ADN, BSN, or RN-BSN?

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 18, 2016

You really need to research the job market in your area or the area where you want to work. Some areas, ADNs cannot get hired into acute care facilities. My facility is no longer hiring anyone without a BSN and come 12/31/2019, anyone without a BSN will be terminated. But then there are other areas of the country where ADN grads have no issues getting acute care jobs. So, it's not just a simple answer that can be provided here. It's going to be specific to your area.

jamaicangirl16 · Jul 18, 2016

OK. I'll do my research. Thank you.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Jul 18, 2016

Look into what hospitals around you require AND look into what BSN programs in your area require and if your credits will transfer or not. It's usually pretty clear on their websites.

jamaicangirl16 · Jul 19, 2016

Hi Everyone,

I'm a recent high school graduate and a former dual enrollment student (I've gotten 10 credits).I'm just 17 years old. I'm not sure whether I should get my ADN degree, transfer to my local university to get my BSN degree or do the RN-BSN in the future.

This fall I'll be attending community college (to save money).I was planning on taking the ATI teas and petition for the nursing program at my community college for fall 2017. I would graduate dec. 2019.

On the other hand I was thinking about transferring to a local university for my sophomore year to get my BSN degree. However, sometimes when you transfer some of your credits don't go through the other school which means I would have to retake some pre-req at the university if that's the case. I would graduate spring 2020 (my class).

Or I would just get my ADN and sometime in the future work and go to school to obtain my BSN.

Would love your advice

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jul 19, 2016

What area do you live in?

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 19, 2016

So much of it depends upon the area where you live. If you live in a larger city that has at least one, if not several universities that offer BSNs, then you absolutely should go that route, because competition for new grad jobs will be fierce. With so many BSN-prepared nurses to choose from, it will be VERY hard to find a new grad job with just an ADN.

If you live in a small community that has only one community college for ADN programs, then you could probably get away with doing an ADN and then going for your BSN afterwards. But communities like that often only have one hospital as well, and competition for that coveted new grad position is also fierce. So make sure you shine with your grades and in your clinical placement.

If you go with the latter, definitely enroll in an RN-BSN program as soon as you can after you graduate!

Congrats on what you've accomplished so far! Your parents must be very proud of you.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2016

If you are in a major metropolitan area where hiring practices are BSN-preferred, you will likely need a BSN degree to be competitive in your local employment market.

If you are fine with non-hospital employment (e.g. nursing homes, home health, private duty, hospice, group homes, jails, prison infirmaries, psychiatric hospitals, physical rehab facilities), an ADN degree will probably suffice.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2016

Duplicate threads have been merged.

NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2016

You can take it a step further, and call the nursing recruiters for your local hospitals and ask THEM which grads they prefer. I'm in a fairly large city (350k+) with 5 major hospitals and both a community college and a public university. Nearly all of them prefer the community college grads over the university grads. They then offer tuition reimbursement and days off to encourage those students to do the RN-BSN bridge later.

The fact is that the community college nursing program here focuses more on clinical experience and expertise whereas the university focuses more on theory and administration and, as such, the BSN students get much less patient-care time in the hospital, even though it's a longer program. In fact, my state's BRN was recently at my college and said that we are the #2 program in the state, and not just among community colleges, but including universities. I was blown away. All of the students from my school not only are hired before they graduate, but they also get their pick of specialties as well!

So, all that to say, call your local hospitals, and call the Allied Health offices of each college you're considering and ask to speak to the job placement coordinator as well. They can tell you a lot more about your local nursing climate than a bunch of people online.

Mandy2016, BSN · Jul 19, 2016

Before you apply anywhere, make sure to check the NCLEX pass rates! No use paying a lot more for the university if the %s are comparable to the local cc. Definitely make sure your major classes (Anatomy, phys, micro, chem) will transfer, if they're ACE accredited it probably won't be a problem. I agree with jgardner, usually ADN programs get more hands on experience which will make you feel so much more comfortable with the patient/ hospital setting once you graduate.

If you're worried about getting hired with only an ADN remember you can put "BSN in progress," at the top of any resume as long as you enroll and most hospitals will be able to hire you without complications. Some hospitals will even pay for you to get higher degrees!

jamaicangirl16 · Jul 19, 2016

I live in Maryland.