[striving2banurse]

Hello!
I am pre-nursing student. I am just wondering, does it really matter where you get your nursing degree from??? I hear that some hospitals will not hire you if you get your degree from here or here... and so on. Does it really matter?

thanks,
striving2banurse

[Tweety]

I've never found that to be true. Some recruiters might have their own prejudgements, but for the most part they aren't concerned with where the degree came from, but that you have enough about you to pass NCLEX and get the license.

[TriageRN_34]

I have run into some places that prefer certain nursing schools or degrees, but typically that doesn't pan out for them...and they open up more over time!

I always say if they are going to be that nit picky...I don't want to work there!

[rn/writer]

If you are concerned about possible limitations, there are several things you can do.

First, contact the Human Resources at hospitals in the areas you are interested in and ask them if there are any types of credentials they will not accept.

Second, contact the schools you are considering and ask where their students have been hired. If you are thinking of an online program, ask the same questions.

Research is more effective than speculation or the rumor mill when it comes to dealing with questions like this.

I wish you well.

[catlady]

As long as it is an accredited school, nobody really cares. It might matter if you want to advance, though, but that's probably dependent upon who's hiring. Someone from Snooty U might want another Snooty U grad, y'know.

[TazziRN]

The only restriction I've ever heard of is that you must graduate from an accredited school.

[llg]

I've worked in cities in which some schools have a better reputation than other schools. In those cases, the graduates of the "good schools" were more likely to be hired than the graduates of the "bad schools" -- particularly for those jobs for which there was competition and/or for jobs in specialty units such as the ICU.

The hospitals were not anxious to hire new grads from the schools with bad reputations because their previous grads either failed boards, could not measure up to the hospital's standards and could not complete orientation, or were generally "poor perfomers" on the job. Hospitals invest a lot of money in the orientation process and the don't want to "waste it" by investing in orientees with a low chance of success. When they see a difference in the success rate between schools, they are more likely to favor the graduates from the better schools.

After a few years, it matters a lot less as the nurse's reputation, letters of recommendations, etc. provide evidence of his/her ability to succeed on the job. But a new grad has less of a work history -- and if the school has a bad reputation (or an exceptionally good one), it can make a difference.

llg

[NREMT-P/RN]

A would think that a NURSING LICENSE is essential. That would mean that you have "graduated" from some type of diploma or degree program that is ACCREDITED.

Now, does my nursing license look different since I did the Excelsior degree program? No. If I had graduated from the nursing program at Yale my nursing license would look the same. But, and here is the catch ... the CV sure would be different.

But, kudos to the employer that can limit themselves to ONLY select nursing degree programs. Maybe there really is NO nursing shortage...Right?

I had a HR department director (from a 200 bed hospital) point out to me that "since we draw from 4 different nursing programs, we really never have a shortage of nurses". This was after she offered me $14.80 an hour (yep, for an RN with certification and experience). I know my mouth must have been hanging open in disbelief ... for I was just shocked. Oh, and there were no shift/unit differentials and weekends paid just a buck more. I thanked her profusely and politely declined. (Before I'd made it home, she had called my husband to have me urgently return her call. I thought I must have left my purse of something - so once I was sure I had by belongings, I did call her back --- only to be offered an additional $0.75 an hour due to my unique qualifications...Right?) But, oh well - Goody for them...I checked a few weeks back and they had at least 15 openings for RN's, so I wonder how that "school" thing is working out?

Anyway, the moral of the story.
Go somewhere that you are "wanted". It will almost always, without fail, translate into you being valued (via $$$) and with being valued comes satisfaction.
Good Luck - I still believe it is a "sellers market". Serious bidders only, need apply

[earle58]

every interview i went on after graduating, all made positive comments about the son i attended.
so for me, yes, it made a difference.

leslie

[luvkitties]

Originally Posted by TriageRN_34

I always say if they are going to be that nit picky...I don't want to work there!

Thank you so much for saying that! I recently graduated from an ADN program, and I had one recruiter talking down to me because I didn't have a BSN. Fortunately, I found another hospital that isn't as uppety...I start in a month :hatparty:

~Lori