ADN or ABSN considering the hiring freeze

Hi Everyone!

I am posting to hear some opinions on my situation and the nursing profession situation in general. I graduated two years ago with a Bachelor's in Psychology and quickly came home from school and took an internship at a local hospital for about a year and half. During that time I took pre-requisites to get into nursing school. I did really well in my pre-reqs (3.8), but I only had a 3.4 in my undergraduate degree. Therefore, I am almost done with my first round of nursing applications and it hasn't been good. I was rejected from three places, on two wait-lists, one in which I am number 1 and the other I just interviewed for and will be hearing from in the next couple of weeks. It has been a pretty rough turnout, but I knew with all the competition I wouldn't have much of a shot. I still tried though, because this is the career I want. I LOVE nursing, and I will not stop until I become one. The advice I guess I need is that at this point I may have to make a decision on whether or not to start an ADN program this Fall or possibly an ABSN program in Spring 2011.

What would you do? I know it has been REALLY difficult to find a job as a new grad, so does having an ADN or BSN make a difference? Should I wait and re-apply for the ABSN if I don't get in or take the ADN this Fall. Does it mean anything that I will have an ADN and a Bachelor's even knowing it's not in nursing? Also, all I have under my belt in the nursing field is a year and a half internship at a hospital. I really want to get my CNA, but all the programs in my city are impacted of course! I am still trying to get into a CNA program, but what else is a good job/internship choice to help build my resume in the mean time? I feel so lost in this decision and I am trying to do whatever I can to improve my application and become a stronger applicant so I would LOVE any ideas or opinions!
I have a friend who has her ADN. She hates the hospital she works at and has been trying to leave. She feels that since she doesn't have a BSN she is being discriminated against. She has decided to do the RN-BSN. I think it does matter, but utimately, the choice is yours! Good Luck!

I am starting an ADN program in the Fall, and I have a BA in Economics. I got a 4.0 in all of my pre-reqs, but I did have a 3.2 in undergrad. However, that is not the reason why I am choosing this path. I researched and researched and researched the ADN, Master's Entry option, and ABSN programs. I have three friend's who are RNs. One has and ADN and nothing else. The second has her ADN and her BA in Marketing. The third has her undergrad in Bio and did the Master's Entry option, so she now has an MSN. All three of my friends work in good hospitals as staff nurses in different fields. They all make the same amount of money, and all love their jobs. When I found out I got into the ADN program, I had a lengthy discussion with my MSN friend, and she said that she does not use her MSN in her current position, and, if you have never been a nurse before, you will have to work as a staff nurse first even if you graduate from an MSN program. She said I should get my RN first, and go for the Master's later.1) I am adding on more time if I get my MSN by going for the ADN first and then the RN-MSN later.2) I am spending $5,000 to get my RN. When I eventually do go for my Master's, I will have the RN portion done, so the program will be significantly cheaper for me. With the job market for nurses being the way it is and the economy in the tank, I think I could swallow searching for a job for 6-12 months after getting out of nursing school if I do not have $50k + in loans.3) biggest one for me - I do not want to get a Master's Degree in a specialty area that I may change my mind about in the future. I am pretty sure that I want to do Oncology, but I want to work as a nurse first before making the huge decision to get my master's. Not to mention, a lot of the Master's Entry programs give you a CNL. Search CNL on these boards, and you'll find out that it is not worth the money.This is just my 2 cents. I think you should go where you get in. If you can get into an ADN program, go for it. You don't have to stop at the ADN. I currently work with a Phd nurse at a non profit, and she told me to get one year of experience, and then apply for an RN-MSN program.Good luck to you!!!

"This is just my 2 cents. I think you should go where you get in. If you can get into an ADN program, go for it. You don't have to stop at the ADN. I currently work with a Phd nurse at a non profit, and she told me to get one year of experience, and then apply for an RN-MSN program."I like this advice. Education is never wasted, so wherever you can get in first is where I'd recommend you go.

