Are nurses really high in demand?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2011

What about in California? Why is it that many ADN RN's find it difficult to find a job as an RN? I would love to get my BSN, but I just don't know how I can afford to get a BSN at the moment. State schools are so impacted and competitive. Private universities are waaaay too expensive. So my only choice to go for my ADN. But now I'm having second thoughts after reading on this forum about how many people couldn't find jobs as an RN with an ADN since most hospitals require a BSN. I really want to be an RN, always have and always will. Any advice, guys?

If it is your passion that go for it......but right now there is a huge surplus and inexperienced nurses are NOT in high demand.

AKav8trix · Oct 2, 2011

I attended a IOM lecture( Institute of Medicine: Future of Nursing 2010) recently where they were discussing the innovative ways some schools are allowing ADN students to earn their BSN. The students finish ADN coursework and then immediately study for their BSN..At the same school. I believe the state of Arizona and New Mexico are doing this.

Oregon has something similar with OHSU and the nearby community colleges. IMO ADN is a great way to start because you typically get a really solid clinical background (unlike many BSN-only programs that I'm aware of) and is much more affordable than doing the whole thing at a university. Once you finish the ADN, it's usually pretty easy to finish up the BSN with only one year (sometimes 3 semesters) of university tuition to pay for, instead of 4-5 years. :)

As far as the nursing shortage, there certainly isn't one in the Portland metro area or most of the west coast! There are so many new grads still trying to find jobs, some even after >1 year from graduating. Even for experienced nurses, I'm finding that the openings are much less than it used to be just a few years ago. There are rural areas that are desperate for nurses, but it's a tough place for a new grad to start b/c you're often working on your own after a short orientation, and the lower frequency of patient encounters and lack of mentors, can make it difficult to get in the groove, so to speak, as a new nurse. The jobs are out there, though.

Someone else mentioned getting a unit secretary job, a most excellent suggestion! I was able to do that through my nursing prereqs and nursing school and it gave me so much good experience, was a great thing for my resume, and it also helped me get an idea of what area of nursing I wanted to aim for once I was done with school.

Wish you the best! :)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2011

By the way, what do new grads start out earning now?

New grad pay rates are very dependent upon the region and the local cost of living. For instance, a new grad RN with a BSN degree might earn $18 hourly in rural Mississippi, but would earn more than $40 hourly in San Francisco.