Any LVN'S or RN'S here?

[PuppyLovinNurse]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I'm a BSN RN, but not currently nursing. I would def. recommend you get your BSN if you're even thinking about going into the business or industry side of nursing; or, if you want to advance to mgmt. eventually.

The BEST part of nursing is caring for people, which you don't always get to do in the way you'd want to.

About 2 years after graduating, I went into industry - worked for a pacemaker/defib company for 7 years. I had about a 2-3 hour territory and had to be present for every pacer/defib implant surgery - and help the surgeons/cardiologists/electrophysiologist through the surgery. The pressure was IMMENSE bc there was a ton of life/death responsibilty placed in your hands - both bc of the way I had to test/stress/temporarily stop the patients heart AND bc sometimes, I knew more than the doc and basically had to WALK them through the surgery.

I was on call for every hospital, ER, cardiologist, and clinic in my area - almost 24/7. VERY stressful.

Learned more than I ever thought possible - but there are no words for how demanding and draining this job was. I also had to do follow-up clinics for all the patients in my territory. Also had to educate the docs, staff etc. on new pacer/defib technology and proved CEUs.

I then moved up to Corporate HQ and worked in global education, program marketing, and finally VIP Physician Relations (in Heart Failure).

So, there are a LOT of areas you could work in w/ a nursing degree - not just conventional hospital nursing.

I agree it's worth it to "get it over with" and get your degree from the get-go. It's only 2 extra years of school and then you don't have to worry about having to go back to school in the future should you decide you want to go into management.

Everywhere in Canada, except Alberta, you can't do the 2-year RN program anymore. There's only degree nursing now. It's been that way for about 2-3 years now. If I'm not mistaken, this is Alberta's last year of having the RN program, too, but I'm not positive on that.

[nvnvgirl]

To the person who asked: ADN is an Associate Degree in Nursing; that's basically a 2 year academic degree, as opposed to the diploma (nursing school) degree, which was a 3 yr program...I'm not even sure if they've got those anymore for RN's.
I also agree with those who have suggested to just get it over with and get your BSN....I had only my ADN and got very far in my profession, but it would be next to impossible anymore to achieve what I did without at least a Bachelor's degree if not a Master's.....I was extremely fortunate, b/c I wound up after nursing school, going to a major university teaching hospital, where I learned and was encouraged to learn, more than I ever could have otherwise. And I put myself into situations where I HAD to learn, or be humiliated and useless.
Yes, some of the higher paying and more prestigious positions are extremely stressful, but that's WHY they pay more. At least, as a rule. And those jobs are not jobs that a newly graduated nurse would have anyhow. I remember thinking when I got hired into the cardiac surgical ICU, having NO IDEA what cardiac surgery really was at that point; "WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO????" and just kind of freaking out that I'd be entrusted with someone so incredibly ill with ALL those things hooked up to them . The good thing about nursing is that most institutions do not eat their young . They have mentoring programs and lots of resources to help you learn and adjust to what you'll eventually expected to do on your own. I think it's really one of the best professions that offer that sort of support. And if you are just as prepared as you can be for the situation you'll be thrown into (which will expand and improve with time), and admit when you don't know something (the WORST thing is to act like you know something but don't and don't bother to find out~ it will catch up to you every time!), you'll find that there are a lot of people you work with willing to help you.
The worst thing about nursing is the bureaucracy that exists and as one person mentioned, not being able to care for your patients the way you'd like to. I remember when I was in nursing school, I worked as an aide, and we gave all our patients a backrub at bedtime. I believe that the human touch really helps people feel better, and I miss that. Even in the ICU, the RN's did that....but it's not exactly like that anymore, and that's the only thing I really wish would change. It's a financial/staffing thing of course~ one and the same. That and the constant documentation anymore. It kind of takes away some of the joy, but it's a necessary evil.
Just enjoy the learning process; it never ends in the medical field, that's for sure, which is what makes it such a dynamic and interesting job .

[nvnvgirl]

Oh..and I forgot to add...(I swear, this will be my LAST comment, I think, hehe)....that it's normal to be anxious/scared when you have to do something new and different....whatever it is, and no matter how much experience you've got. I always tried to expand my expertise and that meant putting myself out there and honing my skills, but to do that, you have to expose yourself to the next step which is scary....I remember waiting for an infant heart surgery patient to come back to the ICU, and thinking again, "what have I gotten myself into? There's too much to know and too much to do and ...." I actually considered just throwing myself down on the floor and start kicking and crying, thinking maybe then, they'd send me home, so I wouldn't somehow, in my vast ignorance, kill the baby when it got there (nevermind that probably 10 physicians and assorted allied health professionals would be accompanying the baby, along with me having 2 very seasoned RN's to help me out )....I think maybe I felt almost the same way when we had to show how to fold a washcloth to give a bedbath, rofl.....it will all turn out fine and you'll learn and become adept at it....it just takes time and experience. And if people try to make you feel like you're dumb or a loser b/c of inexperience, just remember that they're probably insecure and not all that either. Just take a deep breath, try to think rationally and ask questions. It's the ones who DON'T get anxious that scare me...it's usually b/c they don't have a very good grasp of the situation. GO NURSES, GO NURSES, LOL

[genie]

I have been a RN for 9 years. I worked in OB for 10 years (3 years as OB Tech and 7 years as RN) and I loved it. The Ob dept I was working in closed due to the doctors quit delivering because they could not afford their malpractice insurance when the rates went up. I worked at 2 other hospitals after my I left my first hospital and I had to work night shift. I just could not adjust to nights anymore, so I went back to my first hospital (the place I feel at home and I love everyone and all the doctors) and started working in the emergency room. I had already worked in the emergency room there before to help out during busy times or when OB was slow so I already knew all the nurses and doctors very well and the routine so when I went there to work it was like coming home.

