not working for a year to get BSN

a little back ground.

last year my husband went to school full time...and it works out that because of the loss of income from that I will get a full pell grant for 2011-2012.

i had originally planned on waiting and going to a BSN program fall 2012 *next class that is open* BUT the idea of getting my school paid for...well its too good to pass up. So ive decided to just go for the ADN this fall and then bridge over.

my question is....would it look BAD to graduate from the ADN and start the BSN bridge right away and NOT work. I only ask because Im interested in applying for a nurse residency program that only accepts new graduate BSN students w/out ANY experience. The residency is at a teaching hospital and is one year in length. The way it was explained to me is they offer 5-6 new grad positions on various floors each month or so..and if you get the job you get the residency as well.

If i didnt get the residency...would it look bad to other employers that I didnt work while getting my BSN?
Many people do not work while going to school. Unfortunately I didn't have that luxury but it sure would have been nice! Trust me, working toward your bachelors IS a full time job! I really don't think employers would care about this. Good luck!

No, I don't think it would look bad at all.

I think you should go for it...it would not matter one way or another to employers if you work or not. But working while going to nursing school is very challenging. What ever you decide good luck!

With your plans to bridge, you have an excellent way to explain your gap in employment.I would think that you wouldn't have any trouble at all. The trouble is when you're asked about that time, & you don't have a clear answer.

thanks for the replies!i was just worried that they might ask why I didnt work at least part time after getting my ADN while bridging for my BSN.also...do you think i would loose a lot of my skills...not working for a year after graduating w/my RN?

It is very likely that the residency program you want to do would NOT consider you a new grad since you will have at least two years of licensed time under your belt. I would check with them and ask if they would even consider you a new grad. My bet is they won't.

Quote from PMFB-RNIt is very likely that the residency program you want to do would NOT consider you a new grad since you will have at least two years of licensed time under your belt. I would check with them and ask if they would even consider you a new grad. My bet is they won't.

With an ADN and then an RN-BSN right after with zero work experience puts you at huge risk of being considered an "old new grad" once you ARE ready to apply for jobs. Your clinical skills will be stale and you'll be competing for one of those 5-6 spots with hundreds of new BSN grads with "fresh" clinical experience. If you ONLY want to work in that residency, you should look into a traditional 4-year BSN program.

Quote from anon695With an ADN and then an RN-BSN right after with zero work experience puts you at huge risk of being considered an "old new grad" once you ARE ready to apply for jobs. Your clinical skills will be stale and you'll be competing for one of those 5-6 spots with hundreds of new BSN grads with "fresh" clinical experience. If you ONLY want to work in that residency, you should look into a traditional 4-year BSN program.

Best of luck to you then, if the hospital said you could apply. -It's a super competitive job market regardless of which route you go to end up with the BSN, in a way there are no perfect options of how to arrive at that destination, especially as an adult student who has to finance it themselves.

I took time off to get my BSN full-time so it all depends if you've saved up enough money. You could always pick up a few extra shifts during the summer or term breaks.

I certainly would take the gift of not needing to work to get ASN then bridge over to BSN. Not working should not factor in as you decided to go toget your BSN right up front, just schooling worked out better by splitting it up.Question..could you not go to BSN program using the pell grant?? Maybe look at other schools if needed.. the most important thing would be getting your degree and having less loan money right??