Is it looked down on if you go for BSN full time after graduation instead of working?

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I just graduated from an ADN program in May and passed boards and I am enrolled in an RN BSN program. I want to go full time and just get it over with. But on the other hand, I am 24 years old and have no real work history. So my dilemma is if I should enroll part time for the BSN while working or if I should enroll full time for my BSN while either not working or working part time (if anyone even hires new grads part time). What do you guys think? Is it seen as "lazy" if you get your BSN immediately after your ADN on a full time basis? There's also the issue of skills declining because I'm not working and BSN programs don't have you practice skills. So I'm afraid of being considered a "stale grad" if I don't find a job right away.

Any input from former ADN grads? What do you think?

Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
Any input from former ADN grads? What do you think?

I would definitely try to work as an RN part time while working on your BSN. Try home health and LTC.

I got an ADN so I could start working right away and have my employer pay for my RN-BSN. So far, so good.

Speaking of home health in LTC, every single one of my classmates has landed job offers when they shift their focus away from hospitals. We graduated in May.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Just curious - why did you bother getting your ADN? Why not just go straight for your BSN if you didn't get it to work while you work toward the BSN? Not trying to be rude at all, this just doesn't make much sense to me, and might not make sense to your future employer either.

Spending $50,000 less on the same degree actually does make some sense, I wouldn't worry about your future employer thinking you are dumb for doing so.

If you can get a job now in this market, take it, you'll have to pay some dues to get experience initially with or without a BSN. Plus, many employers will pay part if not all of your ADN to BSN tuition. You may also find you get more out of the ADN to BSN program if you have some experience under your belt, depending on what was covered in your ADN program.

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.
Most RN to BSN programs don't have a clinical component. How would places be able to offer an online RN to BSN program if there were clinicals? The exception are those that have like a 45 hour volunteer component.

When I was in my BSN program the ADN RNs who came in to get their degrees did clinical with us. We did most of our clinical in the last year including nights, evenings as well as taking multiple patient load. I don't believe that any BSN program would exclude that important aspect of learning.

Even with the online programs you have to find a place to do your clinical.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
When I was in my BSN program the ADN RNs who came in to get their degrees did clinical with us. We did most of our clinical in the last year including nights, evenings as well as taking multiple patient load. I don't believe that any BSN program would exclude that important aspect of learning.

Even with the online programs you have to find a place to do your clinical.

You don't have to believe it, but it's true. Did you do an RN to BSN completion or just straight BSN? My completion program does not include bedside clinicals. I chose it precisely for that reason; I didn't see the sense in spending time doing basically what I'm doing at work. Not all online programs require a traditional clinical component.

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Specializes in AGNP.

I graduated from an ADN program and got a job right away then had my employer pay for my RN-BSN program. I agree that you may lose some skills since RN-BSN programs include very little, if any, clinical component. My program through the University of Michigan just included a leadership and a community health clinical. Thanks to my employers tuition reimbursement program I paid little of the cost of my BSN.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
Oh my goodness - take one of the offers! Hospital jobs are hard to come by for new grads, and since acute care experience is the best and pays the most, you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity. If you turn them down to ONLY do RN-BSN, you might never get a hospital job afterwards. Enroll in the RN-BSN and do it part time while you work at the hospital, then up the number of credits per semester to full time if you feel you can handle it eventually.

I repeat- it would be a huge mistake to turn down an acute care job as a new grad!

EXACTLY what I was going to write!

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I think in this economy there are going to be many ADN grads that will enter a BSN program when they fail to find employment. I think there will be many in the same boat. However, I think that if you CAN get a job you definitely should, at least part time.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
The thing is I really hate the areas where the jobs are. One is very rural, about an hour from a small city and about 5 hours from anywhere substantial. I won't know anybody there. :/

Where is the other one?

Don't worry about not knowing anyone...my first time travel nursing, I was so nervous that I had to pull over on the side of the road to barf. I had the same concerns-wouldn't know anyone, a completely different environment, had no idea where to go for downtime (other than sitting in my apt and watching old reruns of MASH-and c'mon...how many outfits does Klinger REALLY have?!?), and I was worried that I wouldn't fit in. Well lemme tell ya, I should have just saved my stomach lining. As soon as I got to the unit, the people were super nice, the NM was welcoming, and the docs were great. I was surprised how well I was accepted, and I still only have good memories of that hospital.

Nobody is exactly comfortable in a new environment, but the experience of finding your own 'groove' and the liberation that you feel from being autonomous may surprise you. It was a growing experience for me, and I surprised myself.

I would go for the BSN online after you secure a job. If the hospital has a program in which they offer tuition reimbursement, you can cash in on that.

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Try home health and LTC.

I would take the hospital job regardless of the commute or location you don't like. You don't want to do home health or LTC if you don't have to. Hospital experience is the best kind of experience, with the best pay. Why be lower paid passing medications to 50 residents and putting your license on the line, or a somewhat different but probably just as undesirable situation fending for yourself in home health? Hospital experience is the holy grail, don't pass it up just because of location or commute.

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As adn nurse of 2010 And finishing her bsn this August I say take the job. In your area you may be lucky to get offers or they really see something great in you. Most big hospitals now wont bother with adns at least in CA and other places prefer bsn. I started part time after graduating last year doing flu clinics. It was the only job i could find. I would have taken a full time if i could get it. Most of the new grads i work with were bsn. During the year we were all still applying for full time and they were getting interviews in hospitals but not me. Most ended up getting jobs in hospitals even though they had to move. I applied to easily over 100 Jobs. Anything i applied LTC, clinics home health, hospitals. I even applied out of state. I lost count after awhile. Most places didn't want my degree but would at least interview my collegues with bsn and the same experience. Finally now after a year and working two jobs and full time at my bsn I have a great new grad job but I am very lucky. I don't mean to scare you but if you have a hospital job take it wherever it is. Bsn can wait.

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Just go for it. It wouldn't be any different if you would have gone into a BSN program to begin with. You are still in student mode and that's important.

As far as your skills going sour ... you do clinical in the BSN program also so you won't suffer there. ?Who told you BSN program doesn't do clinical? Is that a joke?

You are smart to get the BSN now because many new regulations per state and then national will be coming down the pike that will affect you due to you're so young.

Enjoy school while you can.

I didn't do clinicals in my RN to BSN program. Well, except for community health. It was pretty much expected that we worked during the program, because we drew on our work experiences for classroom projects and discussions. But no, we didn't repeat clinicals already done in the ADN program.

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I would take the hospital job regardless of the commute or location you don't like. You don't want to do home health or LTC if you don't have to. Hospital experience is the best kind of experience, with the best pay. Why be lower paid passing medications to 50 residents and putting your license on the line, or a somewhat different but probably just as undesirable situation fending for yourself in home health? Hospital experience is the holy grail, don't pass it up just because of location or commute.

I swear, I am so sick of hospital nursing as the end all be all. Do you have experience to back this statement up? Even hospitals have undesirable situations. And yes, your license can be on the line anywhere. You portrayed 2 common nursing settings in nothing but a negative light. I do private duty and I'm kind of insulted by your attitude of superiority. All nursing settings and roles are important. One isn't better than the other. I say that there is a fit for every nurse and it does not always have to be a hospital.

To OP: take one of those jobs and keep your skills current. You can always pursue the BSN while working. Those 3 letters behind your name will mean more with experience to back it up.

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