Rumor: North Shore LIJ hospitals no longer hiring ADN nurses.

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 12, 2013

Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor?
I have been told by 2 separate hospital employees that NSLIJ just passed down a policy that NO associate degree nurses who have graduated after January 23rd 2013 are to be hired. Basically a complete BAN on ADN nurses (even if you are completing your BSN).
I'm a hospital employee and more than half done with my ADN (my school only offers separate ADN and BSN degrees, rather than a straight-through-BSN). I find it pretty disgusting that they would do such a thing without at least grandfathering in existing NSLIJ employees who have already enrolled in an ADN program.

It is not a rumor but fact, NS-LIJ made this decision in 2010 and annouced it to the world as well:

"The North Shore Long Island Jewish health system (North Shore-LIJ) in New York has decided to take a stand. As of September 1, 2010, all new nurses hired must either have a BSN or agree to obtain one within five years. Maureen White, RN, senior VP and Chief Nurse Executive cites multiple research studies correlating improved patient outcomes with advanced nurse education as the reason for the new policy. Ms. White told Health Leaders Media that, “This is something we felt was the right thing to do, the right thing for our patients.”

North Shore – LIJ to require BSN | Scrubs – The Leading Lifestyle Nursing Magazine Featuring Inspirational and Informational Nursing Articles

mzthang2260 · Feb 12, 2013

Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor?I have been told by 2 separate hospital employees that NSLIJ just passed down a policy that NO associate degree nurses who have graduated after January 23rd 2013 are to be hired. Basically a complete BAN on ADN nurses (even if you are completing your BSN). I'm a hospital employee and more than half done with my ADN (my school only offers separate ADN and BSN degrees, rather than a straight-through-BSN). I find it pretty disgusting that they would do such a thing without at least grandfathering in existing NSLIJ employees who have already enrolled in an ADN program.

This is nothing new for the past yr i have noticed that all their nursing positions on their website reads: BSN only. Other hospitals are slowly following.

acr2001 · Feb 12, 2013

I'm afraid you have your facts confused.You are referring to their BSN in 5 rule. They still hire ADN nurses under that rule if they sign the BSN in 5 agreement. And yes, generally all of their postings have said BSN required for a year now. LIJ hospitals were still allowed to hire ADN nurses and the one I work at did it often with internal transfers. The rumor is that BSN in 5 is no longer the rule, instead ADN nurses are disallowed under any circumstance.

acr2001 · Feb 12, 2013

For anyone in a similar situation - I confirmed that this is a new directive from NSLIJ to all of their hospitals. No more ADN nurses unless they graduated before January 23rd 2013 PERIOD. Even if you are an internal employee trying to transfer in.

It looks like some of the hospitals are fighting it to grandfather in staff members who are already in nursing school. They're signing petitions.

AccelCNL, MSN, RN · Feb 13, 2013

I am not surprised by this. Plenty of hospitals are want to be Magnet hospitals. Contrary to what most people believe every nurse at a Magnet hospital does not have to be BSN prepared. Only the nurse managers ( and those who are not simply beside nurses do). However, it make sense from that stand point to require it of everyone. Honestly nursing is becoming far more technical in this day and age. As some one who is going back for an ABSN ( and plans to eventually earn my DNP), it make sense from an academic point of view. However, do ADN-RN's perform worse than their BSN counterparts? The answer is no. However, like I said before hospitals would rather have the BSN prepared nurse particularly in hospitals that are magnet or wish to go magnet ( or those attached to medical school or large nationally known hospitals). Local hospitals like White Plains Hospital and Beth Israel ( I believe) still hire ADN-RNs.

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 13, 2013

For anyone in a similar situation - I confirmed that this is a new directive from NSLIJ to all of their hospitals. No more ADN nurses unless they graduated before January 23rd 2013 PERIOD. Even if you are an internal employee trying to transfer in.
It looks like some of the hospitals are fighting it to grandfather in staff members who are already in nursing school. They're signing petitions.

Know a long experienced ADN grad who works at Lenox Hill, and yes she had to back to get the BSN.

