PA NURSES: What is the job market like for RNs with ADNs?

PedsPrettyPlease · Apr 15, 2009

I'm not sure what you mean if its worth your time. Do you mean as opposed to LPN? Or just in general? What do you do now?

Ling07 · Apr 16, 2009

I'm not sure what you mean if its worth your time. Do you mean as opposed to LPN? Or just in general? What do you do now?

I meant will I be able to get a job with an associates. I've been going to school off and on for 10 years and I'm ready to do one more thing and settle for a while. So I was wondering would I be able to get a job with an associates.

PedsPrettyPlease · Apr 16, 2009

As a fairly new grad myself (5/08), I don't know how much worthwhile advice I can give, know what I mean? It took me awhile to find a position. But I really believe that is more a result of the entire economic situation, and not because of someone having an ADN or BSN or certificate.

Things are rough all around these days.

Ling07 · Apr 16, 2009

As a fairly new grad myself (5/08), I don't know how much worthwhile advice I can give, know what I mean? It took me awhile to find a position. But I really believe that is more a result of the entire economic situation, and not because of someone having an ADN or BSN or certificate.
Things are rough all around these days.

Do you have a BSN or ADN?

mochabean · Apr 16, 2009

It's economic as well as regional. If nursing is something you truly want to do, you should just go for your ADN instead of LPN. I don't have any advice either.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Apr 19, 2009

Noticed things have definitely tightened up since the beginning of the year. Job searches, per acquaintances, are taking significantly longer.

Seems that many facilities are no longer hiring, and even cutting staff. Moreover, percentage increases for annual reviews have also been lowered.

Until the economy improves, me thinks we're in for a considerable slowdown.

May be wise to evaluate all your options at this time.

Good luck!

jpRN84, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2009

I got my ASN in May 2006, I got a job right away. But now, with the economy, Nurses are having trouble finding a job with no matter what degree they have. If you want a masters degree, go for the BSN right away, I want my masters degree, but I wanted to be an RN more, and the only program that I could get into at the time was an ASN, so I went for that. Now, in my case, since I am still wanting my masters degree, I'm going to pursue either a RN-BSN program, or a RN-MSN program, I hear its cheaper to go RN-BSN program, then apply for a masters degree, instead of going right for an RN-MSN program. Just some thoughts. Good luck with your endeavours!

oramar · Apr 22, 2009

I will be reading the replies to this thread with interest. There was a time when I thought I knew the answer to this particular question. Things are pretty crazy right now. This tight job market, especially for new grads came up quite suddenly. I was expecting and did predict at least one more tight job market before the big nurse shortage caused by demographics shows up in a few years. I still expect that to happen. However, it the short term I can only throw up my hands and say "I don't know, that is a good question".

AtomicWoman · May 10, 2009

As others have said, it's a really tight job market right now, regardless of whether you have an ASN or BSN.

One of the big hospital systems in Philly, the University of Pennsylvania, now only hires BSNs. I think they made that change when they became a Magnet hospital. Thomas Jefferson just got their Magnet status a few weeks ago, so I'm betting that in the future they will be giving preference to BSNs (I could be wrong). But right now, they aren't hiring ANYONE, so it doesn't matter. It's pretty weird to go to the nursing jobs website of a big university hospital and see NO jobs listed.

Crux1024 · May 11, 2009

Im graduating with an ASN on Friday (WOOOO!!) and was able to get a job as a GN..but barely. Its not ADN/ASN or BSN anymore, its hiring nurses period. There are no hospitals taking in large numbers of nurses. A lot of the job postings I see are internally posted and theyre trying to just hire from within. I guess that somehow cuts down on the cost of training. But otherwise, its a tough market all around.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · May 16, 2009

2nd AtomicWoman- the U Penn system only hires BSNs, but AFAIK in fairer economic times ADN vs BSN is still not that much of an issue in Philly.

There are a lot of things to consider between the two: ADNs are frequently much less expensive, and unless you can do an accelerated BSN, they'll likely be shorter than a traditional BSN (depending on your previous credits and what may transfer). If you want to get a BSN eventually, hospitals often will help with the cost if you are a nurse with them (although that may change with the current economy).

A BSN will allow you to apply for those hospitals around the country that are only hiring BSNs (off the top of my head I think John's Hopkins is also BSN only) so it might increase the pool of places you can apply to slightly. If you're interested in military programs, I know to enter the Navy nursecorps as an officer you need a BSN. If you want to go on to advanced practice, it might be faster overall to do a BSN. If you already have a Bachelor's degree, an accelerated BSN will be quicker than an ASN (but possibly more expensive).

Being in school longer right now might make sense in terms of temporary shelter from the economy- you might end up riding out the worst of the economy. Getting out sooner though could mean working as a nurse sooner even allowing for time to find a job....

It was a hard decision for me personally (my options were a 1 year BSN for $35K or a 2 year ASN for $5K total), I'm not convinced I made the economically smart choice, (I went with the $$$ BSN), I'm hoping that having a BSN will give me a slight advantage over ASNs in this economy, but who knows at this point.