RN-BSN right after ADN

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 28, 2010

i started working on knocking out pre-reqs and co-reqs for the bsn program prior to acceptance into my adn program. i applied and was officially accepted into my rn-bsn program during my 3rd semester. thus, i did not have a license and i was not finished with my adn program at the time of acceptance.

of course, my bsn program needed special permission from my adn advisor and nursing school director for me to start taking classes. in fact, i was not the only adn student to start early… my school allows a few good students during the second year of the adn program to attend (start) the bsn program early. we did not take courses that required a nursing license and we were only allowed to take courses during our summer break. therefore, after we were finished with pre-reqs and co-reqs, we took the beginning nursing courses that were open to every nursing student. upon graduation with my adn i worked ft as a nurse and attended school pt to complete my bsn. gl!

peachy11 · Dec 28, 2010

Congratulations on graduating! Thank you!

Jules A, MSN · Dec 28, 2010

Do you have any contacts where you have done clinicals? That might be a good way to get started as a tech. Good luck!

canigraduate · Dec 28, 2010

The best way to get a tech job is to know someone who can recommend you to a specific unit manager or to move up through an attached LTC facility.

I worked as a CNA before NS, so didn't have to worry about it. Some of the students in my class have gotten tech jobs on units where we have had clinicals through recommendations from the nurses they worked with.

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Dec 28, 2010

Hello all,
I was thinking experienced nurses might be able to help more than the student board.
I am a nursing student and I will be graduating in December 2011 from an ADN program. (Halfway, yay!)
I really want to get my BSN right away. The program I want to apply to starts in January.
(I know that I need to get my info directly from the school, but they are on vacation for the next week and the website does not mention anything about licensing as far as program requirements and I am really curious)
...My question is...
In your experience, do the RN-BSN programs usually require you to have your license before you apply? Or, do you think it would be possible to apply, graduate in December, take/pass NCLEX to get my license as long as i get my license before RN-BSN classes start in January?
I also had another question while I am here...
My New Year's Resolution is to find a tech job. I put together a decent resume and cover letter. I had it evaluated by my school's career center, so I know it's not terrible. I have put in a bunch of applications, but have not recieved any calls, just automated email denials. How do I go about getting one of these positions? I have tried calling a few hospitals, but the secretaries won't provide contact info/names for the recruiters (and I am veryyy polite) Any advice to help with my goal?
Thanks so much everyone!:heartbeat

You are correct in recognizing that you need to get that info directly from the school. Policies differ among colleges here in the Phila area with some schools requiring the RN license prior to application while others allow you to apply if you will be graduating from an ADN program the semester prior to enrollment in the RN-BSN program. Your acceptance is obviously conditioned upon getting the license.

I received my ADN in May and hope to start an RN-BSN program next Fall. I would have applied earlier but frankly thought I'd be able to find a nursing position as an ADN and then start a 2nd degree MSN bridge program. It was only after I tried to find a nursing position that it became clear to me that the job market for ADN nurses was rather severely limited with many institutions now requiring the BSN as a condition of employment. I wish that I could help you with lining up a hospital tech job but I have not had any success with this either. May seem obvious but you will need to be persistent. Perhaps volunteering at a local hospital or hospice could help - this would at least allow you to build up some contacts.

CBsMommy · Dec 28, 2010

I am also graduating at the same time you are and have also done all of the pre-reqs for my BSN. I have been in contact with my counselor at the college where I will be attending for my BSN and she stated that as long as I've sent in the paperwork to take the NCLEX, I will not need my license to start the nursing courses in Jan. of 2012 so I will flow right into my BSN.

As for the tech jobs, I agree with everyone else that posted. Try and get recommended for a position using the contacts you make at the hospitals where you are doing clinicals at. Good luck!

ougreene · Dec 28, 2010

Yes, I would say most if not ALL BSN requirements need you to have your RN lic. in hand and faxed to the school, before entry into the BSN program. Or at least Grand Canyon Uni. did.

Gail RN BSN

ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2010

I graduated in May and started my BSN program in Aug. I had my licensure, but alot of the new grads in my BSN program still needed to take the boards. The university I go to will take pre-licensure RN's for the first semester, but you HAVE to have your license by the second semester.

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 29, 2010

Yes, you generally need to have your license in order to apply to an RN-BSN program. However, that generally doesn't preclude you from taking some of the courses without having official acceptance into the program.