What are job prospects for new ADN grad in Phoenix?

U.S.A. Arizona

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Do most Arizona jobs require BSN degree? Or, might I have decent job prospects as entry-level RN with only ADN degree? Due to night shift availability, I am most interested in hospital employment...I am a mother of 2 young kids.

(I am currently a lawyer and am looking at nursing as a second career. I will quit my job once I begin accelerated (18 month) nursing program. Due to the end to my income stream while in school, I need to begin work as soon as possible as an RN...and then will get BSN online while working as RN....that is unless I hear that I will be unemployable as an entry level RN with only ADN degree.)

Insights are greatly appreciated!:o Thanks in advance!

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Initially, it makes no difference whether you are an ADN or BSN; all new grads are paid the same. As backwards as it sounds: higher education does not equate to higher pay in nursing; what higher education does is open doors away from the bedside.

Right now: finding a job as a new grad wont be impossible, but it wont be easy either. Your odds of finding a job go up the more open you are to specialties (ie don't count on being an L&D nurse out of the gate); tele, med surg, home health, and some ICU areas are generally open to new grads.

Just so you know: Its quite possible to work part time during nursing school if needed, even in accelerated programs.

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Specializes in Case Management, ICU, Telemetry.

BSN is not required but pref. It might make it harder to GET the job with an ADN.

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BSN is not required but pref. It might make it harder to GET the job with an ADN.

What are you basing this opinion on? Perhaps other experienced nurses can chime in w/ their experiences: but in my limited experience: this is not true. In my experience: the unit i work on wont hire anyone who's not in the hospital's pipeline, which is an ADN program.

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Specializes in Case Management, ICU, Telemetry.
What are you basing this opinion on? Perhaps other experienced nurses can chime in w/ their experiences: but in my limited experience: this is not true. In my experience: the unit i work on wont hire anyone who's not in the hospital's pipeline, which is an ADN program.

Go to John C Linclon website under job search. EVERY SINGLE RN position says "BSN Pref".

Biggest difference between ADN and BSN is clinical hours... almost double in BSN.

And then think about the obvious... You have two identical students to choose between to hire at YOUR hospital. They have the same GPA, and seem to have (far-fetched) identical personalities... are you going to take the person with an ADN or the person with the BSN?

300 student applicants for a Job, now many job applications are on line, therefore they use keywords in resumes to pick their "best" prospects... when you type in your keywords for this program to find in these resumes are you going to choose ADN or BSN?

Do you want someone with 4 years of education or 2?

Go to Banner Health's website- Almost EVERY SINGLE POSITION says "Experience Required" Do you think that you will have better odds of convincing them that your schooling is enough with an ADN or a BSN.

Look at GED vs Diploma... (Keep in mind, I have a GED, NOT a diploma). As much as people will deny it, when (pre-college education) employers look at your resume and see GED they instantly think "Did they not like to wake up every day for school?", "Do they like to just do the minimum?" ect. As much as these things may be entirely FALSE, some people still think this way, and they could easily look at and ADN the same way.

Just a thought.

Also, I can almost promise that within the next five to ten years a BSN will be required... Many other countries would consider even a BSN not good enough (Most of Europe).

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I'm not going to be drawn into an adn vs. bsn discussion; there are plenty of other threads already dedicated to that topic. I'll just remark that the movement to a bsn as a standard of entry has been pushed for a couple decades now and adn programs are not diminishing. Having an adn is not going to hurt your chances of getting a bedside nursing job.

You might want to look at the number of clinical hours required for a bsn again, I do not believe you have the correct information.

If you want to look at job postings, dont ignore that most of the postings also say "certification preferred". This doesn't mean they wont hire you without a bsn or certification, they just might need to boost their numbers for magnet status, etc.

Where are the ged vs. high school diploma remarks coming from? You are muddling your already weak argument by comparing unrelated topics.

Perhaps you should get into the career field before you start telling others how it is.

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I appreciate the comments to date from cursed irishman, especially, and everyone else. Once I get my ADN and pass the RN certification, I will want to begin working as an RN while still going to school for a BSN. Thus, perhaps I should rephrase my question (to avoid the overall ADN v. BSN issue): Does anyone have recommendations where I am likely to have the BEST chances of getting an entry level position as an ADN (hospital? somewhere else? I need to work night shift)

(Again, I already have degrees in unrelated fields)...But, in the hopes of upward mobility and employability as a nurse, I intend to get the BSN...I just will need to work as soon as I complete the ADN degree as I cannot afford to be out of work for 3 to 4 years while I get my BSN degree ...because I have 2 little mouths to feed at home (as well as a mortgage). I need to get the intial schooling under my belt to let me begin working, and then pursue the BSN and a likely a Masters (to perhaps some day go in to administration)...but...where do you think I can get that initial job with NO experience and just an ADN?

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Specializes in Case Management, ICU, Telemetry.

Anywhere is worth trying. Your best bet is to apply to as many places as you possibly can and have a solid resume.

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Specializes in Case Management, ICU, Telemetry.
I'm not going to be drawn into an adn vs. bsn discussion; there are plenty of other threads already dedicated to that topic. I'll just remark that the movement to a bsn as a standard of entry has been pushed for a couple decades now and adn programs are not diminishing. Having an adn is not going to hurt your chances of getting a bedside nursing job.

You might want to look at the number of clinical hours required for a bsn again, I do not believe you have the correct information.

If you want to look at job postings, dont ignore that most of the postings also say "certification preferred". This doesn't mean they wont hire you without a bsn or certification, they just might need to boost their numbers for magnet status, etc.

Where are the ged vs. high school diploma remarks coming from? You are muddling your already weak argument by comparing unrelated topics.

Perhaps you should get into the career field before you start telling others how it is.

:) The bottom line is that a BSN is a higher level of education than an ADN and therefore will be more desired... DUH. And from what you are saying, the proof that I did provide you from John C Linclon wasn't good enough lol... I mean, I'm pretty sure that when a place says something "Preferred"... And if I do have incorrect information about the difference between an ADN and a BSN, PLEASE feel free to enlighten me. Just remember to look into multiple proograms.

Don't get so defensive.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
Does anyone have recommendations where I am likely to have the BEST chances of getting an entry level position as an ADN (hospital? somewhere else? I need to work night shift)

(Again, I already have degrees in unrelated fields)...But, in the hopes of upward mobility and employability as a nurse, I intend to get the BSN...I just will need to work as soon as I complete the ADN degree as I cannot afford to be out of work for 3 to 4 years while I get my BSN degree ...because I have 2 little mouths to feed at home (as well as a mortgage). I need to get the intial schooling under my belt to let me begin working, and then pursue the BSN and a likely a Masters (to perhaps some day go in to administration)...but...where do you think I can get that initial job with NO experience and just an ADN?

Hi MacMaster,

It really depends on the economy and when you complete your ADN. I graduated Dec 2005 and had 3 job offers, (every interview I went to), the same week as Christmas. I had an ADN degree. The jobs were all in advanced areas in hospitals - not med/surg.

I would never get a BSN on my own dime. Almost all hospitals will pay for your BSN when you find a job.

Now, it is difficult to find a job for nurses with experience. Even a BSN and certification doesn't help much. Let's hope this economy turns around before you graduate!

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I can say purely from my own recent experience that the market I am looking at (Phoenix and surrounding areas) is craaaaap.

I have my RN, graduated from nursing school in December, current on my shots and CPR etc etc etc.......

With no experience I keep getting the "we have decided to pursue more qualified candidates" speech over and over and over again. I have applied to every opening, and had ZERO bites.

I have been looking for a month and so far I seem to be unemployable.

Just my experience. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Correctional & Rehab Nursing.

This thread is relevant to my interests......

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