Will most hospitals hire a person with a bachelors dgree before a person with an ADN.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jan 17, 2009

Here in Boston, definitely. Some hospitals will consider a nurse with a BA or non-nursing BS and an ADN the equivalent of a BSN, but most won't. Magnet hospitals won't consider ADNs.

shodobe · Jan 17, 2009

Depending on the position, experience always trumps a degree. ALWAYS. I'll put up my 30+ years over any BSN grad anytime. Most, if not all competent hospitals will always go with the experienced nurse. Look at what is happening across the country with new grads. They are finding it difficult to find work because they have no work experience, whereas a nurse with a number of years will usually get a job. Why? It is just logical that hospitals not waste a lot of time training new nurses. Experienced nurses can usually be up and running in a short time, new grads take time and money.

inland18mempire · Jan 17, 2009

Actually, believe it or not, I overheard the management say that they prefer ADNs for bedside nurses compared to BSNs. Their reasoning behind this is that the ADNs have more extensive bedside care experience, as opposed to the BSN and the heavy theory they study instead. From personal experience, I find that the students I work with from ADN programs are better and harder workers (this is based on MY experience so far. I'm not calling anyone lazy). They are better at their assessment skills, they have more nursing 'common sense', they are more eager to learn, and they are very disciplined.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2009

Actually, believe it or not, I overheard the management say that they prefer ADNs for bedside nurses compared to BSNs. Their reasoning behind this is that the ADNs have more extensive bedside care experience, as opposed to the BSN and the heavy theory they study instead. From personal experience, I find that the students I work with from ADN programs are better and harder workers (this is based on MY experience so far. I'm not calling anyone lazy). They are better at their assessment skills, they have more nursing 'common sense', they are more eager to learn, and they are very disciplined.

I made this point in another topic, "ADV vs. BSN". lol I see it, I know others do too. Its too linear to be a coincidence.

Dragonnurse1, ASN, RN · Jan 18, 2009

Would someone explain what the heck a "Magnet" hospital is? Do they have more intelligent workers and patients? All I have ever heard of is Level 1, 11, 111 Trauma Hospital or Teaching hospitals. What horsehocky are people shoveling now?

Super Nurse JoshuA · Jan 18, 2009

Actually, believe it or not, I overheard the management say that they prefer ADNs for bedside nurses compared to BSNs. Their reasoning behind this is that the ADNs have more extensive bedside care experience, as opposed to the BSN and the heavy theory they study instead. From personal experience, I find that the students I work with from ADN programs are better and harder workers (this is based on MY experience so far. I'm not calling anyone lazy). They are better at their assessment skills, they have more nursing 'common sense', they are more eager to learn, and they are very disciplined.

I think this is completely dependent on the area of the country. Where I am at the first traditional BSN program graduates ,I believe, next May (2010). Therefore, the overwhelming majority of the few prepared BSN nurses in this area are ADN/Diploma's first. As the diploma nurses have quietly disappeared (the last class graduated in the early 70's) it's the LPNs who claim to have the more "clinical" abilities of the nurses arguing that the RN's with their ADN's are all "book learning, explanation, and theory".

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2009

Would someone explain what the heck a "Magnet" hospital is? Do they have more intelligent workers and patients? All I have ever heard of is Level 1, 11, 111 Trauma Hospital or Teaching hospitals. What horsehocky are people shoveling now?

Funny you say that. The only reason I know about it is someone in my "Principles of Nursing" course did a presentation on it. I found it interesting. Otherwise, I'd be posting the same thing.

A magnet hospital is a hospital that for a period of time (5 years documented) has displayed the ability to maintain certain standards. These standards include but are not limited to pt. care such as lenght of stay, rate of same day return and level of pt. education being performed. The standards also go beyond that. They also are cover employee satisfaction. Retaining workers, staffing (not just nurses, but every dept.) and other things are tracked. If the hospital is granted magnet status, it means they have acieved a high standard in all categories. It is, like a resteraunt being granted the 5 star status. Once a hospital reaches this status, its funding and ability to attract grants increas significantly.

