What's REALLY with the hospitals using Magnet as a cover for wanting BSN only nurses?

Published

I'm in an associate degree RN program. I have a previous BA in Psychology and just finished up my last two classes online to also get my BS in Business Administration. I have worked for over a year as a PCA at a local hospital and also work as a supplemental instruction leader to help incoming nursing students do better in their first and second quarters. Yet all the nursing recruiters at the hospitals I'm looking at say that without a BSN, none of that will matter and my odds of getting hired are slim to none since I am competing with 4 well respected BSN programs.When asked why, all the hospitals said it is a requirement for Magnet status. From what I can tell, the requirements in terms of degrees for Magnet status are:

1. The CNO must have at a minimum, a master's degree at the time of application. If the master's degree is not in nursing then either a baccalaureate degree or doctoral degree must be in nursing.

2. Effective 1/1/2011 - 75% Nurse Managers must have a degree in nursing (baccalaureate or graduate degree)

3. Effective 1/1/2013 - 100% Nurse Managers must have a degree in nursing (baccalaureate or graduate degree)

4. Effective 1/1/2013 - 100% of nurse leaders must have a degree in nursing (baccalaureate or graduate degree)

By the AANC's definition, most nurses don't fall under any of these cateogories. A nurse leader is a nurse with line authority over multiple units that have RNs working clinically and those nurse leaders who are positioned on the organizational chart between the nurse manager and the CNO. A nurse manager is Registered Nurse with 24 hour/7day accountability for the overall supervision of all Registered Nurses and other healthcare providers in an inpatient or outpatient area. The Nurse Manager is typically responsible for recruitment and retention, performance review, and professional development; involved in the budget formulation and quality outcomes; and helps to plan for, organize and lead the delivery of nursing care for a designated patient care area.

There are NO requirements or recommendations stated for the vast majority of nurses - the ones doing the bedside care on a daily basis. So why are all the local hospitals hiding behind Magnet as their reason for only wanting to hire BSN nurses when that's not true at all?? I do plan to get my BSN and my MSN, but I need experience first and nobody will apparently hire me when I graduate! I also cannot afford a RN-BSN program without a job that will help me pay for it (all these hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for RN-BSN programs) because I am fresh out of undergraduate loans.

So what's the deal and what do us associate degree nurses do!?

Specializes in Critical Care.

We have shared governance practice councils and clinical ladders, but management leads the practice council and decides what to work on so staff doesn't initiate projects only does what they are directed to so not too impressed. As for the clinical ladder it allows one to get a small one time raise, but to get and keep that raise you must spend a lot of unpaid hours on the ever changing requirements just to maintain your past raise. If you don't they will take that raise away! How is that treating a nurse like a "professional"? Would you ever tell a professional I'll give you a raise, but I reserve the right to take that raise away from you in the future if you don't jump thru the latest hoops? BSN isn't an issue so far as they still hire ADN's. We now have a mix of both and many of the BSN's are back in school to be an NP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We have shared governance practice councils and clinical ladders, but management leads the practice council and decides what to work on so staff doesn't initiate projects only does what they are directed to so not too impressed. As for the clinical ladder it allows one to get a small one time raise, but to get and keep that raise you must spend a lot of unpaid hours on the ever changing requirements just to maintain your past raise. If you don't they will take that raise away! How is that treating a nurse like a "professional"? Would you ever tell a professional I'll give you a raise, but I reserve the right to take that raise away from you in the future if you don't jump thru the latest hoops? BSN isn't an issue so far as they still hire ADN's. We now have a mix of both and many of the BSN's are back in school to be an NP.

