Hurting my chances of being hired? Help

ccshinaberry · Jun 22, 2010

In New Mexico, we have a few private colleges with nursing programs and a community college. We have the same problem, the CC had a 2 year wait until recently, so they were turning many people away. Those people would give up on the CC and then go to the private colleges and get their RN in 22 months (then get calls from the CC accepting them). We also have the University of NM here, and they have a BSN program (and MSN +).

I have been told that the local hospitals prefer the RN programs at the CC and the private schools because they are much heavier on the clinical hours than the BSN at UNM. I don't know if that is still the case, but it would make sense.

I think you would be ok with your previous degree and an RN from the private school. It's all in how you market yourself anyway. You need to go to interviews and state that you chose a challenging program that was clinical-intensive, and wanted to get your RN right away. Also, add that your bio degree strengthens your knowledge and experience, and if you plan on it, when and how you will go about moving forward with a BSN.

The thing is, if you will be happy being a floor nurse, you will only ever need your RN. If you want to move up to a specialty, not to mention management, you will need to get your BSN. So, have a plan. Know how to market yourself.

I'm at a private nursing college, and they have a career counselor that helps students with just this kind of question.

Good luck.

C

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2010

You already owe $80,000 and would be adding another $50,000 in student loan debt, which would bring your grand total to $130,000.

I urge you to not travel down this path because getting into a massive amount of debt to become an RN is simply not justifiable in today's economy. Defer the gratification and wait around for the cheaper associate degree RN program at the community college.

Please save yourself from the massive repayment of more student loans. A nurse is a nurse, regardless of how much money the person paid to attain the degree. Why pay $50,000 for the BSN when you can attain the associate degree for less than $5,000?

johnnynurse · Jun 22, 2010

Have you considered PA school? If you already have a bachelors degrees, it seems backwards to pay another $50,000 dollars for another bachelors degree when you can become a PA in two years for nearly the same amount of money and the pay will be better. It is just a suggestion, but I would look into PA school.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2010

I don't think I could encourage anyone to become an RN via any route, in view of today's market.

Of course, that market is subject to change. It's just impossible to say what the market will be like for new RN's at any given point in the future.

I lean toward not incurring any more debt that necessary, though, if you really want to pursue your RN. You can always get BSN later if you like or find it necessary.

I wish you every success, whichever path you choose.

lifeofjoy · Jun 22, 2010

Don't be discouraged!! There are a lot of private schools who are willing to offer up to 50% of their student significant scholarships. I applied to 3 accelerated programs, was accepted into all of them and was offered scholarships to each school. The school I chose to go to offered me, as well as half of my class, a full scholarship. There is no harm in applying to the program, marketing yourself, asking for a scholarship, and seeing what may happen. I do know that in the Houston market, there are some hospitals who are diverting from hiring anyone who does not have a BSN. Additionally, there are tax breaks and all sorts of government aid that can help you achieve your BSN-RN degree. Please feel free to ask further questions.

njmomstudent · Jun 22, 2010

I also have my BS in biology and am starting a fall AAS program for my RN. After this I will be most likely skipping the BSN and going right for the MSN at some point. I think you should look at higher programs in your area and see what the requirements are (some MSN require a BSN), but honestly, why even bother at this point if you can go straight to your MSN after ADN? A MSN program near me requires just 3 extra courses for those that do not have a BSN (but already have a BS in another field). I also have the same amount of debt from undergrad loans as you! (crazy huh?). I am also planning to "try" and get a job as a unit clerk, or patient care assistant, or whatever I can, to get as much experience as possible before I graduate.

