Calling all nurses! (Or nurses-to-be)

[Judy from Boise]

I get it now, you don't mind the work, just wish you had more of it! I agree nothing harder than a slow day. Practically wants to make you read policy and procedures just from boredom!!!

 

[Gina]

What a great thread!

If any of you nurses and nurses-to-be could give me some advice, I'd really appreciate it. I've wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl. But I was too much of a flake the first time I was in college (mid-80's) and lost my goal. I decided in '05 to go back and finish my Bachelors degree, and next month, at age 43, I finally graduate. It has been THE hardest thing I've ever done, because of working fulltime and being a single parent while going to school.

My question is, if I wanted to finally try and go into nursing, which I now want to do more than ever, what would be my next step? (After a nice break, that is!!! ) Does having my degree help me at all for this? Someone suggested to me that I do an LVN program, so that when I'm done with that I could find work with that certification and work towards my nursing degree from there.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, I'm all ears.


-gina-

 

[Mandychelle79]

exciting times! Did you pass Salem sump type tubes (with multiple ports for suction ) or a true NG tube to administer meds and formula? Did they have you practice with a NJ with a stylet?

I have found many new grads don't know (were never taught) the difference between a tube to decompress the gut, and a true feeding tube. Also we are passing more and more NJ tubes.

We were doing the NG tube for meds and nourishment. However we did have one set up with the suction tube, but we could not pass that one. We only did NG not NJ because of our dummies.

 

[Mandychelle79]

What a great thread!

If any of you nurses and nurses-to-be could give me some advice, I'd really appreciate it. I've wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl. But I was too much of a flake the first time I was in college (mid-80's) and lost my goal. I decided in '05 to go back and finish my Bachelors degree, and next month, at age 43, I finally graduate. It has been THE hardest thing I've ever done, because of working fulltime and being a single parent while going to school.

My question is, if I wanted to finally try and go into nursing, which I now want to do more than ever, what would be my next step? (After a nice break, that is!!! ) Does having my degree help me at all for this? Someone suggested to me that I do an LVN program, so that when I'm done with that I could find work with that certification and work towards my nursing degree from there.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, I'm all ears.


-gina-

If I had a Bachelors degree in something already I would go for my BSN from the start. Im going for my ADN and then probably doing a RN to MSN program.

BTW we will be in the world at the same time

 

[Gina]

If I had a Bachelors degree in something already I would go for my BSN from the start. Im going for my ADN and then probably doing a RN to MSN program.

BTW we will be in the world at the same time

Okay, I know what RN stands for... but can you help me with the others?

And that's cool that we'll be at WDW at the same time! Where are you staying?

 

[npmommie]

Okay, I know what RN stands for... but can you help me with the others?

And that's cool that we'll be at WDW at the same time! Where are you staying?

BSN = Bachelor of Science Nursing
ADN = Associate Degree Nursing
MSN = Master of Science Nursing

 

[Gina]

BSN = Bachelor of Science Nursing
ADN = Associate Degree Nursing
MSN = Master of Science Nursing

Thanks! But would going for a BSN mean I would basically be starting all over, school-wise??

 

[laurie31]

Thanks! But would going for a BSN mean I would basically be starting all over, school-wise??

No, you already have all the core stuff that everyone has to take - English, math, etc. All you should need are your actual nursing courses, plus maybe some prerequisites like anatomy, microbiology, or psychology. It's also not a bad thing if you just got your associates first, and then finished up your BSN after you started working (translation - when you can get tuition reimbursement as a job perk) plus that would get you into an actual job sooner.

However, depending on what part of the country you're in, some places want new grads to have BSNs. Here, you only need the extra initials if you want to advance in management. We'll hire you as long as you have "RN" after your name.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

If you will already have a BS or BA some schools now offer an accelerated program to get your RN. It's usually about 15 months long. It is a pretty intense program, you will not be able to work probably during that time. On the other hand, if you take out loans to cover it, many hospitals now have a loan repayment program. My hospital qualifies for a program that pays back 60% of your nursing loans if you work there for two years, 85% for three years.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

No, you already have all the core stuff that everyone has to take - English, math, etc. All you should need are your actual nursing courses, plus maybe some prerequisites like anatomy, microbiology, or psychology. It's also not a bad thing if you just got your associates first, and then finished up your BSN after you started working (translation - when you can get tuition reimbursement as a job perk) plus that would get you into an actual job sooner.

However, depending on what part of the country you're in, some places want new grads to have BSNs. Here, you only need the extra initials if you want to advance in management. We'll hire you as long as you have "RN" after your name.

