Chance of ADN to get a Hospital Job?

studentinnursing · May 29, 2011

I am glad to hear they look at the "whole person" when hiring. I still am a little skeptical around here, but I want my MSN and my school is said to put out better nurses than another school's, so I am doing my degrees one at a time here, and then I have no choice but to attend the other for my Master's. I want my BSN, so it's not a big deal to me, but other than NLN's suggestion of an entry level RN having a BSN, I think the employment opportunities are pushing some RNs into a BSN.

Sorry for typos, in a hurry.

metal_m0nk, BSN, RN · May 30, 2011

I think someone with a B.S. in biology, healthcare experience in their desired area of nursing, volunteer experience in healthcare and other settings, management and research experience will be great candidate for any nursing position post graduation from an associate's degree program.

A freshly minted BSN with no previous healthcare experience, limited work experience in general, and no volunteer experience, who is betting on their BSN to open any and all doors for them might have a more difficult time.

BSN new grads are also facing difficulties in landing that first job - mostly because of a total lack of healthcare experience. There's more to it than just the degree.

DarkBluePhoenix · May 30, 2011

Very, very true

I guess I should put my CNA certification to work when applying to ADN programs this August eh?

jules52 · May 30, 2011

I am an ADN, but also have a BS in education. I am wondering how it is best to go toward getting the MS so I can teach. Should I use the bridge program from ADN to MSN or go 1st thro the BSN program? I have talked to several and get different answers from erveryone.

Julie G in NE

Highschoolfuturenurs · May 30, 2011

I think someone with a B.S. in biology, healthcare experience in their desired area of nursing, volunteer experience in healthcare and other settings, management and research experience will be great candidate for any nursing position post graduation from an associate's degree program.
A freshly minted BSN with no previous healthcare experience, limited work experience in general, and no volunteer experience, who is betting on their BSN to open any and all doors for them might have a more difficult time.
BSN new grads are also facing difficulties in landing that first job - mostly because of a total lack of healthcare experience. There's more to it than just the degree.

But you are assuming that the bsn new grad has no experience. If both the adn and bsn grad have the same healthcare experience and volunteer hours wouldn't they most likely choose the bsn? At least that's how it is around my area.

metal_m0nk, BSN, RN · May 31, 2011

But you are assuming that the bsn new grad has no experience. If both the adn and bsn grad have the same healthcare experience and volunteer hours wouldn't they most likely choose the bsn? At least that's how it is around my area.

Yes. Because the one in my example has no experience. I think I made that pretty clear.

Many don't have experience. If you do a search of the website, you're likely to find many posts from recent grads caught in the catch 22 of being unable to gain nursing experience because they have no nursing experience.

An ADN grad with a bachelor's degree in a related field is on par with a BSN with equal work and volunteer experience in my area.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 31, 2011

But you are assuming that the bsn new grad has no experience. If both the adn and bsn grad have the same healthcare experience and volunteer hours wouldn't they most likely choose the bsn? At least that's how it is around my area.

Again, I would imagine a lot has to do with the individual person and how they interviewed. The HR lady when praising my interview said that is the biggest factor in what applications she sends though. The pre-screening interview with her is extremely important. I had no previous medical experience, no CNA lic. nothing. No volunteer work since HS. I haven't worked full time in 11 years and in the past 11 years I did work for 7 months 5 years ago in a completely unrelated field. I have no other college degrees. She put me through to the next round over the person with a BSN and 10 years experience because of my PERSONALITY.

Personally if I were in HR, I would look at the PERSON (as long as they held the degree needed) over the BSN or ADN and if it was a New Grad position, I wouldn't even focus on previous experience because as a New Grad they will get a longer orientation and I know that majority of the real nursing comes from the first year out as a nurse.

I can guess as much as I want as to what they would rather want but I have been told directly from NM's and HR what they look for, at least in my area.

dudette10, MSN, RN · May 31, 2011

See for me it's been the opposite. I have been under the impression for the past 1-2 years that jobs are scarce and hard to get, that a hospital job probably isn't going to happen and that to find any job will probably take 3-6 months and it won't be in a hospital. So I tried to be really proactive before I even finished school and as soon as I graduated and I have been so amazed because I have gotten some good leads. I wasn't expecting it at all. But I have also been very motivated and proactive and taken a lot of initiative to put myself out there and stand out.

