Richmond job market with Associates (RN)

[Hmfog]

Curious if any of you can give some insight into the job market for new grad RNs with an associates degree. An associates degree is the only route I can go financially. I am a career switcher with three young children, so a lot of our financial resources must go to daycare, leaving less available for the higher tuition of BSN programs, even with student loans.

I have a B.A. in Religious Studies and Masters in Teaching from my former career, and I will have all of my pre-reqs for the RN-BSN programs upon graduation, if that makes a difference (statistics, nutrition, microbiology, etc.).

[EarthyRN]

I think you will still have plenty of job options, but know that you will be required to go for your bachelor's within a certain amount of time, and will have to sign an agreement to that effect when you accept a job--this is all assuming you take your first job in a hospital. The good news is that they will pay for it. The bad news is that you aren't going to be done with school quite yet. I've worked at two different Richmond hospitals in the past year, and both have nurses with associates, who are being strongly encouraged to go back to school. If you can get through nursing school with 3 kids, you can definitely handle the BSN courses part time while working.

[NicholasMann]

@earthyRN who in the area will pay for you to go back to get a BSN?

[Aishaj]

????..