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Message
Spinoff: Starting a new career by going to nursing school
Posted on 12/13/16 at 9:54 am
Posted on 12/13/16 at 9:54 am
I see a lot of threads about people who are unhappy in their current career, want to make more money, or go back to school. Besides trade school, nursing and programming seem to be highest on the list for those individuals and I wanted to see what the experience has been like for people that went back to school (or bootcamp for programming) and was it the right decision looking back.
I work for the state government and we aren't receiving yearly raises anymore and probably won't for a long time. I wanted to make more money while maintaining the job security that comes from working for the state so I decided nursing school (2 year RN) would be best so I went to Southwest Community College in Summit, Mississippi. I passed all pre-reqs and the TEAS exam with a 88% but never applied for the actual nursing program.
Almost everyone I know from my area that graduated RN school in recent years either quit working or only work part time because they hate it so much.
I work for the state government and we aren't receiving yearly raises anymore and probably won't for a long time. I wanted to make more money while maintaining the job security that comes from working for the state so I decided nursing school (2 year RN) would be best so I went to Southwest Community College in Summit, Mississippi. I passed all pre-reqs and the TEAS exam with a 88% but never applied for the actual nursing program.
Almost everyone I know from my area that graduated RN school in recent years either quit working or only work part time because they hate it so much.
19
Posted on 12/13/16 at 9:56 am to UnderhandRabbit
Friend of mine graduated with an English degree, realized she couldn't do jack with it, so went back to school for nursing and is making some pretty good $ now.
Seems smart.
Seems smart.
This post was edited on 12/13/16 at 10:00 am
Posted on 12/13/16 at 9:57 am to UnderhandRabbit
Don't become a nurse because you want to make more money.
Do it because you actually want to be a nurse. The people you know that quit....likely picked nursing for the money only and quit once they realized what the job really is.
FWIW....when I was in nursing school I was one of the youngest in my class at the time(22). Most of my classmates were in their 30s that decided on a second career later in life. Even a few in their 40s and 50s.
Do it because you actually want to be a nurse. The people you know that quit....likely picked nursing for the money only and quit once they realized what the job really is.
FWIW....when I was in nursing school I was one of the youngest in my class at the time(22). Most of my classmates were in their 30s that decided on a second career later in life. Even a few in their 40s and 50s.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:01 am to UnderhandRabbit
Also another thing to consider is that more and more hospitals all over the U.S. are wanting their RNs to have at least a BSN now. So research where you live at to see if that is the case there. You would have to be prepared to continue after you get your RN(I'm assuming this is an ADN program) in order to get your BSN.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:01 am to UnderhandRabbit
It's grueling work that you won't enjoy if you're just doing it for the money.
Both my parents are RNs, and my wife is in school to be one after several years working post graduating LSU for something else.
You really need to want to help people if you want to last.
Both my parents are RNs, and my wife is in school to be one after several years working post graduating LSU for something else.
You really need to want to help people if you want to last.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:02 am to UnderhandRabbit
With health care being crazy, you aren't guaranteed a yearly raise. You will always have a job. You will work weekends, evenings, nights and holidays. Be prepared for that. Good luck.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:04 am to MBclass83
quote:
With health care being crazy, you aren't guaranteed a yearly raise.
This is soooooo true. We didn't get a raise for almost 5 years and then the last raise we got was like 1%.
Many hospitals all over are facing serious budget issues. Sadly nursing is one of the first areas they cut.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:05 am to LNCHBOX
One of the main things I hear about the most is charting and how it's gotten worse and will continue to get worse. I guess like most things, it's not what it used to be.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:05 am to UnderhandRabbit
quote:
Don't become a nurse because you want to make more money.
This is good advice.
There are also many different jobs one can work as a nurse. My SO has a weekend position with a home health company. She works two days a week and makes between 50k and 60k. That's a lot different than grinding it out in a hospital.
