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

[npmommie]

Hello.. My name is Telly. I am thinking of going back to school. I'm thinking of going into Nursing. I think my main reason why I want to get into Nursing is that it's in demand. I'm just facinated and always curious about the nurses I see at the hospital. And I always tell myself that this is a good career to go into. And now that I am seriously thinking of going back to school, I'm just curious if Nursing is the way to go for me or maybe something else like Physical Therapist or maybe as a Medical Lab Technician (Med Tech) or something else..

I would like to know the pros and cons of being a nurse. I'm a single (widow) mom of 3 who would like to better my life so I can take good care of my family. I was in the optical field for about 13 years. I was an optician. And I just want to do something else. Thank you!

Fantasia, honestly I don't think you can go wrong with nursing. It's a great profession with tons of room for advancement, lots of different areas you can work in, and good pay.
the cons are depending on what setting you work in, you will work your behind off!!
but it is rewarding,..........most of the time

I got my ARNP license today!!!!!!!!!!

congratulations!!!!

I have to admit I am a purist who believes that to thrive in nursing you need what i would label a "calling". There are just too many easier jobs that pay well, to just chose nursing as a good career.

If you want to do more research I know Johnson and Johnson has a great website for people thinking about nursing.

I disagree, I am one that did not ever have a calling for nursing. I had a bachelors degree in another field, was not happy in that work,so I decided on nursing for the good pay and that nurses are in demand. when I came out of my BSN program there was a serious shortage of nurses, I was able to pick and choose my jobs.
once I got into it,I found I loved it. but it was not a calling for me, but I am very happy with the choice to enter nursing.
so just because you don't have a calling, doesn't mean you won't love it.
and even if you did have a calling, you may find the reality of it to not be what you thought,
jmo

Unfortunately there is no longer a demand for nurses, not in MI, anyway. I just graduated in December with my ADN and passed the state board exam last week. I can't get a job. Many women who should be retiring are holding on to their jobs because their retirement funds took a dive, or their husband's are unemployed. Many nurses hold positions at more than one hospital. There is a TON of new nurses flooding the market and nobody to hire them. All the jobs require experience, which most graduate nurses do not have. So don't get into nursing because you think it's a secure way to land a job. Of course by the time you get accepted into a program, do pre-reqs, and then actually complete nursing school in a few years the economy might have changed. I don't think you need a calling to be a nurse. I work with too many crabby wenches to believe that most nurses have been called to their job!

have you looked in all areas aside from hospitals? acute care is tough right now, but long term care may give you some experience, and you can move on when a job opens up.
I think there is always a job for a nurse somewhere, it may not be where you would pick first, but I think the jobs are out there.
you just have to expand your horizons of where you would take a position, gain some experience then you will be better set to move on.
good luck!

 

[*Fantasia*]

To add to the previous conversation, I do not think you have to have a calling to be a nurse. The honest truth is that I changed my degree in college because my twin sister did. She is afraid of needles and changed again soon after to business. I didn't want to do business and figured I would stick with nursing until I found something better. I guess I never found anything better. I did not really enjoy nursing until I found my current job. I did CVICU for 2.5 years and didn't like it, but knew the experience would help in the future. It did since my current boss likes to hire people with ICU experience. But, you couldn't pay me enough to go back. Just my opinion. (I'm sure this makes me sound shallow, but I hope I'm not!)

Fantasia, honestly I don't think you can go wrong with nursing. It's a great profession with tons of room for advancement, lots of different areas you can work in, and good pay.
the cons are depending on what setting you work in, you will work your behind off!!
but it is rewarding,..........most of the time

I disagree, I am one that did not ever have a calling for nursing. I had a bachelors degree in another field, was not happy in that work,so I decided on nursing for the good pay and that nurses are in demand. when I came out of my BSN program there was a serious shortage of nurses, I was able to pick and choose my jobs.
once I got into it,I found I loved it. but it was not a calling for me, but I am very happy with the choice to enter nursing.
so just because you don't have a calling, doesn't mean you won't love it.
and even if you did have a calling, you may find the reality of it to not be what you thought,
jmo

Thank you both for sharing your thoughts. I'm glad to know that you don't need the "calling" to pursue nursing. The "caling" that I have is to go back to school. And to me, that's a good call! To better my life is good thing. I'm a compansionate person, very caring and have patience. I think nurse might be good for me. Like I said before, I watched the nurses at the hospital and I just get fascinated and very intriged about what they do and how nice and compasionate they are to their patients.. It makes me want to be one of them. And I know it's rewarding to know when you made someone better or even feel better.

