Is it Easier to Get a Job As an ADN or a BSN?

[jagsterr]

Does anyone know if it makes a difference when you apply. Are BSN's hired over an ADN?

[FlyingScot, RN]

Not that I've noticed.

[RN1982]

I hadn't noticed any preference.

[HappyDay, RN]

I had one hospital in MD tell me that they only hire BSN, not ADN into ED positions.

[pipersjo, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I never had a problem getting a position with my ADN. Granted, I finished my ADN and went directly into my Accelerated BSN, however, I did not have my BSN when applying for my second position, in a different state, and they wanted me due to my experiences rather than my degree.

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

Many hospitals in my area only hire BSN new grads. They will hire ADNs with experience, though.

[Freedom42]

It depends what market you want to work in and what type of job you're looking for. My area has a number of magnet hospitals. They prefer BSNs for new hires and stipulate that in their advertisements. Whether they find those people, however, is another matter.

[shodobe]

Hospitals are looking for experienced nurses and don't look at anything really beyond if they have a pulse and an active license. This is evident by all the posts about not finding work for new grads, BSN or not. Experience is the key and not the diploma it was written on.

[goodgrief]

having a BSN over and ADN may not necessarily help you find a job, but research has shown that when 60% or more of hospitals' nurses have BSN's, their failure to rescue decreases by 19%, which is significant! Here's just one article that shows it:

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/290/12/1617?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=education+levels+of+hospital+nurses&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=6&hid=108&sid=25c1318d-ce32-45ae-a0b9-bd00ba667094%40sessionmgr103

[Jo Dirt]

Most ads in the Nashville area specify BSN preferred, so a BSN may get their foot in the door over an ADN. I'm sure they hire whoever is in the right place at the right time, though.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

I've been looking at IHS nursing jobs in great detail, and it appears RNs with BSNs have advantages with Federal Government employment. RNs with BSNs have higher salaries with IHS, it appears, for the same clinical jobs. I've also noticed that not only do BSNs have higher starting pay for clinical jobs, if your BSN GPA is "with distinction" you can start at a higher pay grade.

That said, I think IHS has such a great need for RNs, you will be hired regardless of ADN v. BSN. The difference appears to be in the pay rate/grade.

Very interesting!

[MOOSEMAN]

I've hired a lot of RN's over the years, All I wanted was RN next to their name and some exp or willing to learn and get along.