Is it harder to find a job as an RN with an ADN only than with a BSN? (San Francisco)

U.S.A. California

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I want to get my associate's degree from the community college that I am currently attending. I live in San Francisco, CA and almost all the nursing school's near SF are highly impacted. But if I do get into the ADN program and earn my ADN and become an RN, will it be harder to find an ADN-RN job than an RN-BSN? Do places require than RN's have BSNs only? I would love to get my BSN but all the schools that offer BSN programs are highly impacted and super competitive. My plan right now is to go for my ADN then maybe get my BSN online, is that a good plan? Has anyone ever done that, get their BSN online? How much is the pay difference between an ADN and BSN?

Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

It's extremely hard to get a nursing job in the Bay Area even if you do have a BSN, and yes, it will be harder with only an ADN. If there's any way you can go for the BSN directly, I would do so.

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Specializes in Tele Step Down, Oncology, ICU, Med/Surg.

Jobs are scarce for everyone, everywhere right now. Nursing jobs in the Bay Area have been scarce for years now. I grew up in SF and have peers with BSN's who are still looking for jobs almost two years after graduation--It took me a year and I have prior experience. I came across the rare ADN who was invited to group interviews but none were hired. If ADN is the only path available to you, I would definitely plan to bridge to BSN immediately all while getting a job as a CNA where you want to work and do a stellar job and impress everyone as that seems to be one of the only roads into a hospital job these days.

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I'm planning on getting my ADN. I originally wanted a BSN, but I can't afford the schooling required for it at the moment. SO I'm opting to go for an associates degree, work for a couple of years, then do an RN-BSN bridge program. I live in San Francisco, and I wanted to know, is it harder to find a job as an RN with just an ADN in the Bay Area? I really want to be an RN, always have and always will. But it seems like EVERYONE is into nursing nowadays, which is why all the nursing schools are so impacted. I feel like once I've graduated, earned my ADN, and earned my RN license, it's still going to be hard to find a job because all the competition I'm gonna have. Especially those with BSN's. It's really discouraging and making me not wanna go for nursing at all anymore =(. Any ADN RN's have any problems w/ finding a job? How long did it take you?

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Specializes in NICU.

My dear, one of my friends got her BSN degree at UCSF and it took her over a year to get a job...the Bay area is terrible for new grads. Do it if it's your dream, but recognize that you will likely have to move out of state.

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

This is the 5th time you've posted on this exact same topic. The answer isn't going to change -- sorry! Extremely hard to get a job in the Bay Area with a BSN, harder with an ADN.

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Specializes in NICU.

Oh my goodness, she's right. What the heck is going on here? You got your answer, I think you need to move on. Asking x amount of times does not change the answer.

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Specializes in LTC currently.
This is the 5th time you've posted on this exact same topic. The answer isn't going to change -- sorry! Extremely hard to get a job in the Bay Area with a BSN, harder with an ADN.

Lol telling it like it is. If i see another question regarding employment in Cali I'm gonna go crazy. OP, Cali have a surplus of nurses, EMTs, Paramedics, etc. They also have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. If you want to go to school for an associates, go ahead but think about areas that are in need of nurses find work because as you can see Cali don't need anymore nurses. Look elsewhere is your best bet. You will not be the first, nor the last to relocate.

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it's really tough for new grads out there...especially adns =/. i am an adn new grad...i got a great job, but i am moving 5 hours away for it. if you really want to do nursing then go for it. i suggest you get a cna or tech. job part time just to get some sort of healthcare experience. look into hospitals in the area and see if they offer inter/extern-ships for nursing students, and check early because they fill up fast! and if you can, apply for a rn to bsn program while you are in your last semester of nsg. school, that way you can add to your resume that you are enrolled in a bsn program. a lot of hospitals want nurses with bsns, so being enrolled in a program helps. there are a lot of online rn to bsn programs out there, look into those so if you have to move for a job, it doesn't matter that you are in school. so like i said if you really feel a passion for nursing, go for it! just don't rely on the idea that you will land a great job right after you graduate. be prepared and know what to expect in this job market...for many of us it is a tough fight for that first nursing job, but it in the end it is worth it. good luck :redpinkhe

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I thought the others might be exaggerating, but no, you truly have posted that many posts on the same subject.

What do you want to ask that hasn't yet been answered ( multiple times)?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Multiple threads on the exact same subject have been merged. Good luck to the original poster.

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Lol sorry, I didn't mean to get so repetitive with my posts. I just wanted to get as many opinions on it as I can. But if it truly bothers you all that much, you really don't have to reply. My life won't end if you don't.

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I am an ADN new grad in the bay area and I am finding that most places prefer BSN. It's rough out there. I am applying to RN-BSN programs and keeping faith that I will find something. Good luck!

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