Picking the right school to get hired in the future

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2013

I am in a little bit of a dilemma. A quick background on me: I have a past 4yr in Psych and currently just went back to get my RN, as this is my passion! I am going the 2 yr route as I do not want to stack up anymore student loans then I already have. However, I am stuck between two schools...they both have good NCLEX pass rates and both accredited. Here is my dilemma though..I have heard that one schools grads get hired much more readily then the others, but their programs teaching style is much more "independent" where the others is much more "interactive"...much more suited for my learning style. I want to be the best possible nurse, however I also want to be a strong candidate to hire. Do hospitals really take where you went to school into account, or do they look more so at grades and NCLEX results??

I've never had any job consider my grades when I was applying. I went to a very well known and well respected school and, yes, I would say they consider it. NCLEX results are pass/fail and there's only one result that a potential employer will consider, since you are not a nurse if you fail NCLEX.

loriangel14, RN · Oct 30, 2013

Employers don't have access to your grades. Mostly all they care about is if you passed the NCLEX.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2013

Depends on the hospital. My hospital required my official transcript as part of my interview process, although I don't believe any of my grades played a part in the process. Your best get is to go to a school closely affiliated with a university hospital, and they tend to hire their own much more readily. You should actually go for an accelerated BSN program, it's one year and will be cheaper in the long run considering you will be working at a job sooner.

Mewsin · Oct 30, 2013

In our area it matters where you go to school. I have been told my many people in our health region that our grads come out very well prepared and are hired first. The grades don't matter.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2013

I'd say that it is part of a bigger picture. I don't think I've heard anyone say that was the make it or break it point. There is a large combination of factors such as you do have references in the company, previous work experience, if you worked internally, what classes you did, any extra certs you have, etc. Just what school you went to is not going to be the deciding factor.

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · Oct 30, 2013

In my opinion of having at a LOT of jobs in my short time, it is almost always a combination of who you know, interviewing skills and persistence. As long as you go to a school that is respected, you can network and work hard and you will find a job!

Dressagern · Oct 30, 2013

I looked into a excelerated BSN program, but it would require me to take out a good deal of student loans again..I have heard that many hospitals will consider me a BSN as I have a BA in Psych from my past 4 yr school...so I was just planing on getting my RN then move onto my masters...am I going about that wrong??

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2013

I looked into a excelerated BSN program, but it would require me to take out a good deal of student loans again..I have heard that many hospitals will consider me a BSN as I have a BA in Psych from my past 4 yr school...so I was just planing on getting my RN then move onto my masters...am I going about that wrong??

BA + ADN does not equal BSN. Whoever told you that is misinformed.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2013

I looked into a excelerated BSN program but it would require me to take out a good deal of student loans again..I have heard that many hospitals will consider me a BSN as I have a BA in Psych from my past 4 yr school...so I was just planing on getting my RN then move onto my masters...am I going about that wrong??[/quote'] Yes you are. Having a BSN is NOT the equivalent of having a BA in psych and an ADN, And no hospital I know will consider it the same either. Hospitals trying to achieve or maintain Magnet status require nurses to have a BSN, and there is coursework that you would not have taken as an ADN student than only BSN students do that prepare nurses for management opportunities. Given that more nurses are getting their BSN now, they will get chosen over the BA/ADN. Prior bachelors before nursing school matters nothing in the employment process. Trust me, you are better off doing an 'accelerated' BSN. It is one year of your life and you are working faster than if you did two years for an ADN. This is not to say that ADN nurses are lesser quality, because they are not (I have learned from many excellent ADNs) ... but your job prospects in 2013 and seemingly going forward are overall reduced without the actual BSN.

Stephalump · Oct 30, 2013

I looked into a excelerated BSN program but it would require me to take out a good deal of student loans again..I have heard that many hospitals will consider me a BSN as I have a BA in Psych from my past 4 yr school...so I was just planing on getting my RN then move onto my masters...am I going about that wrong??[/quote']
Absolutely no one will do that. ADN + non-related BSN = ADN.
My employer liked that I have my degree in psych (looooots of psych in nursing!) but it in no way circumvents my requirement to get an actual BSN

HelloWish, ADN, BSN · Oct 30, 2013

I chose an ADN program that has clinical locations in my local area so I that I can network but also find out which hospitals I like best. I figured it is a foot in the door where I can hopefully work while obtaining my BSN.

So, if one of the programs you are considering has clinical locations in hospitals where you may one day work, I would consider that option. After your first semester as an RN student you can apply to work as a CNA at the hospital where you hope to gain employment as an RN