Will get ADN at a comm. college hinder your chance of getting a good job!?

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I just got accepted into Nursing School and have been told by some people that the Community College im going to isnt as good as other schools (University). When doctors/ hospitals look at resume, do they really judge you by the school you came from? I feel like my school has a really good program and I have heard of alot of people that went there but I am nervous that it will hurt my chances of getting a job.

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I've heard similar concerns from people...bottom line...its tough to get a job period right now in the nursing field, wether you have your BSN or an AA. If you had a choice, I would go the BSN route because I have heard from nurses and doctors in the hospital that right now if it came down to it...they would hire a nurse with a BSN rather than an AA. I honestly don't know much about it....I have friends that have their RN from a comm. college that can not find a job...but i have another friend that got one...I think it all depends... Basically...if you had the choice I would say get your BSN because it offers more oppurtunities for you as well...only annoying thing is the CONSTANT INCREASE IN TUITION costs that state schools are doing... :(

Best of luck!

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If you're applying for work in the same area as your school, they absolutely look at what school you went to. For instance, there's an ADN program near me that has a reputation as being "good, but not quite as good as the others" (that's the way a nurse manager worded it). Also, one of my classmates in my BSN program has already been offered a job simply because of the school we go to.

That being said, ADN and BSN nurses are technically on an even playing field for their first job without any experience, but with jobs being limited, managers are leaning towards BSN nurses in my area. Also, the BSN makes it easier to pursue advanced degrees and management positions (it's totally possible with an ADN as well, just not quite as easy in most cases). Brand-new ADNs in my area are not having real trouble finding work, they're just usually not getting their first choice, and they have to apply and just get what they can take. But, at the end of the day, even the job you didn't want still pays your bills.

So, from what I've learned talking to nurse managers and nurses working in hospitals, I'd encourage you to go for the BSN if you're able to; if not, no big worries, just do your best!

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A BSN might provide more opportunities for you but an ADN and a BSN all take the same nclex so its up to you. I would say do the ADN and then bridge to the BSN later, or even an MSN.

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I agree with above. In the end, nurses will make the same as everyone else. The only big difference is how much debt you will owe. I graduated out of ADN program at a local college with no student debt. If I want, I can still persue a BSN degree will working as a nurse, than to come out later with a BSN degree with 20-60k in debt. Like I said, coming out as a new grad, everyone start up as the same pay. Average cost was 12k for me.

FYI, where I'm at, our community college has a better reputation of producing better nurses than the private and those expensive 4 yr universities. Maybe because we do more hands on clinics than just sitting back and watch all day.

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It differs by region, but where I live ADN's have no trouble finding jobs. There are fairly tight regulations on how many graduates must have found employment by 6 months after nursing school too, so we don't have schools "churning out nurses who can't find jobs" like many complain about on these boards. Why not call a couple of hospitals in your area and ask?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

It really depends on your specific location -- and the reputation of the schools involved. You'll need to talk with local people "in the know" about the job market in your area and the reputation of the local schools.

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I agree with everyone else it depends on the location, I have never heard of any of the graduates around hear complain about it being hard to find a job as a matter of fact a lot of them have jobs offers pending on them graduating and passing the board exam.

Around here the ADN programs have a good reputation & mostly 100% pass rates on the NCLEX year after year so that may have something do due with it. While some of the universities are just being diploma mills and passing students & when it comes down to the big test they are not passing so the 4 yrs are losing value, accrediation, etc some have even lost their nursing programs.

Don't take what a lot of people say to heart and get discouraged, just get through school first!

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Specializes in Emergency; med-surg; mat-child.

The (very expensive) 4-year program here doesn't have as good a reputation as the CCs wrt floor nurses. I suppose they do for administration stuff, but that's not what I'm going to school for.

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It may depend on where you are at and what those area hospitals are looking for.

Around here, we have a CC that kicks serious butt and hospitals, nursing homes, etc. want these grads.

Overall, it may also depend on YOU.

What do you bring to the table?

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I also think it depends on location. I live in an area where the community college is the only local school within an hour and a half for an RN program. We were told years ago it was easier for people to get their choice right off the bat and be recruited. Now it's a bit harder and we might have to take a shift/position that isn't our first choice - but it seems the jobs are out there!

Personally, I'll have about 25,000 total in debt including my nursing education after all the pre reqs, including a year at a different school for a different program. My plan is to start working - pay that down aggressively, get some experience under my belt - then get my BSN. One more year to go! =)

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