Graduate Nurse with Associate's Degree

ashnem · Feb 11, 2011

I have my ADN and applied to over 60 positions. I finally got one interview and did get the job. It's cold out there for new grads esp. ADNs! I had excellent grades, amazing letters of rec, president of my class, blah, blah, blah and it was TOUGH just to get an interview!

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2011

DC is definitely very BSN-preferred when it comes to hiring. INOVA Fairfax will not even consider hiring new grad RN's with a 2 year degree unless they worked there as interns. I do not see alot of unexperienced new grads with 2 year degrees being hired in general around here. Your best bet might be to start applying for jobs but to also start on an RN-BSN program and mention that in your application.

Oh, if you're willing to do psych, I have seen St. Anne's advertising that they will hire 2 year degree RN's.

malenurz · Feb 22, 2011

in 2009, I got a job at a DC hospital, and I have a 2-year degree. (Actually got a 2nd offer, too). It can be done, but you have to be patient. It also helps to have a DC license, so apply for that one you're done with your boards. Having the license in-hand will open doors. Be patient.

Cilantrophobe · Mar 2, 2011

ChristineN, I think you're going way overboard. I have done quite a bit of my clinical rotations at Inova Fairfax and well as one rotation at Fair Oaks and have talked to and/or seen several ADN students who have been hired in the past couple of years. Inova doesn't want to talk to you unless you have passed the NCLEX, beyond that, it's not THAT hard. Like malenurz said, having a license in hand is essential!

oldlpnnewrn · Mar 2, 2011

I Live in the Dc area and they do prefer BSN's over ADN's. It is also who you know and what school you went to around here. There are about 15 nursing schools in the metro DC (many more in the outer lying area) which are feeder schools to the hospitals and it is very hard to get a job here period. I have had my License since July, and still no JOB. I have been an LPN for 15 years and that really does not help. I have had 5 interviews with no hires. I have excellent job history and references also. I would have a job in hand before you move here because the market is tight. Good luck and sorry if I sound bitter.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

ChristineN, I think you're going way overboard. I have done quite a bit of my clinical rotations at Inova Fairfax and well as one rotation at Fair Oaks and have talked to and/or seen several ADN students who have been hired in the past couple of years. Inova doesn't want to talk to you unless you have passed the NCLEX, beyond that, it's not THAT hard. Like malenurz said, having a license in hand is essential!

I'm just telling you what I know as being as INOVA Fairfax employee. My manager does not hire new grads (she has hired 2 in the last two years, and they were interns on our floor), all other new hires are experienced nurses. My department actually completely disassembled their new grad support staff (used to have two educators, 1 got laid off or something). You may see them getting hired, but if you have experience with an ADN it's easier. Also, I think even in the last year INOVA has been cracking down more. It's definitely not an easy place to get a job at.

53127 · Mar 4, 2011

I have to agree with ChristineN. Its going to be very hard to get a job as a new grad at INOVA Fairfax at least. They have phased out the fellowship programs. In fact the people that used to be "New hire support" on both the floors I've worked on have had to take new positions, which make me think they wont be doing fellowships anytime soon. I saw recently that they posted positions for nurse interns but I haven't seen and RN I position posted in a while. My floor is critically short right now and upper management has already told up that they have no intention on hiring anyone and that is basically the same for all floors.