Will BSN get jobs over ASN in this recession?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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I was just wondering what you think. Now that there is this recession and a lot of new grads are having a hard time getting jobs, do you think that BSN nurses will be hired over ASN nurses? I.E. similar back ground experience but BSN vs ASN degree?

I do agree with you that if a hospital is hard strapped for nurses they would FIRST want an experienced nurse period....BSN or not. I think if these new grads are having such a hard time finding jobs they should go to skilled nursing homes...At least they would gain some experience..even though some hospitals require ACUTE care experience. But what are these new grads to do????. When I was a new grad 20 years ago...there were no new grad programs..hahaha...It was sink or swim and hospitals were picking us up BEFORE we even took boards. We worked as IP's...until we passed boards. My daughter is in the nursing program and I worry that she will have trouble obtaining a job...I just might have to HELP her get that first job with my knowledge and its all who you know....

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Specializes in Psychiatric, Detox/Rehab, Geriatrics.

They may also end up paying for the BSN person who wants their MSN or doctorate. Not being disrespectful or arguing, just a thought.

Where I work, the educational preparation is a factor -- but not the only factor. The quality of the school counts, too, as well as the amount of experience and the "personality" of the applicant. We would "prefer" to hire BSN's, but only if the college has a good reputation, a track record of producing high quality nurses.

I work in an area where there are 3 local BSN programs, 2 of which are not very good. Some of the local ADN and Diploma programs produce a higher quality graduate. However, there are several excellent BSN programs a couple of hours away and we think highly of their graduates.

So ... we hire a mixture of BSN, AD, and Diploma new grads ... but our "ideal" applicant is a BSN applicant from a high quality school. It's a complicated choice made on a case by case basis.

Here's another thought from a hiring perspective. When we hire an ADN or Diploma grad, we will probably have to pay her tuition reimbursement and accommodate her scheduling requests as she goes back to school for the BSN. That adds to the expense of hiring those nurses. That's an expense the hospital doesn't have if they hire a BSN, who already has the educational qualifications for her first promotion.

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Specializes in Psychiatric, Detox/Rehab, Geriatrics.

Well, if there truly is a "Nursing Shortage", they will take anyone as long as they have that RN license. Personally, I think the diploma programs are the best as they typically give the best bedside experience. I wish I would have been able to attend one. Oh well though, c'est la vie.

Regions and hospitals vary, but for Oregon...

This spring 2009 Salem Hospital in Salem, Oregon had openings for 40 NEW graduates. These new graduate positions are only open to BSNs. Salem Hospital is looking towards Magnet Status so they are actively increasing their proportion of BSN nursing staff.

Are associates degree new grads getting squeezed out? In this case yes.

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Specializes in ICU.
I'd be willing to bet that during these economic times, if a facility was looking at an experienced ADN resume and a new grad BSN resume, they'd be more likely to pick the experienced candidate who will be faster and cheaper to train/orient/precept. Magnet status or not.

I asked a Salem Hospital (going for Magnet status) manager why they were hiring so many new grads... 1) they needed a higher proportion of BSN nurses. 2) this gave them the opportunity to train the nurses in their system from the get go. She added that it is often harder to "un-train" someone than start from scratch. They wanted new BSN grads so that they could invest in them - giving them a focused support system so that they could increase retention and in the long term, reduce costs...

Again this is just one example, and one hospital...

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
They may also end up paying for the BSN person who wants their MSN or doctorate. Not being disrespectful or arguing, just a thought.

True ... and I thought of that ... but the proportion of the new BSN grads who return to school for graduate degrees is smaller than the proportage of ADN grads who go back for the BSN's. Also, most new BSN grads work for a couple of years before they go to graduate school in a major way, giving service to the hospital before they ask the hospital to pay for more education.

