Hiring outlook for ADN vs. BSN in your town?

U.S.A. Texas

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Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care.

Hey y'all,

I am wondering what the job outlook is like in your town for an ADN vs. a BSN. Are hospitals still as willing to hire ADNs? ADNs, how fast were you able to find work when you graduated? Where are y'all located? I am in the Dallas, TX area and would love if anyone had any information on this area specifically. I am getting ready to apply to school (I will probably apply for an ADN program and a BSN program to cover all my bases)... I've read more than once that BSN is really the way to go in Dallas and need some feedback! Thanks!!

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I think big cities in Texas Prefer BSN, but small town or State dont mind if you have ADN or even Diploma as long you an RN you are good to go. If you have the time to invest and money I think BSN is way to go.

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If you haven't started your pre-reqs for an ADN program yet, go BSN 100%

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Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care.

Some of the pre-reqs I've taken overlap for the two programs... I'm worried much more about the money than the time! I'm about to turn 24 so I don't really feel rushed, but what good is a super cheap degree if I can't get a job after? But then again, I might have that same problem with BSN... then I'd be ~ $80k in the hole and still no job :eek:

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I am sort of in the same situation. What I have been hearing from a lot of people is to go ahead and do you ADN so that you can get started and get experience in the field and you can do a bridge program to your BSN which sometimes can even be done online. Also, from everything I have heard, experience is much more important than ADN vs BSN as long as you are an RN. Even volunteer work while in school can help :) Good luck

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Sugar, that little "issue" about all that money is a big one!

I know many who are in the hole right now. It is a huge shame, and they are in financial ruin. Thing is, nursing employment is so bad right now with the back log of newer nurses that it can't turn around. The only advice I can give you is if you have a way of meeting and really getting to know a DON as well as experienced nurses at a hospital near you your chances are better. Your connections need to be of this kind. I routinely advise against nursing to highschool juniors and have given parents the "tools" to check things out, and this has changed what major their kids will follow for bachelor's degree. If you want to do nursing in these times, I'd work, and do an ADN. That way you can pay off your debt, and it might buy you some time to see what happens with the economy. But as I've said the US is saturated with nurses, and so many are in line ahead of you working ridiculous jobs in healthcare -- but they will no matter what be ahead of any new grads come any large scale upward economic change for nursing in this country.

I wish I could put up a banner somewhere so I could stop the innocent from being hurt, LOL.

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I'm near Chicago. I'm not a nurse yet, but most all of the hospitals are going magnet therefore you need a BSN to be able to even apply.

My advice to you: with all of the people going back to school for their nursing degree nowadays, you will most likely get hired with a BSN over someone with an ADN. Get your BSN. I'm sure you won't regret it!

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Specializes in Long Term Care; Skilled Nursing.

i live in a rural area and most rural hospitals still hire adns; also, bigger areas near me hire adns; but, i have a teacher who has friends who work at mayo clinic in rochester and her friend was telling her that they are only going to hire bsns, that's why i'm going to earn my adn then start a bsn completion program.

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Poor job prospects for either. Employers don't distinguish between the two levels of education. It is any generic nurse, including LVNs, that they don't need.

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Some of the pre-reqs I've taken overlap for the two programs... I'm worried much more about the money than the time! I'm about to turn 24 so I don't really feel rushed, but what good is a super cheap degree if I can't get a job after? But then again, I might have that same problem with BSN... then I'd be ~ $80k in the hole and still no job :eek:

80 grand??? That's some expensive program, even for a university! Do you have any other university options?

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Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care.

It sure is! There are some other university options, but they are a looooong drive and I've got more of the pre-reqs for this school done!

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Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care.

(Also, with the 80k I was factoring in loans for living expenses I'd need during the program! Forgot to mention that :))

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