Community College RN job market?

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Hi all!

I'm sorry if this is a repeat question. I'm hoping to start nursing school next fall at Saint Charles Community College. I will only graduate with an associate's, but plan to bridge to BSN very quickly. My financial situation is pretty much dictating where I can go to school at this point, but I was looking for input from experienced nurses on where this type of education can get me. Am I going to have a very difficult time getting hired to a trauma or peds floor before I complete the bridge program? I do have a bachelor's in biology already, and a lot of lab work experience. Does anyone have experience with Community College nursing programs, and whether they provide the same quality of education?

Thanks a bunch!

Jessica

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Hi all!

I'm sorry if this is a repeat question. I'm hoping to start nursing school next fall at Saint Charles Community College. I will only graduate with an associate's, but plan to bridge to BSN very quickly. My financial situation is pretty much dictating where I can go to school at this point, but I was looking for input from experienced nurses on where this type of education can get me. Am I going to have a very difficult time getting hired to a trauma or peds floor before I complete the bridge program? I do have a bachelor's in biology already, and a lot of lab work experience. Does anyone have experience with Community College nursing programs, and whether they provide the same quality of education?

Thanks a bunch!

Jessica

Those things are entirely dependent on your location (or willingness to move).

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Dismal, less you move to rural. Underserved, as SE Texas and similar

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I have an ASN and have had no problems finding employment whatsoever. I don't live in a rural area. Apparently, however, it all highly depends on your location.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Associate degree nurses are still being hired into acute care hospital floors and units in certain geographic areas. Other areas have hospitals with preferences for nurses who have been educated at the BSN degree level.

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Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

I'm in there California Bay Area, probably one of the most desirable/ competitive nursing markets in the country. BSNs are pretty much a requirement for new grads in the hospital setting, but at many of the hospitals, if you are enrolled in a BSN program, it's enough. They may require you complete it within a year of hire, but you would anyway, right? Don't sweat it yet, plenty of online BSN programs out there. Many of my fellow community college students are going the Westetn Governor University route, very inexpensive and doable. Hospitals just don't seem to care where you're degree is from, just that you have the initials after you're names!

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Chicago hospitals still hire ADN. Loyola, Advocate, Amita, etc. There may be some legislation coming in Illinois that bans hospitals from hiring BSN only. It's been in works for several years but I haven't seen anything become a bill yet, but I know the Illinois Senator working on it. 60% of Illinois RN's are ADN and this BSN bull would have too much of an effect on African-Americans and nurses over 40 that simply are scared of going back and writing useless papers.

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