If you can't get a job as new graduate RN...

[kinokoboy]

Do any of you recommend completing the MSN portion of your program full-time? I've been admitted into a BSN/MSN program at Thomas Jefferson School of Nursing. All the admissions councilors are recommending we work as an RN first and finish our NP specialization part-time. Well, isn't it a bad market for new RN graduates? Why not just finish the MSN if the economy is still bad? Finishing the program in 15 months sounds good to me if there aren't any jobs for new RNs in the Philly area!

[BostonRN13]

You're right. The market for the new grad RNs is pretty bad. The benefit though is that with RN experience you'll land an NP job easier and be able to make some professional connections..

It's a tough call.

[scarykarrey]

Does your NP program require that you have a certain number of patient contact hours of experience before you can start any of your clinical rotations? Most of the NP programs that I have found have this, which would require getting some sort of job before you can finish that part of your degree.

[kinokoboy]

Hey guys,

I'm currently talking to an alumni from Jefferson's BSN/MSN program. She told me it takes most new RN grads 6+ months to find a job. That seems like a waste of time to me as you would be half-way done to finishing the MSN portion if you were a full-time student. I also found out that Jefferson doesn't require any nursing experience if you're going to specialize in FNP or ANP. This alumni also hinted new NP grads without experience are finding it easier to find a job than new RN grads without experience.

[VTach2013]

Although practicing as an RN would definitedly be benefitial to you, it is not necessary for you to thrive as an NP. What you do as an RN and what you do as an NP are completely different. If you're going to become an NP, the faster you do it the better. My recommendation is to start school ASAP!

[myelin]

Hey guys,

I'm currently talking to an alumni from Jefferson's BSN/MSN program. She told me it takes most new RN grads 6+ months to find a job. That seems like a waste of time to me as you would be half-way done to finishing the MSN portion if you were a full-time student. I also found out that Jefferson doesn't require any nursing experience if you're going to specialize in FNP or ANP. This alumni also hinted new NP grads without experience are finding it easier to find a job than new RN grads without experience.

This is very true in my area.

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

I agree with VTach. If you don't want to be a RN, I don't see any reason to bother with looking for a job you know you are going to quit as soon as possible. In your circumstances, I'd just move forward with my education plans. I don't think your career trajectory is going to be negatively impacted. The only real advantage is making professional contacts, but you will do that through your clinical experiences anyway. Good luck!