I know this may be a stupid question.. please forgive. I applied for a federal grant to see how much they can help me with the tuition. I got the grant amount based on the infos I gave and I gave them the college codes. I'm sure they will send me infos whether I am approved for grant. Do I start applying now for college? Or should I just wait for the federal to see if I am approved for grant? From what my friend's friend said that there is about a 2 yr wait for nursing here. I figured I can get the pre-requisite out of the way and hopefully by the time I am ready for nursing program, that the schoolsl here will be ready for me. I hope I am making some sense here. I'm sorry, I'm somewhat in the dark here. I went to college part time (long ago) and paid out of pocket so I didn't deal with any grants, so I don't know what to do since now I need help from the federal (if they can help me).

Thanks to anyone who can help me with this question. Like I said I appologize if this is a stupid question.. I'm just trying to figure out what I need to do.. or what's the first step to getting back to school.. Thank you so much for any help you guys can give me.

 

[Disneylover79]

Hello.. My name is Telly. I am thinking of going back to school. I'm thinking of going into Nursing. I think my main reason why I want to get into Nursing is that it's in demand. I'm just facinated and always curious about the nurses I see at the hospital. And I always tell myself that this is a good career to go into. And now that I am seriously thinking of going back to school, I'm just curious if Nursing is the way to go for me or maybe something else like Physical Therapist or maybe as a Medical Lab Technician (Med Tech) or something else..

I would like to know the pros and cons of being a nurse. I'm a single (widow) mom of 3 who would like to better my life so I can take good care of my family. I was in the optical field for about 13 years. I was an optician. And I just want to do something else. Thank you!

Can I just say that first off that is great that you are thinking of becoming an RN. If you want to see what nursing is all about then go to school (technical school) to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA for short)...you will get a good feel for what nurses do....good luck and feel free to ask anything you want, and we will try to help you

 

[Judy from Boise]

I don't think you need a calling to be a nurse. I work with too many crabby wenches to believe that most nurses have been called to their job!

actually I think you might be making my point.......unless nursing feeds your soul, or gives your life meaning, or makes you feel personally fullfilled, it isn't worth the paycheck alone. Grumpiness is sure to follow ! There really are easier ways to make money.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Can I just say that first off that is great that you are thinking of becoming an RN. If you want to see what nursing is all about then go to school (technical school) to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA for short)...you will get a good feel for what nurses do....good luck and feel free to ask anything you want, and we will try to help you

Thank you Disneylover! My friend thought it's great that I want to go back to school and I think so too! That's a great advice. Start from CNA to see if I want to pursue nursing. Thanks for the acronym. I don't know most of them. Yes, I thought the same thing.. maybe a technical school, but I think I'll do community college and take the pre-requisites for CNA. This is an associate degree right.. 3 years? What are the other acronyms? I read a few abbreviations here, but no idea what they are? Please explain. Thank you! CNA sounds good to me! Then work my way up if I want to further my education.

 

[xCourxCorex]

Thank you Disneylover! My friend thought it's great that I want to go back to school and I think so too! That's a great advice. Start from CNA to see if I want to pursue nursing. Thanks for the acronym. I don't know most of them. Yes, I thought the same thing.. maybe a technical school, but I think I'll do community college and take the pre-requisites for CNA. This is an associate degree right.. 3 years? What are the other acronyms? I read a few abbreviations here, but no idea what they are? Please explain. Thank you! CNA sounds good to me! Then work my way up if I want to further my education.

To my knowledge, to become a CNA, you just take a class (the Red Cross offers them, as do some LongTerm Care facilities) then you take a test to become certified. I know the Red Cross test is part written, and part skills demostration. No pre-reqs or college required. Maybe it's different in other states, but that's how it's done in Mass. Good luck!

