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 : )

Specializes in Critical Care, Patient Safety.

This route is a little more time consuming, but could save you tons of money:

1. Obtain training as a CNA or EMT and get a position in a hospital - one that offers tuition reimbursement.

2. Work for the next several months to a year. Build up a good reputation for yourself as a CNA, get some good experience and make connections.

2. Get accepted into an ADN program, while working as a PCT/CNA

3. Use the tuition reimbursement to pay for school.

4. Get a job at the same hospital as a nurse.

FYI: A lot of hospitals are being more stringent about hiring BSN or MSN nurses, especially in the Chicago area. But ultimately it does boil down to connections. This it will save you lots of money down the road to go this route as opposed to taking out a lot of loans.

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I believe you are hurting your chances.

My hospital is currently in the hunt for MAGNET and since then they have drastically decreased their hiring of associates degree nurses. Even those with experience have been turned down for the BSN nurse. Think hard. You want to make yourself the most marketable you can. I am not saying you will not get hired but you may not get hired in the area that you want to work.

Obviously you need to do what is best for you. Finances are important and you can always do an online RN-BSN degree later on.

Good Luck!

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I'm pretty much in the same boat, I have a B.S. in Biology but I don't owe that much in student loans but I do have them. I will be starting a ADN program in the fall. The BSN route was too expensive for me. I completely understand your dilemma, this decision is hard. I will tell you right now it is hard trying to find a decent job with a biology degree without any type of experience. I know that from experience. When I graduated from college I had to get a job making $6.75/hr because no one would hire me because I lacked experience which is stupid, you can't get any experience while in college. I'm not worried about the job market right now regarding ADN versus BSN because newbies will have one thing in common no experience! I've been down the no experience path but I'm going to take the bull by its horn and graduate and know for a fact that I will land a job. Think positive and stay focus but try to land a job right now that has tuition reimbursement. Go the ADN route because you can pay cash for school and it will greatly help you our during income tax season!!

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Do the ADN and start paying off those loans. A bachelor's in anything makes you a more desirable candidate, biology is an excellent one, and you can always bridge later online.

Good luck!

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Specializes in High Risk OB.

Ana1106, Don't forget you have your BACHELORS! I have a bachelors in biochemistry then decided to go back to school for nursing 7yrs after college. I contemplated the same thing you did. It ultimately came down to $ and I decided to go for an associates in nursing. Today I am so glad I made that decision! I am an OB nurse, certified in high risk inpt OB(as with any certification, you have to have a bachelors..not necessarily a BSN), and now I am looking into nursing informatics. Not once has not having my BSN held me back, I still have my bachelors and I am still a registered nurse, I just took the long road to get there and picked up a little more knowledge on the way!:)

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Carrie RNC--thank you so much for your input. Common sense tells me, if a hospital is worried about hiring a bsn over an adn, I would still have a leg up on an ADN canidate because of my previous educational background, but then I have heard people say that it HAS to be a BSN. I mean, I could understand if maybe my degree was in French or Marketing, but biology is very much related to nursing. Previous posts leave me feeling very conflicted.

I have a meeting to talk with two advisors, one from a BSN program and one from an ADN program to see what my best option would be. Thanks again : )

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Specializes in High Risk OB.

Listen, Not to beat this down BUT If you have a BSN you have a bachelors in nursing, and an ADN/BS is pretty much the same, if not more, education. When I went back to school I applied to a community college and a BSN program, it was the BSN program that told me(after reviewing my transcript) that going to for BSN would just be a waste of time and $$, why is it that people think you need TWO bachelors!! Again, I have a very successful career and moving on up and not ONCE has my single BS held me back!! One of the post stated that hospitals are looking for BSN's(thats if you don't have a bachelors already!!.....why would a hospital pick someone with a BSN over someone with a BS/ADN......you both have the same qualifications and both passed your NCLEX..you just took a different path!!!! Don't let anyone scare you, I have many RN friends who are going for their BSN ONLY because they need a bachelors for further certification or other job opportunities requiring a bachelors. Unfortunately we are the indecisive ones who couldn't figure out what they wanted to do with their bachelors!! Get into a good community college and in two years you, your BS and your ADN will be working, applying the same theory and skills that your neighboring BSN has!!!!!! Good Luck!!:yeah:

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Specializes in Family Medicine.
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?

Sent you two new messages. That posting rule stinks!

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Specializes in High Risk OB.

I went to Umass out of HS as a nursing major and HATED UMASS! I left after a year and went to a small college, Westfield State College in MASS and double majored in Biology and Chemistry, them after college went into a Medical Technician program. I worked for 7 years before I went back to nursing school in 1999:)

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You could just do the ADN and do a BSN bridge later, if you wanted. You will have a leg up on ADN's by having a Bachelor's, but you will not have as much as an advantage as a BSN.

Definitely don't do the $50k BSN. You can find a way cheaper ADN-BSN bridge if you want you BSN after ADN. What's the point of a degree if you can't live a decent life afterwards because of the $1500 a month payment?

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I completely agree with CarrieRNC, I looked at the BSN curriculum and noticed I took the same exact courses that they are required to take. Matter of fact my courses were science saturated. I have my BS in Biology as well but I'm not paying to take the same courses again. Both couselors will have their own opinions as well but ultimately the decision is yours. Like CarrieRNC stated most ppl that go the BSN route don't have a bachelor's degree to begin with. Why don't you just apply to both programs then weight out your options then financially or if one program deny you and the other accepts you then go that route but at the end of the day you will be a RN regardless if you have an ADN or BSN.

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Illision 5- You mentioned you have a BS in biology, which route did you choose in order to get your RN?

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