EDRN-2010 · Jun 22, 2010

Have you considered a direct entry MSN program? Where I live you can enter if you have a Bachelors in any field and it takes 2 years to complete. Two of the colleges are private and two are public, so the tuition varies from very affordable to not so much. With the economy the way it is, I wouldn't chance the ADN, I finished mine just to enroll into a BSN completion program. In my opinion, it just seems like since you have a Bachelor's, it would only make sense to get a Master's versus going backwards with an Associates. Good luck in what ever you decide!

labrador4122, RN · Jun 22, 2010

First off, I just want to thank anyone and everyone who replies to this thread in advance and also I would like to throw a disclaimer out there, this topic has been discussed previoulsy on different threads, but I am hoping for advice specific to my circumstances.
Currently, I will be finishing up my senior year of college with a bachelor's degree in biology and I plan to enroll in a nursing program next fall after I graduate. Originally, I planned on obtaining a second bachelor's degree in nursing through an accelerated program. However, the price is close to $50,000 for 15 months and with already $80,000 worth of student loans from my first undergrad degree, that price tag is pretty steep.
A few nursing students and family members have suggested entering an ADN program close to home (without a waiting list) to become an RN. In the long run I will save close to $40,000. In some point in time I may want to specialize, but I really have no desire to enter into nursing administration or supervisor role (however, I am all for continuing education : ). With the economy being so cruel to new RN grads, am I making myself a less competitive canidate by not obtaining my bachelors in science of nursing? (Just to be clear, I am not trying to make a debate about which will make me a more competent nurse, because I know both programs will produce equally skilled nurses).
Thank you again : )

I dont know how other people feel about this, but I have heard that nurses with ASN degrees are better trained in clinicals. I know personally being an ASN-RN that we did a lot of clinicals and less theory classes, as the BSN students do.

Once you have your RN license and a job, your job may actually pay you tuition reimbursement.

I say save the $40K, get your ASN, then continue your education more if you want to.

EDRN-2010 · Jun 22, 2010

Another thing I thought of to consider is the actual length of time it will take you before you can start working. Like, are there additional courses the ADN program would require you to take?

Also, you said the accelerated program is 15 months so say you start in Sept 2010, you would finish in December 2011.

With the ADN you would start in Sept 2010 and finish in May 2012.

The Accelerated might cost more but would allow you to start working 6 months sooner, depending on what part of the country you live in and what the new grad starting pay is, the earnings you would make in those 6 months(versus still being in school) PLUS the fact that you would have a BSN might be something to consider when figuring the cost.

NIUnurs2be · Jun 22, 2010

Thank you to everyone who responded to my post. Everyone brought up a variety of good points and I appreciate everyone's input. I have contacted that financial aid advisor from the accelerated bsn program and unforunately there are only outside scholarships I can apply for, but she informed me that post students simply take out student loans to cover the tuition.

I have looked into a variety of direct entry MSN programs, unfortunately, I just have no clue what I want to specialize in and a clinical nurse leader really doesn't interest me, but I may apply all the same.

Lifeofjoy, may I ask, which schools did you apply to that offered scholarships. I am willing to relocate if the price is right.

Thanks again for everyone who repsonded.

netglow, ASN, RN · Jun 22, 2010

OP, I am just worried about your debt. A nursing degree will not necessarily get you employment anymore.

There literally is a glut of nurses in the U.S. If I were you, I'd graduate and then work for a while to begin to knock down a little of your existing debt. Maybe you can avoid rent and live with family/friends?! If then, after a year or two you find that the situation for nurses in this country has changed, then go for your ADN.

Remember that in medicine - in nursing, you cannot just take any job after graduation and "teach yourself the ropes" there is a specific order of operations as you will learn almost all of what you need to learn while you are working. This stuff is not learned in school. Your residency is your first years of work as an RN. This severely limits your options as a newbie. Know that as time goes on here, nursing schools keep churning out new grads, and most will still be trying to get those hospital jobs even if they end up having to take a refresher course due to inability to land a job for months. You simply will have many hundreds (even thousand?!?) of new nurses going for the same jobs across the country. Your chance of becoming employed is going to be very low unless something drastic happens to change things for nurses.

Sorry to have to say it, but this is the way things are now.