New Nurse Graduate-ASN

U.S.A. Colorado

Published

Hello, I am about to graduate from an ASN Nursing program in Florida and plan on moving to Colorado. I am getting nervous reading all the posts regarding finding a RN job as a new grad, and throw ASN on top of it. Is it really going to be that difficult finding a job? I plan on being enrolled in an ASN- BSN program while I am applying to jobs. While browsing for jobs I have also noticed there are multiple newgrad programs for hospitals, but again all require a BSN. As much as I do not prefer to, I have come to the conclusion that I am probably going to have to start out in a SNF vs in Peds (Childrens Hospital of CO) where I dream of being :crying2:

If anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it!!

Parks 71- I don't know how to PM could you PM me. I am also from Fl and trying to move out to CO and would love to get some advise on how to stand out. Thanks!!

Hey I tried to PM you and it wouldnt let me. I am currently applying to ADN programs around the state and am pretty worried if i should just take out the loans and try to do a BSN program

I have a little bit of experience- hospital transporter and security and a combat life saving course in the army with a few responses to mass casualty scenes- I also am finishing up my CNA right now...I dont know if it will be enough to get into a hospital with an ADN though.

would you mind PM me with those two hospitals? Just for peace of mind

Thank you

Hey parks71,

Can you PM me those hospitals you mentioned? I'm from Colorado, have my ADN and want to move back really badly!! I am actually going to be in Colorado for a week starting on Wednesday and would love to hit up those hospitals you mentioned while I am there. I appreciate any help you can give. THANKS in advance!!!

I am not convinced I am doing the right thing. I start the ADN program in the fall but I already hold a bachelors degree. I only have a 3.0 gpa and all 2nd degree programs in CO are so competitive that I can't get in. Although I haven't tried.... I would need 3 more prereqs if I want to apply for a BSN program. Any advice? I'm a CO native.

Based on what I know as a soon to graduate ADN, with a prior BS degree, I would get the BSN. I'm already wishing I did that.

LG1137... Why? May I ask what school you go to?

I'm at a 2-year school in southern Arizona. There are a lot of 2-year schools in this state and at least three big universities. Already, inquiring at the hospitals that aren't in the really small towns (and we have lots of really small towns down here), I'm getting the BSN required for new grads response. The hospitals where I live (rural) are not hiring.

I was recently interested in moving to Albuquerque. Took a road trip out there, checked everything out, yep I like it as I remembered, it would be great to live there. There's UNM hospital with a Level I trauma center (I want to eventually work trauma), and Presbyterian, which is another big hospital. UNM has a new grad residency program too which looks really cool on the website. So I call both hospitals, nope sorry, we don't take ADNs.

Is that set in stone? I don't know. If I lived in town and could dedicate myself to showing my face every single day for a month, maybe they would hire me. But I am hearing "BSN required" enough that I wish I'd done that.

A friend of mine has a BS like me. She started an accelerated second degree BSN program (at Oregon OHSU) a semester after I did and will be done at the same time. That would cost more money, but sounds like a better deal. As it stands now, I'm going to enroll at Western Governor's University as soon as I graduate to get my BSN.

Sorry, I hope this doesn't sound negative, just telling you what I would do in hindsight.

Thats exactly what I had planned on doing. Western governors even has an RN-MSN. I can't afford an accelerated option even if I did get into one. I used all my loan money for my 1st undergrad and I can afford the ADN program. Have you tried long term care facilities as a start until you get your BSN? I realize it will be an extra year of school and maybe no job, but in the end... I will be a BSN anyway. Plus, home health care is what a lot of ADN's do and they make double the money in some places.

You have a good point. There is home health here and also, long term care, which pays pretty good, and in Tucson I believe starts at around $25-28/hr, plus big differentials. It's the only way they can attract RNs. The thing is that I want to work my way to ICU or ED, and to start at med surg and then up from there doesn't seem easy at this point. It will all work out. Maybe I'm just cranky because I've been in school so long!!! Ok, now it sounds like I'm whining hahaha! Going to stop now :)

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