Is an Associate's degree a waste of time?

grantchatt · Sep 18, 2012

Awww.I am so sorry this happened to you....I hope that something changes for you soon and you get the opportunity to work as a RN!

I just received my RN/ADN license August 16, 2012 and work in a magnet facility. You would think I would be jumping up and down in excitement, only until I get to work. I'm currently still working as a LVN and receiving LVN pay. I have talked to my nurse manager who nonchalantly states, "Well, you just have to work as an LVN until you find an RN position." WOW!! So for the past month, I have been searching and talking to nurse managers in different departments and no luck. Seems like they only want BSN nurses. I have made it through my program thru blood, sweat and tears, just to be treated as if my ADN license is not good enough. The sad thing about it, is that I want to stay in the hospital where I currently work because I love working with veterans, but how long do I have to work on a unit, not being recognized as an RN? Some people are saying "just be patient, a job will soon come." But at the same time, when I go to work, my eyes start to fill with tears because I'm still considered an LVN with a RN license and getting LVN pay. Sorry my comment is so wordy, just venting.

Katie71275 · Sep 19, 2012

ADN are still getting hired here. However, within a year after graduation(and less if possible) I will be going back to school for my online BSN and then hopefully NP in a few years.

jetsy62 · Sep 20, 2012

Currently a senior in high school but was just accepted in a 2+2 program at a local college. This path makes the most sense for me. I can get my ADN after two years, sit for the RN exam, then get my BSN the next two years. The school has a great reputation and the local hospitals like to hire the ADN RN's for part-time work while they finish their last two years. All sounds great, right? So what am I missing in all this talk about ADN, BSN? It makes perfect sense to me to go the ADN, RN, BSN route instead of the BSN, RN route. But if it is so obvious to me, what am I not thinking about? Yep, you guessed it. Was also accepted at a straight 4 year BSN program.

catshelley · Oct 13, 2012

I talked to my hiring manager, and surprisingly, she told me that she still prefers to get a nurse with ADN rather than BSN (I am talking about new-grad here). The push for BSN starts from 1950s, but since it's not piratical to get all nurses to start with BSN, so it gets delayed for so many years. My manager told me that one reason for hospitals to get nurses with BSN now is because of meeting the requirement of Magnet Status. However, since BSN is trained differently (usually they focus on more about leadership and research area), it will be more practical to get an ADN to work in a hospital as a starter (ADN focuses on more nursing skills level).

The situation now is since most hospitals have lots of ADN and Diploma nurses, therefore, they need to increase the percentage of BSN nurses. So that's why most hospitals are asking for BSN. But in reality, I met lots of new-grad BSNs, and unfortunately lots of them still haven't found a job yet. On top of that, some hospitals don't even want to consider new-grad nurses with BSN from private colleges to be their employee candidates. Even my hiring manager said it's unsafe to get those BSN from a private college that offers a 3-year BSN program (It's true that currently there are lots of fast-track BSN programs)

So I think getting your ADN is still not a waste of time, since it gives you time to learn and practice, and it's more affordable. Personally speaking, I am a 2012 ADN grad and I am working an an RN right now.

But anyways, BSN will be a strong backup for nurses who already have their clinical experience.

catshelley · Oct 13, 2012

Actually it's true that "you need to be patient with your job offer". I also got my license August this year and I am working as an RN right now, and I was the LVN there before, I still worked as an LVN for awhile after I got my RN license. And initially, there was no opening for new-grad RNs, however, after 2 months, my opportunity came. I suggest you should work with you managers and let them know that you are going back to school for your BSN soon. And tell them you really need the real clinical experience as an RN. I believe that unless the managers really don't like you, you should be able to get your position soon.