Having a BSN is a heck of a lot more than having initials after your name.

Gina, I'd recommend you go for a non-BSN MSN.

 

[laurie31]

Having a BSN is a heck of a lot more than having initials after your name.
Gina, I'd recommend you go for a non-BSN MSN.

Well, yes but it depends on if she just wants to get out and start working sooner rather than later. If there's not much time difference in the ASN and BSN options for her (I don't recall her saying what her current Bachelor's degree is) then sure, go for BSN right away. But seriously, where I work, there's no significant difference in compensation between new grads, regardless of their degree. (when I got my BSN , I got a 15 cent an hour raise ...and I got NOTHING extra for my MSN). Some positions require a BSN, but we do still have some managers who've been there 30+ years and only have diplomas and are gandfathered in.

I'm actually considering going back for my doctorate in a few years. There's always time to go back for another degree.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm thinking that whichever route she chooses (LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN), it's going to take her about the same amount of time. She's already got a bachelor's - IMO she should keep going forward and just go for the MSN. Gina, there are a lot of programs for non-BSN to MSN. I work with a lot of these "second career" nurses and am quite impressed with their knowledge, skills and fortitude. But if that doesn't interest you, at minimum, I'd say go for the BSN. As you can probably guess even within nursing itself there's a lot of disagreement about educational routes. Nobody can really agree so there's no point in even arguing about it. You do what works for you. Do your research, think about what you want to do as a nurse, and take the educational route that suits you best and that you'll be comfortable with once you become a working nurse.

 

[Judy from Boise]

to take a step back......have you ever actually seen nursing up close? Consider using your new degree to get a job in healthcare to get yourself in the door. Then you can both observe and start earning employee benefits that might pay for school.

 

[Beka]

No, you already have all the core stuff that everyone has to take - English, math, etc. All you should need are your actual nursing courses, plus maybe some prerequisites like anatomy, microbiology, or psychology. It's also not a bad thing if you just got your associates first, and then finished up your BSN after you started working (translation - when you can get tuition reimbursement as a job perk) plus that would get you into an actual job sooner.

However, depending on what part of the country you're in, some places want new grads to have BSNs. Here, you only need the extra initials if you want to advance in management. We'll hire you as long as you have "RN" after your name.

Same thing here! Well, that is if the hospital is hiring at all...

Having a BSN is a heck of a lot more than having initials after your name.

Gina, I'd recommend you go for a non-BSN MSN.

Well, yes but it depends on if she just wants to get out and start working sooner rather than later. If there's not much time difference in the ASN and BSN options for her (I don't recall her saying what her current Bachelor's degree is) then sure, go for BSN right away. But seriously, where I work, there's no significant difference in compensation between new grads, regardless of their degree. (when I got my BSN , I got a 15 cent an hour raise ...and I got NOTHING extra for my MSN). Some positions require a BSN, but we do still have some managers who've been there 30+ years and only have diplomas and are gandfathered in.

I'm actually considering going back for my doctorate in a few years. There's always time to go back for another degree.

So we had our SNA state convention back in October & we were told that if you want to have an advanced degree (like a nurse practitioner, etc.), you'd better get it done before 2015, cuz after that, you'll need your PhD or DNP. I don't understand why that's the new criteria, but whatever. I guess I'm not gonna get that break in school that I was hoping for!

 

[Disneylover79]

Just wanted to jump in here and say HI... I haven't been on here in a while... I am done with my MSN and I am waiting for my letter to test to come in the mail any day now....then I will sit for my Acute Care Nurse Practitioner license...I hop all of you are doing well....

 

[Gina]

I really appreciate all the responses! I wish I could say I wasn't more confused now. I'd guess I'd better clarify a couple of things, though!

The degree I will have is a Bachelor of General Studies. No matter what path I decide to take, unless a bag of money falls from the sky I *have* to work, fulltime. As it is, I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to fit in the student loan payments that will start in 7 months -- finances have gotten a lot tighter in the past 4 years.

I need to figure out which program would get me into healthcare the quickest, so that I could then work in the general field and hopefully get some sort of tuition assistance for a higher nursing degree.

For the past several years I've been the Office Manager for a small HVAC company, and finishing this degree was mostly to set a good example for my now-13 year old son, as well as just to be able to say that I finished. But now I'm thinking that I'd really like to actually try and do what I've always wanted to do.

So that's where I am.

Thank you guys SO much for the food for thought! I welcome it all!


-gina-

 

[npmommie]

I really appreciate all the responses! I wish I could say I wasn't more confused now. I'd guess I'd better clarify a couple of things, though!

