Can an RN Get a job in a hospital with out a BSN.

1. 0 I work only as a nurses aide right now in a nursing home and really thinking on continuing on to be an RN. I was thinking about going for an LPN but after hearing that they are being limited to just nursing homes I kind of changed my mind about that. I do not how true it is since I gained that information off the internet. I also hear that hospitals prefer RN's with BSN. I know it is what they prefer but is it possibly to still get a job in a hospital with even a diploma from a hospital program or even an ADN from a community college. I know a bunch of people I work with who are nurses aides that are doing their RN at community colleges or even hospital based programs. I mean you are a registered nurse whether you have a diploma or a 2 year of a 4 year degree. If there is a nursing shortage wouldn't you want to hire as much nurses as you can and not limit them. That is how I see it but I am still undecidable if I want to continue on with this. I really enjoy being a nursing assistant right now. I live Pittsburgh Pennsylvania by the way. I am also brand new to this site this is my first post or thread made ever.

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2. 22 Comments

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3. 
   #1 0

   Jun 26, '13 by Anoetos

   Yes, you can still get hired as a ADN, but if you're competing with BSNs for jobs, depending on the hospital it could get dicey.
   
   I work with a lot of ADNs, they're fine nurses. I am not a "better nurse" for having a BSN. But then, that's not what the push for BSN as the entry level degree for RNs is about.
4. 
   #2 0

   Jun 26, '13 by mcclot1993

   I live right near a community college except too so is it very possibly to still land a job in a hospital with an ADN. I know one of my employees says her mom is a 2 year nurse and she works in a hospital. what about diploma nurses can they still get a job in a hospital. I work at a place called Sherwood Oaks affiliated with UPMC and when I began my orientation there was an RN there going to work at ST Margarets hospital and she completed her schooling through St Margarets hospital.
5. 
   #3 1

   Jun 27, '13 by TheCommuter, BSN, RN Senior Moderator

   Yes, it is still possible to land an acute care hospital position as a new RN with an associate degree. However, you'll be competing with new grad RNs with BSN degrees who are applying for the same types of jobs as the associate degree holders and will willingly accept the same (or lower) pay rates.
6. 
   #4 0

   Jun 27, '13 by mcclot1993

   what about diploma nurses
7. 
   #5 2

   Jun 27, '13 by CrunchRN

   There is no nursing shortage. Are you aware that new grad nurses are taking 6 months to 2 years to find a job? Just so you know going in......
8. 
   #6 0

   Jun 27, '13 by mcclot1993

   Wow. That long. Is it because nursing is in such high demand
9. 
   #7 0

   Jun 27, '13 by RNdynamic, ASN, BSN, RN, EMT-B

   I am an RN who graduated two years ago with an ADN working in one of the best hospitals in the country. I had to work 6 months in a rural hospital, however.
10. 
    #8 2

    Jun 27, '13 by RNsRWe

    Quote from mcclot1993

    Wow. That long. Is it because nursing is in such high demand

    Re-read what Crunch said. It takes that long to find a job because there is little to no demand for nurses! Competition is high, openings are few.
11. 
    #9 0

    Jun 27, '13 by rumwynnieRN

    It depends on where you are, but if there's a BSN program, an ADN program and a Diploma program in the area, they'll probably prefer the BSN or ADN graduates. The diploma graduates would be restricted to the hospital they got their training from, but that's not a definite.
12. 
    #10 0

    Jun 27, '13 by Kencanwin

    Location is a huge factor in having a shot at being hired as an ADN another id networking. I've noticed that there are alot of hospitals dropping their Magnet status so just keep your nose to the grind stone.
13. 
    #11 2

    Jun 27, '13 by KelRN215, BSN, RN

    It really depends on where you are located. In my area (major city in the northeast), new grad ADNs cannot find hospital jobs and ALL new grad RNs (BSNs included) are struggling to find ANY jobs.
14. 
    #12 0

    Jun 27, '13 by LoriBSN2b, ADN, RN

    Fortunately I live in a rural area with two hospitals in a fifty mile radius and only one community college (and no universities). I am hoping I will get hired at one of them right after I graduate in 2015. I am planning on getting my CNA after my first semester so I can get hired as a CNA and have my foot in the door. But there is no nursing shortage nationally. Not from what I have researched. I do have a friend who did his externship in a burn unit in Virginia Beach area and he was hired straight out of school to the ER. He had his ADN, not his BSN. That is what is keeping my hopes up!

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