ADN to BSN w/o work experience

Nurses General Nursing

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Did anybody here pursue their BSN degree after getting and RN license (ADN program) without working? How did it impact you?

I am contemplating doing just that but not sure how it will affect my future employment potential. Any tips, ideas, questions that I should ask around?

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Specializes in NeuroICU/SICU/MICU.

It seems to me that it wouldn't affect your future job prospects at all to do ADN to BSN without working in between. Both ADN and BSN are entry-level degrees, so I don't think anyone would expect you to have a lot of work experience.

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yes, it is possible from ADN to BSN. Indiana University. Many of my instructors did this, and they are GREAT RN's.

Work experience? Just make good grades, and do some kind of volunteer work in say like a hospital you have in mind to work at.....or......while getting your BSN....work for a hospital with your ADN.....and then apply for a position like DRG's a 4 year RN position, and they make damn good money!!!!

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Specializes in mental health, military nursing.

There are a few differences if you're working vs. no experience. I know with my program, we don't have to do any extra clinicals, because our projects can be completed through our current workplaces. This has shaved off alot of time commitment for most of my classmates. However, if you can go to school without working, you may not mind the extra work... Why not work (even part time) and go to school? ADN to BSN is a cakewalk.

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I wasn't sure if I could easily find a job and furthering my education is a priority. I was thinking about getting into a program and finding a job while I am definitely in. I was under impression it's hard to find a part time job as a new grad.

Thank you for all of your responses!

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

I suggest that you start working as a RN at a hospital and then in 1 yr. let them pay for you to go back to school. The local college comes to my job and offers a RN-BSN program. This is a great and convient and the hospital pays for it. The tution is $2050 for the whole program. I think you should check out your local hospitals to see if they offer tution reinburment or other programs to get a BSN.

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i just started a bsn program n have not gotten a job yet.i am paying out of pocket.what do u think? should i wait till i star wk b4 doing my Bsn prg

i can still get my 1st payment.

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Specializes in mental health, military nursing.

Tuition reimbursement comes with a lot of strings attached. Usually, employers require two years following the last semester they pay for, and they often don't pay the whole cost. Unless you really like your hospital, I'd take the student loans or pay out of pocket. Flexibility is one of nursing's greatest assets.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
Tuition reimbursement comes with a lot of strings attached. Usually, employers require two years following the last semester they pay for, and they often don't pay the whole cost. Unless you really like your hospital, I'd take the student loans or pay out of pocket. Flexibility is one of nursing's greatest assets.

This is very true!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I would also recommend talking to the school about their expectations of the students. I teach in an RN-BSN program in which the vast majority of students have had substantial work experience. The few students who don't have experience are at a disadvantage as the courses are inevitably geared towards the learning needs and preferences of those who do. Course discussions are build upon how the class material can be applied to the students' practice, students discuss examples from their practice, etc.

Those students who have no experience to draw upon have trouble keeping up with those who do. The experienced nurses are competent in their practice -- and some are beyond compentent, true experts in practice. The real beginner who has not yet reached the competent level of practice struggles to try to keep up.

That would not be a big problem if most of your classmates had little practice experience. And in some schools, that might be the situation. But if you are going to attend a school in which most of the students are way ahead of you in terms of experience and competence, you should take very real problem into consideration as yo weigh your options.

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Specializes in Tele.

My RN-BSN program requires clinical rotation towards the end, and to be in those clinicals you have to have 1 year experience working as an RN.

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Thank you for more thoughts and suggestions! I now know what to ask at various schools about their students, work experience and expectations.

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