The degree I will have is a Bachelor of General Studies. No matter what path I decide to take, unless a bag of money falls from the sky I *have* to work, fulltime. As it is, I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to fit in the student loan payments that will start in 7 months -- finances have gotten a lot tighter in the past 4 years.

I need to figure out which program would get me into healthcare the quickest, so that I could then work in the general field and hopefully get some sort of tuition assistance for a higher nursing degree.

For the past several years I've been the Office Manager for a small HVAC company, and finishing this degree was mostly to set a good example for my now-13 year old son, as well as just to be able to say that I finished. But now I'm thinking that I'd really like to actually try and do what I've always wanted to do.

So that's where I am.

Thank you guys SO much for the food for thought! I welcome it all!


-gina-

If you want to go for the RN than the quickest way would be the ADN degree, its a 2 year degree but you already have some courses done. So it would mainly be the nursing portion.
Is it possible to switch jobs now or do you want to keep your current job while you go for the RN?
the reason I ask is I know a local hospital that will pay for the ADN degree for their workers, they only then have to commit to work as RN for that hospital for a set amount of time, i don't know exactly what it is, maybe 1-2 years..........but if you could find a situation like that it may help you get where you want to be
good luck, nursing is a great career with many many opportunities, don't let anyone tell you otherwise

 

[Gina]

If you want to go for the RN than the quickest way would be the ADN degree, its a 2 year degree but you already have some courses done. So it would mainly be the nursing portion.
Is it possible to switch jobs now or do you want to keep your current job while you go for the RN?
the reason I ask is I know a local hospital that will pay for the ADN degree for their workers, they only then have to commit to work as RN for that hospital for a set amount of time, i don't know exactly what it is, maybe 1-2 years..........but if you could find a situation like that it may help you get where you want to be
good luck, nursing is a great career with many many opportunities, don't let anyone tell you otherwise

Oh, believe me, no one is going to convince me otherwise. I've wanted this for too long.

I would definitely be open to looking for a job someplace that would help fund the ADN in exchange for a work commitment as an RN, but what sort of position do places like that normally fill where you have no experience?

I appreciate your suggestions!

 

[laurie31]

Oh, believe me, no one is going to convince me otherwise. I've wanted this for too long.

I would definitely be open to looking for a job someplace that would help fund the ADN in exchange for a work commitment as an RN, but what sort of position do places like that normally fill where you have no experience?

I appreciate your suggestions!

On the bolded, good for you!!

Okay, I confess to not knowing so much about Texas beyond Dallas and Houston, so I don't know if there is a major medical center near you, but those are usually the types of places that will pay your tuition in return for a 1-2 year work committment. Usually you aren't actually working for them at all during that time, just going to school. If you break your contract (ie- if you end up NOT going to work for them for the required time after graduation) you have to pay back the money they gave you. Otherwise, it's just a recruitment tool. They hope after your two years are up you will like it and stay. I don't see why you couldn't keep working your job you have now while you did this, but it's going to be VERY challenging to work full time and go to nursing school. But then you likely know this.

Another option is to get a job at a hospital that offers tuition reimbursement as a benefit. In other words, you work part time and go to school part time. You don't have an obligation to keep working for them once you graduate. Aside from the obvious choice of an aide, you could be a unit secretary, or work in billing, be an office manager, or even be a patient representative. If you are in one of these positions and let nurses know you want to learn, most of them will teach you things. There are several secretaries where I work who have learned an amazing amount (and yes, they are also nursing students).

A lot of commmunity colleges have very good Nursing programs and are often more accomodating to adult students, meaning online courses, night courses, etc.

If you later want to get an MSN, then yes you can kind of "skip" the BSN part, (do an RN to MSN program) but I wouldn't recommend doing that without some practical experience first. My MSN program "strongly recommended" two years of practice before applying. It's hard to apply theory when you don't have a working knowledge of the practical.

It's a lot to think about. Start by calling the nurse recruiter at a hospital near you. Tell her what you've told us. She will be able to answer your questions in a much more specific way.

 

[Mandychelle79]

Okay, I know what RN stands for... but can you help me with the others?

And that's cool that we'll be at WDW at the same time! Where are you staying?

We are staying at All Star Movies per my dd's request. We stayed at Pop last time. Next time we go my ds will be able to chose where we stay within reason. We will be there December 12th until December 19th, my parents and grandparets get there the next day to start our Grand Gathering. Our trip is a survived the first semester of nursing school and my birthday celebration rolled into one.