When will ADNs be "phased out"

[lightshesaid]

Hi,

I'm pre-adn and I am concerned because I read and hear a lot of the phasing out of ADN's in terms of hiring.

I know, a lot, if not most hospitals in the Orange County/Los Angeles area are pretty much only hiring BSN's now. Most of the hospitals in my area (Pomona area) are hiring ADN's mostly, it seems. I think that's not the best, some of the best nurses I know are ADN's.

So when will all hospitals start to only hire BSN's? In ten years? Five? Three? I hope it's five because I don't expect to finish my ADN program for another three years or so.

[guest769224]

Highly dependent on region. Yes, in So. Cal, strong hospital hiring preference or requirement for BSN.

ADN RNs will be around for a long, long time. Typically the only area that excludes ADNs are hospitals. Home health, nursing homes, etc. will continue to utilize associate degree prepared nurses.

No one knows for sure when "all hospitals" will require BSN. By "all" do you mean nationally? My guess is never. Rural hospitals would be happy to hire an ADN nurse.

The short answer is, if you want to work in a hospital ward, get your BSN. Especially if you're in California, a state that is continually trending toward BSN requirements in acute care.

[bumpme]

Yup...if your in California...get a BSN. It's getting harder and harder to get a job with an ADN. I graduated with a BSN and a couple of my friends who graduated with an ADN says it excruciating finding a job now as they have to compete with all the BSN applicants and job requirements. When I graduated I was quickly able to get into a new graduate program. JMHO it's more based on the hospital requirements.

[hstutz86]

If we compare BSN and ADN. The only difference is the extra liberal arts and business classes you find in BSN plus the cost. The nursing content is the same. I am pursuing an ADN then will be bridging to MSN.

[WCSU1987]

I think they will never for good reason, demand. I mean RNS with ADN/ASN will probably be phased out of the Hospital. However, the State I live in the market has changed. LPNs are surging again. Odd, but hospital requires BSN is seeking LPNS out. Also many of the nursing homes have 5 LPNS to 1 RN. However, 40 LPNS were let go from a hospital in our State 1 to 2 year's.

[Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN]

Honestly it's always been this huge thing about phasing out any degree type. They have been talking about phasing out LVN/LPN, and they are still hired. Heck, I know someone in Moreno Valley CA who just got hired into a NICU with her ADN. So I doubt that anything will be phased because it's all education. Just don't be surprised if they want you to pursue your BSN if you're in the hospital, because many want that at least eventually.

[melizerd, ASN, RN]

It varies by area of the country a lot too. We hire lots and lots of ADN nurses in hospitals in my area. We only have RNs in the hospital, no LPNs. There's no preference for BSN and we aren't even pushing that hard for people to get their BSN, but many companies are still paying for some/all of it.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Associate degree nurses, a.k.a. ADNs, will not be phased out. However, the nature of the type of employment they can secure has changed in many regions.

In locations such as southern California, ADNs dominate specialties such as home health, hospice, corrections (jails & prisons), private duty, SNF/LTC, LTACH, physical rehab, psych, and IDD/MHMR (developmental disabilities).

We must remember that the exalted acute care hospital is not the only workplace for nurses. Just because ADNs might be phased out of many hospitals in the U.S., this doesn't mean they'll ever be phased out of healthcare.

[Livetoride]

My area still hires ADNs for the hospital jobs although it is starting to move towards BSN. The reality in my area is that if someone were to get the ADN and work in a hospital, they will be expected to complete a BSN program within X amount of time.

ADNs will never be phased out. Just the places they will work will change.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

It doesn't matter if you you "think" it isn't the best. What matters is that you have the degree required to apply for a job. Whether or not this person or that person is a great nurse isn't what is important for a nursing student. What IS important is understanding the job market where you as a new grad plan to apply. If a hospital only hires people with BSNs then it doesn't matter if someone is the direct descendent of Florence Nightingale...if they have an ADN then they do not meet the minimum requirement to be hired.

Get FACTS. Contact the hospital where you want to work and see if they are hiring new grad ADNs. If they are then sweet. If not you could still GET the ADN and either look at other hospitals or go straight to a bridge program for a BSN.

Good luck

[TiredKitten]

I doubt ADN will ever be completely phased out. I think I depends on how saturated the area is with BSN. In my metro area of 700,000 people, there are several ADN programs with an option for RN to BSN bridge, but very few straight BSN programs. One of the large 827 bed (as of Jan 2014) hospitals even has its own nursing program, and it's an ADN with a bridge option. My university program you went for 3 years to get your ADN and test for RN, then did online for the remaining classes to upgrade to a BSN while you worked.

Even with that, they can't get enough nurses in my state. The mega hospital with its own program still hires LPNs to work the floor. They currently have some ICU/meds urge listings. And one of the acute care hospitals I worked at last year still hires LPNs. Then all hire lpns to work the various clinics located at the hospitals. So my entire state, ADNs have no problem getting jobs in the hospital. And most offer the same pay regardless of its ADN or BSN. It's the years experience that they pay for.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

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