I am a new grad ADN actively seeking my BSN who is thinking about throwing in the towel. I had plans to acquire my MSN but now don't see a reason. I even took a pay cut and gave up 22 years seniority in another career for nursing. I live in Arizona and have found that with an ADN you are not desirable as a nurse. I have put out over 200 applications and the only thing I could land was my worst nightmare...a SNF.
In this facility I am basically a higher educated med passer who can hang the occasional IV. There is no time to assess patients because you have 20-30 of them and reports are a joke. I am losing my skills with each passing day.
In the last week I've had two interviews for a PCU position with Banner and another one set for today for med-surg but they put a halt to everything and cancelled since I do not have a BSN. Eventhough I am working on it they still refused me because of their magnet status.
So here is the dilemma. I am a new grad working in a place for "experience" where I am losing my skills and cannot get into a new grad program because I do not have a BSN. So by the time I graduate with my BSN in 1.5 years and have lost my skills I do not qualify for the new grad program because I will have had my license for over a year.
Because of this it will take me who knows how many years to acquire two years experience in critical care before I can pursue an MSN in the field I was working towards.
I am currently 45 years old and do not have time for these kinds of delays because of oncoming retirement and the cost of the education.
I feel defeated and betrayed plus I'm starting to dispise the nursing profession. I just don't know if it's worth it. I got into this profession to help people but I do not see anybody getting any real help from my current prospective. Help.
How I remember the days of lucrative positions in the early years of year 2000! Jobs galore, picking and choosing your own way of working but, like everything good thing, it comes to a screeching halt, tables have turned and the acute care facilities are now placing demands on who and what they want in a nurse. It was so evident when I went a job fair. The arrogance and demands oh my!!!!! I have already put about 11 years into my profession and realize the change is here. ADN vs. BSN has started. I received my BSN in 2012 not for the sake of saving my job but to simply move on to advance practice. Though, I am not suggesting everyone do this it is my path that I chose to do because I refuse to let a hospital dictate my career objectives. I think it is really unfair how hospitals place such little value on experienced nurses who do not have a BSN! They must have forgotten who maintain patient safety and taught new grads golden nuggets of wisdom on the floor. Now it is not good enough. I can't help feel that the real motivation for hospitals pressuring BSN on nurses is their destiny in having Magnet status. They want to shine and look good because someone says that BSN nurses are safer more efficient and just better! So everyone will flock to their facility for superior nursing care, really?!? I have seen new grad BSN nurses and they are green lacking the experience and critical thinking that accrues with experience and time not to mention the curriculum is taught slightly different from ADN perspective. I still believe there will be another shortage as the baby-boomer generation starts getting up in age, obesity, and diabetes on the rise, we will need more nurses on the front line. I think hospitals only interests are their own and not the nurses. If you do away with ADN nurses on the floor who will train these BSN nurses? At least make it conducive for nurses to pursue their BSN, help with costs and allow days off to accomplish that magnet status endeavor!!!!!
I worked in a SNF before hospital and I can tell you I learned time management. Yes it was difficult to assess patients but I learned how to prioritize, how to delegate, what to do in an emergency, dressing changes, talking to doctors etc etc. I hated it while I was there but looking back I realize a lot was learned. I say continue getting your bachelors, get into a hospital. Why do you need to go into a new grad program anyway? Once you've had experience in the nursing home and your bachelors degree you should be able to get into a hospital. Continue your education. Why do you need two years experience to go on for your masters? Look into another program .....there are many that don't require two years critical care experience!!
I feel for you. Banner is getting very picky about the BSN and even staff that has worked there for years in a different role have a hard time getting hired with an ADN, even if they are enrolled in a BSN bridge program. I can see how you would feel betrayed because this change in BSN preference/requirement is recent. I agree with the poster that recommended Dignity. They currently prefer BSN but will hire new grads with ADN. Unfortunately, the Phoenix area is saturated with new grads. I agree with Klone, too, about looking in the rural areas. Take what you can until you are finished with your BSN. Time management is something they do not teach in school but is so important, as well as prioritization. Only you can decide if it is worth continuing on. I wish you all the best. :)
I work (on the business side) of a nonprofit which has a large contingent of home-visiting nurses. All the job postings for those are BSN, ADN with a BA/BS, or ADN with 2+ years experience. Seems more than reasonable, and if I can get into an evening ADN class and make it through, I plan on applying there first
My ultimate goal is FNP, I figure if a year or two of being in the trenches is what it takes, well, it's not a lifetime. My first job out of college was slinging 85" TVs around in a warehouse.
^although you have to keep in mind that some hospitals do not consider LTACH experience to be acute care experience.
