No More Associates Degree

[jnw8606]

I live in the Washington D.C./Maryland area and currently in a Associates program. I will graduate in December and I worried because word of mouth the hospitals in this area are not hiring anyone with Associates. I plan on going back for my Bachelors anyway but the plan was for me to work for a while. So just wondering if this is the case elsewhere.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I suggest that you review thethreads on this site about this topic. There are probably literally thousands on that topic, on whether BSN is better than ADN, etc.

There has been a move for over 40-50 years, to make a Bachelor's degree required for entry into practice.

Recently, the only state that actually required a Bachelor's for nursing had to get rid of that rule.

There are plenty of Associate degree nurses with jobs, though these days, it is hard for ANY nurse to get a job.

[Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I'm in VA and graduated this past may with my ADN and found a job with no problem. I know 5 of my fellow students that got hired on at the INOVA Alexandria ER. And yes there are many without jobs, but again, lot of BSN's without jobs! It is a tough market. Bu tone can't say ADN are not getting jobs! if ur school offers a preceptorship in the last semester, i highly encourage you to take it, and let it be known to the unit director you would love a job there!!

[elkpark]

It is true that there some individual hospitals that prefer or require BSN degrees, but, in general, ADN grads are in no danger. The ADN-prepared RN is the backbone of the US nursing community -- the majority of US RNs are ADN-prepared, never move beyond that level (educationally, I mean), and that's not likely to change any time soon. I'm not saying that's necessarily a good or a bad thing, just that it's been the reality of US nursing for a long time.

[UVA Grad Nursing]

There are indeed jobs for ADN and diploma nurses, just as there are for BSN nurses. However, each employer may not be looking for all types of nurses.

Several Magnet Hospitals (or Magnet seeking) I know are hiring mostly BSN-prepared nurses as new graduates to boost their percentages of BSN-prepared nurses for external accreditation reasons. Similarly I know of other hospitals in Virginia that prefer to hire ADN.diploma nurses because their wages are 25 cents/hour lower than BSNs. In times of tight budgets, these two community-based hospitals are looking to save money.

If you have your heart set at working at one type of hospital (Magnet or Magnet-track) vs community/rehab hospital, then the type of degree you have matter. For most other employers, a good nurse is a good nurse.