Do you get looked over for having a ADN rather than BSN?

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Hello!

I'm a pre-nursing student and I'm on the fence about which program I should go into. I'm almost done with my science prerequisites to apply to an ADN program (the one at my school is VERY good and has a high NCLEX pass rate) and I would still have a ways to go (3 semesters, including summer term) if I were going to go for my BSN because I would have to do all the other gen ed classes that the four year school I want to go to would require me to take to receive a bachelors degree.

My major concern is if I get my ADN, that I will have trouble getting hired and be overlooked because I don't have my BSN. If I did get my ADN I would take an RN-BSN program, but I heard some of them require experience. So I don't want to get stuck in this position, but I do want to save as much money as possible - and doing my ADN first would do that for me.

Do any of you have your ADN and had/are having a hard time finding a job??? I'm kind of freaking out because I'm signing up for my classes for next semester soon and I'm so confused in which direction I'm going!

- Maddie

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I have an ADN and landed a great Externship a year before graduation, and had a job offer at the same place before I took my boards. I graduated in May and I would say 90% of my classmates are now employed as RNs in hospitals (several in specialities such as ICU and ER). I think the school's resources and reputation help a lot as well. I had amazing instructors and I always asked for letters of reference after clinicals with certain teachers. I don't think having an ADN held me or any of my classmates back. I would suggest getting a foot in the door at a hospital before you graduate, whether you do a BSN or ADN program.

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Dont worry about the ADN vs BSN. While some hospitals are pushing their nurses to get their BSN for magnet status, it is not a big deal. Some hospitals will require you though to start a BSN bridge within 1 year of application.

Definitely work on your BSN if you go get your ADN first.

Online programs for your RN-BSN bridge dont all require experience. Im currently doing UTA's online bridge here in TX and its simple, with no experience needed. Short 5 weeks classes and done in 13 months doing one class at a time.

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I am in NJ and almost every hospital requires a BSN before they will look at your application. Some say BSN preferred, but all of the online apps have a check box for BSN. I have an ADN, and most from my class were unable to land hospital jobs unless they had connections, or hospital experience as a PCA. I am now starting my BSN online and hope that will help my chances for the hospital.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

No. I'm in MO. My classmates that wanted jobs have gotten them. I got my job based on the fact that I did my final preceptorship on my floor. I went this route so that I could get my degree and get working faster. I'm in a part time online BSN completion program, but I don't think that influenced my boss' hiring decision at all.

You might call the HR departments for various facilites around you and straight up ask them what they prefer in a candidate.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

This needs to be looked at regionally. Southern California and Philadelphia to Boston area city hospitals are selecting mostly BSN nurses.

Best to ask this question on state forum you expect to work.

https://allnurses.com/united-states-nursing/

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.

I'm sure it varies regionally and facility-to-facility, as others have pointed out. My experience is no -- I've got an ADN, and neither I nor any of my classmates had a harder time getting a job than BSN nurses who graduated at the same time (summer 2009).

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I live in the suburbs of Chicago...Anyone from around here with an ADN? Thank you for the replies everyone!

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I am also in the Chicago Suburbs. I have an ADN and have never had a problem. I work in homecare. Most places don't even offer a pay difference. I have had supervisors with both ADN's and BSN's

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My hospital doesn't require BSN and doesn't pay more if you have one. By all means, get it if you can, but it's not always a requirement -- depends on your location. If my hospital required it, there would be almost no nurses working there.

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