What do employers want? BSN or experience?

[Hacness]

I just finished up my first year in an Associate Degree RN program and I'm grappling with a decision that I think might influence my ability to get a good job after I graduate next May. Those of us in nursing school now, especially in 2 year programs, are quickly realizing the we kinda missed the boat on the grand nursing shortage and it's becoming a well known fact that many employers will only hire BSNs, or at least 2 year graduates who are enrolled in BSN programs. So we are having to think about how hard it's going to be to get a job more than new grads did several years ago.

Here's the background: I have been planning to concurrently enroll in a BSN program during the last year of my 2 year program for a couple reasons. 1. I know I eventually will have to do it, so why not now while I'm still in school mode. 2. I'm hoping that being enrolled in a BSN program will help me land a better job after I get my RN, even though I won't have the BSN yet. These plans are now not absolute because I have an option to take a PRN ICU tech position at a local hospital which I would love to work at as an RN after I graduate.

Here's my question: What's going to look better for a potential employer for a new grad from a 2 year program - close to a year of experience as an ICU tech and plans to enter a BSN program, or no experience (other than being an EMT many years ago) but enrollment in and partial completion of a BSN program? The thing is, I know my second year is going to be every bit as intense as the first year, if not more, and here I am talking about either taking a job or adding BSN courses to that. Obviously I couldn't do both, so this is why I need to decide what is going to be better for my career in the long run. Thanks for the help!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I guess I'm confused as to why you would want to enroll in a second program concurrently while finishing the first. You sound like the kind of person the ADN/RN->BSN programs were made for. Apply, maybe sneak in a course to lighten your load later while you're working, and when you apply for jobs say that you have been accepted to ABC College BSN program and have already started your coursework with a graduation date of June 2015 (or whatever). Or am I missing something?

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

Working as a tech will help you more, as long as you work in the department you want to work in. The hospital I was working for as a tech (rehab) rejected me as a nurse because I had no ICU experience, but all of my classmates who worked as techs in ICU got jobs in ICU. It's just one of those things.

[Hacness]

I thought actuality being enrolled in and having started the BSN program would look good to employers, rather than being admitted and not having started yet. That is the reasoning behind concurrent enrollment. Also just to get it done faster. But I would love to work in an ICU someday and if I can land and ICU tech job that would only delay my finishing a BSN by less than a year, seems the thing to do. What do you think?

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I thought actuality being enrolled in and having started the BSN program would look good to employers, rather than being admitted and not having started yet. That is the reasoning behind concurrent enrollment. Also just to get it done faster. But I would love to work in an ICU someday and if I can land and ICU tech job that would only delay my finishing a BSN by less than a year, seems the thing to do. What do you think?

I think that's a fantastic idea. The unit I did my preceptorship on was an ICU, and there was a tech there that the director loved and he'd already promised her a job when she graduated. They were almost exclusively hiring BSNs for their new grad critical care residency, but she is an ADN student working as a tech. Granted, it's difficult to say if the director will follow up on his promise later, but he was on the interview panel for the residency so I'd say if he wanted her in, she'd be in. Sometimes it really is all about who you know and who loves your work.

[penneflower]

Most RN-BSN programs require you to have your license first before you actually start the program. You can always apply and enroll right after you get your license. I think take the job but just do it part time. I am a new grad ADN and I just started my first job as an RN at a hospital med/surg in a predominantly BSN hiring community due to experience and networking.

[schnookimz]

I've never heard of a BSN program where you can enroll without having your license or being finished with your ADN. Nursing classes build on each other, so they expect you to have a certain level of knowledge before continuing on. Did you find a school that will actually allow you to do this?

[KJM-RN, BSN]

I've never heard of a BSN program where you can enroll without having your license or being finished with your ADN. Nursing classes build on each other so they expect you to have a certain level of knowledge before continuing on. Did you find a school that will actually allow you to do this?[/quote']

I started in an RN TO BSN program a week after graduating with my ASN, before I took the NCLEX. My ASN school worked with the BSN school to allow for a seamless transition. They give 6 months to take and pass NCLEX and you must have a year of work experience before you can graduate, therefore I have to go part time for 2 years to make sure I have the year experience.

The only thing I can think of for the OP is maybe they are enrolling in a basic BSN type program and repeating courses they've already taken such as fundamentals, med/surg... Seems silly if that's the case. Might as well just graduate and then do an RN TO BSN program.

BTW, I think employers care more that you HAVE the BSN, not just that you're in the program, at least that's what I'm finding in my area on the job hunt. I think it looks better that you're in a program, but if you're up against someone that already has the degree then they have a leg up.

[vw74vw]

There are programs that allow ADN students in their 3rd or 4th block to enroll in a RN-BSN program. You need approval from the ADN school to do so but I'm starting my RN-BSN degree in the spring while still completing my 4th block of the ADN program. It allows you to get a head start on the BSN program, which at full time status would take at least a year to complete. I hope it gives me an edge to get a new grad position as in most area hospitals prefer BSN grads.

[Misskala]

Stay in your ADN program, and work while in school. Work as a tech in a hospital. Ideally the type of unit you like, but maybe more so the hospital you like. In your last semester of ADN, look at BSN-completion programs, and start the enrollment process. When you are interviewing for a hospital job, hospitals want to see you licensed with experienced upfront ALWAYS. Bottom line. Licensed with experience. ADN may get you filtered out of the interview process....that is debatable. If you get thru to the interview stage, you are licensed with experience-- and that is what they want to talk about. You will add "and toward my leadership goals I am enrolled in a BSN completion program and plan to focus research on...." Hiring managers, from what I know and have experienced, do not ask questions about your degree or your thoughts on school, they just want BSN from whatever school. So use that as your guide. Get the BSN bc they want those 3 letters. BUT they want licensed with experience. Bottom line.

good luck always!