Hurting my chances of being hired? Help

Nurses General Nursing

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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 am also in a similar situation. I have a BA and am beginning prerequisites this fall. I was accepted into a private ADN program where I could start in the fall without having to complete any prereq-s, but the tuition would have been like yours- $50,000. I don't have much in the way of loans from my BA, but the thought of having even 50,000 in loans scared the bejesus out of me. SO, I will not be starting until at least next year, but I will be going to a jr. college and saving about 2/3. It is worth it. Good luck!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

That amount of debt will crush you. You need to postpone your nursing dreams for a little while ... use your biology degree to get a job ... live VERY frugally for a while ... and pay down most of that debt before you take on any more debt.

Seriously. Please do some research into managing your financial life before you make this decision. Talk to a finanncial counselor -- not just to a financial aid officer who works for the school who is trying to "sell" you a product that will bring money into his employer's coffers.

Also, check into the possibility that by completing your BS in biology, you may be eliminating your eligibility for some times of financial aid in the future. Some types of aids are not available for people who already have BS degrees. You might be better of NOT finalizing that BS if it gets you eligibility for additional financial aid. (You can finish the biology degree later if you want.) Investigate that, too, before making a final decision.

Many experts use the guideline that you should never take out student loans more than 1 year's salary that you will earn in the first few years of your career. At $80K, you have already exceded that.

You don't have to give up your plans to be a nurse ... just delay them 2 or 3 years while you get your financial affairs under control. Most student loans cannot be discharged by claiming bankruptcy later. You could be setting yourself up for a lifetime of financial misery.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

I began my job search process last May after graduating with my BSN and 80% of the jobs I applied for stated "Bachelor's preferred" on the application. I was also told by 2 of the nurse managers I interviewed with that they are only hiring people with a Bachelor's degree and in the future will be trying to phase out employees with an associates by either sending them back to school or "releasing" them from their jobs. The job market is definitely geared towards those with a four year degree and therefore I would have to suggest that you exhaust ALL options for receiving a Bachelor's before entering an associate's program.

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With $80K in student loans, I would seriously reconsider adding on any more, lest you find yourself paying student loans for the rest of your life. Unless you are really dying to be a nurse (and why didn't you go straight to nursing school first) and really hate going into your biology field any further.

Paying $50K for nursing program is OK, but by the time you are done, it will be $130K with very limited prospects for finding a job that pays any more than $55K or so. It will be quite a number of yrs before you can afford to pay off a loan that large.

So anyway -- if your current major will make you miserable in life and you think that only nursing will make you happy, then you might have to bite the bullet, but just think -- there are a ton of new LVNs and RNs out there (not even a bachelors) who are paying for outrageous loans and working retail.

Don't buy into the "nursing shortage" line -- nobody is hiring new grads at the moment.

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Specializes in GI.

considering that BSN only make about 50 cents more an hour, I would go the cheap route. Like you I have a BS in biology and am currently in an ADN program at the CC. It's about $1000 per semester which is considerably cheaper than getting another Bachelors. Since you are not interested in management and other stuff that requires a BSN, an ADN is not a bad deal. Also, consider that some, if not, most hospitals offer tuition reimbursement so you can take classes while you work. There are MSN program in which you don't need an BSN.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Let's crunch the cold, hard numbers. . .

You already owe $80,000. If you add another $50,000 by attending an accelerated BSN program, the grand total will be $130,000 in student loan debt.

A $130,000 student loan would result in a whopping repayment of $1501.05 per month if financed over 10 years at a 6.875 percent interest rate. Since there's no humanly possible way that low interest government student loans would cover that entire amount, the monthly repayment would likely be higher, since you would now have to use higher interest private student loans to cover the balance.

Sorry, but a monthly student loan payment of $1501.05 is going to cramp your style seriously. If you are not already married, it will scare away potential mates. You will not be able to afford a house, or a decent apartment, or a decent car payment, or save for retirement, or have money for much else in life.

It's your choice, but please don't decide with stars in your eyes. Reality is brutal.

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Another option is to find a job with your current degree that offers tuition assistance. I work for a State university that offers tuition assistance to all full time employees regardless of their department or job. We are given 6 credits a semester paid at almost any public school in the state (8 credits if you attend our home institution), including the summer semester, this is 18 credits a year which helps alot.

I have a BS in animal science and work in medical research and was accepted to a competitive ADN program that is luckily on the same campus where I work. I couldn't do an accelerated BSN between my non-competitive GPA and the need to continue working while going to school.

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

I have a BS in a non-nursing degree and decided to do an ADN instead of an ABSN or a direct entry MSN for a few reasons:

1. It is SO much cheaper $40-60,000.00

2. New grad nurses make about the same regardless of ADN or BSN after their name (BSN's make about $.50 more/hr than ADN's in my area)

3. I plan on getting a MSN in the future and most employers have 100% tuition reimbursement, they will also pay for a BSN completion

4. The pace of a ABSN kind of freaks me out, I didn't want to be sucked into a hole for 12-15 months

5. I went to undergrad at a "really good school" aka one that was really hard to get into etc. etc. but most of my teachers were just teaching because it was a requirement for their research and kind of sucked, in my experience, the best teachers I have ever had have been at the community college I am at!

Its hard to get a job as a new grad ADN or BSN right now. Granted its probably a little easier for BSN new grad, I don't think its $50,000.00 easier.

Good luck! I know this is a really hard decision.

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Noyesnu-I was just wondering, have you completed your ADN and were you able to find a job? I live in lllinois, so I am not sure if this makes a difference. Thank you so much for sharing your experience withe me.

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I just wanted to thank everyone again who providing input, it is very much appreciated.

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Specializes in Family Medicine.
Noyesnu-I was just wondering, have you completed your ADN and were you able to find a job? I live in lllinois, so I am not sure if this makes a difference. Thank you so much for sharing your experience withe me.

I'm sending you a message! :)

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Thank you for your message, I am so sorry, I can't respond. I don't think I have posted enough posts in order to use the private e-mail button. If you don't mind me asking, where did you go to undergrad?

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