New needs new path...experienced nurses please advise....

I am a recent graduate fortunate enough to have found a job with a plastic surgeon. I love my job, however I am concerned about my future and want to make sure that I have options for advancement as this job doesn't pay very well and I want to potentially expand my horizons.

I hold a Bachelor's of Arts and an ASN. The hospitals in my area will not hire ASN's regardless of already being bachelor's educated. I don't want to waste my time getting a 2nd bachelor's degree and am considering getting an MSN. Most of the hospital nursing jobs I applied to said I would need my Master's just to get a job in Med/Surg, things are that competitive in Northern California and it's easy to see why when new hospital nurses start at about 90k.

So...I need help from some experienced nurses...should I get a generic MSN that will enable me to enter the hospital setting as a new grad? Should I go for my FNP and stay in the clinical setting in Aesthetics? I don't know for sure what I want to do in nursing, I just want to know that I have options available to me and job security as there is an extreme surplus of nurses and not the shortage we were all scared into.

What path would give me the most opportunity and be the most "in demand"? I am finding that nursing is not a secure or in demand job at all. When you need a master's for an entry level position something is upside-down.

My other option would be to really push the OR aspect of my job as I work in the operating room frequently. Perhaps if I became an OR certified nurse or something this would enable me to enter a hospital setting above the new grad level.

Please help...what would you do as a new nurse when "new grad" is a four letter word as far as hospitals are concerned...

(sorry, I meant "new nurse needs new path in my title")
An MSN for an entry-level position? Have you considered moving?

Absolutely I have considered moving and have applied out of state, yet hospitals are consistently unwilling to hire an ASN - even with a bachelor's in another field. I've been to 7 years of school...all of them worthless in a nurse managers eyes.

Quote from hopefulwhoopAn MSN for an entry-level position? Have you considered moving?

I am a newer nurse as well so don't take my advice to heart, but I think you have the right idea to possibly get OR certified. This would enable you to expand your credentials in the OR nursing world.. If you want you could move out to the northeast! Most of the RN's that I work with are ASN graduates and I work in a small community hospital. I am a BSN and in the minority. Getting your MSN would be unneccesary if you want to continue working in patient care. If you go for your Master's I would not settle for just a general MSN and go for NP, if you want to go in that direction. But for the time being, get OR certified. It will make you more marketable Just my opinion though! Good luck

Quote from SparkleRNThe hospitals in my area will not hire ASN's regardless of already being bachelor's educated. Most of the hospital nursing jobs I applied to said I would need my Master's just to get a job in Med/Surg, things are that competitive in Northern California and it's easy to see why when new hospital nurses start at about 90k.