 

[emh1129]

I hope to pursue my MSN as a CNM as well! I wish you the best in your last year of nursing school. My 3rd semester was my toughest as well. You are getting there! Have a wonderful spring break and hope you get a lot of rest!

Thanks! As luck would have it, the kids ended up getting sick with a stomach bug. Yuck. So it wasn't a very relaxing week. But if it had to happen, at least it was during a week when I didn't have to miss classes or clinicals, right?

 

[Judy from Boise]

My news is that next spring I am going to be teaching again. I was asked by the University where I taught for 3 years to teach the leadership and management course to the senior BSN students.My employer is going to release me to lecture 3 hours a week and not making me use PTO! Like most people I can use the extra money.....I am going to use it to frequently visit my DD as she starts college in Portland!
I am excited.

 

[Beka]

My news is that next spring I am going to be teaching again. I was asked by the University where I taught for 3 years to teach the leadership and management course to the senior BSN students.My employer is going to release me to lecture 3 hours a week and not making me use PTO! Like most people I can use the extra money.....I am going to use it to frequently visit my DD as she starts college in Portland!
I am excited.

Congrats!

 

[Sehsun]

Thanks! As luck would have it, the kids ended up getting sick with a stomach bug. Yuck. So it wasn't a very relaxing week. But if it had to happen, at least it was during a week when I didn't have to miss classes or clinicals, right?

Aww, I'm sorry. Hope your kids are feeling much better now!
Yes, that is true - I remember how strict the nursing programs are about missing clinicals.

 

[*Fantasia*]

To my knowledge, to become a CNA, you just take a class (the Red Cross offers them, as do some LongTerm Care facilities) then you take a test to become certified. I know the Red Cross test is part written, and part skills demostration. No pre-reqs or college required. Maybe it's different in other states, but that's how it's done in Mass. Good luck!

I finally talked to my sister who has BSN RN. She said to go for LPN or even RN. That's a big step for me! I was thinking of CNA. I have talked to the councelor at the community college and she said that if I go for LPN, I might have to wait a year to do RN because they only offer the RN on even number year (2010, 2012..) and they have to take those who are already in the RN program. They don't have those 2 yr waiting list (not like the Univerities)cause they go by the GPA. She said that the lowest gpa prior to becoming LPN is 3.6 I hope I am making sense here. I can only take 2-3 pre-requisite class in fall. That being said, it will take me a little bit longer to apply for the program.

 

[Judy from Boise]

you could certainly do both a RN or LPN program, and get certified as a CNA. Working through schools as a CNA is a great plan, especially if you can get into a hospital. Then you can possible earn tuition reimbursement, and get first in line for nursing job when you graduate,

 

[laurie31]

Certification as a nurse's aide is a simple matter, and many hospitals don't require it at all. But yes, working as an aide, whether you are certified or not, can be a great way to see what nursing is all about, plus you can get benefits (including tuition reimbursement) while you work, and get first dibs on nursing jobs when they become available.

Aides do things like take vital signs, change beds, assist with ADL (actvities of daily living - brushing teeth, shaving, feeding, etc. ) and can assist with some procedures.

I would recommend an RN program over an LPN program. It's not that much longer in school, but you can make much more money, and have many more job choices.

What were some of the other abbreviations you had questions about?



oh and Judy - Congrats on your teaching job!

 

[emh1129]

My news is that next spring I am going to be teaching again. I was asked by the University where I taught for 3 years to teach the leadership and management course to the senior BSN students.My employer is going to release me to lecture 3 hours a week and not making me use PTO! Like most people I can use the extra money.....I am going to use it to frequently visit my DD as she starts college in Portland!
I am excited.

Congratulations!!

 

[emh1129]

I finally talked to my sister who has BSN RN. She said to go for LPN or even RN. That's a big step for me! I was thinking of CNA. I have talked to the councelor at the community college and she said that if I go for LPN, I might have to wait a year to do RN because they only offer the RN on even number year (2010, 2012..) and they have to take those who are already in the RN program. They don't have those 2 yr waiting list (not like the Univerities)cause they go by the GPA. She said that the lowest gpa prior to becoming LPN is 3.6 I hope I am making sense here. I can only take 2-3 pre-requisite class in fall. That being said, it will take me a little bit longer to apply for the program.

