Question for Lonestar RN graduates...

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To any past Lonestar ADN graduates...I am currently pre-nursing within the Lonestar system, taking all of the pre-req's to apply to the program. Ultimately my goal would be to earn my BSN. My question is, to those that have been through and graduated from the ADN program, how hard was it to find a job afterwards? Since I am still about a year away from applying to the program ( I work full-time and doing my pre-req's part-time) I am trying to decide whether it is better to get all of the pre-req's out of the way that Lonestar does not require, but a BSN program would, then apply to the ADN program and go straight to an RN-BSN program after graduation, or, if it's easy enough to find a job in our area with your ADN, I could work, and go back to Lonestar for the BSN pre-req's like English 1302, History, etc. and once those are out of the way then apply to an RN-BSN program. Any thoughts? What would you suggest based on your experience going through the Lonestar program?

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

The only way I recommend going to Lonestar is if you have a hospital job or plan on getting one during school. People who work as techs have job offers lined up. People who don't are jobless unless they know someone on the inside. I'm sure they'll find jobs, but they probably won't be in a hospital.

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The only way I recommend going to Lonestar is if you have a hospital job or plan on getting one during school. People who work as techs have job offers lined up. People who don't are jobless unless they know someone on the inside. I'm sure they'll find jobs, but they probably won't be in a hospital.
That is great advice, thank you...that was something I had been thinking about. Good to know others do this.
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Specializes in Forensic Psych.
That is great advice thank you...that was something I had been thinking about. Good to know others do this.[/quote']

No problem. One more thing I forgot to mention...

People who were already working in hospitals are lining up jobs, but they're having to agree to go back for their BSNs right away as a stipulation. So be ready for that, as well. Graduate in May, start BSN in June!

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I graduated from Lonestar Cy-fair in Dec 2011 and already had a job 1mo before graduation at Methodist willowbrook hospital. I already have a bachelor's degree in something else in addition to my ADN

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Congrats to the PP for having a job lined up - but a Bachelor degree in 'something else' is not sufficient to be hired in hospitals that are seeking BSN grads. Qualifications are based on nursing credentials only - other degrees are irrelevant.

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yes, you can get a job at a hospital here in HOuston with ADN and Bachelor's in something including enlish major. strange as it is. Methodist hired mates of mine like that.

My recommendations, get ALL pre reqs done first (for the BSN) then go thru ADN, then just finish up the RN to BSN program somewhere immediately after getting a job. and yes, have a tech job on a unit helps a lot. it's what i did too. i also worked at an assisted living place PT while in school then moved to hospital after i did a clinical semester there. it looked good on resume!

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Methodist has changed it's requirements from what I was told by the director of nursing recruitment/education. Willowbrook is trying to obtain Magnet status, just as most hospitals are and will not hire someone without a BSN. All of the new grad internships are requiring a BSN. I know some people who have graduated with an ADN and have looked for jobs for 6 months +. My advice would be to finish your prerequisites and then go to a BSN program. It takes the same amount if time to complete and you will have a much better shot at getting a job. While you are in school apply for an externship position at Methodist or MDA. Then you are guaranteed a job when you graduate. If you don't get one of those positions then apply as a PCA. That will help as well. Even if all of your prerequisites aren't completed, apply to a program that allows you to finish them along with your nursing classes, like Chamberlain. They have a BSN program that only takes 3 years without any prerequisites completed. If you have some of them finished it won't even take that long.

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