. If you wan to get an idea of the job market, look at what travel agencies are trying to fill. Speaking generally, jobs in the Northeast are few and far apart. In other parts of the country there are plenty of RN jobs, especially the Mountain States. The local ER here in NM is more than half travelers, and the percentage of travelers is growing. That's within a mile of an ADN program.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
What do you all think about having a 4 year degree in another healthcare field? I am a dietitian and have a 4 year degree in food and nutrition sciences. I'm planning on getting my ADN only b/c there is a night program in my area. I can't get my BSN right now, b/c all the programs in my area are not compatible with my work schedule. :mad: So, here I am with a 4 year BS degree and hopefully an ADN in the next 2 years afraid that I will have no luck getting a job b/c I don't have a BSN. I know what I have is not a BSN, but it a BS degree. So, just wondering what thoughts are about this? Thanks!

*** In nursing a nurse with a BS degree in anything plus an ADN is an ADN nurse. Previous degrees count for nothing.

BSN = BSN

BS in any field other than nursing + ADN = ADN

I don't know where you live but IMO the "ADN can't get a job" is VASTLY overstated on this board. Where I live (Wisconsin) all new grads are talking longer to find a job and most of them are having to accept positions that are not their first choice. But they are finding jobs, including the ADNs. Hospitals outside large cities tend to care about such things much less. I am also quite sure than in the near future most of those "BSN only need apply" will go away as hospitals find it harder to find nurses. I am already starting to see that.

I know dozens of RNs who where and want to be part time but who went full time when they started to worry about their husband's jobs. I also know dozens of nurses who put off retirement for the same reason. In addition there are lots of nurses who where working in other fields who came back to nursing when the economy tanked. Most all these nurses want out. I think this is going to create a huge demand for nurses in the near future.

This exact same thing happened in the mid 90's.

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*** I work for a large tertiary care, academic teaching hospital that is Magnet certified. We have a 7 month Nurse Residency program. For most of the hospital they absolutely do not care what degree a new grad has. The only unit where it matters is the SICU. They will not hire new grad BSNs into the residency program for SICU. They will only hire new grad ADN nurses for the SICU. They will hire experienced ICU nurses who have BSNs, but not new grads.

I've seen you post this in other threads as well. It is the only hospital I've heard of with that practice.....and is the opposite of the hospitals I'm familiar with.

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*** In nursing a nurse with a BS degree in anything plus an ADN is an ADN nurse. Previous degrees count for nothing.

BSN = BSN

BS in any field other than nursing + ADN = ADN

I don't know where you live but IMO the "ADN can't get a job" is VASTLY overstated on this board. Where I live (Wisconsin) all new grads are talking longer to find a job and most of them are having to accept positions that are not their first choice. But they are finding jobs, including the ADNs. Hospitals outside large cities tend to care about such things much less. I am also quite sure than in the near future most of those "BSN only need apply" will go away as hospitals find it harder to find nurses. I am already starting to see that.

I know dozens of RNs who where and want to be part time but who went full time when they started to worry about their husband's jobs. I also know dozens of nurses who put off retirement for the same reason. In addition there are lots of nurses who where working in other fields who came back to nursing when the economy tanked. Most all these nurses want out. I think this is going to create a huge demand for nurses in the near future.

This exact same thing happened in the mid 90's.

I live in Houston and I've been hearing a lot of the hospitals are going this route. My friend told me there was an article in the Houston Chronicle about Methodist going all BSN. I haven't read it yet (too busy with wrapping up pre-req's;)). Thanks for the info. I figured it was more about the specificity of a BSN and not just a 4-year degree. I am sure there are hospitals outside of the "med center" area that will hire ADN's. I was also told by a RN that MD Anderson no longer accepts ADN's. I agree, it can't last forever. :)

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Here is the article regarding Methodist in Houston in case anyone is interested.
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