Does it make a difference in new grad hiring? BSN or ASN?

[red.tm]

I was considering doing the accelerated BSN program nearby but see that a lot of new grads aren't finding work yet. I know the hospitals here advertise "BSN preferred" but that doesn't mean that the entire industry isn't just saturated. I just found out the program I was applying to has actually quadrupled their ABSN output this year. OUCH! Having a family, I can't afford to get out of school and not find work. I'm sure you can relate. Barely makin' it right now. Thoughts?

[Rednights]

Yes it does, to the point they won't hire you.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Any time you make an investment of time and money and hoping to have it pay off later, you are taking a risk. You are wise to be investigating and thinking things through before making such a big investment.

No one can predict the future, but here are the facts:

1. In most communiites, nursing jobs are scarce right now. There is fierce competition for almost all available jobs. New grads bear the brunt of this situation and most are struggling to find jobs at the moment. Even experienced nurses are having trouble finding jobs.

2. This is a very unusual situation for nursing. When the job market was tight in the past, it was usually temporary thing and/or only a regional phenomenon. However, this job shortage is extremely widespread, very deep, and more persistent than most.

3. No one knows when the number of available jobs will increase and/or the number of applicants will decrease. A lot depends on the state of the economy in general and the results of whatever health care reform (or non-reform) occurs. (There are lots of other threads discussing this.)

4. When hospitals are in this situation of having many applicants for each job, they can be very picky when choosing who to hire. They will hire the people who best meet their current needs. In many cases that means someone with experience who needs minimal orientation rather than a new grad who needs a lot of expensive training to get competent. Some hospitals will also prefer to hire nurses who have BSN's over ADN's (but some will not have that preference -- You'll have to investigate your local hospitals and nursing culture to find that out.)

5. If you are going into nursing primarily because you need a "guaranteed" good job, then you might want to reconsider nursing. Nursing cannot guarantee you that (but then again, I don't know of any profession that can).

6. But ... the job market in nursing WILL improve someday: we just don't know when exactly. People will always need health care. Other people (e.g. nurses) will be paid to provide that care. The nurses who are best able to meet the needs of the population will be preferred and hired over those that are less able. The people who can be sufficiently patient and flexible to adjust to changing societal conditions will find work as a nurse eventually (but maybe not today). So ... if you have a real passion for nursing, it might be a good career choice for you because the opportunities will be there long-term -- and you would be engaged in a career that gives you personal satisfaction.

I know that doesn't answer your questions for you ... but in the end, all you can do is consider the facts and then decide whether or not the risk of going to nursing school (or a particular nursing school) is worthwhile for you. Is your interest in nursing sufficient for you to endure the possibility of a rough start to your career? Do you want it bad enough to justify/tolerate a couple of years of possible struggle and sacrifice? Can you "do whatever it takes to survive" for a while if the job market is not good when you graduate?

Everyone taking any risks and making any investment in education (in any profession) needs to ask those questions today. Then all you can do is make your best decision and prepare for the possibility that there will be some struggles and sacrifices along the way to your dream job.

Good luck to you.

[kcochrane]

It really depends. My two year college has a better reputation than many of the 4 year ones. The NCLEX pass rate is high and the students are well prepared. So that gave me an edge. But some hospitals prefer BSNs for magnet status. Most don't pay more than a dollar or so more an hour for the BSN, so the investment might not be worth it.

Call the nurse recruiters and ask what they prefer right now. I found they were very welcoming to giving out information.

[twentytenRN]

It's hard to say. I've encountered hospitals that prefer BSN's over ADN's and will hire them first for a new grad internship but I've also encountered hospitals that could care less about ADN vs. BSN. Some just ask to make sure you have a degree or diploma in nursing. Some hospitals even give "credit" for having a BSN and offering a premium on top of the base salary for having it. The best way to get a job as a new grad in this economy is either:

A) Work for the hospital prior to graduation either as an extern or a CNA/PCT.

B) Be willing to relocate. This is a very distinct reality for many nurses. Sure, you may not want to do it, but you may very well have to in order to get your feet wet.

[hearts895, RN BSN]

I just wanted to wish you luck and say how wrong it is to me that hospitals show preference to BSN students over ADN students. Not right at all - esp. given that ADN students tend to get more hands on clinical training than BSN students and are just as good students. I'm a BSN student, but I firmly believe that ADN students are just as good - I'm sure many are be better than me in fact. Good luck!! You could always do a RN-to-BSN online program that is as short as possible while working at a LTC or some other place that would accept an ADN and then apply to a hospital w/ your BSN. I hope you get hired before you have to do that though! :)

[red.tm]

Thanks! I just have to decide if it's a worthy risk (I'd love to go the BSN route). My current thinking is that it just isn;t worth the rick and I should probably go the masters or dr of physical therapy route. It's just a surer thing. It's too bad that I have to assess the risk so thoroughly, but it's due to my circumstances. Anyways, thanks and good luck!!

[HyperSaurus, RN, BSN]

You really need to look into what your area hires--Some hospitals do have explicit policies where they will NOT hire ADNs.

[jennifers]

It just depends. I know at my school the ADNS run circles around the BSNs. But that may have to do with the age. A lot of the ADNs were older adults. Not traditional college students. We had to work during school. Most of us got jobs as techs to support ourselves during school. We gained experience and connections that way. During Kaplan the bsns and adns went together. The adn's answered questions and the bsns sat there quietly. There is no pay difference in the area on the pay. Also, some hospitals would hire an ADN from one school vs a bsn from another school based on reputation only. That being said on paper it looks a lot better.

Its hard trying to figure out if you should go for BSN or ADN. My feelings are to get your ADN first. Usually its a lot cheaper cause the hospital will pay for your BSN completion. But try to volunteer or get an Aid job for the experience. If youre young and fresh out of high school just go for the BSN while you have time. Hopefully the market will improve before you graduate.

[HyperSaurus, RN, BSN]

I'm going for a BSN while my dad has an ADN and is now starting to go for a BSN. He was one of the last ADNs that his hospital hired in, and he is grandfathered in where he is not REQUIRED to get a BSN to continue employment. That said, from what he and I have talked about, ADN new grads start out with an advantage over BSN new grads on the floor. ADNs seem to have alot more on-the-floor experience at clinicals, where BSNs have alot of theory background. They do even out as they gain experience though.

What is your area likeas far as ADN vs BSN hiring?

[caliotter3]

Many hospitals will indicate BSN preferred because they are looking out for their magnet status. At any rate, there is still an overall advantage to getting the BSN at the beginning of one's career. Costs less, there usually is no interruption of working at a job to go to school, less inconvenience, no pressure from an employer mandating the BSN at a time that a person may not find it suitable to go to school.

[ok2bme]

Know your local industry. Where I live, employees favor BSNs over ADNs and diploma grads. In fact, the new grad residency I am in is for BSNs only.