Sounds like you have a lot to think about there!

I think, for me, it would come down to what each program would require: look at the course study- How many courses do you need? Do they have to be taken in a certain order? And then determine what kind of timeline you are looking at. And try to balance the courses out evenly, if you can (in terms of how difficult they are).

The LPN path might prove to be a good stepping stone. And then you could work as a LPN while pursuing a LPN-RN program later on.
It's hard to say without knowing all of those details.

For example, our RN-ADN program is often called a two-year program, but the pre-requisites alone take 2-2.5 years to complete before even starting the two-year nursing program-- just because they have to be taken in a certain order.

Much of that can be part-time, especially if you already have credits that could be transferred in. When I decided to pursue nursing, all I needed for pre-reqs were my Sciences (everything else transferred from my English major at another college). But it still took two years to get those all filled in, since one needed to be taken before the next, etc.
But taking one Science class at a time suited my needs just fine.. my kids are young & I was able to balance everything that way. The bonus was that I was able to keep my GPA high doing it this way.

Our school doesn't have a waiting list, either. Students are ranked based on "nursing" GPA (only certain courses contribute to this) and your TEAS score.
So if you can spread your courses out a little bit-- (can you take one this summer to lighten your fall load??) - it would help you to keep that GPA high.

Good luck!!

 

[xCourxCorex]

Just want to share my good news - I got an 86 on my Med Surg exam yesterday!

 

[er3465]

I just started my first day of nursing classes today! I am so excited to finally be starting, I know it will be hard, but worth it in the end! Its so cool to have found this thread!

 

[emh1129]

Just want to share my good news - I got an 86 on my Med Surg exam yesterday!

Congratulations!!

It must have been a good day for exams. I got an 85 on my Med-Surg exam. This one was mostly endocrine stuff, so there was a ton to memorize.
It wasn't the 90 I was shooting for, but I'm going to be happy with it

I am SO relieved it's over!

 

[emh1129]

I just started my first day of nursing classes today! I am so excited to finally be starting, I know it will be hard, but worth it in the end! Its so cool to have found this thread!

Good luck! Keep us posted on how the first few weeks are going

 

[*Fantasia*]

Sounds like you have a lot to think about there!

I think, for me, it would come down to what each program would require: look at the course study- How many courses do you need? Do they have to be taken in a certain order? And then determine what kind of timeline you are looking at. And try to balance the courses out evenly, if you can (in terms of how difficult they are).

The LPN path might prove to be a good stepping stone. And then you could work as a LPN while pursuing a LPN-RN program later on.
It's hard to say without knowing all of those details.

For example, our RN-ADN program is often called a two-year program, but the pre-requisites alone take 2-2.5 years to complete before even starting the two-year nursing program-- just because they have to be taken in a certain order.

Much of that can be part-time, especially if you already have credits that could be transferred in. When I decided to pursue nursing, all I needed for pre-reqs were my Sciences (everything else transferred from my English major at another college). But it still took two years to get those all filled in, since one needed to be taken before the next, etc.
But taking one Science class at a time suited my needs just fine.. my kids are young & I was able to balance everything that way. The bonus was that I was able to keep my GPA high doing it this way.

Our school doesn't have a waiting list, either. Students are ranked based on "nursing" GPA (only certain courses contribute to this) and your TEAS score.
So if you can spread your courses out a little bit-- (can you take one this summer to lighten your fall load??) - it would help you to keep that GPA high.

Good luck!!

Great advice.. Thank you. I need to take my placement test sometime this April or May. Then I have to let the counselor know what nursing I want so she can print out what pre-requisite courses I need to take this Fall. I wish I can take a class or two this summer, but we will be out on vacation. I definitely will not overload myself with classes. I think 2 or 3 classes would be just fine for me. We will see how it goes, then maybe next summer, I can take two classes. I just won't be able to take a trip.