It is also stupid that they don't hire you as an RN since you are fully trained in this hospital. On top of that, the hospital can loose lots of money if the new BSN employee quits after the initial training. At the same time, try to get a position in some other hospitals, don't be too comfortable with one place. Maybe your mangers see that "you won't move to other places", so why not pay you cheap while you can provide better service for the patients!

michlynn, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2012

I just graduated with my ASN in May and am immediately going back for my BSN. Most places, bigger name hospitals especially, won't accept you unless you have a BSN or state in your cover letter that you're currently enrolled. Good luck!

soxgirl2008 · Oct 24, 2012

Around here the hospitals regularly hire ADN nurses. The listings don't even say "BSN preferred". I work at an area hospital and we regularly hire ADN new grads, they are paid the same as the BSN nurses and they are not required to go back for their BSN in any certain amount of time. One hospital system still pays for ADNs to go back for their BSN (but doesn't require them to) I have even heard of ADN new grads getting hired at the well known magnet hospitals that had tech experience in school.

So around here, no an ADN is not a waste of time. It's a very valuable degree. It all depends on your geographic location though. If your aspiration is to work at the biggest and most well known hospital in your area or the Mayo of your area, then yes it probably will be harder to get a job as an ADN because of stiff competition.

umbdude, MSN, APRN · Oct 25, 2012

Around here the hospitals regularly hire ADN nurses. The listings don't even say "BSN preferred". I work at an area hospital and we regularly hire ADN new grads, they are paid the same as the BSN nurses and they are not required to go back for their BSN in any certain amount of time. One hospital system still pays for ADNs to go back for their BSN (but doesn't require them to) I have even heard of ADN new grads getting hired at the well known magnet hospitals that had tech experience in school.
So around here, no an ADN is not a waste of time. It's a very valuable degree. It all depends on your geographic location though. If your aspiration is to work at the biggest and most well known hospital in your area or the Mayo of your area, then yes it probably will be harder to get a job as an ADN because of stiff competition.

Do you mind sharing what area or state you're in? I'm in a MA and everyone tells me that it's impossible to find a job here with an ADN (although I think there must be some opportunities outside of hospitals or in rural areas). I won't graduate 'til early 2015, but I wouldn't mind moving to another for jobs. Hopefully the job market will have gained some stability then.

soxgirl2008 · Oct 25, 2012

I'm in Wisconsin. I wouldn't check out the Madison area because I've heard it's flooded with BSN grads and its impossible to find a job up there, but here in southern Wisconsin the market for ADNs still seems good. I also live in an area that puts out many more ADN grads than BSN grads so that could be why.I would definitely try more rural hospitals by you too. Idk how it is in MA, but it seems around here the more rural the hospital the less they care about the BSN/ADN

Nursing24/7, LVN · Oct 28, 2012

I think it depends on one main factor: The area you live in. You have to research the RN job market--do a job search of all the hospitals in your area and outlying area and see what their RN hiring requirements are.

For instance, in Los Angeles where I live, I was going to do ADN program but then I started researching the job market and ALOT like 98% of the RN jobs I looked up, several hospitals said BSN required. I only ran into 2 that said ADN. And nurses that have ADNs hospitals are requiring that they get their BSN, with some hospitals even having on hospital BSN schooling for their ADN nurses on hospital grounds or offering BSN school tuition reimbursement. ADN nurses are definitely being phased out in the Los Angeles area. I figure by the time I graduate from my nursing program, the ADN RN programs will definitely be obsolete in the LA area.

anniv91106 · Oct 30, 2012

As said above, this can be very regional. Is there a push to BSN? Yes, but it is also an employer market right now. Do I see that changing by 2015? Personally, no. But I am not an economist. I have my ASN. My employer is not pushing me to get my BSN but will pay for me to do so and I am pursuing that. For me, getting my ASN first has paid off handsomely. My employer paid for my schooling, my NCLEX review class, my NCLEX itself and will pay for my BSN. Free education and able to work as an RN after the first leg of it. Not too shabby. However, I do not think my situation is really the norm anymore.

Did you ever wonder where that money is coming from?

bearski4 · Nov 4, 2012

what area are you from?