If they don't, it's out of ignorance and they need to be educated. They are long-term acute care hospitals and are accredited as hospitals.
I worked in one for a year and a half; the floor pts were more acute than the level 1 trauma SDU patients I now occasionally take care of, when my ICU is overstaffed. If they can be on the ventilator and actively trying to wean--not chronically vent dependent, if they can be on vasoactive drips, if they can be on the bedside cardiac monitor, if they can be septic, if they can have central lines (even PA lines at the place Esme12 worked at, if I remember correctly), if the staff can independently run codes and never involve 911........ it's acute care.
What was your previous career and is there any way to get back into it? Why did you leave your last job? When did you start reading All Nurses. If you had been active on here you would see ADN's were having trouble getting jobs, but it really depends where you live. By me some hospitals push BSN, but I know many ADN's who were able to get jobs and are working in the hospital. The problem with nursing is it is so stressful and you don't have time to help others. It is run at an assembly line pace and you are lucky if you are able to even get a real lunch break in many places. If you had read about all the downsides maybe you could have spared yourself the trouble you are in now! Everybody wants to say they love nursing and all the negativity is just venting. The problems are very real and widespread and I don't see them going away! I'm sure many nurses would love to be able to retire or change fields but the bills have to be paid and the family taken care of. Many nurses are single mothers or are supporting other loved ones and can't just quit their jobs.
You have to decide if you want to keep spending money on school to get a BSN or if you want to go back to your old career. Were there problems with your old career? All I can say is I never had it so good before I became a nurse and if I could go back to my old job I would be in heaven. You are literally worked into the ground as a nurse! Your back will most likely be damaged from all the lifting etc. The truth of nursing is so depressing I can't even go on. It's too much to think about. It is sad how many of us have been or will be injured or ending up in chronic pain because the hospitals refused to provide adequate lifting equipment like ceiling lifts and hover mats because it is simply easier to replace us than give a damn! If I were you I would think twice and try to get back to my old career. Surely it can't have been as bad as nursing can be!
If they don't, it's out of ignorance and they need to be educated. They are long-term acute care hospitals and are accredited as hospitals.
I worked in one for a year and a half; the floor pts were more acute than the level 1 trauma SDU patients I now occasionally take care of, when my ICU is overstaffed. If they can be on the ventilator and actively trying to wean--not chronically vent dependent, if they can be on vasoactive drips, if they can be on the bedside cardiac monitor, if they can be septic, if they can have central lines (even PA lines at the place Esme12 worked at, if I remember correctly), if the staff can independently run codes and never involve 911........ it's acute care.
Ah....good luck educating HR. They already have a job, so they don't care! I've run into this many, many times! I have gone to bypassing HR and going directly to the hiring manager. Poor HR is so overloaded (sarcasm). I almost missed out on a job fair....HR said "We're looking for RN's with a year of experience..." 15 months wasn't experience to them. I had to call and tell them, and they looked again at my resume.
I am a new grad ADN actively seeking my BSN who is thinking about throwing in the towel. I had plans to acquire my MSN but now don't see a reason. I even took a pay cut and gave up 22 years seniority in another career for nursing. I live in Arizona and have found that with an ADN you are not desirable as a nurse. I have put out over 200 applications and the only thing I could land was my worst nightmare...a SNF.
In this facility I am basically a higher educated med passer who can hang the occasional IV. There is no time to assess patients because you have 20-30 of them and reports are a joke. I am losing my skills with each passing day.
In the last week I've had two interviews for a PCU position with Banner and another one set for today for med-surg but they put a halt to everything and cancelled since I do not have a BSN. Eventhough I am working on it they still refused me because of their magnet status.
So here is the dilemma. I am a new grad working in a place for "experience" where I am losing my skills and cannot get into a new grad program because I do not have a BSN. So by the time I graduate with my BSN in 1.5 years and have lost my skills I do not qualify for the new grad program because I will have had my license for over a year.
Because of this it will take me who knows how many years to acquire two years experience in critical care before I can pursue an MSN in the field I was working towards.
I am currently 45 years old and do not have time for these kinds of delays because of oncoming retirement and the cost of the education.
I feel defeated and betrayed plus I'm starting to dispise the nursing profession. I just don't know if it's worth it. I got into this profession to help people but I do not see anybody getting any real help from my current prospective. Help.
I am right there with ya, but I hate to tell you.....you won't get very far as a new grad BSN, either. I have had my BSN since 2013 and still can't get into a hospital....always passed over for someone with more experience, and it sucks. My LPN experience doesn't count either, unfortunately.
