[quincy24]

I'm almost done with an AD in nursing. I also have a BA in psych. Many people have told me that boston hospitals wont hire new grads with associates degrees even if you already have a bachelors. I live right next to the city, and have always wanted to work in town. I would also like to think that someone who has gone to college for 6 years with 2 degrees should be able to work where ever she wants. Does anyone know anything about this or have any advice???

[oualie20]

I'm not sure about this but the 1st degree may be "overlooked," I too have a previous bachelor's and truthfully, that doesn't seem to matter. I would certainly talk to nurse recruiters at the hospitals you are most interested in...beginning now.. get the facts from the folks doing the hiring. Not sure if that's what you were looking for but I do hope it helps.

[chriscolin]

Originally Posted by oualie20

I'm not sure about this but the 1st degree may be "overlooked," I too have a previous bachelor's and truthfully, that doesn't seem to matter. I would certainly talk to nurse recruiters at the hospitals you are most interested in...beginning now.. get the facts from the folks doing the hiring. Not sure if that's what you were looking for but I do hope it helps.

This fact is sad but true, your prior education is mostly irrelevant. Unless it's a degree in nursing(BSN). Mass Gen. will hire an ASN if you work as an aid prior to graduation or if you have 1 years experience. Brigham and Womens same scenario. If you are not working there prior to graduation they WILL NOT HIRE AN ASN. Tufts NEMC will, Beth Israel will, Childrens will. The trend is that soon a BSN will be required in Mass. Of course they have been talking about this for awhile. But sooner or later it will probably occur. The community hospitals will hire ASN's and the pay is pretty good in some.

Good Luck

[dfs1961]

Originally Posted by quincy24

I'm almost done with an AD in nursing. I also have a BA in psych. Many people have told me that boston hospitals wont hire new grads with associates degrees even if you already have a bachelors. I live right next to the city, and have always wanted to work in town. I would also like to think that someone who has gone to college for 6 years with 2 degrees should be able to work where ever she wants. Does anyone know anything about this or have any advice???

Brigham will NOT hire a new grad with an ASN, even if that candidate has a bachelors and a masters degree (both not in nursing). Seems pretty silly to me, but that is what their deal is.

[chriscolin]

Originally Posted by dfs1961

Brigham will NOT hire a new grad with an ASN, even if that candidate has a bachelors and a masters degree (both not in nursing). Seems pretty silly to me, but that is what their deal is.

My classmate worked at the Brigham as an aid, only an ASN she was hired. So I guess there are exceptions to every rule, depends on who you know I think.

[bittyboo]

I am graduating from St Louis University with a BSN and want
to return to my home in Boston to work. I would like to get a
job at Children's or Floating...do you know what the procedure
is for getting hired. Thanks for any input.....

[edogs334]

As I've said in another post, the BI hired ADN new grads when I worked there a year ago; I'd imagine their policy hasn't changed. Did you, or do you now, go to Quincy College? I worked with several nurses at the BI who were all QC grads. Working as a patient care tech at a Boston hospital prior to graduation will always give someone leg up on everyone else, even if they're graduating from a BSN program. For example, the Northeastern students/grads I knew at the BI had no difficulty getting their first job at Boston teaching hospitals because they had done a lot of "co-op" work as PCA's/PCT's in various institutions. It seemed like every other nurse I encountered at the BI said "I went to Northeastern."

I'm in a BSN program myself, and don't yet see why some hospitals are so picky about requiring a BSN of their new grads. BSN and ADN graduates take the EXACT same licensing exam- hence they can do the exact same job as bedside nurses. I mean, BSN nurses may have more in-depth education in some areas (my program has semester-long courses dedicated to Pharm and Health Assessment). However, until the NCSBN (the writers of the NCLEX) and the ANA make a definite change in policy, I don't see how a BSN bedside nurse would practice at a genuinely higher level of practice compared to their ADN counterparts.

[sleepyjane]

I was in exactly the same situation a year ago (BA in psych, AD in nursing). MGH and BWH will not hire new grad ADNs unless you have worked there as an aide preiously. However, once you gain a years experience they will consider you although having a BSN or having enrolled in a BSN program will definately give you an edge. I found it really tough as a new grad in Boston, lots of new grads to compete with this time of year. I landed a job in rehab after sending out countless resumes and am now making the move to med surg in a community hospital which is where I wanted to start from the beginning. You will here different things from different people about who will take ADN and who will not. I think the best thing to do is to call nurse recruiters directly and be as agressive as you can in your job search. Good luck!

[elkpark]

It's always really hard for people who have earned a degree in another subject to get used to the idea that the previous degree doesn't "count" or benefit them at all in nursing, and I sympathize with that, but turn the question around. Would you expect a degree in nursing (or chemistry, or art, or anything else) to benefit someone or "count" as a credential in getting a position as a psychologist? Of course not.

An ADN degree plus a baccalaureate degree in something else is not the same as a BSN. There is specific content in BSN programs that is lacking in ADN programs. Yes, everyone takes the same NCLEX, but that is the minimum standard for entry into practice. Everyone has to meet that minimum standard of being able to practice safely, but that doesn't mean that everyone is educated or practices at the same level.

The majority of nursing graduates in the US are ADN grads, and most hospitals don't draw any distinctions when hiring new grads, but some do and they have the right to do that. I'm not saying that I agree with them or support that idea, but it is a reality in some parts of the country.

[NabiRN]

Originally Posted by elkpark

An ADN degree plus a baccalaureate degree in something else is not the same as a BSN. There is specific content in BSN programs that is lacking in ADN programs.

You made a good point. I have BS, MS in chemistry and associate in nursing. I am thinking about going for my BSN but I cannot see how I can be a better nurse by taking the courses in BSN programs. I think that my time would be better spent by learning from veteran nurses and not from books. Most veteran nurses have associate degrees.

Please give me reasons for going for my BSN especially if I don't have much time to go to school.