Even the same job at different companies/hospitals/offices can be night and day.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:06 am to LNCHBOX
Programming is life in hell if your supervisor is an ordinary person or worse.
It requires nearly constant new learnings.
Some people thrive.
Bs rn is a passport.
Programmming is a visa. Renew.
It requires nearly constant new learnings.
Some people thrive.
Bs rn is a passport.
Programmming is a visa. Renew.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:08 am to lsunurse
I think a Nursing degree is a very good and versatile
degree. If you don't like it you can do other things (teach, Med sales) pretty easy. Also to make more money CRNA and Nurse Practioner are available. Also jobs everywhere. Plus I have friends who are travel nurses who love it.
degree. If you don't like it you can do other things (teach, Med sales) pretty easy. Also to make more money CRNA and Nurse Practioner are available. Also jobs everywhere. Plus I have friends who are travel nurses who love it.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:09 am to lsunurse
quote:
This is soooooo true. We didn't get a raise for almost 5 years and then the last raise we got was like 1%.
I think the higher starting salary, and opportunity for paid OT trumps not getting a yearly raise. It seems that a nurse can make as much money as they want to make and that is a big draw for people like me who work for the state or teachers.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:10 am to UnderhandRabbit
Before you enroll in an ASN program call the hospitals in your area to make sure they hire associate degree nurses. More and more hospitals are moving to only hiring BSN nurses. If you do go the ASN route you can do an ASN to BSN program online.
Get an idea on the job market where you live. Depending on your location pay can vary wildly. Nurses in Baton Rouge, where there are 6 or 7 nursing schools earn 3 or 4 dollars an hour less than nurses in New Orleans.
Above all, don't get into nursing for money. You have to want to be a nurse, or you will be miserable.
Get an idea on the job market where you live. Depending on your location pay can vary wildly. Nurses in Baton Rouge, where there are 6 or 7 nursing schools earn 3 or 4 dollars an hour less than nurses in New Orleans.
Above all, don't get into nursing for money. You have to want to be a nurse, or you will be miserable.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:10 am to UnderhandRabbit
quote:
One of the main things I hear about the most is charting and how it's gotten worse and will continue to get worse
You are constantly having to chart more and more stuff now. Hospital reimbursements can depend on if certain things were charted properly. Hospitals can lose $$$ if the nurses/physicians are not charting specific things on patients.
Also...with the budget issues many hospitals are increasing the numbers of patients nurses normally take. In some cases...they are really overstretching the nurses to the point where it's almost unsafe in some instances. There is actually gonna be a huge nursing rally in D.C. this spring about it, demanding for national mandated patient:nurse ratios because it's such a huge issue right now. It's a huge reason why I'm leaving a bedside nursing job, I don't feel like I can give the care my patients deserve because of the hospital's unrealistic demands.
Not trying to scare you away from nursing school btw. Just want to give you an honest head's up on the current state of nursing in many areas.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:10 am to UnderhandRabbit
Wait, your name is Gay-lord Focker?
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:14 am to Lithium
quote:
I think a Nursing degree is a very good and versatile degree. If you don't like it you can do other things
This is a very good point. If you get tired of one area of nursing there are many other areas you can try out.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:15 am to lsunurse
Nursing strikes me as a profession where the bloom is off the rose so to speak. Reminiscent of pharmaceutical sales in the 90's when it was at its heyday. Even medical device reps aren't seeing as lucrative results as they did say 10-15 years ago.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:16 am to tankyank13
Actually some of the best ER nurses are male.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:19 am to UnderhandRabbit
You will need to be sharp in the sciences. This is no easy degree. You need to put in the work to succeed. If you get through, you will always have a job though.
Posted on 12/13/16 at 10:22 am to Lithium
quote:
Actually some of the best ER nurses are male
And from what I hear, it can be easier to get a job as a male nurse for this very reason.
Most of the graduates from my area get hired at North Oaks in Hammond and start out around $25 a hour.
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