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 13, 2013

Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor?
I have been told by 2 separate hospital employees that NSLIJ just passed down a policy that NO associate degree nurses who have graduated after January 23rd 2013 are to be hired. Basically a complete BAN on ADN nurses (even if you are completing your BSN).
I'm a hospital employee and more than half done with my ADN (my school only offers separate ADN and BSN degrees, rather than a straight-through-BSN). I find it pretty disgusting that they would do such a thing without at least grandfathering in existing NSLIJ employees who have already enrolled in an ADN program.

Your current ADN school sounds like The College of Staten Island's program.

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 13, 2013

I am not surprised by this. Plenty of hospitals are want to be Magnet hospitals. Contrary to what most people believe every nurse at a Magnet hospital does not have to be BSN prepared. Only the nurse managers ( and those who are not simply beside nurses do). However, it make sense from that stand point to require it of everyone. Honestly nursing is becoming far more technical in this day and age. As some one who is going back for an ABSN ( and plans to eventually earn my DNP), it make sense from an academic point of view. However, do ADN-RN's perform worse than their BSN counterparts? The answer is no. However, like I said before hospitals would rather have the BSN prepared nurse particularly in hospitals that are magnet or wish to go magnet ( or those attached to medical school or large nationally known hospitals). Local hospitals like White Plains Hospital and Beth Israel ( I believe) still hire ADN-RNs.

Well Beth Israel would have to hire some ADN grads wouldn't they? I mean they run a school of nursing that only grants associate degree so it would seem odd to say "yes you can train here but we won't hire any of our own school's grads".

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 13, 2013

For anyone in a similar situation - I confirmed that this is a new directive from NSLIJ to all of their hospitals. No more ADN nurses unless they graduated before January 23rd 2013 PERIOD. Even if you are an internal employee trying to transfer in.
It looks like some of the hospitals are fighting it to grandfather in staff members who are already in nursing school. They're signing petitions.

That is really going to stink for Staten Island where NS-LIJ has two of the three hospitals. There is only one undergraduate BSN program (Wagner) the other two (Saint Paul's and CSI) are ADN. At least under the previous directive a two year grad could be hired and go on to CSI or elsewhere for the RN to BSN .

acr2001 · Feb 13, 2013

Bingo. If there were a prize, you'd win!

Seems like this is going to put CSI between a rock and a hard place. Hopefully they finally come to their senses and open a straight-through BSN program.

Personally, I plan to become a CRNA so I will be getting my BSN. I just wish the hospital system hadn't broad-sided those of us currently working for them who had plans to work while obtaining our BSN. Some sort of warning or grandfathering in would have been fair.

Edit: I wonder what this will do for those currently in the nurse extern program. Guess they can't hire after the externship now!! From what I've been told, hospital management is just as unhappy as we are. Petitions are being circulated.

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 13, 2013

Bingo. If there were a prize, you'd win!
Seems like this is going to put CSI between a rock and a hard place. Hopefully they finally come to their senses and open a straight-through BSN program.
Personally, I plan to become a CRNA so I will be getting my BSN. I just wish the hospital system hadn't broad-sided those of us currently working for them who had plans to work while obtaining our BSN. Some sort of warning or grandfathering in would have been fair.
Edit: I wonder what this will do for those currently in the nurse extern program. Guess they can't hire after the externship now!! From what I've been told, hospital management is just as unhappy as we are. Petitions are being circulated.

What? Where's my Kewpie Doll? *LOL*

Thought as much from the way you described your program.

Don't now how old you are and or if you are a native SI'er, but as one who is and probably a bit older can give you some background if you didn't already know.

Once there were two separate colleges: Richmond College (Saint George campus) and Staten Island Community College (Todt Hill/Sunnyside). The latter had the nursing program, whilst the former didn't.

Faced with clousre during the bad fiscal times of the 1970's both colleges were merged to form The College of Staten Island. However for long and complex reasons certain degrees remain separate. The RN to BSN program came about IIRC to give Staten Island ADN grads (SICC/CSI and at that time Saint Vinny's) to get their four year degree.

Like you for the life of me cannot understand why steps weren't taken to make the ADN program into a straight four year degree. Now that NS-LIJ one of the largest employers of nurses on the Island has made their move perhaps it will push things along.

As for the Staten Island Hospial system "blind sided" well that his what happens when the once rather insular Island is opened up to "outside" forces.

If you were to look at past and current nurses working at local SI hospitals you'd see a long list of the same three schools; Wagner, Saint Vincent's, and SICC/CSI.