Any nurses here?

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Replies

  • obrendao
    obrendao Posts: 318
    RNs are the best! :)

    Its very interesting, because where I live, the strongest program is the ADN program at my community college. The university's program does not hold a candle, even though its BSN.

    Every hospital in the area hires graduates of my CC's ADN program because we are MORE prepared than the uni students. I think it is strange, but then again, we have amazing professors, our program is very strict and disciplined, and the students were very competitive getting into the program. As such, our CC has a 100% NCLEX pass rate. The recruiters hear where we graduated from and they are on us like white on rice.

    I am glad I picked my CC for my ADN program, because there is ALWAYS an ADN to BSN bridge program I can do later! :)
  • apriltrainer
    apriltrainer Posts: 732 Member
    RNs are the best! :)

    Its very interesting, because where I live, the strongest program is the ADN program at my community college. The university's program does not hold a candle, even though its BSN.

    Every hospital in the area hires graduates of my CC's ADN program because we are MORE prepared than the uni students. I think it is strange, but then again, we have amazing professors, our program is very strict and disciplined, and the students were very competitive getting into the program. As such, our CC has a 100% NCLEX pass rate. The recruiters hear where we graduated from and they are on us like white on rice.

    I am glad I picked my CC for my ADN program, because there is ALWAYS an ADN to BSN bridge program I can do later! :)

    lpns are still sexier..

    ;)
  • obrendao
    obrendao Posts: 318
    RNs are the best! :)

    Its very interesting, because where I live, the strongest program is the ADN program at my community college. The university's program does not hold a candle, even though its BSN.

    Every hospital in the area hires graduates of my CC's ADN program because we are MORE prepared than the uni students. I think it is strange, but then again, we have amazing professors, our program is very strict and disciplined, and the students were very competitive getting into the program. As such, our CC has a 100% NCLEX pass rate. The recruiters hear where we graduated from and they are on us like white on rice.

    I am glad I picked my CC for my ADN program, because there is ALWAYS an ADN to BSN bridge program I can do later! :)

    lpns are still sexier..

    ;)

    I can tell! :) heehee I should have said "NURSES" are the best! My faux pas. I'm just excited because I start my last year at the end of this month. I'm still just a lowly student nurse! :)
  • OnionMomma
    OnionMomma Posts: 938 Member
    Did any of you switch careers to go to an RN program?

    I am a teacher by trade but in our area with budget cuts, I'm thinking about starting all over again and going RN?

    I can work while taking my pre requs, I'm just wondering about actual nursing school, it's 18 months here.

    I just worry about making ends meet (husband 1 son) when I have to do school full time. I wonder often if I should just enter school full time and take out loans to cover everything until I"m done. It would take me 3.5 years if I did that.

    Any advice....I know I want to RN not anything else.

    In the future I'd like to do Home Health Nursing as a HHC nurse made a HUGE difference in our life with our son. Either that are a Land D nurse.
  • Nursing was a career switch for me. I was an occupational therapist and had set up an OT program in a residential psychiatric setting right out of school. When I burned out on psych and wanted to get back into the physical medicine side of things, I started thinking about being a RN (with plans to become a nurse practitioner once I had some bedside experience under my belt), or a physician assistant. NP's generally have more autonomy and I knew bedside experience would help me develop the bedside manner that some physicians are lacking, so I chose to get my RN. I went to a post-baccalaureate nursing program so I was a RN 16 months after program completion. I started out as a new grad in ICU (the odds of that happening nowadays, though, is pretty rare).

    I am a critical care nurse by training, but have now stepped away from direct bedside care and am a palliative care RN. I assist pt and families with diagnoses that are life-shortening with end of life issues and medical decision-making. Basically, my job is heavy on pt advocacy and pt education, with connection to outside resources for differing levels of care once pts discharge to the community. I would advise you if you want to go into nursing, go for the RN. With a LPN, you'll find yourself limited in both where you work and pay. Most hospitals are steering away from hiring LPN's (esp if they are going for Magnet status), so your job market gets limited to long term care or MD offices. Also, with a RN, it's easier to advance yourself, should you choose. LPN's don't make it to upper management or speciality areas without returning for a BSN or MSN. Also with a RN, you can more easily make the transition to a nurse practitioner program/ nurse anesthetist program, should you find you want that challenge (I have my MSN- now just finishing up a MSN to nurse practitioner program).

    One thing I will say is make sure you're going into it because you love nursing/ medicine, NOT just for the cash. The cash is incentive for the really tough days, sure, but nursing is a full-contact sport (hard on the body), can be mentally draining (some studies have found nurses have PTSD rates comparable to combat veterans), and can be thankless-- doctors, patients, fellow nurses, etc. They say veteran nurses "eat their young", and several nurses seem to want to take that literally. My first year was one of the toughest in my life. But, looking back, that constant testing really made me a better nurse. Make sure you have a thick skin and a strong stomach (I've seen things that would curl most people's toes). The nurses I've met who got into it just for the cash ended up quitting as soon as they could financially swing it.

