CAREER CHANGE

[loriidel]

I am career changer with a BS degree in another field. Currently taking science pre-reqs for nursing school, visited a couple of nursing schools and is looking to shadow a nurse. Is it better to get an ASN or should I get the BSN, I want to work as soon as possible? Will there be any advantage for me to get the BSN immediately since I have a BS degree already. With all of the changes in healthcare, are the stand a lone hospitals or health systems hiring ASNs in the St Louis Metropolitan area or better yet who do they prefer to hire ASNs or BSNs. Finally, who do I contact to set up a job shadowing? I appreciate any and all insight.

[solneeshka, BSN, RN]

If your sole goal is to start working as soon as possible, then you should do a second-degree BSN. They take one calendar year (after your pre-reqs), and they are a big time commitment. But after a year, you're done. They are typically kind of expensive (maybe $25K or more). In the St. Louis area, I know that Goldfarb (at Barnes-Jewish) and SLU offer such programs. In lieu of that, you'd want to get your ADN so you can start working, and then do a BSN-completion program while you work. That way, your facility will pay for it, or for most of it (if it's a facility that still offers that benefit). Your current BSN really won't make any difference to getting your first nursing job, other than that you may have more maturity that makes you a better interview than someone coming out of school for the first time. Most hospitals in this area favor BSNs but do hire ADNs. In order to set up job shadowing, contact the facility's HR department. Good luck!

[loriidel]

Thanks, the information you provided is appreciated and very helpful.