I don't really disagree with you, but I think the financial numbers favor the BSN grads in this case.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I asked a Salem Hospital (going for Magnet status) manager why they were hiring so many new grads... 1) they needed a higher proportion of BSN nurses. 2) this gave them the opportunity to train the nurses in their system from the get go. She added that it is often harder to "un-train" someone than start from scratch. They wanted new BSN grads so that they could invest in them - giving them a focused support system so that they could increase retention and in the long term, reduce costs...

Again this is just one example, and one hospital...

My hospital has a similar attitude. The "strongest" candidate will be a nurse with relevant experience, a positive job history, and a good attitude. But a new grad BSN from a strong school who has done a relevant senior-year preceptorship (or externship, etc.) and who presents herself well will win the position over an experienced nurse who not particularly strong in the ways mentioned above. We will still hire ADN and Diploma grads, but only if they have something about them that is outstanding or if they already work for the hospital in another role, etc.

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In my area where the hospitals are either getting or have gotten magnet status, they need BSN & MSN nurses to do it. The biggest frustration for me is that the way the applications are set up. The question is:"Do you have a BSN?" So if you bridged from ADN to MSN, you have to answer "no" and don't even get a chance for the job! I believe there is a clear place for the ADN nurse. Do we really need all BSNs at the bedside? I don't think so. Also, as they push us to get higher and higher degrees, we are still working for the same pay! Just so you know, I am one of those nurses bridging to MSN.

BTW, there was a manager who actually refused to hire an MSN b/c she didn't have a BSN!! What kind of sense does that make?

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WELL, I think when that question is asked on the application...I would explain in small print that you are in a MSN program. But actually for now, you do NOT have a BSN as asked. So in reality...you just have the ADN degree at this time. Who knows if one would finish the MSN...so I can see that managers point. This manager wants all of her nurses to be at least the BSN desgree.....It should be an incentive for all nurses to go and obtaint the BSN....I get more pay for having mine....And unless you just want to be a floor nurse your entire career...then you will need the BSN

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You can't do small print b/c it is an online application. Even if you go to the facility to apply, you must do it on a computer. I guess my main point was that I have friends with MSNs who don't have BSNs but the system doesn't allow them to give that information until the end of the application. Most times, you would have been ruled out based on the "front end" of the application. My second point was that I don't think you necessarily need a BSN to be a bedside nurse. Also, not all hospitals pay more for either advanced degrees or certifications. Some make it up in the clinical ladder program which I think is fair. In our area, you will not be able to advance to Level IV without either a BSN or a certification. I think this is fair. You should be recognized for your education.

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

After reading most of the posts I do agree that eventually, down the road, most hospitals will look at BSN grads vs ADN grads. I guess I am still vague on what a "magnet" hospital is and what this has to do with only hiring BSN nurses. Please enlighten me. After 32 years of nursing with only a ADN I have considered possibly getting my BSN, but I can't afford a pay cut! I only have about 7 years of reall fulltime work and then I plan on cutting back quite a bit. So with the investment of obtaining my BSN, how long will I really have to work for it to pay off? I doubt I would be squeezed out or denied a position because I didn't have a BSN , but that is only because of long term experience with a great employment track record. I know having an advanced degree would open a few doors for me, but I am not sure what I would really do with it. There are many positions out there that don't require the degree as much as having that experience. Anyone just getting into nursing should set their sights high and get the BSN or MSN because I feel eventually that will be a requirement to be a nurse. Certain organizations have for many years tried to make this the entry level only to lose year after year but will win one day and everyone should be prepared for it. There are those who only want to work as a floor nurse instead of sitting behind a desk or walking around in a lab coat looking important.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, lifetime Diabetes Education.

I have found in my location that many hospitals are putting "BSN preferred" in their advertisements. Some of my classmates went to an open house at a very large and well known pediatric hospital and were basically told that it was a waste of time for them to even consider applying with only an ADN.

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I think the handwriting is on the wall, most nurses will need at least a BSN. The same think is going on in the area where I live. Now is the time to get that degree!

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