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Discussion

Only an ADN

I know this has been talked about to death (ADN vs. BSN), but I heard someone saying that if you only have an ADN you will end up working in a nursing home. I don't think that is true, since the majority of nurses in nursing homes are LPNs. What do you think?

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I know this has been talked about to death (ADN vs. BSN), but I heard someone saying that if you only have an ADN you will end up working in a nursing home. I don't think that is true, since the majority of nurses in nursing homes are LPNs. What do you think?

Overall, ADN-prepared RNs make up 60 percent of today's nursing workforce in America, and there's no way that they can be eradicated from all hospitals in the U.S. Some hospitals are opting for an all BSN-staff because they can be more selective in a crummy economy with an abundance of unemployed nurses, but not all hospitals are doing this.

Here's some pertinent history. The American Nurses Association first proposed the phasing-out of LPNs in 1965, more than 45 years ago. It has not happened, and it will not happen anytime soon. Certain settings (hospice, LTC, home health, private duty, clinics, doctors offices, etc.). do not want to pay the money for an all-RN staff.

North Dakota has been the only state to even attempt to force all RNs to earn their BSN degree. Guess what happened? A mass exodus of nurses left the state, and North Dakota had to quickly repeal this rule. At the present time, less than 40 percent of all RNs are educated at the BSN level or beyond, and there are not enough BSN programs in the country to get all RN/ADNs graduated with a BSN.

Rumors are not even worth the time and energy.

  • Author

I didn't mean to offend the ADN nurses. Perhaps I worded the thread badly.

Actually my goal is to get my ADN :) I just wanted to be sure what I heard was not true. Sorry if anyone took offense, I apologize.

Most RN's I have worked with have an ADN. Some I have no idea what their degree is. I have worked in med/surg, psych, and LTC. LTC was mostly LPN's with one RN in the building to supervise.

Curious to know why a hospital would want to hire a person with a two year degree over someone with a four year degree?

Well, maybe the person with the two year degree has 5-10 years experience in a hospital environment and the employer doesn't care how many papers on WHO Health Disparities and community nursing the 4 year student spent the extra two years writing.

In other words, it depends on the job seekers. I know quite a few people currently in BSN programs because they tried and failed to get into my ADN program.

Everyone has the same license - RN.

"Curious to know why a hospital would want to hire a person with a two year degree over someone with a four year degree?"

One reason is that in some areas a local community college has a better reputation than the nearby four year colleges. It is no different than other areas prefering grads from a particular four year program over other four year programs except the result ends up being a preference for people with two year degrees over people with four year degrees.

This certainly is not the case where I live. A good chunk of the RN's that work at our local hospital graduated from my program, which is an ADN program.

Why is that when this subject comes up there is always talk of how the hospitals in my area only hire ADN's not BSN's. But I rarely hear BSN students or nurses saying anything negative about ADN nurses.. I don't understand what the issue is? I am a BSN student and would never think for a second that I'm going to be a better nurse or anything of this sort nor do I hear my fellow students talk like this...Its actually the opposite I always hear ADN students writing negative stuff about BSn programs...We are all going to be or are nurses with the same license...my aunt is an adn and one of the smartest people i know and has helped me with studying a ton.. It just seems petty and I wish these threads would stop being started

Why is it considered negative to state that some hospitals prefer ADNs over BSNs? And yes it has also been stated that some hospitals prefer BSNs over ADNs. Facts are facts. Depending on the local economy, the reputation of schools, etc., some hospital prefer BSNs, some prefer ADNs. The person that started this post is curious to whether or not she would have a chance to work in a hospital with her ADN. I don't see how that is a negative either and why should she not post that question.

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They both get hired in these parts, so long as they are not a new grad.

some ADN programs are easier than others, and can be completed in as little as 2 years real time. community college ADN tend to involve clinical admission on basis of an extensive pre-clinical that is designed as a competitive "weeding-out" process. as a result, the CC ADN tend to have 15-20 more college credits than private or hospital based ADN, and tend to have higher academic acheivement, in general. CC ADN may also be the result of a more competitive process than private or state college BSN. that being said, a BSN is supposed to be more "well rounded" in their education. in any case, all have to pass NCLEX.

Our two major hospitals here prefer BSN nurses because they are magnet hospitals. I would guess that they will hire ADN nurses, but if you are a new grad, ADN v BSN, guess which one they are going to choose?

Why is it considered negative to state that some hospitals prefer ADNs over BSNs? And yes it has also been stated that some hospitals prefer BSNs over ADNs. Facts are facts. Depending on the local economy, the reputation of schools, etc., some hospital prefer BSNs, some prefer ADNs. The person that started this post is curious to whether or not she would have a chance to work in a hospital with her ADN. I don't see how that is a negative either and why should she not post that question.

I you read my post then you would know I answered this question quite clearly. If the op wanted to know if this "rumor" is true then posting it on here would not give her the answer. If the op just wants an answer then it seems to me a more accurate answer would be to post it in the region she lives in or better yet, ask a nurse at a local hospital while at clinical.

As far as the post who wrote that BSN students spent their excess time writing papers...really? All the universities where I live have 3 of the 4 years devoted to nursing course and clinicals which is longer then ADN programs so that is untrue thing to say..

As well as the comment that said most BSN programs are full of students that couldn't make into ADN programs.. That is untterly ridiculus. I almost went into an ADN program and I had to take more classes, get better grades, write an essay as to why I wanted to be a nurse, and take an entrance test to get into the BSN program that I did. Also in my area many of the cc are wait list entry as long as you meet minimum requirements and all the Universities are competitive entry with one semester waitlists in case an accepted student declines their place.

The point is that I wrote a nice post that didn't put down either degree because why would I? I think all of us just want to be nurses and we each have our own unique and practical reasons for choosing either route. Why not just respect each other since no matter what we all share the same goal?

I you read my post then you would know I answered this question quite clearly. If the op wanted to know if this "rumor" is true then posting it on here would not give her the answer. If the op just wants an answer then it seems to me a more accurate answer would be to post it in the region she lives in or better yet, ask a nurse at a local hospital while at clinical.

As far as the post who wrote that BSN students spent their excess time writing papers...really? All the universities where I live have 3 of the 4 years devoted to nursing course and clinicals which is longer then ADN programs so that is untrue thing to say..

As well as the comment that said most BSN programs are full of students that couldn't make into ADN programs.. That is untterly ridiculus. I almost went into an ADN program and I had to take more classes, get better grades, write an essay as to why I wanted to be a nurse, and take an entrance test to get into the BSN program that I did. Also in my area many of the cc are wait list entry as long as you meet minimum requirements and all the Universities are competitive entry with one semester waitlists in case an accepted student declines their place.

The point is that I wrote a nice post that didn't put down either degree because why would I? I think all of us just want to be nurses and we each have our own unique and practical reasons for choosing either route. Why not just respect each other since no matter what we all share the same goal?

There is always going to be someone to debate which is better. In fact you can throw the LPN program into the mix and get the same arguments. Again, there is no reason why the poster should not ask her question here. Yes it would be useful to ask the local hospitals in the area, but it is also good to get some perspective on what others think of with regards to the future of both ADN and BSN hiring prospects.

I agree that we should all respect each other no matter what.

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