OT - Nurses, need advice

[lisakramer]

Hi all - Not sure exactly where to post this, my apologies if this is in the wrong spot.
I just lost my job and am now planning to go back to school to get my degree in nursing. I know that this will be at least 2 years worth of hard work, but I am committed to it.
I already have a BA and an MBA, so I am able to take an accelerated program and get out in about 2 years with either a BSN or an MSN depending on the program I choose.
I guess I'd just like some idea of what to expect from school and what it's like to be a "bedside" nurse when you first get out of school.
I'm in the Cincinnati, OH area, if that matters.
Oh, and if anyone wants to contribute some sympathy for losing my job, that would be ok too!

 

[CammelleandBre]

Sorry about your job. I'm a nurse in the Cincinnati area. I'm going to tell you right now clinicals do not prepare you. I don't really know about the job search. I was offered my position during while I was doing preceptor. I Love being a nurse. Good Luck.

 

[SDSorority]

Hi all - Not sure exactly where to post this, my apologies if this is in the wrong spot.
I just lost my job and am now planning to go back to school to get my degree in nursing. I know that this will be at least 2 years worth of hard work, but I am committed to it.
I already have a BA and an MBA, so I am able to take an accelerated program and get out in about 2 years with either a BSN or an MSN depending on the program I choose.
I guess I'd just like some idea of what to expect from school and what it's like to be a "bedside" nurse when you first get out of school.
I'm in the Cincinnati, OH area, if that matters.
Oh, and if anyone wants to contribute some sympathy for losing my job, that would be ok too!

If you're wanting or willing to come up to Columbus, Capital University has an Accelerated Nursing Program for folks who have a bachelor's degree in another field. http://www.capital.edu/accelerated-bsn/

If you're interested.

 

[furb & dez]

Is anyone else thinking ahead 5 years from now when there will be a glut of nurses due to everyone and their brother jumping into the field now?

 

[jackie101]

I became an RN 4 years ago. best decision I have every made. Nursing school was very challenging. I got my associates degree. Then about a yr or so after I went back on line through Chamberlain to get my BSN.
I did it with 4 small children at home and a very supportive husband. Seems like most new grads may have to start off in a nursing home, which is a small sacrifice. I started off in an acute rehab and now I work per diem at a hospital. I love the flexibility.
In the future, when my children are older I would love to do home Hospice nursing.

Good luck!

 

[stefplus3]

Sorry about your job. I'm a nurse in the Cincinnati area. I'm going to tell you right now clinicals do not prepare you. I don't really know about the job search. I was offered my position during while I was doing preceptor. I Love being a nurse. Good Luck.

Very similar input from me but I'm in Boston. Real life is NOTHING like being a student nurse. I also was offered a job at the end of precepting and was thankful for it because so many of my friends were not able to find jobs or had to take jobs that they didn't love. I've done med/surg/ortho nursing in a hospital for almost 2 years. I'm now looking for a new job so I'm on the hunt.

 

[StayCool]

When you first get out it can be overwhelming. The new responsibility of people's lives can feel like a ton of bricks. And having a few patients as a student nurse is not the same as having them all to yourself. That being said, you will have support as you transition from student to nurse. Just remember, there are no stupid questions. If you aren't sure always ask. It could save someone's life and your job. With time and experience will come confidence.

And to the OP that thinks there will be a glut of nurses: that's not going to happen. Between the baby boomers aging and the fact that turnover is high fit nurses, there will always be jobs. They just may not be the ones people are looking for.

 

[dakcp2001]

Hello, sorry to hear about your job loss! What field were you in? What draws you to nursing? What type of nursing would you like to do?

My best advice is this:

1. Do some research now IN YOUR AREA to see how the job market is for new grad nurses. It is really bad in some areas, and I would hate for you to spend the time getting a degree that will not lead to a position. Don't listen to that nursing shortage garbage, it is not true everywhere. There is a shortage of experienced nurses willing to work for less money, there is NO shortage of new grads trying to land jobs.

