ADN vs. BSN in Boston

U.S.A. Massachusetts

Published

Hi there - I have gotten into an associate's program and a direct entry BSN/MS program (I already have a non-nursing bachelor's and am 28 years old). I know in the long run the BSN/MS would be better but that program is WAY more expensive than the ADN. I am wondering how the job market is in the Boston area for ADN vs. BSN graduates, and if anyone has any words of wisdom about the liklihood of obtaining a hospital job with an ADN? Both programs are highly regarded but I am worried about making the wrong decision and either having trouble finding a job (if I go for the ADN) or having trouble paying off massive loans (if I go for the BSN/MS). Advice please?!?

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
SKay226, don't worry so much about which degree you get. Like you, I also have a prior BA in a non-nursing field. I spent a lot of time (and wasted money) applying to BSN programs and never got accepted. Now I'm in an ADN/ASN program and I love it! I can honestly tell you from all of the research I've done on hospitals, there are many out there that will hire ADN graduates. I've spoken to some HR reps and nurse managers, as well as my clinical professor, and they all say the same thing: as long as you work at a particular hospital as an CNA or have a very nice friend or even leave your resume with a nurse on the unit you had your clinical, you will have a greater chance of getting hired. Some hospitals will even help to pay for your next degree.

I hope this helps!

You got sold on some information that in the metro area isn't really the truth. You may have a "greater chance" than someone off the street but that is a 1% is greater than 0% chance.

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Specializes in Pedi.
SKay226, don't worry so much about which degree you get. Like you, I also have a prior BA in a non-nursing field. I spent a lot of time (and wasted money) applying to BSN programs and never got accepted. Now I'm in an ADN/ASN program and I love it! I can honestly tell you from all of the research I've done on hospitals, there are many out there that will hire ADN graduates. I've spoken to some HR reps and nurse managers, as well as my clinical professor, and they all say the same thing: as long as you work at a particular hospital as an CNA or have a very nice friend or even leave your resume with a nurse on the unit you had your clinical, you will have a greater chance of getting hired. Some hospitals will even help to pay for your next degree.

I hope this helps!

What hospitals are these? Because for the big Boston hospitals that most new grads desire (BIDMC, BWH, MGH, BMC, Tufts) it's absolutely untrue. There are ample BSN programs in the city and since the hospitals have new grads lining up for them, they can afford to be picky.

Specializes in Psych; Med/Surg.

BostonFNP and KelRN215: I have had several job offers in many Boston area hospitals, of which I chose to decline due to schooling and scheduling conflicts (they were willing to hire me with my eventual ADN regardless). Also, I have many high school and college friends who have their ADNs who work at the aforementioned, as well as the unnamed Boston area hospitals. You have to do a lot of research and talk to a lot of people to get the information I've obtained (years of research). Not to mention metro area hospitals hold job fairs on the campus of my community college to recruit student nurses and always go on to hire them. Community college nursing programs work hard to make connections with Boston hospitals to help their students gain job experience and eventual placement. My community college alone has partnerships with 3 magnet hospitals to get students hired (and they are continuing to add more hospitals each year).

What a lot of students have to realize is that these magnet hospitals will never publicly advertise that they hire ADNs; everyone knows that a hospital appears to look better if only BSNs, MSNs and the like are hired by the HR staff and nursing manager.

Many individuals like yourselves have told me that hospitals don't hire ADNs. For a time I listened and believed, but because I didn't try to seek out the information on my own I would've stayed hopeless. The information I attained not only gives me hope, but gives my friends and classmates hope that they can get great jobs without having to wait to obtain a BSN in the process. Many other states in this country hire ADNs in their respective hospitals, why can't Massachusetts do the same? (Being known as a 'medical mecca' of the U.S. should not be a valid excuse either.)

Specializes in Health Education.

It's either end up with a higher paying job in a big hospital (not even guaranteed ALL new grads have trouble getting hired in Boston) and having exorbitant loan payments every month or coming out debt free. I have connections where I work and will come out of this ASN with two more years experience at my current job and many, many connections.

If I go the BSN route I will end up with about 150 in debt total...and that is plain old stupid. I also will have a harder time working and paying other bills. The pros far outweigh the cons. If my final BSN school wants to give me a scholarship then awesome...I'll go for it. But that is a 1 in 100 shot.

I also don't exactly plan on living right in the city for the rest of my life. I'm only in my early 20s and have lots of time! I do understand that I may not get a "dream" job or even end up in a hospital. That's okay, you go where you can, do your best, and in the end leave with experience!

Specializes in Health Education.

LizBee...I've also wasted some money applying and even putting a deposit down on BSN programs. Glad to see a positive outlook from the other side!

