A little skeptical..

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So I currently am enrolled in an ADN program and halfway through (a couple more classes before I can apply into the actual nursing program) but have been doing my own research and have been hearing that there is not really a shortage and a lot of hospitals are preferring BSN's over ADN's. I have a friend that is a BSN and she told me herself that if I can just go ahead and finish my BSN now I should I'm just a little skeptical now because I have two little ones and don't want to quit school but really thinking about going back to work and going to school part-time any advise and experiences. Yikes! Btw what are magnet hospitals and is anybody employed by one? Any Houston nurses out there have any input? This message is intended for all nurses willing to give any advise! Pleaseeeee help! :bookworm:

Thanks,

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Specializes in ICU.

It depends on your area. I would not take the words of other people. Look at hospital websites and see what they are hiring. It is true some hospitals want a BSN but in my area I will be fine with an ADN. So I am getting my ADN, then going to get a job and work on my BSN while working. The job I eventually want will require my BSN but I will also need experience and I can get that as a ADN.

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I mean at first I didn't pay too much attention to that or what she had to say but I have been looking at hospitals in Houston near me and they have a preference for BSN's. She said it because she said she had trouble finding employment and that employers made it seem like she bought her degree from a flea market because she didn't have experience. And what field were you looking into that allowed you to use an ADN?

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I agree with Heathermaizey. Hospitals in my area do offer jobs to RNs with ADNs. Some of them, if they require BSNs, will allow you a time frame, such as 5 years, to complete your BSN. I hope this information helps! It really depends on the region you're looking into.

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Thanks, I'm glad to hear that! Well I might just stick to it or go after my Lvn and go through an online bridge program.. Didn't ever really consider that but maybe I should have I most likely be almost done but I can't dwell on that I'm just thankful I found this nurse forum so I can conversate with like minded individuals with the same goals. :) What area do you live in? (It says Indiana but what city? ..just curious)

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I live in the South Bend area. However, I hear in places like Indianapolis, that they tend to hire BSN graduates and not many ADN graduates. There are also hospitals in my area that hire LPNs, and the bridge between LPN/RN and LPN/BSN is easier. Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Houston nurse here. Your friend is absolutely accurate with the information you have been provided. Houston hospitals are pretty far down the "BSN only" road. There are some outlying/independent facilities that haven't jumped on board yet, but these are few and far between. Some of the more well-known hospitals in the Texas Medical Center have raised the bar even more. The only way in for a new grad is via their residency programs... and applicants must meet GPA & standardized test (HESI, TEAS, etc) minimums also.

There is still a good job market for ADN nurses, just not in acute-care (hospital) settings. So, if you're open to working in LTC, clinic, physician office, etc.... there are job opportunities. The LVN job market is similar to ADN.

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Bummer lol yea I thought so. I wish my community college would have informed me of this when I first decided to get into the program but I guess that's not what they're there for. All they're worried about is getting students in and not really including all the other details. I knew that a lot of hospitals were starting to prefer BSN's but I thought I still had a chance to get my foot in the door with an ADN. I'm kind of in a bind now and not sure what I should do. How long have you been a nurse? Is it fulfilling/overwhelming for you? My main focus was to get into a hospital but actually prefer clinic hours and do you feel that LVN's have a chance of finding employment until they complete their BSN or is that few and far between?

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Specializes in Hospice.

Not true around here. Most of the rural hospital RNs are ADNs. I think Magnet hospitals have a specific percentage of BSN educated RNs they want on the payroll.

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Well hopefully thats the case.. I'm just a little skeptical about it now after reading stories of fellow nurses on the site stating their trouble finding employment and degree nurses not having as big of chance. I live in Houston, its a pretty big city (urban) and im sure schools are pushing out more students then facilities can employ not to sound like debbie downer but i do want to be as realistic about the situation as possible! Thanks for the heads up though!

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