Enrolling in online RN to BSN after NCLEX: Should I work?

PG2018 · Jun 19, 2015

Get the BSN and work full-time during the process.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2015

ADN with a job > BSN with no job.

Most places (around here at least) pay no different between an Associates and a Bachelors for new grads. The BSN will help you in a few years when your wanting to move up.

This is all based on if where you want to work even hires new grads with an Associates degree.

My plan has been get my ASN (done), get a year or so experience, focusing on learning to be a nurse (done), then enrolling in a RN-BSN (in process of doing now). I have so far had no negatives of not having my BSN, but know if I want to advance into management in a few more years, I need my BSN.

automotiveRN67 · Jun 19, 2015

Personally, I have never looked at when a nurse became licensed as relevant to the decision to hire.

If you choose to go straight to BSN before working, I would look at you this way.

1) Did you have the means, and wanted the higher degree for personal reasons? Good

2) Were you afraid to start, and thought the higher degree would help overcome the fear? BAD

3) If you had the means, and went for the higher degree as a statement, are you really going to be committed to being a nurse? Maybe you have a spouse who makes a lot of money, and nursing is kind of a hobby for you? Will you start, then quit because you really don't have to work in the first place. BAD

4) Are you wanting to move from college straight to management? I know a nurse right now who did just that. Never laid hands on a patient, but wanted an administrative nursing role. She is excellent at this, and makes no excuse for it. Good, but only if you are applying for the right job.

5) Did you work in a low-paying job while you continued your BSN. This is really bad. I would have the sense you wouldn't cut it as a nurse, and wouldn't consider you.

6) Did you maintain a current, respectable, non-nursing job while you continued on. I'm ok with this. Stability is very important during education.

How you present in your interview, and how your story presents, makes all the difference.

maxthecat · Jun 19, 2015

Aside from the issues of employability already discussed, you will find that an on-line BSN program will typically assume you are a working RN and assignments will be based on information you would be expected to gather from that experience.

missy26 · Jun 19, 2015

I started my BSN 2 mths after I passed the NCLEX. I was already looking for jobs but didn't get one until 1 mth after I started theBSN. My program was completely online so I didnt have to travel, but it still took up time. Anyways, RN-BSN is nowhere nearly as stressful as straight RN so you should definitely work. And, once you finish you'll be much more marketable because you'll have experience AND a BSN. So go for it. And if you work 12 hour shifts you will have plenty of time to do schoolwork, or if you don't feel comfortable, work p/t first. If you can't find anything part time, you should still be ok.

fostercatmom, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2015

exactly-- what maxthecat said..you will need experience to answer the questions and get where thay are coming from. i just finished an online BSN at OU, the people who were just out of school seemed to have found it much harder and their answers showed it. Online assumes some experience.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2015

Not working for two years after passing NCLEX usually equates to career suicide, even if the unemployed nurse is pursuing a BSN degree during those years. My advice to the anonymous letter writer is, "DON'T DO IT!"

Redsox07 · Jun 21, 2015

Congratulations on finishing your ADN.

Focus on passing the NCLEX. For me, that was no easy task.

After that, take a week or even a month off and relax. You have come a long way and studied and worked hard.

Seems to me, right now you might be stressed out about getting a job when that really isn't your biggest priority yet.

After you do pass which you will, I would recommend applying to jobs at places you would love to work and for the time being, put off going back to school for your BSN. If you somehow cannot come up with a full time job as an RN, at that time consider the school route. Going back to school will look better on your resume than being out of work for a year.

Where I live (Los Angeles) there are so many jobs that will hire people without the BSN. In times of need, the places that "require" BSN will hire ADN's.

Also, in regards to part time working, I think you're going to find all the interesting part time Nursing Jobs are only going to be for nurses with years of experience anyway.

By the way, after working as a nurse 7 years, I have gone back to school for my BSN (and also MSN) at Western Governors. I believe they required having worked full time with my RN for at least a year or two.

