Question for the nurses out there.

[DLgal]

I am considering going to school to become an RN. I am not considering a BSN to start with, just a 2 year ASN degree. I will be somewhere between 40-42 years old when I begin. I have been a SAHM for 14 years and want a career that I can start in the next few years once my kids are older/ more independent. I want something that is a portable career that I can do no matter where we live and that is a high demand job.

My question is this: are there any types of jobs open to entry level RNs that do NOT require working in a hospital? I am fairly sure I would not do well with 12 hour shifts and working overnights is pretty much out of the question due to migraines and the need to keep a consistent sleep routine (lack of sleep or poor sleep is my major trigger). It seems like most nurses go straight to hospitals post graduation, but are there other options?

I am trying to determine the feasibility of this as a career for me. I am also considering the CNA/CHHA path so that I can work more flexible hours as an in home caregiver or at an assisted living facility, with the possibility of pursuing the RN later if I want to.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

This is the boat that I was in. After doing more research I will definitely be going for my BSN though. Check the job listings in your area and get some feelers out there.

I was a stay at home mom for almost 8 years when I decided to go back to school and I’ll be 32 when I start the nursing program. I’m far from the oldest student at my school. It’s not easy but very rewarding.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Also, some states are starting to require that RNs eventually earn a BSN. In NY for example it’s something like, as of last month, RNs have to get a Bachelor’s degree within 10 years. The only people grandfathered in are current RN’s and current nursing students.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I might be the wrong person to ask because I do believe in the BSN as the entryway to practice. Nurses have to be on the top of their game today, and Aiken's studies have proven that there is a difference, which has led to the RN requirement of having a BSN if not already then by a certain date. Look into what it means to have Magnet Status. (I wrote quite a bit about this on a thread about a month ago.)

I've also worked with a lot of newer nurses who went into it for the wrong reasons and that generally doesn't go so well. I didn't hear anything in your post about wanting to go into it to help people; just what you want out of it. I'm saying that not to criticize, but to point out that nursing is not a career that gives much to you; you give to it. If that makes sense.

Sure, you have some level of job security. And the pay has generally improved. But depending on where you work, things can be rough, especially when you're new, and especially given all the changes in the healthcare environment we're seeing now. There is an awful lot expected of the RN regardless of the setting. If you've gone into it because you want certain things, you could be disappointed. Most flexibility and better pay, after you get some time under your belt, does come in some hospitals. The jobs that have no weekends or holidays or night shifts generally pay the least, "for the privilege".

I'm not saying you shouldn't, but I think you should seriously think long and hard about going into a career that's generally one of giving, if that's not why you're going into it. Patients deserve to have nurses that want to be there to care for them when they need us. YMMV

 

[DLgal]

Thanks, I am in CA in an area seemingly saturated with job opportunities. Most places prefer the BSN or have a requirement to earn it within 36 months of beginning employment, but many don't require it. My issue is that there aren't any schools nearby where I could get a BSN (meaning, most local programs are heavily impacted and have requirements for prior work in the health care field if you aren't a new HS grad in addition to very stringent GPA guidelines for prior bachelor's degree, which I don't meet--the two that are close by require a 3.5 or higher GPA in order to enroll in the program that allows you to skip all the GE requirements because they only enroll 24 students per year...my college GPA was 2.7). I will not pay $35k/year to get a BSN at a private university. On the other hand, there are several RN programs nearby that I could easily get into and would be easy to attend classes at and only cost around $6k for the whole program. There are also several RN-BSN bridge programs in my area that I could do later if necessary.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Also, some states are starting to require that RNs eventually earn a BSN. In NY for example it’s something like, as of last month, RNs have to get a Bachelor’s degree within 10 years. The only people grandfathered in are current RN’s and current nursing students.

This is true. But even those grandfathered in are having a hard time moving from whatever position they're already in if they don't have their BSN. Some are stuck in positions they're unhappy in because they can't make even a lateral move. There is a lot of pressure that way to get that degree long before the ten year mark expires. This is the reality I'm seeing. I have friends that said no way are they going back, but they've found they're stuck if they don't.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

This is true. But even those grandfathered in are having a hard time moving from whatever position they're already in if they don't have their BSN. Some are stuck in positions they're unhappy in because they can't make even a lateral move. There is a lot of pressure that way to get that degree long before the ten year mark expires. This is the reality I'm seeing. I have friends that said no way are they going back, but they've found they're stuck if they don't.

Yep. My grandmother in law(is that a thing?) was a nurse for 40 years and just retired. When she found out my plans the first thing she said was, “You’re getting your Bachelor’s right?”

 

[Jaime4004]

I think it would be hard to find jobs as a new RN with an associates, like PPs said, most of the jobs I see are looking for BSN. Have you thought about an LPN instead? There are some flexible jobs for LPNs in homecare and assisted living facilities.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yep. My grandmother in law(is that a thing?) was a nurse for 40 years and just retired. When she found out my plans the first thing she said was, “You’re getting your Bachelor’s right?”

Exactly. Then you have the nurses that say don't go into it at all!

 

[DLgal]

I might be the wrong person to ask because I do believe in the BSN as the entryway to practice. Nurses have to be on the top of their game today, and Aiken's studies have proven that there is a difference, which has led to the RN requirement of having a BSN if not already then by a certain date. Look into what it means to have Magnet Status. (I wrote quite a bit about this on a thread about a month ago.)

I've also worked with a lot of newer nurses who went into it for the wrong reasons and that generally doesn't go so well. I didn't hear anything in your post about wanting to go into it to help people; just what you want out of it. I'm saying that not to criticize, but to point out that nursing is not a career that gives much to you; you give to it. If that makes sense.

Sure, you have some level of job security. And the pay has generally improved. But depending on where you work, things can be rough, especially when you're new, and especially given all the changes in the healthcare environment we're seeing now. There is an awful lot expected of the RN regardless of the setting. If you've gone into it because you want certain things, you could be disappointed. Most flexibility and better pay, after you get some time under your belt, does come in some hospitals. The jobs that have no weekends or holidays or night shifts generally pay the least, "for the privilege".

I'm not saying you shouldn't, but I think you should seriously think long and hard about going into a career that's generally one of giving, if that's not why you're going into it. Patients deserve to have nurses that want to be there to care for them when they need us. YMMV

Wow, that's quite a lot of judgement based on my very specific question. I have always wanted to help people. I wanted to be a doctor from the time I was young. Unfortunately, personal issues at the time I was an undergrad derailed that dream. All these years later, I am still interested in being in healthcare and helping people. You should have figured that out from the fact that I mentioned going the caregiver route. I worked for several years for a home care agency before I had kids, so I am well versed in that whole world. Money is not even a factor in this decision, to be frank. We don't need the income. I need to move onto a new focus now that my kids are getting older. FWIW, they are both special needs kids and I have been "helping them" learn and grow and be the best they can be for 14 years now...I didn't get the standard "mom" job, I got one infinitely more challenging, and I have done a pretty good job, if I do say so myself. Just to further satisfy you, I am pursuing a job with the school district later this year as an instructional/behavioral assistant for special education students. I feel I have a lot to offer with my life experience and I want to pay it forward for as many struggling kids as possible. I want to give back to the school district that has helped my kids so immensely. Maybe that job will be it for me and I'll do it for the rest of my life. Who knows? I am simply considering a few options and looking for some feedback. Your high horse attitude isn't helpful.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks, I am in CA in an area seemingly saturated with job opportunities. Most places prefer the BSN or have a requirement to earn it within 36 months of beginning employment, but many don't require it. My issue is that there aren't any schools nearby where I could get a BSN (meaning, most local programs are heavily impacted and have requirements for prior work in the health care field if you aren't a new HS grad in addition to very stringent GPA guidelines for prior bachelor's degree, which I don't meet--the two that are close by require a 3.5 or higher GPA in order to enroll in the program that allows you to skip all the GE requirements because they only enroll 24 students per year...my college GPA was 2.7). I will not pay $35k/year to get a BSN at a private university. On the other hand, there are several RN programs nearby that I could easily get into and would be easy to attend classes at and only cost around $6k for the whole program. There are also several RN-BSN bridge programs in my area that I could do later if necessary.

I understand. The CA and MA landscape and job markets for RNs in healthcare are pretty similar.

So you realize that a lot of places you've seen in your area have a BSN requirement. That should tell you something. These are likely the better places to work as an RN. See if they have Magnet Status. They call it Magnet because those are the places that attract and keep nurses, so they looked at the how and why of that, and developed this credentialling to mirror it at different institutions. These are the places that patients are now seeking to go to to get their care, so working conditions are going to be better there in terms of nursing education, safety, staffing, work/life balance, etc. This is where you'll likely want to work, kwim? If places don't have Magnet status now, they'll be striving for it. It's hard for me to explain what it's like to work in a terrible place as an RN. You basically get burned out in a very short time and wonder why you ever went into it in the first place. Where you work will be limited because you will have to find a place that's willling to hire you with just an ADN (and little to no hospital experience!).

Many nurses are doing their BSNs online now. Or at least a lot of the classes. Would that be an option for you?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Thanks, I am in CA in an area seemingly saturated with job opportunities. Most places prefer the BSN or have a requirement to earn it within 36 months of beginning employment, but many don't require it. My issue is that there aren't any schools nearby where I could get a BSN (meaning, most local programs are heavily impacted and have requirements for prior work in the health care field if you aren't a new HS grad in addition to very stringent GPA guidelines for prior bachelor's degree, which I don't meet--the two that are close by require a 3.5 or higher GPA in order to enroll in the program that allows you to skip all the GE requirements because they only enroll 24 students per year...my college GPA was 2.7). I will not pay $35k/year to get a BSN at a private university. On the other hand, there are several RN programs nearby that I could easily get into and would be easy to attend classes at and only cost around $6k for the whole program. There are also several RN-BSN bridge programs in my area that I could do later if necessary.

I don’t know how I missed this...
Are the RN programs where you are not competitive? They are very competitive here and not so easy to get into(or stay in for that matter).

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Wow, that's quite a lot of judgement based on my very specific question. I have always wanted to help people. I wanted to be a doctor from the time I was young. Unfortunately, personal issues at the time I was an undergrad derailed that dream. All these years later, I am still interested in being in healthcare and helping people. You should have figured that out from the fact that I mentioned going the caregiver route. I worked for several years for a home care agency before I had kids, so I am well versed in that whole world. Money is not even a factor in this decision, to be frank. We don't need the income. I need to move onto a new focus now that my kids are getting older. FWIW, they are both special needs kids and I have been "helping them" learn and grow and be the best they can be for 14 years now...I didn't get the standard "mom" job, I got one infinitely more challenging, and I have done a pretty good job, if I do say so myself. Just to further satisfy you, I am pursuing a job with the school district later this year as an instructional/behavioral assistant for special education students. I feel I have a lot to offer with my life experience and I want to pay it forward for as many struggling kids as possible. I want to give back to the school district that has helped my kids so immensely. Maybe that job will be it for me and I'll do it for the rest of my life. Who knows? I am simply considering a few options and looking for some feedback. Your high horse attitude isn't helpful.

I am being honest. I'm sorry you didn't find it helpful or it wasn't what you wanted to hear. I'm just telling you the reality, and what I saw in your OP. I would love to help you in any way I could. We need nurses. But as I said, I've worked with lots and lots of nurses in my 30+ years as a nurse, and this is how I see it.

 

[DLgal]

I understand. The CA and MA landscape and job markets for RNs in healthcare are pretty similar.