2. Get a job as a Tech, NA, or CNA during nursing school. This experience will help you tremendously as a nurse, and help you get a foot in the door and make some connections for when you graduate. Try to get a job as a tech in the specialty you want to work in.

3. Bedside nursing is tough, mentally and physically. Your first year or two you may need to do night shift. You will need to be able to work nights, weekends, holidays, whatever it takes to get that foot in the door. There are a lot of places to go in nursing, and a lot of jobs with better hours, but you are not going to get any of them unless you have some experience.

4. Are you physically able to lift, bend, push, pull? Be on your feet for 12 hours? It gets easier with practice, but it can be hard at times. Can you handle body fluids? Blood, guts, vomit, poop, urine?

5. Choose a school that offers a preceptorship at the end, this can help you land a job in a tough market. Also, be nice and make friends at clinical. Make the staff on that floor want to work with you or hire you.

Nursing can be a great rewarding career, as long as you go in with eyes wide open. The first year is tough. Nursing school is also no picnic. But if you can get through nursing school and your first year as a nurse, you can do anything! There is a forum called allnurses dot com, you should give it a look.

 

[MickeyManiac]

Is anyone else thinking ahead 5 years from now when there will be a glut of nurses due to everyone and their brother jumping into the field now?

I'm not a nurse but DH is. Yes, there have been a lot of people deciding to go to nursing school for the past few years. The programs around here all have 2+ year waitings lists. But, due to the poor economy a lot of nurses are working longer (retiring later). As the economy turns around I think we will see a large turnover and need for newer nurses. There will always be sick/injured people and there will always be a need for good nurses.

 

[furb & dez]

As the economy turns around I think we will see a large turnover and need for newer nurses. There will always be sick/injured people and there will always be a need for good nurses.

True, but many hospitals are experimenting with importing nurses from other countries, particularly nurses from the Phillipines. They'll work cheaper than Americans...

 

[RitaE]

True, but many hospitals are experimenting with importing nurses from other countries, particularly nurses from the Phillipines. They'll work cheaper than Americans...

Healthcare is in such a flux I have no idea where nursing demand is headed.

On one hand you have our incredibly aging and sickly population and on the other hand you have cost control measures which are pushing a lot of "nursing care" onto family members shoulders.

The schools around here are packed full and the hospitals and healthcare systems are merging left and right. I think most nurses can get jobs here, but it might not be the type of nursing they'd pick.

 

[bear_mom]

I teach nursing clinicals and work as a floor nurse.

My advice: meet with as many different schools as you can and determine which will be the best fit for you in regards to timing and work expectation. Around here some school are wait listing or are going on a point system for admittance. Wait listing is pretty easy, once you finish your pre-reqs you are put on a wait list in numerical order and once your number comes up you can register for nursing classes. Another school has gone to a point system, you get points for GPA on pre-reqs, experience, and test scores. Those with the highest points get in.

I would really think long and hard about the on-line schools. I know a few co-workers (those who have worked in the hospital for many years) and they found them to be hard.

Nursing is rewarding, challeging, and hard. There are days when I leave work and I am totally burnt out. I get home and I have a hard time getting through the rest of the night (physically and/or mentally) and dh has to do most of everything with the kids.

 

[ekatiel]

Have you thought about going to Physician Assistant school instead? You may have to do a couple of post-bac undergrad courses in the sciences (if your major was not in the sciences), but after that you could start on the PA program right away (unlike a MSN program to become a nurse practitioner where you'd have to do coursework to get you RN license first). NPs and PAs are pretty much treated the same and have about the same payscale (My DH is an NP, and where he works, they are paid exactly the same and do pretty much the same job). Here's a list of the top PA schools: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/physician-assistant-rankings. Here's a salary scale: http://www1.salary.com/Physician-Assistant-Medical-Salary.html-- this scale actually looks a little low to me. I've thought about going back and becoming a PA (I'm a teacher with a master's in teaching-- I'm a SAHM right now, though). I could work half-time and make the same as I would teaching . --Katie

 

[luvthemouse71]

Is anyone else thinking ahead 5 years from now when there will be a glut of nurses due to everyone and their brother jumping into the field now?