Brandy,

I've been told the same stories by many other nurses who all agree that "Magnet Status" is nothing more than a money-making scheme for the ANA and does nothing for the floor nurse or the patients. I've been told that nurses are required to go to perfunctory meetings that accomplish nothing just to satisfy Magnet requirements. As a result of Obamacare and because they can pay them less, there is a big push to have NPs and PAs to take on more of a primary care provider role. NPs and PAs are fine as long as they work in conjunction with and only as an extended arm of a licensed physician. The difference in the scope of education and training of NPs and PAs compared to that of an MD or DO is like night and day. NPs and PAs are not doctors and are never to be used as a replacement or substitute for a licensed physician. Also these urgent care and minute clinics are to never be used as a replacement for primary care from a doctor. I was glad to see the news media in Philadelphia cover this and warn people of the dangers of putting too much faith in these dime-store healthcare clinics.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
Brandy,

I've been told the same stories by many other nurses who all agree that "Magnet Status" is nothing more than a money-making scheme for the ANA and does nothing for the floor nurse or the patients. I've been told that nurses are required to go to perfunctory meetings that accomplish nothing just to satisfy Magnet requirements. As a result of Obamacare and because they can pay them less, there is a big push to have NPs and PAs to take on more of a primary care provider role. NPs and PAs are fine as long as they work in conjunction with and only as an extended arm of a licensed physician. The difference in the scope of education and training of NPs and PAs compared to that of an MD or DO is like night and day. NPs and PAs are not doctors and are never to be used as a replacement or substitute for a licensed physician. Also these urgent care and minute clinics are to never be used as a replacement for primary care from a doctor. I was glad to see the news media in Philadelphia cover this and warn people of the dangers of putting too much faith in these dime-store healthcare clinics.

(QUOTE)

Actually the creation of NP's were to allow advance practice RN's to work as primary care providers indept of Dr's because of the shortage of primary care doctors esp in rural areas. Therefore many state laws allow NP's to practice independently with full prescribing rights. The reality is many NP's work alongside doctors because they prefer a collaborative practice and do not want to be independent. Frankly the costs of running an independent practice hinder many NP's and Dr's from private practice and that is why hospitals, HMO's and insurance companies are now taking over private practice clinics. Yes the push for NP's and PA's is for practical, economical reasons because they cost half of what a Dr does. This will continue to be the trend because there is a huge financial disincentive for Dr's to work in primary care and the 10% increase in pay from medicare is not going to change things! Dr's go to school for many years, take out huge student loans these days and most are not going to go into the low paying primary care field. I wouldn't either and I don't blame them one bit! They certainly deserve better compensation for the sacrifices of all the years of education and to pay off their student loans.+

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As a result of Obamacare and because they can pay them less, there is a big push to have NPs and PAs to take on more of a primary care provider role. NPs and PAs are fine as long as they work in conjunction with and only as an extended arm of a licensed physician. The difference in the scope of education and training of NPs and PAs compared to that of an MD or DO is like night and day. NPs and PAs are not doctors and are never to be used as a replacement or substitute for a licensed physician. Also these urgent care and minute clinics are to never be used as a replacement for primary care from a doctor. I was glad to see the news media in Philadelphia cover this and warn people of the dangers of putting too much faith in these dime-store healthcare clinics.

Excellent point that I am glad to see someone making.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral health.

Back to the original topic.

Just got back from a couple of job interviews that have given me insight. I get the impression it's due to the extensive training new nurses need. Places really don't want to be bothered. They want a finished product ready to work from day one. "There is the med room. There is the MAR. Now get to work." The assumption that with a BSN in hand you're able to learn faster thus decreasing training time plus you're not going to be distracted by needing to attend college classes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
...The assumption that with a BSN in hand you're able to learn faster thus decreasing training time plus you're not going to be distracted by needing to attend college classes.

In my experience the common wisdom is the opposite, why do you think BSN's are "able to learn faster" or that they typically have a shorter training period. I've worked for two different hospitals that hired ADNs preferentially due to their decreased orientation/training requirements.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral health.

MunoRN

It was the vibe I got from interviewers during the job search process. Whether or not I agree with it is another story.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral health.

deleted

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion