Question for new grads...

Nurses Career Support

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Is it possible now a days to get hired as a RN only having an ADN but no "experience"?

Its rare now but NOT impossible.

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Depends - upon your geographic area and the type of job you are seeking.

The 'push for BSN' is pretty much concentrated in acute care at this point. There are plenty of opportunities in non-acute settings.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Absolutely it is possible, but largely depends on what part of the country you are in AND whether you have inside connections. If you know someone on the inside who stands up and says you are awesome and should be hired, you have a better chance of being hired. In my part of the country, pretty much the ONLY way into a hospital setting job is through an internship. If you have an ASN instead of a BSN, your only chance at an internship is if you have an inside connection.

Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

Yes, but it depends on where you live and what job you want.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Telemetry, Med-Surg.

Absolutely. I only have my ASN and I had multiple offers right out of school. I've been a RN for about 2 years now, currently work FT in rehab and I have 2 offers that I'm thinking about. I've never had an issue securing employment. But like the others have said, it depends on where you're located.

It depends on location and what you want to do.Personally, I believe that if you will be happy and want to work outside the hospital, and plan to stay at the RN level (not np/CNS/ CRNA/CNM/ PhD) then go for the ADN.But if the hospital is what you are aiming for and/ or you plan to go to grad school, go for your BSN. In my area I don't think it is a good idea to go for the ADN then get a BSN later. You become a "stale new grad" if you don't find employment in the process. Also various BSN classes may or may not translate over to NP/ Grad schools depending on where you go or where you apply to. In my area the ADN is at a super duper disadvantage (although, according to my prof, when the "nursing shortage" returns everyone will be scrambling for any nurse, ADN or BSN)

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