Never mind 5 years from now..it's happening already. I know new grads that graduated in May and still don't have a job. The nursing shortage is a myth. Many employers don't want new grads- too expensive to train.

OP , just be aware that you will be lucky to find a job right out of school. You may have to take any job just to get that experience .

School is often like boot camp. It can be very tough emotionally.it pays to be tough and not overly sensitive. It also takes a big part of your life. Lack of sleep is a big part and it helps to have a good support system.

 

[jaminmd]

True, but many hospitals are experimenting with importing nurses from other countries, particularly nurses from the Phillipines. They'll work cheaper than Americans...

These are not day laborers, they are professionals. The nurses we recruit from the Philippines get paid the same salaries that US nurses do.

 

[Robbi]

My niece had great grades and still would have had to wait 2 yars to get into anursing program. Instead she got her LPN and then appled to an online nursing school. She was able to do her clinicals at the local hospital. During school she had to fly twice to Dallas for her exams. Then she took her state boards. Both the LPN and online RN took about 2.5 years which was not bad at all. She was working as an RN while her friends were just finishing their 1st semesters of nursing school. Kathy is an average student so I'm sure the OP with both her bachelors and masters degrees woud be fine. She did LPN work and worked on her online classes during her off hours.

 

[sarah4770]

I was a nurse for 23 years. I cannot do it now because my back is just done for. Now I work for half the pay............ but, I never had a problem finding a job. All I had to do was show up for the interview.... seriously, you will never lack work. I was unprepared for my back injury. I was a trach/vent pediatric nurse, I am now back in college, looking to a new field. Just have a back up plan. If you get hurt, or have any licensing issues ( and they do come up, don't say it can never happen to you), you really don't have any transferable skills. so get the degree, enjoy your career, but be prepared in case you cannot practice any more. Always have an interest in something else. It will save you financially and emotionally.

And furb........ I don't know where you get your information from?????????

 

[FlyingDumbo]

My local hospital is currently hiring just a few new grads, IF they did an externship there, at a rate of $5 an hour LESS than new grad nurses made 5 years ago.They are getting half of the amount of training and it is almost always cut shorter due to "staffing needs" and the nurses are left to sink or swim. So salary is going down and jobs are harder to get. In my area, nursing is not a good field to go into. Higher patient/nurse ratios and very high burnout rate. New nurses have less than a 50% retention rate at this particular place of employment, but it is the only place that will take new grads. Most quit when the stress gets to be too much. Be sure to do your research. A lot of it. And a lot of people who have been nurses forever are completely oblivious to the decreasing starting wage and "wage freeze" meaning no raises that newbies are getting. They are not making good money and are getting worked near to death.

 

[sarah4770]

True, but many hospitals are experimenting with importing nurses from other countries, particularly nurses from the Phillipines. They'll work cheaper than Americans...

I worked in fl hospital, orlando on Rollins st.. There were Philippine nurses that made more than me and got room and board to boot.

 

[sarah4770]

My local hospital is currently hiring just a few new grads, IF they did an externship there, at a rate of $5 an hour LESS than new grad nurses made 5 years ago.They are getting half of the amount of training and it is almost always cut shorter due to "staffing needs" and the nurses are left to sink or swim. So salary is going down and jobs are harder to get. In my area, nursing is not a good field to go into. Higher patient/nurse ratios and very high burnout rate. New nurses have less than a 50% retention rate at this particular place of employment, but it is the only place that will take new grads. Most quit when the stress gets to be too much. Be sure to do your research. A lot of it. And a lot of people who have been nurses forever are completely oblivious to the decreasing starting wage and "wage freeze" meaning no raises that newbies are getting. They are not making good money and are getting worked near to death.

I got a job in healthcare at a rate half my previous pay, I was/am shocked. So yes, I would agree with your statement.