Can a Experienced Nurse without a BSN....

U.S.A. California

Published

Hello All

I was having this discussion with a couple of my co-workers and I was hoping to get your opinion.

So, a nurse has around 2 years experience without her BSN. Currently, she is taking online courses to get her BSN but she's getting restless in the area and wants to move back to anywhere, California. Good nurse.

I'm making the argument that despite having the experience, not having a BSN will make it a lot harder for her to find a job in california. I'm not saying it's impossible but California hospitals are pushing for more and more nurses to obtain their BSN. She will eventually find a job but the job market will be tough especially with only 2 years and no BSN/

My other co-workers if making the argument that she has the experience and she should have no problem finding a job despite not having a BSN.

What's everybody's opinion on this?

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Sounds to me like the coworkers have not tried to obtain a job in CA lately.

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Sounds to me like the coworkers have not tried to obtain a job in CA lately.

True, they haven't....not yet. It's a lot harder then I pictured isn't it?

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, Med-Surg/Tele, LTC.
True, they haven't....not yet. It's a lot harder then I pictured isn't it?

It's extremely hard. 2 years isn't anything. Nurses with 10+ years are having difficulty finding jobs in California. Even knowing people doesn't matter unless they're in a position that hires, like a nurse manager. Sure you hear people getting jobs in California on their first try, but they are the exception, not the norm.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

Many of the hospitals in my area (Bay Area of California) require BSN degrees for hire. (It's not exactly flaunted in some hospitals, but it is definitely demonstrated by hiring practices in many). Most of them Will look favorably on a BSN in progress, however.

There are ADN's who are hired, however, in my hospital system, they are in a BSN program.

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It's extremely hard. 2 years isn't anything. Nurses with 10+ years are having difficulty finding jobs in California. Even knowing people doesn't matter unless they're in a position that hires, like a nurse manager. Sure you hear people getting jobs in California on their first try, but they are the exception, not the norm.

This is a valid point. She only has 2 years experience. If someone with 10 years are having trouble, it would make her path more difficult

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Many of the hospitals in my area (Bay Area of California) require BSN degrees for hire. (It's not exactly flaunted in some hospitals, but it is definitely demonstrated by hiring practices in many). Most of them Will look favorably on a BSN in progress, however.

There are ADN's who are hired, however, in my hospital system, they are in a BSN program.

I have wondered how much of an impact that would make in the decision process

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

Let me put it this way. They used registry on occasion at my current hospital in the Sacramento area. There is a great nurse who has over 20 years experience. He has been trying to get in our hospital as staff the entire time. He has a BA in hospital admin or something. But despite his 20 years experience, good dedication and having a bachelors, they wouldn't hire him. They finally got an exception from HR but it was a long process.

So def not an easy process in northern california.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

I'm in SoCal, 5 years experience in ER and ICU, have my BSN trying to get a full time gig, so far no luck. Going on three months so far. It's a brutal brutal market.

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Southern California is requiring BSNs as well. Before I got a bachelor in another field, I was weighing whether do an ADN or BSN? I did job searches and ever company wanted a BSNS. Not many ADNs being hired. Even BSNS nurses are having hard times but it's worse for ADNs. Maybe a nursing home will hire her if they have an opening.

I am originally from the Bay Area Northern California. I know it's really hard there for ADN. Most schools are doing BSNs there. I am thinking about returning home and not sure with the job market. But it's hard in both sides of California so I may still move back with a BSN.

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