Husband just got into ASN program -- should he pursue it?

[Mindylane]

Hello! I am currently an RN with my BSN and have worked in a NICU for 1.5 years. My husband just got accepted into an accelerated ASN program in the area (Northern Virginia). We are obviously very excited at his acceptance, but with the whole BSN/ASN debate, I'm wondering if he should even pursue it. I am not trying to downplay the abilities and experiences of associate's level nurses in any sense; I just know there are hospitals out there that have stopped hiring ASNs.

No hospitals in the DC area will hire ASNs, including the hospital system for whom I work. The plan would be for him to go right into a bridging program when he graduates, but I assume that he would no longer be eligible for "new grad" positions once he completes the BSN, because it would be more than a year since he got his RN license at that point.

The other plan we have would be for him to apply literally everywhere in the country, and then I would apply to jobs in the vicinity that he got a job, but that would obviously require that we both got hired someplace else.

He's planning on starting the program no matter what, which is fine, but I can't help but be incredibly worried that he's going to be sorely disappointed when he graduates.

Just wanted to see what you guys thought.

Thanks.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Totally up to your husband - not you.

[RyanCarolinaBoy, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Totally up to your husband - not you.

You must not be married to say something this dense and inconsiderate. No, it is NOT totally up to the husband. I am married, and ANY decision this life altering made by myself OR my wife is a joint decision.

To the OP, personally I would recommend that he complete the ADN program. A bird in the hand is better than two in the Bush. There are many area in the country still hiring adn new grads. Perhaps as soon as he graduated you could both find a job somewhere and he could work as a rn adn while pursuing his bsn. Congrats to him by the way!

[Mindylane]

Considering I'm going to be the one financially supporting him by working two jobs at 60 hours a week, I do have quite a lot to say about it. Obviously I'd like for him to be happy and pursue his dreams, but not at the expense of him not being any better off when he graduates. Thanks anyway, for your contribution.

[Mindylane]

Thank you! I am feeling optimistic about it, overall... we are willing to go anywhere; it's just scary that so many things have to fall into place for it all to work out. He was an EMT, a CNA, and is currently a medical assistant, so he has plenty of experience in patient care... it's just so disheartening to see that "no ASN-level nurses accepted" all over the place.

[AspiringNurseMW]

Well, I'm in an ADN program and plan to bridge WHILE I work as a new grad. Is that not a possibility, even if it means working outside of the hospital. He could work home health or LTC while he works on his bridge, then once he completes it, he'll be able to apply to inpatient positions with a BSN and experience.

[Mindylane]

That would be wonderful, if he can find a job. He's basically willing to do anything to get the experience he'd need. He actually has a decent amount of LTC experience, too. That sounds like a good idea, and doable. Good luck to you, as well!

[caliotter3]

With the difficulty in admissions to nursing school lately, I would go with the bird in the hand. It just seems that an RN to BSN program, especially an online program while working, would be a lot easier to navigate than dropping the school seat now and then worrying about being accepted at a straight BSN program.

[Mindylane]

Thank you, that makes a lot of sense!!

[AspiringNurseMW]

That would be wonderful, if he can find a job. He's basically willing to do anything to get the experience he'd need. He actually has a decent amount of LTC experience, too. That sounds like a good idea, and doable. Good luck to you, as well!

Thank you! I'm lucky enough to live in an area where nursing jobs are in ample supply, even in hospitals. Regardless, I plan to do my RN to BSN online.

[Libby1987]

A nurse who goes straight from ADN to BSN bridge is penalized by being disqualified for new grad programs even if they don't work between?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

A nurse who goes straight from ADN to BSN bridge is penalized by being disqualified for new grad programs even if they don't work between?

Yes, in many cases...

A person who has been licensed as an RN for more than 12 months is no longer considered a new grad, even if (s)he has never worked one single day as an RN.