Getting a job with an ADN?

AlabamaBelle · Feb 15, 2018

I'm not sure about those areas. I hold an Associate's degree. Many hospitals offer tuition reimbursement if you want to pursue the BSN. Many people go this route, as it does make some good economic sense. I'm in the South and ADNs don't seem to have problems getting jobs, nor do LPNs.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Feb 15, 2018

You need to talk to your academic advisor. Getting into the ADN program is NOT easy. I completed all of my pre-reqs with a 4.0 average. My community college accepted 10 percent of applicants.

djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 15, 2018

Experience is the best thing you can obtain through nursing school whether you are going for an ADN or BSN. I don't want to dissuade you, but many hospitals are starting to require a BSN or to be on that path within a certain timeframe. If you choose to go the ADN route, I have two recommendations:

1. Find a school that has two semester start dates (Fall class and a Spring class). I found it helpful that I graduated in December in landing my first job as I had a lead on the majority of other schools that graduated months after I already passed my boards.

2. I encourage with all RN students is finding some form of residency program that can get you additional experience while in school. The summer before I graduated, I participated in a NRP that placed me in step-down working directly with an RN and helping out with many of her duties. This set up my preceptorship to work at the same hospital in ICU. Both experiences were key in landing my first job. Another hospital I worked at later on had something very similar where many of the participants were hired straight into the hospital on graduation.

Sour Lemon · Feb 15, 2018

Hey everyone, I'm new here. I'm not entirely sure how this site works or how to search it for something specific in the discussion boards so I thought I would ask. I finally decided that nursing is what I want to do and I want to get working as soon as possible and move out of my parents house (I'm 25). So I plan on going to my local community college in Huntington Beach, CA (Golden West College) and get my ADN. I want to either get a job in southern California or in the Phoenix, AZ area after I graduate. Will I even be able to find a nursing job with just an ADN these days? Also what kind of starting pay am I looking at? Thanks for your help.

You need to talk to your academic advisor. Getting into the ADN program is NOT easy. I completed all of my pre-reqs with a 4.0 average. My community college accepted 10 percent of applicants.

Agreed. You're making it sound easy, but nursing programs around here are extremely competitive. And while BSN nurses are highly preferred, lack of experience is an even bigger hurdle. If you're willing to move, your job search will be easier. If not, you'll find something eventually if you're not too picky.

BAY AREA RN, BSN · Feb 16, 2018

im in the bay area and they hire adn's all the time, the main hospital that are not taking adn are on magnet status like ucsf. thats how it is now, i don't know how it will be when ur done. it depends on where u are

shinyhappy1, BSN · Feb 16, 2018

I have friends in the Phoenix area and there does not seem to be an issue gaining employment with an ADN. As Sour Lemon stated, "the lack of experience is a much bigger hurdle." But, in my humble opinion, if you're not picky about specialties, there is work out there. It may not be the type of work you want to do, at first; however, the field tends to open up some after 6 months to a year of experience.