Best of luck, Congrats. You're doing great.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jun 21, 2015

Personally, I have never looked at when a nurse became licensed as relevant to the decision to hire.
If you choose to go straight to BSN before working, I would look at you this way.
1) Did you have the means, and wanted the higher degree for personal reasons? Good
2) Were you afraid to start, and thought the higher degree would help overcome the fear? BAD
3) If you had the means, and went for the higher degree as a statement, are you really going to be committed to being a nurse? Maybe you have a spouse who makes a lot of money, and nursing is kind of a hobby for you? Will you start, then quit because you really don't have to work in the first place. BAD
4) Are you wanting to move from college straight to management? I know a nurse right now who did just that. Never laid hands on a patient, but wanted an administrative nursing role. She is excellent at this, and makes no excuse for it. Good, but only if you are applying for the right job.
5) Did you work in a low-paying job while you continued your BSN. This is really bad. I would have the sense you wouldn't cut it as a nurse, and wouldn't consider you.
6) Did you maintain a current, respectable, non-nursing job while you continued on. I'm ok with this. Stability is very important during education.
How you present in your interview, and how your story presents, makes all the difference.

I have to disagree with some, not all of this. You do realize that it is against the law to ask if someone is married during an interview? For one of the exact reasons you stated. A woman who is married may not have the same dedication to a job that a man would have. If the man is married, he is considered an asset to have because he is stable. A woman, on the other hand, is more focused on the home and kids. Work is a "hobby" to her as you stated. Especially if the man is the breadwinner. That is so backwards. Maybe a woman likes to work. Maybe she likes being a nurse. Both men and women can cook, clean, and take care of the kids. Good partnerships are just that, partnerships. Maybe the woman likes being financially independent on her own. It makes her feel good to contribute to the household. I know I like being able to stand on my own two feet and not have to depend on a man for my money.

Years ago, when I was in retail, I did all of the management hiring for the whole state. I had set up a management trainee program and I taught store managers how to hire good associates to work for them. I've conducted hiring fairs and gone and recruited people already in the field. One of the biggest things is employment stability. No big gaps on employment in the resume. Or people that were considered job jumpers. I agree with the other posters to not wait to find a job. A lot of the skills you learn in nursing school will be forgotten or rusty in 2 years. You can find the right college to do this online. You won't need additional clinical hours so the extra classes will all be theory. Take one at a time while you get your feet wet in nursing. Having a BSN does not automatically equal job after graduation. The ADN with a few years experience will probably be hired over the BSN with no experience unless it's a new grad program.

AJPV · Jun 22, 2015

curriculum.

automotiveRN67 · Jun 25, 2015

I have to disagree with some, not all of this. You do realize that it is against the law to ask if someone is married during an interview? For one of the exact reasons you stated. A woman who is married may not have the same dedication to a job that a man would have. If the man is married, he is considered an asset to have because he is stable. A woman, on the other hand, is more focused on the home and kids. Work is a "hobby" to her as you stated. Especially if the man is the breadwinner. That is so backwards. Maybe a woman likes to work. Maybe she likes being a nurse. Both men and women can cook, clean, and take care of the kids. Good partnerships are just that, partnerships. Maybe the woman likes being financially independent on her own. It makes her feel good to contribute to the household. I know I like being able to stand on my own two feet and not have to depend on a man for my money.
Years ago, when I was in retail, I did all of the management hiring for the whole state. I had set up a management trainee program and I taught store managers how to hire good associates to work for them. I've conducted hiring fairs and gone and recruited people already in the field. One of the biggest things is employment stability. No big gaps on employment in the resume. Or people that were considered job jumpers. I agree with the other posters to not wait to find a job. A lot of the skills you learn in nursing school will be forgotten or rusty in 2 years. You can find the right college to do this online. You won't need additional clinical hours so the extra classes will all be theory. Take one at a time while you get your feet wet in nursing. Having a BSN does not automatically equal job after graduation. The ADN with a few years experience will probably be hired over the BSN with no experience unless it's a new grad program.

I know the law, that is why I would never ask. But nothing stops that person from trying to elaborate. Usually they do. But you want to hire the best person for the job, not to give someone a fair shake in the world. When I am hiring someone, I don't really want to know what their home life is like, unless there are reasons it may interfere with their ability to work. Sometimes, they talk themselves right out the door.