Advice from the new grads...HELP.

Winnie04 · Apr 10, 2009

A BSN will give you more job mobility in the long run. The importance of BSN vs. ADN also depends a lot on your location. For example, the large teaching hospital where I work in Boston no longer hires ADN new grads.

mystykstar · Apr 10, 2009

I have noticed when searching for a job is that the problem isnt with nursing jobs being available, the problem is with graduate nursing jobs arent available, most RN postings want atleast 6 months to a year experience. As of now I am still jobless, but I plan on taking the Nclex and getting my RN then looking for something if nothing comes up in the meantime. Whether you get your BSN, or ADN you will be an RN either way (not that one is better than the other!!). The economy has to turn around eventually and perhaps by the time you are finished you wont have to worry much about finding a job.

SnarfGirl · Apr 12, 2009

A new grad, is a new grad period. At least that seems to be the case here in Phoenix. BSN or ADN doesn't matter. If you are a new grad...you aren't getting a job. Not true in all cases, but it's been tough out there!

86toronado, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2009

The way I heard it explained is that with a BSN the hospital thinks they won't have to spend as much down the road in tuition assistance on you, whereas with the ADN, they will probably use that to get their bachelors. That said, I think experience is more important than a degree. The best thing you could do for yourself is to get a job as a nursing aid, or tech, or PCA, whatever they call it in your area. I've got a job for after graduation, one that was advertised as 1 year of neuro experience required, but I got it because I had over a year of neuro experience as a tech. Just my :twocents:

Music in My Heart · Apr 12, 2009

When you're competing with dozens or hundreds of people for a single job, anything you can do to get your application/resume noticed is a benefit. Educational level is one of those things... it's generally not sufficient to get you an interview but - as part of the whole picture - it can help. In some cases, though, it is sufficient to keep you from being interviewed (notably at some of the large teaching institutions).

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 13, 2009

when you're competing with dozens or hundreds of people for a single job anything you can do to get your application/resume noticed is a benefit. educational level is one of those things... it's generally not sufficient to get you an interview but - as part of the whole picture - it can help.[/quote']
in theory you are correct, but much of hiring reality does not match up with theory. education is beneficial for the experienced nurse. in general, bsn or adn does not matter regarding new grads because the number of people graduating with either degree far exceeds the number of spots offered by hospital new graduate programs. one might think that a bsn would take a spot over an adn in one to one competition, but this kind of competition rarely occurs! in fact there are more adns in my new grad program then bsns. adns in my class out number the bsns 9:1. note, that most of the adns in my new graduate program worked for our hospital prior to graduating and becoming rns. the bsns did not.
as far as the hospitals who only hire bsns making the debt worth while, in my area that is not the case. only two hospitals in my area prefer bsns and they ironically have a hiring freeze! thus, the debt of having an expensive bsn first was/is not justified. what a person needs to be hired these days is connections, as i have already alluded. thus, if the op wants to get a job upon graduation he/she has a better shot if he/she is a tech or a nurse extern first even if he/she lives in an area surrounded by bsn preferred (not required) hospitals.

Music in My Heart · Apr 13, 2009

in theory you are correct, but much of hiring reality does not match up with theory. education is beneficial for the experienced nurse. in general, bsn or adn does not matter regarding new grads because the number of people graduating with either degree far exceeds the number of spots offered by hospital new graduate programs. one might think that a bsn would take a spot over an adn in one to one competition, but this kind of competition rarely occurs! in fact there are more adns in my new grad program then bsns. adns in my class out number the bsns 9:1. note, that most of the adns in my new graduate program worked for our hospital prior to graduating and becoming rns. the bsns did not.
as far as the hospitals who only hire bsns making the debt worth while, in my area that is not the case. only two hospitals in my area prefer bsns and they ironically have a hiring freeze! thus, the debt of having an expensive bsn first was/is not justified. what a person needs to be hired these days is connections, as i have already alluded. thus, if the op wants to get a job upon graduation he/she has a better shot if he/she is a tech or a nurse extern first even if he/she lives in an area surrounded by bsn preferred (not required) hospitals.

i said:

anything you can do to set yourself apart is a benefit
education is one of those things

both statements are correct. are there other things? sure... experience on the unit being first and foremost. however, the op was wondering about education level and i stand by my response... anything you can do to set yourself apart is beneficial.

earthcrosser · Apr 13, 2009

It's the magnet institutions (not necessarily teaching hospitals) who like to hire new grad BSNs only to keep their BSN numbers up. Which sucks for ADN graduates, but that's just how it is.

I had no issue finding a job as an ADN - though part of that is due to where I live. But with all the nursing schools around, degree only matters if you are going to be applying at a magent institution. I had no other nursing experience - I used my customer service background and good speaking skills - as well as my school's pedigree - to get my job.

yetanotheramanda · Apr 13, 2009

told to me by a nurse manager when I was interviewing:

the nursing shortage will return when the economy gets better. Right now older nurses are afraid to retire, and nurses who had quit to be stay at home moms are returning to work b/c their husbands have been laid off. When things start to get better the older nurses will retire and the mommies will go back home. Then there will be a nursing shortage again.

Seems to make sense. The problem is that no one can know when the recession will be over and the shortage will be back.

Don't know if that helps any, but it is food for thought.

nursgirl · Apr 19, 2009

It's the magnet institutions (not necessarily teaching hospitals) who like to hire new grad BSNs only to keep their BSN numbers up. Which sucks for ADN graduates, but that's just how it is.
I had no issue finding a job as an ADN - though part of that is due to where I live. But with all the nursing schools around, degree only matters if you are going to be applying at a magent institution. I had no other nursing experience - I used my customer service background and good speaking skills - as well as my school's pedigree - to get my job.

Was just curious where you are located... and I see you work NICU... were you able to go straight to NICU from school?