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
BostonFNP and KelRN215: I have had several job offers in many Boston area hospitals, of which I chose to decline due to schooling and scheduling conflicts (they were willing to hire me with my eventual ADN regardless). Also, I have many high school and college friends who have their ADNs who work at the aforementioned, as well as the unnamed Boston area hospitals. You have to do a lot of research and talk to a lot of people to get the information I've obtained (years of research). Not to mention metro area hospitals hold job fairs on the campus of my community college to recruit student nurses and always go on to hire them. Community college nursing programs work hard to make connections with Boston hospitals to help their students gain job experience and eventual placement. My community college alone has partnerships with 3 magnet hospitals to get students hired (and they are continuing to add more hospitals each year).

What a lot of students have to realize is that these magnet hospitals will never publicly advertise that they hire ADNs; everyone knows that a hospital appears to look better if only BSNs, MSNs and the like are hired by the HR staff and nursing manager.

Many individuals like yourselves have told me that hospitals don't hire ADNs. For a time I listened and believed, but because I didn't try to seek out the information on my own I would've stayed hopeless. The information I attained not only gives me hope, but gives my friends and classmates hope that they can get great jobs without having to wait to obtain a BSN in the process. Many other states in this country hire ADNs in their respective hospitals, why can't Massachusetts do the same? (Being known as a 'medical mecca' of the U.S. should not be a valid excuse either.)

You were offered an RN job by several major Boston hospitals pending your graduation from an ADN program? I find that very difficult to believe, it would truly be a unique situation. Or do you mean you were offered a CNA job at one of these institutions?

I am sure you have researched the heck out of it, but in brutal honesty, it just simply isn't the case. These big metro hospitals may hire very experienced ADNs if they are the ideal candidate, but for the new-grad ADN-RN it is going to be a very bleak job market trying to get hired at these hospitals. Very few new-grads are hired, regardless of degree. If you have friends that are ADNs working in these hospitals they either are very lucky or they got jobs during the true RN shortage. The current job market is incredibly competitive.

There are lots of reasons Boston hospitals prefer to hire BSN/MSN/PhD/DNP RNs. Magnet status, the BSN outcomes data, a saturated job and highly specialized market, etc.

Specializes in Pedi.
BostonFNP and KelRN215: I have had several job offers in many Boston area hospitals, of which I chose to decline due to schooling and scheduling conflicts (they were willing to hire me with my eventual ADN regardless).

They were willing to hire you as what? As a CNA? That's not surprising, most hospitals will hire anyone with a pulse and basic English literacy into a CNA role and hiring students (who haven't actually taken a CNA course) means they can pay them less.

"Boston area" is very broad. I don't read that and see "major metropolitan teaching hospital" but think that this description probably includes places like the soon-to-be-closed Quincy Medical Center, Carney Hospital, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, etc.

Also, I have many high school and college friends who have their ADNs who work at the aforementioned, as well as the unnamed Boston area hospitals. You have to do a lot of research and talk to a lot of people to get the information I've obtained (years of research). Not to mention metro area hospitals hold job fairs on the campus of my community college to recruit student nurses and always go on to hire them. Community college nursing programs work hard to make connections with Boston hospitals to help their students gain job experience and eventual placement. My community college alone has partnerships with 3 magnet hospitals to get students hired (and they are continuing to add more hospitals each year).

How long have your friends been nurses for? I worked with several ADN nurses at one of the large Boston teaching hospitals but they were all hired WAY BEFORE the BSN only craze started. In 5 years working in this hospital, I never once saw Community College groups welcomed in for clinical whereas we had BSN students on the floor every single day, some times day and evening groups. I also never saw an ADN new grad hired in those years. When Mass General posts for their new grad opportunities, they post a disclaimer "for BSN new grads only. If you have an ADN, please find work elsewhere first."

What a lot of students have to realize is that these magnet hospitals will never publicly advertise that they hire ADNs; everyone knows that a hospital appears to look better if only BSNs, MSNs and the like are hired by the HR staff and nursing manager.

Many individuals like yourselves have told me that hospitals don't hire ADNs. For a time I listened and believed, but because I didn't try to seek out the information on my own I would've stayed hopeless. The information I attained not only gives me hope, but gives my friends and classmates hope that they can get great jobs without having to wait to obtain a BSN in the process. Many other states in this country hire ADNs in their respective hospitals, why can't Massachusetts do the same? (Being known as a 'medical mecca' of the U.S. should not be a valid excuse either.)

