Nursing Job Outlook

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I will be graduating this coming August with an ADN in nursing. I have a previous Bachelor's degree in Psychology. I currently work as a Patient Care Technician at a magnet facility in Alabama where I have worked on an Adult Psych unit for 2 years and prior to that 2 years on a GI surgery unit. I have plenty of patient care experience. I plan on obtaining my BSN fairly quick, but I am so ready to move out of state and seriously considering the Denver/Boulder area. I am curious since Psych is not highly sought after if I would have any chance at all at obtaining a position in psych?

If anyone has any insight on the likelihood of me being able to obtain a new grad position at a hospital or if it would be smarter to look into standalone mental health hospitals?

Any and all suggestions would be helpful, thanks!

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I think will be difficult for you to land an acute care job without your BSN. Some Centura hospitals hire them though. There are a few Psych hospitals that are friendly to hiring new grads. Make sure you have a job in place before moving, rent and cost of living is very expensive here.

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I am not looking for an acute care position, like ICU, if that is what you meant. I am simply interested in working on a psych unit at a hospital, a psych only facility or even a community health center that focuses on mental health. I noticed on another thread, that an ADN in Colorado works at a LTC facility, I would possibly consider that as well but I prefer to stick in mental health arena.

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You could look into Highlands Behavioral Health.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Are you interested in relocating to a different state? My community has a HUGE shortage of nurses.

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What area do you live in?

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I was looking at them, and Centennial Health.. they said on job posting that ADN's & new grads welcome. I wouldn't mind either since I plan on getting my BSN as quick as possible & then I can hopefully have better chance at getting on at a major hospital.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
What area do you live in?

I assume you're talking to me - I live on the GORGEOUS Oregon coast.

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I assume you're talking to me - I live on the GORGEOUS Oregon coast.

yes, I looked at some psych facilities around the Portland area. It is a beautiful state. Do you know of any facilities in particular that are more willing to hire ADNs?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
yes, I looked at some psych facilities around the Portland area. It is a beautiful state. Do you know of any facilities in particular that are more willing to hire ADNs?

Yes, Bay Area Hospital hires mostly ADNs, simply because it's a small community that doesn't have a university with a BSN program nearby, so most nurses are ADNs.

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Colorado's state Mental Health Hospital is in Pueblo Colorado and they hire ADN's. And they are always looking for people. I work in the UCHealth system and I know that their new grad program hires ADNs provided they sign a contract saying they will get their BSN within 3 years. On a side note the UCHealth new grad program is extremely competitive so it will difficult to secure a position with them. The Centura health care system also has stand alone psych facilities and they hire ADNs, I believe you have to sign a contract with them requiring you to get a BSN within a certain time frame.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I work in the UCHealth system and I know that their new grad program hires ADNs provided they sign a contract saying they will get their BSN within 3 years.

That has changed. When I started there in 2010 (back when they were just UCH) they required all new nurses in their new grad program to have their BSN.

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