    That said, being a nurse means you are constantly learning (I could be a full-time student! I love learning), you can make a difference in a person's life when they're at their lowest, and it gives you tons of opportunities for branching out after you have a few years of experience under your belt. Nursing as a profession is very diverse-- there's a niche for everyone. You can go into management (corporate), medical sales, case management.... even in bedside nursing, there are so many specialties that you can't help but find something you'd enjoy. I'm an adrenaline junkie, work well under stress, and am very detail-oriented-- all traits necessary in critical care. Put me in a room full of ill pregnant women, and I start to freak out (OB was my most disliked clinical experience EVER). ;-) My body just couldn't take the bedside any more (I have defective knees LOL), so I switched to the role I'm in now. I still get to spend a lot of time in the ICU, and my background helps me explain the doctor's diagnoses in layman's terms to families so they actually "get" what's going on.

    If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
  • monica2434
    monica2434 Posts: 88 Member
    I would suggest becoming an RN, or go straight for BSN. But I also see your plans of working in a long term care facility........which warrants you to only have a LPN license, ALL the RNs I know here in Dallas that work in those settings are HIGHLY under paid.........but condisering what you do there.......I guess its okay. Whatever you choose, you have to remember to do whats best for you, and makes you happy. In Dec, I'll be an RN for 9 years.......I'll graduate with my BSN also this Nov. Personally I did it just to have it....for now, could possibly go on the grad school, so I can teach.............far in my later years......before I retire.

    I'll advise you don't choose Nursing just for the money............yes the money is decent, but you have to love what you do. Trust me without my husband's added income...........I wouldn't be able to live the way I do and have all the things I have. Nursing is a very rewarding field and its also very stressful......and its NOT about the money (which I think we ALL are grossly UNDER PAID)....it's about safety and compassion.

    Just my two cents..............BEST of luck........ whatever your choice maybe.........
  • monica2434
    monica2434 Posts: 88 Member

    Anyways...I shall leave this forum because I have a feeling this is going to be turning into a lpn hate thread.

    @apriltrainer: I LOVE YOUR HONESTY. I've had the luxury to precept many new grads who I feel should have choose another field( but that's just my opinion). Some have other people in their family in the medical field,, but most I've come across stated their 1st choice was based ont he money aspect of it. I've witnessed many of them get fired during and/or after internships and many who have lost thier license years later.... I see where your coming from, but not everyone bashes LPNs. Trust me just because one has RN initials behind thier name on a badge, mean thier better and definitely NOT smarter. My godmother is an LPN and she's one the smartiest and most advanced nurses I know.
  • Onaughmae
    Onaughmae Posts: 873 Member
    I was an LPN first. I am currently an RN (BSN) and am in grad school working on my Nurse Practitioner. I would suggest just going for the RN. LPNs are slowly being phased out and it is harder for them to find work. The hospital I work at is now phasing them out entirely. You can work as a CNA while going to nursing school for the extra income. Best of luck to you!
  • slboling
    slboling Posts: 117 Member
    I am proud to say that I am an LPN. My only reason for going for my RN is money. I work in an ICU. I am ACLS and PALS. I am the BLS Instructor for the RN's. So many places are phasing out LPN's. I think that all LPN's or LVN's should be proud of the amazing job they do and the care they give. OK, now here's my answer. RN gives you more choices and better money, but LPN/LVN is a fantastic job. Sorry for the soap box.
  • slboling
    slboling Posts: 117 Member
    Also, I agree with @apriltrainer, LPN/LVN's are sexier.
  • MrsCCWoods
    MrsCCWoods Posts: 142 Member
    I'm a nurse i would say go right to RN

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  • Go for rn I have with 3 sons
  • angelbaby52102
    angelbaby52102 Posts: 42 Member
    lpns are sexier.

    ;)

    LOL!! Someone just said that to me the other day..too funny!
  • angelbaby52102
    angelbaby52102 Posts: 42 Member
    Go for your RN it's cheaper in the long run and its so hard to get hired in a hospital setting as an LPN. I am an LPN currently in school to obtain my RN and so wish I had went straight for my RN. I wish you the best of luck.

    Kim Tiller LPN

    This is what I've been told a lot too, I will have to still work full time while going to school, our local technical school offers a great part time lpn program which is what I was thinking and then working as an lpn while transitioning to rn rather than the whole time as a cna..
  • TylerJ76
    TylerJ76 Posts: 4,375 Member
    I am taking a couple classes this semester to try and get my foot in the door to get into our nursing program here. It is TOUGH.
  • tishajo
    tishajo Posts: 142 Member
    Bump. I have a few more classes to take before I can apply to a nursing program. :smile:
  • apriltrainer
    apriltrainer Posts: 732 Member
    No matter what nurse you are..be ready to spend holidays apart from your family! The first 3 Christmases, Thanksgivings, etc. I celebrated after becoming a nurse...were with my patients.
  • christine24t
    christine24t Posts: 6,063 Member
    I just got my BSN and just found my first job after spending May-July searching. There are a ton of RN nursing jobs...but they will not hire new grads in many urban areas, as the demand is higher. In rural areas, you will most likely get hired quickly, but not in urban settings. I am lucky to have found a job!

    However, I love nursing so it was worth the wait to find a job!