I have done that too, and I have a lead on openings in a hospital close to my home.

I'm somewhat dumbfounded about the lack of motivation to present oneself among my classmates. A handful of us presented at our last clinical site, and when a nursing bigwig came around to look at our presentations, I was the only one who approached her and did my spiel on my project. The same hospital had an open house, and my classmates knew about it. NO ONE from my class showed up except for me, and I had the opportunity for a second conversation with the nursing bigwig. I really don't know what they will do to make their job-hunting successful.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 31, 2011

I have done that too, and I have a lead on openings in a hospital close to my home.
I'm somewhat dumbfounded about the lack of motivation to present oneself among my classmates. A handful of us presented at our last clinical site, and when a nursing bigwig came around to look at our presentations, I was the only one who approached her and did my spiel on my project. The same hospital had an open house, and my classmates knew about it. NO ONE from my class showed up except for me, and I had the opportunity for a second conversation with the nursing bigwig. I really don't know what they will do to make their job-hunting successful.

Most likely be very nitpicky, do nothing more then submitting an online app (with the "only willing to work day shift on labor and delivery or ER or ICU" checked on it and then come here and complain that it's been a year and they can't get an interview. :confused: LOL

Granted I worry I have jinxed myself in all my excitement by talking about my experience and my leads. I should know this week at least about my job I interviewed for which I would enjoy I think. (granted I will make the best of any job I am offered, especially if it's acute care in a hospital). But if I don't get this position then we will schedule my Nursing Panel interview for when I return from Oregon and Wa. Unfortunately that will make or break my chances at this hospital for a while at least. if they don't like me, I am out. If they do, I will most likely be given some position. I rather just avoid that all together and get the one job

DarkBluePhoenix · May 31, 2011

I think that regardless of ones academic background, the point is to put yourself out there. Volunteer for anything you see, make conversations. I can totally see the BSN grad thinking their guaranteed a job, with their higher degree (we all take the same damn test, but I digress) so they lack communications and the connections they could have made.

Nursing like most careers, the best way to get a job is through networking. And the thing is, you can't be picky. If there's an opening in some speciality you don't want well apply and make yourself known. I rather "suffer" my first year in a job I hate then sit a year after licensure with "expired" skills. At least during that year I can keep applying and hopefully, eventually get into the speciality I want. Patience is a virtue

Media really doesn't help especially since everyone that asks what I'm doing for school. I say nursing and 9 times out of 10 the response I get back is, "good we need nurses for the shortage". um... what shortage? Lol

dudette10, MSN, RN · May 31, 2011

the best way to get a job is through networking

That is so true. Yes, you will run into the nephew/niece of the hiring manager or the extern or CNA on the floor who already has a foot in the door. But, that's not the end-all, be-all of networking.

It is entirely possible to make yourself known without experience in healthcare. Treat every clinical as a job interview! Go to the open houses and present yourself well, although you might not get a job on-the-spot. Act professionally in the classroom, and do as well as you can in school, to make your clinical instructors not hesitate to pass your name onto someone they know. (Nursing is a small, small world where it seems that everyone knows everyone else in a single geographic location.) If your school has an opportunity for students to participate in health screenings at a local hospital, DO IT! I've done a few, and nurse managers have shown up. TALK TO THEM! Ask for business cards. Send them an email after you've met them to thank them for the words of encouragement, support of student nurses in their facilities, etc. GET YOUR NAME TO STICK IN THEIR HEADS! But, do it subtlely and sincerely.

I have had quite a few calls made on my behalf. It's now up to me to translate that into a job.

dudette10, MSN, RN · May 31, 2011

And the thing is, you can't be picky. If there's an opening in some speciality you don't want well apply and make yourself known. I rather "suffer" my first year in a job I hate then sit a year after licensure with "expired" skills. At least during that year I can keep applying and hopefully, eventually get into the speciality I want. Patience is a virtue.

I agree with this...to a point. There are two specialties that I would rather starve than go into: OB and LTC. Exaggeration, but still...

What I have heard more and more is the reluctance to hire new grads because they are out lickety-split after a the magical first year. Three separate nurse managers have expressed their expectation for a two-year commitment. They cite the cost associated with training a new grad. If I promise to give at least two years of my life, it will not be in a specialty which I already know I will hate. I don't feel I'm picky...I just can't stand two specialties.