Nurses

[cyndibelle]

How long did it take you to become a nurse and what kind of classes and requirements are there...i am thinking of going back to school and i am interested in nursing...any info would be great...also what is the average pay a nurse makes starting out ....

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Well, I'm an associate degree nurse who is now working on my BSN. If you can go full time, it can be done in 2 years but it is a FULL TIME course load. Very hard to do if you work or have a family. If you get your core classes out of the way (and each school has their own requirments) you still have a minimun of 2 years of nursing classes but it's much easier to get through the nursing when you don't have to focus on Microbilogy or Chemistry while you're doing it.
If I had to make one recommendation, it would be to go straight in to a BSN program. I wish I had. But that was 15 years ago and so much has changed in nursing.
Good luck to you.

 

[clarabelle]

I can't help with the starting pay -because I haven't worked for ten years
But...
I have an associates degree -technically a two year degree -but most of us did it in 3 years.
After the degree you have to take state boards and if you pass you can get a job as a nurse. (RN) Most people already have a job. You will have no trouble getting a job -but you may not get the shifts you want or the area you want right away.
I am sure others with more current experience will chime in
By the way ... If I were doing it now I would get a bachelors degree -but it was not available to me at that time

 

[mermaidlady]

I got an AAS from a community college it took my 4 years but I did all my prereq's part time first. When I got into the program went full time and finished it in 2 years we had to follow the course curriculum with the nursing classes. I started out making $9.50 an hour but that was in 1987 I don't know what the starting rate is now.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Ahhhh, forgot the salary part. I graduated in '92 and started at $11.01/hr. I now work weekend shifts only and get a substantial differential for that...I'm at just under $40.00/hr now. But that is with many years experience and willing to work EVERY weekend in a large metropolitan area. I'm not sure what starting pay is now.

 

[barkley]

around here it depends on what you're going for. the local community college has both an rn and an lvn program. there's a longer rn program at the colleges that offer a bachelor's degree in conjunction with it. starting wage can vary if you are going to work for a hospital or a service-and some of the non unionized hospitals pay more to their nurses in hopes of keeping the union out. also the nurses that are technicaly 'county employees' (county owned hospital, health clinics and such) get lower wages around here but much better benefits and retirement packages than their peers in private employment.

the community colleges around here require a couple of classes be taken and passed at a certain level before you can even apply for the program (i think it's the basic english class, math at a certain level, and chemistry-and you have to check what the prerequisits are for those classes because you might have to take a couple of other classes before you can take those).

oh-and during times of nursing shortages a couple of hospitals here have offered programs wherein they enter into a contract that pays all school costs and provides a small living stipend to nursing students who them become obligated to work for so many years at a somewhat lower salary than the other nurses in house.

 

[pearlieq]

One local hospital around here offers $16.50/hr plus shift differentials.

My aunt temps for $40 in the Toledo area. There's always work if she wants it!

 

[cyndibelle]

ok my next question is whats the best websites etc to look for info on nursing school etc...thanks for all the info given..

 

[Poohlovr]

I started as an LPN, which took 1 calendar yr of classes (in actuality, nine months of classes--the year included summer vacation).
After that, I took a LPN to RN bridge program, which took 1 year.

So, I had an associates degree in less than 2 yrs, while other nurses I know who have gone straight into an associate degree program took 3-4 yrs to finish because the pre-reqs took 1-2 yrs to complete and then 2 yrs of nursing classes.

Around here, RNs start at about 16-17.00/hr now. The pay rate is the same for BSN or Associates degree.

Nursing homes in my area generally pay more than hospitals, but I don't know how much.

 

[cyndibelle]

poohlovr what hospital do you work at

 

[golfgal]

Nurses around here make a LOT more then most of you are making. A friend of ours was making $48,000/year 10 years ago working 30 hours/week straight nights (we were helping here with some financial info to buy a house that is why I know exactly what she was making). She has a 4 year degree and had about 5 years experience then. Nurses now make well over $50,000. Not sure what starting is exactly, but probably close to $40,000.

 

[roseprincess]

As of RN wages, just depends where you are working and shift differentials(hospital, nursing home, Dr office,etc). Where I live, RNs that work in a hospital in the city make a little more than out in the burbs. If you are an RN and work in the nursing home, they make less /hr than at the hospitals. The night shift differential anywhere is more than working day shift. I worked in nursing homes as an RN for a few yrs. before I became a SAHM.

 

[Poohlovr]

poohlovr what hospital do you work at

I work for Norton Healthcare. The group has 5 hospitals in our city + multiple physicians groups and Immediate care centers.


A new RN grad starts at about 30,000/yr base pay. Most nurses work 12 hr shifts 3 days/week. There is a shift diff for any hrs past 3:00 pm. We also have a WOW program, where you make quite a bit more per hour for working every week-end. There is also a program called PCIP, where you make extra money for orienting new nurses or serving on committees or any extra things like that. (Right now, I am orienting a new nurse and am on a committee for our new computer system, so I expect to add a couple of $1000 to my pay for that.)

We also get 10.00 extra when we work extra shifts to fill in shortages. I don't do that often these days (too lazy), but, added about $5,000 to my base pay one year when I decided I had some extra energy.

Obviously, the more years you work, the more you make per year. I've been a nurse for a few years, now.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I got my BSN right after high school twenty years ago. I started out working night shift making about $27000 in a city hospital. Per diem night shift at the same hospital right now make $46/hr. Going away to college at 18 was a great experience. But, if i had to go to nursing school at an older age, I would recommend an associate two year program. You can take your boards, start working as an RN, and have your job pay for your continuing educationif you decide to get your BSN. Just my two cents.

 

[lesroi]

My husband is a charge nurse in the ER at a local hospital. He has 2 degrees; a Bachelor's in Biology and a Bachelor's in Nursing (BSN). He had his Biology degree first and then was accepted to the "Accelerated BSN" program at St. Louis University. (This program condenses a 4 year BSN into ONE YEAR!) It is very hard to get into and very hard to complete (not to mention expensive) but worth it. He had a good 10+ years of emergency healthcare experience before he started the program as well. He also got his Biology degree at St. Louis U. I would recommend that program if you already have a Bachelor's degree in something else. That is the only way to get accepted.

Good luck to you! I think it's a great career. Depending on where you go, you can make excellent money and have a wonderfully flexible schedule.

Tracy

 

[sugarpie]

I'm a nurse with a BSN and I work every other weekend in a hospital and am on call at a nursing home. I make A LOT more than some of the numbers being thrown around here. Nursing assistants make $14 or $15 an hour here, and my base rate is more than double that.

I love being a nurse, there's good money, and great job security, but nobody will ever tell you it's easy.

 

[Cool-Beans]

There are almost as many ways to become a nurse as there are types of nursing jobs!

IMHO, on average, the best people come out of hospital-based programs. They get more clinical experience. The hospitals in Cleveland that have nursing programs have all partnered with colleges so that their graduates have an Associate or Bachelor's, not just a diploma. There are waiting lists to enter the programs, some are longer than others. I dunno about Cincinnati.

If you aren't sure about whether it is for you, get a job as an aide. See if you like it. You also get some hospital experience, even if it is just wiping butts.

And don't let the math or science crap scare you - you can do it! It isn't as hard as it seems. My first day in Anatomy, the professor's first words were, "Osteocytes are surrounded by lacunae..." and I thought, "Oh, God, I'm already lost! I'll never be able to do this." It gets better! I, for one, would be happy to help. We need good people.

I don't think there is a more rewarding job on the planet. Honestly. I love it.

Be a nurse!!!