Where you live is a big factor in whether or not you should go for ADN vs ABSN. In New England, a lot of hospitals will only hire new grads with BSNs, but it's nearly impossible for new grad BSNs to find positions right now. It's even hard for experienced nurses to find positions right now. If you read around the forums, you will see lots of posts about new grads who graduated 2 years ago that still can't find hospital jobs. If you live in an area like this, I would go straight for the BSN since it is definitely more marketable around here.

I completely agree with all three of you! I really do not want to let go of an opportunity of being accepted considering the competition. The ONLY reason I am not 100% sure I want to take the ADN acceptance is because I have not heard the final decision from the ABSN school. The orientation for the ADN program is July 30th (Paperwork is due and we are assigned to clinicals) and I am not supposed to hear from the ABSN program until the first week of August. Overall, I think the best program for me would be the ABSN and if I had to decline them because I accepted the ADN, I would be upset. 1. I have the money to pay for the ABSN and to keep me afloat during the program. 2. I would not need to work during the program or worry about any debt. 3. I am a very dedicated student, and I am ready to give up a year of my life to commit to such a rigorous program. I am not married nor do I have any children, so I really feel like now is my time! Mfrancisco- I am on the wait-list for an EL-MSN program, but I researched and researched the program like you did and ultimately realized the CNL path is just not the best path for me. I want to get my feet wet in the field for awhile and be able to receive my Master's in the speciality that I know 100% is for me.

April, Yes that is exactly the type of information I am looking for. I know it really depends on the area that I live in, currently I am living in Southern California and I have heard really mixed opinions from new grads, which is pretty much why I feel so lost about making this decision. Some say it has gotten to the point where its about "who you know" to help get you the job, or some say they will only hire BSN students. However, if my only shot this application period is the ADN route, do I wait and re-apply other places or do I just grab what I have while I have it. Thank you all for the help, this is a really big decision and there are SO many factors that go into it!

I agree about the EL-MSN route. I was so uncomfortable with that route. I say go for wherever you get in. If you don't get into the ABSN, go for the ADN. Don't wait. Submit your paperwork for the ADN in the meantime. You can always back out at the last minute. It's rough, but that may be what you have to do. You don't want to lose out on the ADN, and find out that you didn't get into the ABSN.I have heard that it's who you know, and whether or not you had some type of hospital job during school. I heard those people are getting the jobs first. Good luck to you!

Quote from KRomneyApril, Yes that is exactly the type of information I am looking for. I know it really depends on the area that I live in, currently I am living in Southern California and I have heard really mixed opinions from new grads, which is pretty much why I feel so lost about making this decision. Some say it has gotten to the point where its about "who you know" to help get you the job, or some say they will only hire BSN students. However, if my only shot this application period is the ADN route, do I wait and re-apply other places or do I just grab what I have while I have it. Thank you all for the help, this is a really big decision and there are SO many factors that go into it!

Yeah I think that is what I might have to do, I just feel really bad going through that whole process with the ADN program and then letting them down by declining. Thank you for letting me vent, and good luck to you as well!

I know. That's a tough thing to have to do. Just know that there are people on the waitlist for the ADN program, and I am sure it happens a lot. One of my friends got offered the spot in her ADN program a couple of days before school started!!I agree with April RN. The ultimate goal should be the BSN. Getting into nursing school is tough, so take what you can get, and just keep moving forward with the education.Thanks! Congrats on getting into the ADN program. At least you know that you will be an RN in 2 years!!!

April - That is my biggest worry! I would be devastated if I was rejected from the ABSN program and I turned down the ADN program. That is one of the main reasons I started this thread, I needed advice from people that actually understood the nursing field today. I just want to make sure I am making the BEST decision, and specifically one that includes the external factors.

I was accepted for an ASN program in the fall. I turned them down and am applying this month for an aBSN program that starts in May. If I get into the aBSN program, I will be receiving my BSN about the same time I would have been finishing my ASN. I live in a state with inexpensive tuition, which made my decision much easier. If I don't get into the aBSN program, I can always reapply for the ASN program.The aBSN will better prepare me for my future education and career goals, it will take the same amount of time, and it will only cost me about an extra 5K, so I'm going for it.You just have to make the right decision for you. Good Luck!