I'm ready to throw in the towel, too. Hang in there....hopefully you will have better luck!
It seems that really not wanting to ever work in a hospital again simplifies life a great deal.
I know that may not seem very helpful, but remember that there are dozens of ways to be a nurse. I'm becoming a nurse in my 40s too, and will die happy if I never work in a hospital. I worked in one as an aide, and that was enough hell for me.
Not saying I'd never consider it if some kind of amazing opportunity presented itself, but it's not anything I need.
When I worked for a SNF and LTC as a new grad, I actually learned a lot!! I learned time management, all different sorts of meds, and wound dressings... Etc. You won't be "losing your skills" because right now you don't really have any as a new grad RN. Would you rather sit a year unemployed as a new grad in hopes of getting a "acute care" job, or do what most ppl do and take a job in something less desirable until you become more desirable... Remember, to always look at everything as an opportunity to learn and grow from. Every encounter ends, and every encounter matters. Change your attitude, change your life.
I say relocate ... while many facilities are going magnet status there are still many hospitals who do hire ADN nurses and if you tell them you're getting your BSN they are happy about that but will still hire you. So I'd Def look into relocating.
I am a new grad ADN actively seeking my BSN who is thinking about throwing in the towel. I had plans to acquire my MSN but now don't see a reason. I even took a pay cut and gave up 22 years seniority in another career for nursing. I live in Arizona and have found that with an ADN you are not desirable as a nurse. I have put out over 200 applications and the only thing I could land was my worst nightmare...a SNF.
In this facility I am basically a higher educated med passer who can hang the occasional IV. There is no time to assess patients because you have 20-30 of them and reports are a joke. I am losing my skills with each passing day.
In the last week I've had two interviews for a PCU position with Banner and another one set for today for med-surg but they put a halt to everything and cancelled since I do not have a BSN. Eventhough I am working on it they still refused me because of their magnet status.
So here is the dilemma. I am a new grad working in a place for "experience" where I am losing my skills and cannot get into a new grad program because I do not have a BSN. So by the time I graduate with my BSN in 1.5 years and have lost my skills I do not qualify for the new grad program because I will have had my license for over a year.
Because of this it will take me who knows how many years to acquire two years experience in critical care before I can pursue an MSN in the field I was working towards.
I am currently 45 years old and do not have time for these kinds of delays because of oncoming retirement and the cost of the education.
I feel defeated and betrayed plus I'm starting to dispise the nursing profession. I just don't know if it's worth it. I got into this profession to help people but I do not see anybody getting any real help from my current prospective. Help.
I say do what will make you happy and you don't sound too happy doing nursing anymore. Obviously you must have enjoyed your old occupation, so I would just go back that route, or like someone else said get a higher degree in your old profession. Honestly I'm starting LPN school soon and I've been talking to recent grad LPN's at my job who already don't like it. Which sucks and leaves me to wonder what am I getting myself into. I just wish nurses didn't have to feel the way you feel. I'm sure you worked very hard to EARN your ADN degree and for someone to make you feel like that's not good enough is just heart breaking.
danielle2000, MSN, RN
174 Posts
How I remember the days of lucrative positions in the early years of year 2000! Jobs galore, picking and choosing your own way of working but, like everything good thing, it comes to a screeching halt, tables have turned and the acute care facilities are now placing demands on who and what they want in a nurse. It was so evident when I went a job fair. The arrogance and demands oh my!!!!! I have already put about 11 years into my profession and realize the change is here. ADN vs. BSN has started. I received my BSN in 2012 not for the sake of saving my job but to simply move on to advance practice. Though, I am not suggesting everyone do this it is my path that I chose to do because I refuse to let a hospital dictate my career objectives. I think it is really unfair how hospitals place such little value on experienced nurses who do not have a BSN! They must have forgotten who maintain patient safety and taught new grads golden nuggets of wisdom on the floor. Now it is not good enough. I can't help feel that the real motivation for hospitals pressuring BSN on nurses is their destiny in having Magnet status. They want to shine and look good because someone says that BSN nurses are safer more efficient and just better! So everyone will flock to their facility for superior nursing care, really?!? I have seen new grad BSN nurses and they are green lacking the experience and critical thinking that accrues with experience and time not to mention the curriculum is taught slightly different from ADN perspective. I still believe there will be another shortage as the baby-boomer generation starts getting up in age, obesity, and diabetes on the rise, we will need more nurses on the front line. I think hospitals only interests are their own and not the nurses. If you do away with ADN nurses on the floor who will train these BSN nurses? At least make it conducive for nurses to pursue their BSN, help with costs and allow days off to accomplish that magnet status endeavor!!!!!