So you realize that a lot of places you've seen in your area have a BSN requirement. That should tell you something. These are likely the better places to work as an RN. See if they have Magnet Status. They call it Magnet because those are the places that attract and keep nurses, so they looked at the how and why of that, and developed this credentialling to mirror it at different institutions. These are the places that patients are now seeking to go to to get their care, so working conditions are going to be better there in terms of nursing education, safety, staffing, work/life balance, etc. This is where you'll likely want to work, kwim? If places don't have Magnet status now, they'll be striving for it. It's hard for me to explain what it's like to work in a terrible place as an RN. You basically get burned out in a very short time and wonder why you ever went into it in the first place. Where you work will be limited because you will have to find a place that's willling to hire you with just an ADN (and little to no hospital experience!).

Many nurses are doing their BSNs online now. Or at least a lot of the classes. Would that be an option for you?

Yes, I could do an online program. I would actually prefer that, but the only online programs I have seen for BSN are the bridge programs.

I can do all the ASN program prerequisites online prior to enrolling in that program which is helpful.

I just don't want to waste time and money doing the non nursing bachelor's degree GE classes. I already have a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and don't need to redo all those humanities classes...no desire for that.

 

[sonnyjane]

Thanks, I am in CA in an area seemingly saturated with job opportunities. Most places prefer the BSN or have a requirement to earn it within 36 months of beginning employment, but many don't require it. My issue is that there aren't any schools nearby where I could get a BSN (meaning, most local programs are heavily impacted and have requirements for prior work in the health care field if you aren't a new HS grad in addition to very stringent GPA guidelines for prior bachelor's degree, which I don't meet--the two that are close by require a 3.5 or higher GPA in order to enroll in the program that allows you to skip all the GE requirements because they only enroll 24 students per year...my college GPA was 2.7). I will not pay $35k/year to get a BSN at a private university. On the other hand, there are several RN programs nearby that I could easily get into and would be easy to attend classes at and only cost around $6k for the whole program. There are also several RN-BSN bridge programs in my area that I could do later if necessary.

It might say “preferred” and not “required” in your local job listings, but I’m certain they would choose the BSN applicants when hiring, especially if you have no prior experience.

 

[DLgal]

I am being honest. I'm sorry you didn't find it helpful or it wasn't what you wanted to hear. I'm just telling you the reality, and what I saw in your OP. I would love to help you in any way I could. We need nurses. But as I said, I've worked with lots and lots of nurses in my 30+ years as a nurse, and this is how I see it.

It's not that it wasn't what I wanted to hear. It's that you extrapolated a whole bunch of stuff from my post that was based on perhaps YOUR experience, but not relevant to who I am and what my intentions are.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes, I could do an online program. I would actually prefer that, but the only online programs I have seen for BSN are the bridge programs.

I can do all the ASN program prerequisites online prior to enrolling in that program which is helpful.

I just don't want to waste time and money doing the non nursing bachelor's degree GE classes. I already have a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and don't need to redo all those humanities classes...no desire for that.

If you already have a degree, then you should look into an Accelerated BSN program.

 

[DLgal]

It might say “preferred” and not “required” in your local job listings, but I’m certain they would choose the BSN applicants when hiring, especially if you have no prior experience.

Well, going by the ASN program I am interested in, 90% of graduates find full time nursing employment within 6 months of graduation. So, clearly places are hiring the RNs...

 

[DLgal]

If you already have a degree, then you should look into an Accelerated BSN program.

I have. As I already posted, the local programs (one at a University of California and one at a Cal State) are impacted and have raised their GPA requirements to 3.5. In addition, the UC requires that the Bachelor's be in a science. I do not live close enough to other accelerated BSN programs with lower GPA standards although many of them require the bachelors degree to be no more than 10 years old. Mine is 17 years old.

 

[Action City]

Well, going by the ASN program I am interested in, 90% of graduates find full time nursing employment within 6 months of graduation. So, clearly places are hiring the RNs...

Who is hiring them, though? Skip the Associates and get a BSN. There is a reason many places are phasing out the associates nursing program.