ADN worth it in the Cleveland market?

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Sep 15, 2015

I will be honest and tell you get your BSN, most of the big hospitals, especially magnet ones, will only hire BSN. Where I work, they won't even look at ADN apps.

Molemedic, MSN, EMT-P, NP · Sep 15, 2015

For someone in your position I would recommend the ADN first. While you probably won't get the really good sought after spots you will land a job. It might be at a nursing home or clinic but you will get something. Once you're working you can pursue your BSN. Many employers are funding your education due to the huge push for BSN nurses.

idodialysis · Sep 15, 2015

UH and CCF systems both require BSN. If you don't mind working in long term care go for the ADN.

CLEfresh · Sep 15, 2015

Thanks so much for the input everyone. LTC is probably not something I'd want to do long term. From what I hear, most LTC facilities are so poorly run and understaffed and the nurses there seem to really hate their jobs.

I almost wonder what the point of an ADN would be when I could just do the shorter LPN program to work at the same types of places. Definitely disheartening to hear, though it's pretty much what I suspected. Many things to think about! Makes me wish I would have had my head out of my butt in my 20s and gotten myself together sooner in life.

Are there any hospitals in the area of anyone knows of that do hire new ADNs?

idodialysis · Sep 15, 2015

You might have to leave the Cleveland/Akron area. Try calling HR in Lorain/Elyria, Ashtabula, Canton area facilities.

hopeless romantic · Sep 15, 2015

I live in the Cleveland area and a lot of people from my ADN class found jobs at CCF and UH. More so CCF though. So there are jobs out there. They do make you commit to getting your BSN within 5 yrs.

OUxPhys, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2015

Agree. UH and CCF hire ADN's still as long as you get your BSN within 5 years. Metro and VA will require BSN's.

AssociateDegree · Sep 17, 2015

While I respect LPNs, the current situation is that hospitals are not hiring LPNs, are requiring them to become RNs as a condition of continuing employment, or are demoting their LPNs to PCNA status/pay if they do not become RNs. Besides, being an LPN is a almost a guarantee that you'll work in LTC, at least initially. If you can afford the money and time (and you are NOT old, no matter what you think!), go for your BSN right from the start. If you can't afford either or both, become an ADN, but with the knowledge that you'll have to go back to school soon after graduation. This is how things are in the CLE market.

One more thing: ADNs definitely get hired by local hospitals, especially CCF. The job scene for new grads is loosening up. It was hard for new grads to get jobs after 2008, when the economy tanked and nurses who were near-ready to leave nursing decided to stay for financial reasons. Those nurses are 7 years older and ready to leave nursing now, plus the economy has improved in some areas.

OUxPhys, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2015

Agreed. CCF is actually looking to hire more RN's this months and has several fairs to recruit RN's, with or without experience.

nszucs123 · Sep 19, 2015

The ADN vs. BSN debate has gotten a lot of attention (drama) on this site and there are many threads debating the merits between each road to an RN certification.

I am currently in an ADN program myself at Tri-C. I also work as a patient care tech and UH. I need to work full-time to support my family as do many of my classmates. The BSN road is one you need to do full time (not any part-time or evening/weekend options available in the Cleveland area). While I agree that a BSN degree is more marketable than an ADN degree, the clinic and UH are both hiring ADN new grads. Especially those with solid patient care experience.

I work in a float pool as a patient care tech at UH. UH has hired many new grads from Tri-C. To say that this health system is throwing away ADN applicants is pretty funny. The clinic and UH are hiring ADNs on most all of their inpatient floors - they just require you to get your BSN within 5 years. Metro is an exception however. You have to be in metro already to have them look at you with an ADN since they're just about BSN's only.

You have to do whatever is right for your situation. If you can give up the income and go back to school full-time the BSN will likely open more doors for you faster. But that's not to say that you couldn't get the same opportunities with an ADN. Especially if you get your foot in the door at one of these facilities and have them get to know that you're not a bum.

Good Luck!

Milysa · Sep 20, 2015

Right now CCF and UH are hiring like crazy it doesn't matter if you have an ADN or BSN. Things change quickly though so by the time you finish your ADN (most likely 3 years if you haven't done any pre reqs) it could change. I got my ADN and they wouldn't even talk to you until you passed your NCLEX. the group that graduated the semester after me all had jobs lined up pending nclex results. That's how quick things can change.