Those with ADN, not BSN- finding jobs? (Maryland)

zahryia, LPN · Apr 15, 2014

You should be fine. If in Baltimore area, try to work as tech at Hopkins after 1st semester in nursing school.

Columnist · Apr 15, 2014

Moved to Maryland Nursing forum from more response from some of our Maryland members

rls927 · Apr 16, 2014

Thanks zahryia! That is definitely what I have been recommended and Hopkins was apparently on campus today (we got an hour notice, unhelpful) but they are looking to fill about 100 tech spots! So I'm sure that will be my go-to.

Em843 · Apr 21, 2014

Does anyone know if any hospitals in Montgomery County are still hiring ADNs?

erinadance · Jun 26, 2014

I have to tell you that it is very competitive out there, and the hiring officers at the hospitals are holding their breath right now. I have an ASN in Maryland from a good Community College. I graduated with high honors, had great references and NO experience in the nursing field beyond a small stint as a MA at a University medical office. I am still looking for work a year after graduation! I will say that I did not start looking until after I passed boards in early fall. I would love to pass on some information I have acquired along the way. I can't stress this enough: WORK IN THE MEDICAL FIELD DURING NURSING SCHOOL! If you want to work in a hospital, you had better be there before graduation. I would also stress that you need to network with teachers, other nurses, and friends from school. It is so competitive now that hospitals may throw your resume in the trash if you are competing with BSN new grads. Know where you want to continue your education before you complete your last semester of your ASN. Apply there and get the ball rolling for your BSN. I am not entirely convinced that it's better to get your BSN from a brick and mortar school versus an online RN to BSN. However, this could just become another avenue for recruiters to be discriminatory. The recruiters want to push for Magnet (so only BSN nurses need apply), and with the Affordable Health Care Act, hospitals are holding their breath to see how the money is going to shake out from all of the changes. I know there is a strong push towards ambulatory care, and it is much cheaper to employ medical assistants in doctor's offices than it is to utilize RN's. My school program didn't really warn us of this problem, and advise us what to do. I ended up really doing well in school, but now I am paying the price for not working during that journey. I hope this helps.

roxiroxmysox · Jul 27, 2014

This is exactly what I'm afraid of

erinadance · Jul 27, 2014

I want to leave a little update. I found several local jobs at Adult Medical Daycares, LTC facilities, and doctor's offices that are advertising on online classifieds. I applied, interviewed, received second interviews and working interviews. After your initial interview, remember to write them back thanking them and offer to come in for a working interview. This is like offering them a few hours of your time for free. They love that, and I had offers from everyone after all of my second interviews. I will add that the one place I really preferred, I popped a written thank you into the mail immediately. I was overwhelmed with finally having some interest and being able to choose from multiple offers. I chose the one that I loved the most, and I start this week! I hope that this information is helpful to someone. I think information can be empowering, even if the message is initially negative. Good luck to you all as nursing students and future RN's!!

roxiroxmysox · Jul 27, 2014

Thanks for the response! What exactly is a working interview? You go in and work (so to speak) and they are kind of, evaluating you?

erinadance · Jul 27, 2014

That's right, roxiroxmysox. A working interview, at least in my case, was that you go in dressed in scrubs, stay for 3-4 hours during the intensive nursing part of the day. For example, when I did adult medical day care, I started out when 10 am meds were administered, learned about their way of charting, where supplies were, how paperwork was filled in and how workflow systems were handled. It is like a training day. You get a chance to see how they operate and if it's for you, and they also get that same chance. I believe hospitals bring you in for the staff to interview you as a second interview, and some do shadow days as a type of working interview.

roxiroxmysox · Jul 27, 2014

Wow that's interesting! Also sounds kind of intimidating... Though I still have a year and a half left of school, I am trying to familiarize myself to the process so it's not such a shock when I come out of school. Thanks for the info!

Larry3373 · Jul 27, 2014

ADNs typically don't have trouble finding a job here in South Mississippi. I was very aggressive when I graduated two years ago. With no healthcare experience (other than clinicals) I found a hospital job as a staff RN in less than 2 months. I just found out who the nursing managers were and where there office was and introduced myself saying something like "hi I'm Larry and I just wanted to introduce myself and show my face. I've already submitted my application online, but I wanted to introduce myself in person". I think that the right kind of hiring manager will see this as a go getter attitude and be impressed with how motivated you are. One manager told me that she has hundreds of computer applications and was glad that I introduced myself (even though the policy there was to wait on a call from HR). She called me later for an interview, but I had already accepted a position somewhere else.