Neither one of us said "hospitals don't hire ADN prepared nurses." We said don't expect to have an easy time finding a job at a metro Boston academic medical center as an ADN new grad. Plenty of hospitals hire ADNs. Hospitals in Idaho probably hire them all the time. As do some of the smaller hospitals in Massachusetts and Boston. I'm sure Carney Hospital (Dorchester) probably hires plenty of ADN new grads. Being in a less-than-desired area of the city and part of the devil incarnate system Steward Healthcare they can't afford to be as picky as a hospital like MGH or the Brigham could. Faulkner Hospital has gotten more picky since it branded itself "Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital". Same with Milton Hospital and Needham- both are now called "Beth Israel".

As to your last line, hospitals in Massachusetts CAN hire ADNs- there is no law saying that they can't. The bigger ones choose not to. They have BSN new grads lined up down the street and they can afford to be choosey. And, as BostonFNP points out, they may be partial to the data, being academic medical centers and fans of evidenced based practice: JAMA Network | JAMA | Educational Levels of Hospital Nurses and Surgical Patient Mortality

Specializes in Psych; Med/Surg.

First off, I would like to say that I hope my posts have not offended anyone, be they reader or responder. It was never my intention to write my posts in that manner and I hope they have not been read in that way either.

Second of all, I can understand the curiosity behind the hospitals that I have or have not mentioned. This is more out of privacy and courtesy to said hospitals, as this is a public forum and I will not post the names of these health care institutions in such an outward and open way. If you wish to discuss the matter further with me, I would be more than happy to do so via PM.

Thirdly and lastly, I find it hard to have a discussion in regards to the job outlook for ADN/ASN graduates. The way I am interpreting and internalizing this discussion makes me feel as though I am being ganged up on (again, this is how I am reading into this even though I know it is not anyone's personal intention). I have no qualms with the honesty and the realism you are trying to impart to me; however, I feel that this discussion will not continue on in that manner, nor will it be as respectful. I do not wish to say anything that may offend someone or hurt another poster's feelings; I also feel as though this could turn into an argument which is not something I wish to do. My goal has and always will be to give information and provide that 'light at the end of the tunnel' for anyone needing information or some sliver of hope.

Again, I do apologize if anything I have said has offended anyone. Thank you again for all of your input as I do appreciate it (just like everything else I read on this website).

Wow lizbee. You are pretty lucky if you were able to land a job as an adn. I'm a bsn degree nurse with 3 yrs critical care experience and had a hard time landing a job in Boston. I finally landed one after 3 Months buy I'll be honest - I sent over 100 applications and only landed one interview- and I'm experienced with my ccrn certification. So I can only imagine how hard it is out there for new grads let alone adns. I know in texas, all hospitals stopped hiring adns because of trying to achieve magnet status. I hear the same is true here. best of luck to u!

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
BostonFNP and KelRN215: I have had several job offers in many Boston area hospitals, of which I chose to decline due to schooling and scheduling conflicts (they were willing to hire me with my eventual ADN regardless).

My community college alone has partnerships with 3 magnet hospitals to get students hired (and they are continuing to add more hospitals each year).

Many individuals like yourselves have told me that hospitals don't hire ADNs.

Many other states in this country hire ADNs in their respective hospitals, why can't Massachusetts do the same? (Being known as a 'medical mecca' of the U.S. should not be a valid excuse either.)

So to be clear, you have several RN job offers pending your graduation from your ADN program from major Boston hospitals?

Have you asked your community college what percentage of new graduates from your program are hired directly into these magnet hospitals?

The major Boston hospitals do hire some ADNs; they hire very few novice ADNs. Are their some that get hired? Sure, but they are the exception to the rule. In all honesty, they don't hire many novice BSNs or MSNs either.

There are lots of reasons. The biggest being that there is a surplus of RNs looking for the high-paying jobs at some of the world's best hospitals so employers can be picky.

Sent from my iPhone.

Specializes in OMFS, Dentistry.

BostonFNP: In rereading Lizbee2010's post I think she meant CNA offers. If she meant RN then I agree, she definitely got sold up the river on those offers. She is only in her first semester at Roxbury CC.

Lizbee2010: I in no way mean any disrespect in writing this post. I am also just finishing up my first semester in an ASN program and we were told from the get-go that if we want to work at one of the Boston hospitals (which is pretty much everyone's dream) that we have a long way to go. More schooling and experience is a must. I just don't see RCC giving such false hope, and if they do... shame on them! Good luck though, I do hope that you end up where you want to be. :blink:

Specializes in Operating Room.

It's true. It is almost impossible to get hired as a new ADN in a Boston hospital. It can be hard to get in there as an experienced ADN. I did a traveling job in Boston and they really wanted to hire me permanently in the OR but HR shut that down once they found out I didn't have the BSN yet. I am in classes for it but that didn't matter. This was at a Partners hospital.

There are still some that will hire experienced ADNs though. I just accepted a job. I think my experience coupled with the fact that I will have my BSN within the next year and a half helped.

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