Experience > than BSN? Or Vice versa?

[SAHMStudent]

Hubby and I are currently having this discussion. I am burned out on school and just want to work, be a mom and re-connect with friends, enjoy life as a non-student for about a year, then go on to RN-BSN or maybe RN-MSN program(s). He thinks I should take the next two years and suck it up and go for the BSN. This arises from looking at ads that say "2 years experience required" and/or "BSN preferred".

I am well aware of the new grad job situation, and I am in a large metro area with multiple opportunities, but also a glut of RN programs, many of which are nationally known BSN/MSN programs. I feel slightly ill when I call around and hear "Don't bother applying, we aren't posting any new grad positions right now....etc"; but I also know you have to work the system and I am already doing that, even though I don't graduate for 6 weeks (yay!).

Soooo, any words of wisdom on an employer choosing a BSN over some experience in the future, or would two years of working on a floor give me an edge?

[Blackheartednurse]

sounds like a story similar to mine (although I dont have a husband nor kids but I do have two animal that I'm taking care of).I graduated on May 2009 and they went for a job hunt,hospital gig didnt work out,then found out a job in a home health agency (been there since this June),getting my experiece maybe not acute but my patients do turn unstable time to time plus the patients that I have suffer from different kind of diagnoses so get a bit of everything (COPD,diabetic,CHF,dialysis,epilepsy,post-stroke,hypertensive,GERDS and a lot of anemics)Well anyway I like yourself was burned out from study when I just graduated nevertheless I knew that at some point of my life I wanted to get my BSN for my own personal satisfaction and for more career options later down the road (I would like to one day maybe work in public health or be a nurse practioner).Well but I needed a break from school,so basically one and a half year later I'm back for my BSN,I'm full of energy,motivated and just started my first BSN nursing class on November 10,it will be a taugh 2 years (it will take me 6 terms (one term is 10 weeks) to complete my ADN to BSN,I have to take some general ed classes) and I will end up taking 3 classes for most of the terms plus working in a home health agency but at the end I'm sure it will be worth the prize.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Are any places hiring ADNs? If not...you might as well do an RN-BSN program while lookin for work. If you can get a job and get some experience, it seems like you could get away with waiting.

[SAHMStudent]

you might as well do an RN-BSN program while lookin for work

I may well end up doing that very thing. I have a few co-reqs/pre-reqs (depending on the program) for RN-BSN/RN-MSN left to do, and I can do some online, or just do one a semester, or over the summer. I'll also do some volunteer work, possibly even in the area of the hospital in which I one day hope to earn a paycheck

One thought is that if I am currently enrolled in a BSN program, that might make me look more attractive to employers, but as a new grad, I really only want to concentrate on my preceptorship and first year of nursing before I add extra education to that schedule.

DH is trying to be supportive of my wanting a higher degree, but I just want to work.

As far as ASN getting hired... I do know hospitals that even say they are aiming for magnet and want only BSN, have hired ASN. And this is only the beginning of my search, I have only sent in one application. We'll see what I'm saying in 10 weeks.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

As far as ASN getting hired... I do know hospitals that even say they are aiming for magnet and want only BSN, have hired ASN. And this is only the beginning of my search, I have only sent in one application. We'll see what I'm saying in 10 weeks.

I would volunteer, network like crazy, and give it a month or two before deciding to shift your focus towards the BSN then. I have been looking for two months (as a BSN in a tough market) and am not going to panic until January Job searches take time nowadays so I definitely think it's premature to give up if what you want is a job and not school right now.

[Ared1]

I got a job as a tech while I was in my RN-ASN program. My hospital hired me before graduation. A friend of mine quit the same program I was in to go through another program to get her BSN. I have been working as an RN since February of 09. She graduated with her BSN in May of 2010. She didn't find a job until last month. (oct 2010) I finished my BSN in September. So, for me getting a job would be the priority. She didn't have any more luck finding a job just because she had a BSN. Good luck to you no matter what you choose!

[LaxNP, DNP]

An added bonus is that if you do get a job with an ADN, most places will give you money or reimbursments for further education! There are many options to consider with this.