Mind you now, this presentation was done close to four years ago. Thats just what I remember.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2009

I think this is completely dependent on the area of the country. Where I am at the first traditional BSN program graduates ,I believe, next May (2010). Therefore, the overwhelming majority of the few prepared BSN nurses in this area are ADN/Diploma's first. As the diploma nurses have quietly disappeared (the last class graduated in the early 70's) it's the LPNs who claim to have the more "clinical" abilities of the nurses arguing that the RN's with their ADN's are all "book learning, explanation, and theory".

:smiley_abOK, just so I understand you. LPNs claim ADNs are not as good at the bedside and are more "theory". Then we ADNs say BSN people are not as good at the bedside and are more "theory". Even a guy like me can see a trend forming here.

I wonder if BSN nurses say MSN nurses are not as good at the bedside and are all theory?

I plan on getting my BSN as soon as I am done travel nursing. I want it so badly all of a sudden. Dont know why. Just do.

Super Nurse JoshuA · Jan 18, 2009

:smiley_abOK, just so I understand you. LPNs claim ADNs are not as good at the bedside and are more "theory". Then we ADNs say BSN people are not as good at the bedside and are more "theory". Even a guy like me can see a trend forming here.
I wonder if BSN nurses say MSN nurses are not as good at the bedside and are all theory?
I plan on getting my BSN as soon as I am done travel nursing. I want it so badly all of a sudden. Dont know why. Just do.

Yea, It does seem to be the trend to 'hate' on those with the higher degrees in nursing. Although in the case of BSN nurses saying that about MSN nurses, I don't know many MSN nurses that work at the bedside.

I can understand the all of sudden wanting the BSN. I'm starting a RN to BSN program. I've thought in the past about being a NP or CRNA which was why I wanted the BSN in the first place. . . now I'm not so sure I want to work in either of those roles ,but I'm still wanting my BSN for some reason.

At my previous hospital the pay difference for BSN over ADN was nine cents. I'm open to the possibilities it may open to me such as active military service, public health service corps, research, or the VA system, but otherwise what are the advantages at this time of being a BSN prepared nurses over an ADN? :confused:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2009

I think this is completely dependent on the area of the country. Where I am at the first traditional BSN program graduates ,I believe, next May (2010). Therefore, the overwhelming majority of the few prepared BSN nurses in this area are ADN/Diploma's first. As the diploma nurses have quietly disappeared (the last class graduated in the early 70's) it's the LPNs who claim to have the more "clinical" abilities of the nurses arguing that the RN's with their ADN's are all "book learning, explanation, and theory".

I think it must be regional.

As someone above said, it's too much of a coincidence that many people say that ADNs have better clinical skills and BSNs are book people.

While this might be true where some people are, around there both the BSN program and the ADN program are NLN approved and NLN-approved schools have minimum standards for clinical hours. So the ADN doesn't have more extensive clinical time. BSNs, do indeed have more "theory" classes away from from bedside nursing to include leadership, research and community health, but their bedside clinical time is equal to the ADNs. Again, I'm only speaking from my experience with the schools here. :)

Dragonnurse1, ASN, RN · Jan 18, 2009

Thank you for the explanation. If a hospital is able to obtain all those high marks Please let me know where it is - I want to go and be a patient there.

Oh well:argue::smiley_ab Lpns have their place in nursing, Diploma nurses have a place, ASN/ADNs have a place, BSNs have half a place in bedside nursing and the other half is in management, MSNs - management and education.

CNA, PCT, Techs of all areas ---- FACE IT we ALL have out place in caring for patients. ADNs do load up more on the why and what if than BSNs do. BSNs more management. In our area Diploma Nurses were grandfathered in to the ASN/ADN.

I have precepted too many BSNs that were not ready to come off probation after 6 weeks and some never made it to their 6 month. Every one was not sure of any of their skills some could not start an IV in a vein that a mac truck could run through.

In the grand scheme of life it does not matter what degree you have, take that degree and $2 bucks and you can all buy a cup of coffee:banghead:

We, nurses, need to stop sniping at each other and join together and lift up each other, heaven knows no one else will.

:wink2:After all if there were no nurses and techs who would take care of the patients? :bow:

FA to CRNA2b · Jan 18, 2009

Depending on the position, experience always trumps a degree. ALWAYS. I'll put up my 30+ years over any BSN grad anytime.

No, not always. The uniform services require a bachelors except for some reservists. They have lots of enlisted LPNs though. So experience does not always trump the degree. :twocents: