BSN required in the state of Colorado?

[rhondacrv1]

Hi! My name is Rhonda. I recently moved to colorado from ohio. I was pursing an RN associates degree in ohio when my husband accepted a job in colorado. So my question is...does it take a bsn to obtain any kind nursing job...especially in hospitals and doctors' offices to be employed? Thanks!

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Moved to the Colorado Nursing forum for more of a response.

[MissHamhead]

Yes yes yes! Most hosptials are BSN preferred you are better off just going straight to your BSN. You will qualify for all New grad programs. Numerous hospitals won't consider ADN new grads at all.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Outside of hospitals, no it's not required. Hospitals are requiring it because they're either magnet or trying to achieve magnet. But clinics, offices, home health, etc generally don't care (but they do want experience).

If you want to get into a new grad program (which is pretty much the only way to get a hospital position as a new grad), then yes, most new grad programs that I'm aware of do require a BSN.

[libby11]

Agree with previous posters--CO is tough on NEW nurses. Once you get some initial RN experience (from what I understand), it's better. Most of the hospital jobs posted say "BSN required." A ton of them say 'no new grads' or the careers section will say something like 'new grads may only apply to jobs that specifically say new grad in the title,' and 1 out of 50 jobs would be titled as such. And with how competitive it is here (very desirable location, many magnet status hospitals), I think for newbie nurses, when you look at 50 BSNs and 50 ASNs applying for 1 job... IF they hire a new grad with no experience, it's probably going to be the BSN.

P.S. I'm also new to Colorado working as a RN Case Manager in Pediatric Home Care. I probably applied to somewhere between 50-100 jobs. Not a single hospital contacted me for interview or pre-screening. I'm starting my BSN in February!

[Satori77, ADN]

From what I have heard, it is very difficult to get a job at a hospital without a BSN, if you are a new grad. My neighbor just has his ADN, but it took over 3 years to get the hospital job he has now. He was able to get urgent care and nursing home jobs. Not sure about clinic or doctor office positions. That's why I'm going into a BSN program, even if I have to wait, instead of right into a RN program. Way too competitive in CO.