I'm so sorry I didnt go straight for my BSN

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

With the current economy even BSN's are having a very difficulty time finding jobs. I recently left my job and have a BSN with 28 years experience. Guess what? I'm having an issue finding work also!!!! Hang in there as it's the economy and facilities in a premature panic over health reform. Also changes in the CMS payment lines with many going to bundled payments and basis on a pts progress (even if non compliant) has many profit making organizations in a tail spin. At least in the dialysis world it has. Keep your chin up and dont feel you have to have a BSN......right now it really doesnt matter what degree you have, work is still scarce.

[MiaNJ]

Ok so I had enough of this...I have been applying to literally like thousand of hospitals and I got turned down because I dont have my BSN or experience, so if I knew what I know now I would definitely go straight for my BSN and not only that I would have made sure I worked at hospital as nurse's aid during my NS.

So to all of those who are planning to become nurses or are in the Nursing school,please do not make the same mistake I did, try to work as a nursing assistant during your nursing school or go for your BSN

THanks..

Don't think it's just about not having a BSN. I have a BSN, and have applied to MANY hospitals in the past year and am not able to get a job there. It's bad in most places, so it's not just about having a BSN. I think what counts most is experience, and alot of positions I see open require some experience. I ended up taking a LTC care position since it's all I could find, and I needed to get some type of experience and of course money.

[prinsessa]

Like many of the other posters I also have a BSN. I also worked for a year as a nurse extern. Still can't find anything . Hopefully this turns around soon!

[waggykeeper]

As the original poster, I wish I went straight for BSN as well. Its true that a lot of new grads with bachelor's can't find jobs, but hospitals are increasingly having "BSN preferred" positions. With my ADN I feel like I have much less chance of landing a job.

[OrthoRN09]

I graduated with an ADN last December and was luckily able to get hired by a hospital before I graduated. I went through orientation with a group of about 75 nurses, about half were ADN and half were BSN. It isn't the degree. If anything, it's probably the experience issue. I did home care as a PCA and worked in multiple clinic's as a CMA for 10+ years before I went to nursing school. Pretty sure that's what got me hired.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I know my hospital is picking BSNs over ADNs because there are few positions open and we pick the higher educated. Of course we go with experience RN over any new grad, but having a BSN right now where I live definitely is making a difference.

My heart goes out to all the new grads everywhere who are struggling to find a job.

[shippoRN]

I'm right there with the OP, I am beginning to regret going for my ASN. I have a Bachelor's degree in a different major and a few years experience in the hospital, but it seems as though nobody cares. I'm still working as a part time nursing tech even though I have my RN now and its humiliating to say the least. I can't quit because I have bills to pay -- its why I went the ASN route in the first place. But now all every single job description I come across say is BSN preferred. All the great nursing residencies have BSN required to apply. I broke down crying last night because I've reached my wits end. Despair is the only word that comes to mind of how I feel right now.

[Scrubs911]

I'm right there with the OP, I am beginning to regret going for my ASN. I have a Bachelor's degree in a different major and a few years experience in the hospital, but it seems as though nobody cares. I'm still working as a part time nursing tech even though I have my RN now and its humiliating to say the least. I can't quit because I have bills to pay -- its why I went the ASN route in the first place. But now all every single job description I come across say is BSN preferred. All the great nursing residencies have BSN required to apply. I broke down crying last night because I've reached my wits end. Despair is the only word that comes to mind of how I feel right now.

Hey don't be discouraged. I know how you feel but don't be too quick to down play your Bachelors degree. I know of one hospital in Houston that has BSN advertised as a requirement for their residency BUT I did my final clinical rotation there and during orientation I found out that a Bachelor's degree with the ADN/ASN would be considered for the GN residency. Don't just go by what's on the websites. Call the programs you're interested in and find out, you never know.