Why do you have to have a BSN in order to be in a RN Residency Program?

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

Haven't a clue. Our hospital required just the RN.

geocachingRN · Jan 4, 2011

I don't know but I could guess that it's a push for higher education.

1)Several states are enacting BSN in 10 (or even 5!) initiatives.

2)Also magnet status is in part determined by the number of BSN's on staff at some hospitals.

3)Then there's the argument that more education = smarter nurses and/or they are at a different starting point than ADN/LPN new grads.

4) Some here have made the argument that nurses are seeking to promote our work as equal to other health occupations that require at least a BSN.

5) Another concern is the lack of support within the profession (New grad vs old timer, BSN vs ADN) as compared with other occupations. There is a level of respect for higher degrees. I mean look at the number of people here who have a string of initials after their names.

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

Where I work, it's because the hospital is Magnet, and one of their initiatives is to encourage a BSN. With that in mind, they *only* hire new grads who have a BSN (however, if you're an experienced nurse with an ADN, they will hire you).

TylerDurdenRN · Jan 4, 2011

I am assuming a lot would have to do with hospitals, and magnet status.

That, and the fact that with the influx of new grads, why pick a Diploma/ADN when you have more than enough .....QUALIFIED..... BSN grads applying. Just seems like simple logic for management to me. May not seem fair to some new grads of course, but the logic is very simple.

If two new grads apply, have the same GPA, both interviewed well, and basically have the same resume', except one has a BSN and the other does not, who are you going to hire.

SP they are making their lives easy by just putting up "BSN required".

Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

I don't know but I could guess that it's a push for higher education.
1)Several states are enacting BSN in 10 (or even 5!) initiatives.
2)Also magnet status is in part determined by the number of BSN's on staff at some hospitals.
3)Then there's the argument that more education = smarter nurses and/or they are at a different starting point than ADN/LPN new grads.
4) Some here have made the argument that nurses are seeking to promote our work as equal to other health occupations that require at least a BSN.
5) Another concern is the lack of support within the profession (New grad vs old timer, BSN vs ADN) as compared with other occupations. There is a level of respect for higher degrees. I mean look at the number of people here who have a string of initials after their names.

Ok, I never knew about the magnet status. That makes sense!

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Jan 4, 2011

Because ADN's rock!

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

just a question i never knew the answer to. the requirements are always a bsn. why aren't adn students able to be in a residency program?

i was an adn new grad and i attended a residency program at the time. thus, they exist. look at hospitals outside of your area to find the programs. your best bets are in small rural towns and/or small hospitals.

ok2bme · Jan 5, 2011

My hospital has a nurse residency program that is only available to BSNs. My supervisor said that only BSNs are considered because the new nurses do a research project as part of the residency, and generally (not always) BSN programs contain a more substantial research component.