I hear ASN degrees are being phased out.

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Hi, first post here.I'm a high school junior almost finished with this year. I live in Pittsburgh, Pa and hope to get into nursing after high school. There's so many options around here being that Pittsburgh is something of a healthcare center. I've looked into community college programs and degree programs offered by many of the hospitals in the area. I'm afraid I'll go through this program and pay possibly $25,000 for an education that won't get me a job. Any thoughts? Will these degree programs hold their weight in a few years?

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Short answer:

No, they're not being phased out.

A 4-year BSN degree opens more doors as far as employment. Everything else being equal, an employer will choose the BSN grad over the ASN grad.

But this varies greatly from region to region, even facility to facility. We can't really tell you if your local market hires ASN grads or not. Where I live, it matters very little. Other posters will tell you most of their local hospitals have a "BSN only" policy. Call your local employers and ask them what their policies are re: hiring new grads.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Keep in mind that if your area seems to be a "healthcare center" in terms of multiple colleges, universities, private schools, etc., then your area will also be inundated with floods of new grads every May. ASN and BSN. Lots of competition for every new grad opening.

Also something to think about and research.

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Keep in mind that if your area seems to be a "healthcare center" in terms of multiple colleges, universities, private schools, etc., then your area will also be inundated with floods of new grads every May. ASN and BSN. Lots of competition for every new grad opening.

Also something to think about and research.

It's funny I never thought of that. Yes almost all of the hospitals offer nursing programs not to mention the colleges and universities.

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Hi Want2b3,

Are you hearing anything about the job market for new grads? esp. being hired by the hospitals right out of school.

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From what my mom, who has been an NA and a medical office worker, the health system she works for offers employment and tuition reimbursement.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

There has been a movement in nursing for the last 35 years for a BSN entry into nursing. The attempts so far have been unsuccessful so far. However...in the current economy everyone is trying to be a nurse causing a surplus of new graduate nurses vying for the same positions. Many facilities in the hospital arena also called acute care are hiring only BSN graduates as new grads.

Some areas of the country have an almost 47% of unemployment of new grads and average job search is approximately 14-18 months. I expecet this to change in a few years but right now this is the normal. As a junior in high school I would recommend thinking about a BSN program for in YOUR lifetime this may very well become a reality and if you wish to someday become management or an advanced practitioner...the BSN is your only choice.

That being said...nursing programs are VERY competitive and can be expensive. If you go to a ASN/ADN 2 year school (which is really 3 years) plan on going immediately to a RN-BSN bridge which are usually online.

Start now. Beef up all your sciences. Take anatomy and physiology. Take all the honors and SP classes you can handle and maintain a good GPA....3.4 and above. Take your SAT and get higher that 1100 on critical reading and math. You can take them more than once. Take chemistry, algebra, trig and/or physics, stats. Volunteer, become active in your school.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Mental Health.

It's great that you are giving this such thought as a high school junior. It shows how serious and responsible you are. :yes:

I have a couple of ideas for your research. First of all, check with the career counselor at your school. Call the office of the Director of Nursing at a couple of local hospitals, tell them that you are a high school junior who wants to be a nurse and ask if you can talk to someone about the career. You can also check out the National Student Nurses Association; maybe there is a local branch that you can talk to.

Nursing is a great profession, and needs serious, responsible people. Welcome and good luckQ

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Specializes in Neuro ICU/Trauma/Emergency.

You're a high school junior. I would encourage you to go for your BSN, as you haven't even started the core for any program.

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Specializes in ICU.

Employers who will pay for your tuition (or have tuition reimbursement programs) are few and far between these days. Plus, from my experience, most only pay a part of it, meaning they might pay the equivalent of 3 semester hours, or 5 quarter hours, at a time. It would take years to get much out of it at that rate. Then, they expect you to sign a contract to work for them for X amount of time. So, if you don't like the job, you are either stuck, or have to pay the money back.

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Employers who will pay for your tuition (or have tuition reimbursement programs) are few and far between these days. Plus, from my experience, most only pay a part of it, meaning they might pay the equivalent of 3 semester hours, or 5 quarter hours, at a time. It would take years to get much out of it at that rate. Then, they expect you to sign a contract to work for them for X amount of time. So, if you don't like the job, you are either stuck, or have to pay the money back.

I really love the network my mother works for. I've been going to their doctor's and hospitals since I was born. Next time I have a visit to one of the hospitals I'll ask the nurses I see about their opinion on their employer

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