Need Some Help/Need to Rant

U.S.A. Washington DC

Published

I just need to let the frustration out just a little. ARRGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, that feels much better.

I graduated with a degree in Biology and I'm ready to make the switch to nursing. I cannot for the life of me decide whether to go for an ABSN or an ADN. Yes, I know what the search button is and that there is many topics about this, but nobody seems to mention what the job prospects look for someone who has an ADN, but is actively enrolled in an RN-BSN program at the time they are looking for jobs. Trust me, I don't want to have an ADN my whole life, but I'm not blessed enough to have rich parents that will shell out another 40K to pay for a second degree. I'm already 30K in debt from my undergraduate degree.

No offense young ones, but I don't care to hear the opinion of a 22 year old kid whose parents pay for everything tell me "just get your ABSN." I only want to hear people who know what it's like to pay student loan debt along with a car payment, car insurance, rent, cell phone - bills that come from living an independent life. I'm certain that a lot of these people on this board, not all, but a lot don't know what it's like to live a life where you can't just go to Georgetown and spend 80K on a second degree like it's no big deal or spend all this extra money to take pre-req courses like Bioethics and Developmental Psyc just to enroll at George Mason for their ABSN. I want to live in NoVA so bad. So, I want an honest opinion. If I do this ADN program, will I get a job in the NoVA area as an RN? Could I at least still live there and make a living with my ADN until I finish my RN-BSN program? ALSO, does it help if you have your ADN, but can prove to the employer you are enrolled in an RN-BSN program and will have your BSN? If not, is there anywhere I could work as an RN until I finish this program. I understand I won't have my pick of the litter, but I find it REALLY hard to believe that the ONLY people getting hired in NoVA are people with BSN's. Let's not be ridiculous, or maybe I'm being ridiculous by not just biting the bullet and taking out thousands of dollars for an ABSN.

Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.
If you can believe that what you are doing is relevant you can make an employer believe that in an interview.[/quote']

IF you can get the interview at all which is the point that I believe everyone is trying to make.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

IF you can get the interview at all which is the point that I believe everyone is trying to make.

Yeah many employers are not going to waste their time interviewing a ADN candidate when they have a stack of applications of potential employees with BSN's, regardless of your background.

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Yeah many employers are not going to waste their time interviewing a ADN candidate when they have a stack of applications of potential employees with BSN's regardless of your background.[/quote'] It all depends on location and the type of facility that you apply to. There are plenty of nurses without a BSN at the facility that I work at. I work at an acute care hospital. According to U.S. news it is one of the too 10 hospitals in the nation.

OP is it's not about what you rather but rather who you know.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
It all depends on location and the type of facility that you apply to. There are plenty of nurses without a BSN at the facility that I work at. I work at an acute care hospital. According to U.S. news it is one of the too 10 hospitals in the nation.

OP is it's not about what you rather but rather who you know.

Nurse2be, I agree there are plenty of jobs out there for ADN-RN's but the OP was asking specifically about the Washington DC metro area and my advice was in reference to my experience in this area of the country

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I think faster than I type. ? please excuse the grammatical errors.

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In the Washington DC area, the only place you will be hired with an ADN is at Washington Hospital Center. Period. And I am pretty certain that the only reason I got in, is that I came with cardiac experience. They aren't hiring ADN new grads at all, even on my old floor which is desperate for nurses (80% less than 1 year experienced staff right now), so that should tell you what type of facility it is to work for.

You are doing yourself a huge disservice by not getting a BSN, especially since there are so many ABSN programs that last just as long as an ADN. However, it seems that you have already made up your mind, and just want someone to agree with you.

That's just an ADN nurse's two cents. I was 29 years old when I went to nursing school, at my expense, and wish I had opted for the BSN program instead, eventhough the ADN program in my area put out a better nurse, and was the preferred school of my hiring manager because of this. And now, at 35 I have zero interest in going for anything in higher level nursing, and if I go back to school, it will be a pharmacy or perfusionist program

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Hi Wimeraww, I'm in an ADN program in this area. I've been living here forever. Like you, nursing is a career change for me. My previous BS is in Biology and Masters in a health related field. I am taking the ADN route because I too couldn't afford doing a ABSN, so I had to do what I had to do. I've been working in the health care field for a while. Worked for Inova, Prince William hospital, NIH, etc., and have worked with plenty of seasoned nurses so I'm aware of all the ADN vs. BSN talk and here's my 2 cents:

There's no nursing shortage in the DC area. ADN students should get their BSN asap. It's going to be hard to find a job, but I'm going to use my "go-getter" skills and people I know to try to find a job with my ADN degree, preferably a hospital, while I get my BSN. There are a couple hospitals here and there that will accept ADN students. Inova keeps flipping. 6 years ago when I graduated from college (in this area), my BSN friends couldnt find jobs simply because there's no shortage in DC. Even my friend (BSN student) who worked with me at one of Inova's hospitals as a tech couldn't get a job. Another 2 friends moved to North Carolina to find work. Inova frequently has these "hiring freezes" which is frustrating. Fast forward a few years later, people who graduated with their ADN got jobs in Inova and DC hospitals. Last year's ADN grads got jobs throughout Inova but signed a 3 year agreement to get their BSN. Not sure when Inova will "flip again" but I'd keep Inova in the "maybe" pile. There's also Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington that hires ADNs. I know people who have ADNs that got hired at Sibley and Washington Hospital Center in DC. Believe it or not, I know nurses at Georgetown and GW that have ADN degrees but they're working on their BSN degrees, but I'm not putting GW and GT in the "definite" pile because they are BSN preferred. My friends who work there were techs first and had inside connections. Some hospitals I'm completely unaware of like Shady Grove Adventist and Washington Adventist but it may be worth looking into.

So I'm simply trying to say that each person has a different experience. From what I've seen, the hospitals around here really "flip flop" from year to year, probably due to their specific needs.

Best of luck to you with your decision.

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Ferrn does hospital center accept old/new grads in their residency program? Working in home care right now.,,want to get back into the hospital.,,i have my bsn though..

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Specializes in ICU, Geriatrics, Float Pool.

I have direct experience with job searching at NOVA hospitals. They will not call you with an ADN nowadays. Unless you have an extraordinary resume with tons of connections or something. Their minimum is now BSN with MSN preferred! When I tried applying to jobs with my ADN a couple years ago, I got 1 call from a hospital, because they were desperate at the time. When I got my BSN, I had my pick of 3 offers all from great hospitals in the area. I'm not saying it's all because of the BSN, you have to have a good resume, references, and interview well, but it made that much difference for me.

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Specializes in NICU.

That is very true..I was called by a recruiter at NOVA to come in for an interview for my dream job..for them to ask me did I have my BSN (after reviewing my resume again they missed I didn't have it smh)..I , of course, told them no..and they said reapply when I do..I was crushed!!! I am hoping to be done with my BSN next summer, but I'm still applying to jobs in the meantime.

I have direct experience with job searching at NOVA hospitals. They will not call you with an ADN nowadays. Unless you have an extraordinary resume with tons of connections or something. Their minimum is now BSN with MSN preferred! When I tried applying to jobs with my ADN a couple years ago, I got 1 call from a hospital, because they were desperate at the time. When I got my BSN, I had my pick of 3 offers all from great hospitals in the area. I'm not saying it's all because of the BSN, you have to have a good resume, references, and interview well, but it made that much difference for me.
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I agree with everyone else, you will be sorry if you don't get your BSN off the bat. You will make things much more complicated for yourself and yes there will be lines to repay but it is more worth having the assurance of a job after your done

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