I loved labor and delivery and I feel like that is where I belong. I like ER ok but I never grew to love it like I did OB. The ER is very stressful and a high burn out rate because of the abuse you get from a lot of the patients.

I have been working prn for 10 months now. I only work once a month or once every 2 months. I just felt like I needed a break. That is the good thing about nursing. I can take off a year and at any time I want I can go back and find a job anytime.

There are so many different jobs that you can have in nursing. So many different departments or facilities that you can work at. It is very rewarding. I felt like that I made a difference in someones life everyday. When you can make someone feel better in any way then it is worth it, but when you play a part in saving someones life then there are no words to describe how you feel. Even when you loose a patient you can still help their family. I have had family memebers of patients that I lost come back to the hospital and thank me and hug me for being so nice to them.

To be a good nurse you need to have compassion. It doesn't matter how smart you are or how many certifications or qualifications you have (it helps) but all of that is nothing if you have no compassion for people. Compassion is something that most nurses start out with having but loose somehow during their careers. So you have to always be aware that there is someone vulnerable that is in your hands and you need to always treat them like you would your family. When things get busy and fast and you don't have time to even go to the potty try not to be discouraged. When the demanding patient at the other end of the hall keeps pushing the call light don't smother them with a pillow...LOL...just hang in there, it will be worth it. If things get too stressful for you, you can always try another department (or take a year vacation like I did). As long as you have a nursing liscence you can have a job somewhere.

[Ciera's mom]

I was in school working toward my RN when I found out I was pregnant with my first son. I was only in the first semester, so that really put a halt to things. Now we live in GA and away from all our family, but maybe are getting ready to move back home. If we do, I will start school back immediately, and if not, when my kids start school I plan on going back. However, I have worked as a anesthesia tech in the OR and also worked as a medical assistant and phlebotomist in OB and I LOVE both. I have done my share of work in family practice too and my ideal work place would either be in the OR or OB. I have seriously thought about doing the CRNA.

[cindy0721]

CRNA? What is that exactly?

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by cindy0721

CRNA? What is that exactly?

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

[Gracie2006]

I am an RN of 24 years. I love the flexibility the career provides. I love teaching and helping other people. I stopped clinical/hospital nursing in 1990 and have been working in insurance and consulting ever since. I got tired of the politics and staffing shortages, not to mention the hours that hospital nursing involved. If I had it to do over again, I would!

[cindy0721]

may i ask ..did any of you work at least part time while going to school... I am doing my LVN first and i might have to work part time at nights.... has anyone been through this ?

[MikaTallulah]

I am a BSN, RN, in a long-term state developmental center. I Love my clients but can do without some of the other staff, but I think that holds true with almost any job. I do what I like, and I like what I do.

[RowdysMom]

Originally Posted by cindy0721

may i ask ..did any of you work at least part time while going to school... I am doing my LVN first and i might have to work part time at nights.... has anyone been through this ?

I teach in a school of nursing and yes, most of my students work parttime. I think it is unusual for them to NOT work.

I think it would be better if they didn't, less stress, more time to study - but that is not the norm.

[PuppyLovinNurse]

Originally Posted by cindy0721

may i ask ..did any of you work at least part time while going to school... I am doing my LVN first and i might have to work part time at nights.... has anyone been through this ?

I work as a casual RNA. I don't have scheduled hours, I'm basically on call 24/7. I could work every day if I wanted. They call about 3x day for me to work...I only take hours when I want them/can handle them.

I love this because it's so flexible. If I have an exam coming up, I don't have to worry about using my PTO hours to take some time off to study, I just say no to the shifts when they call.

I don't get benefits, but I get them through school so I'm covered either way. I do get 28% added to my hourly wage in lieu of benefits though which is fine by me

[cockerduchess]

Originally Posted by cindy0721

may i ask ..did any of you work at least part time while going to school... I am doing my LVN first and i might have to work part time at nights.... has anyone been through this ?

My dh "MAN" has been working full time plus a 2nd job on the weekends from april-october with my business while going to nursing school in August he will starts his 3rd semester.

[nvnvgirl]

I worked full time while I was going to school. But I worked in the hospital and if I'd worked a double shift (this was back in the days of 8 hour shifts), sometimes my teachers would be easy on me, LOL. Also, I had already taken all the usual prerequisites before I got into the nursing program, so I only had my nursing classes to deal with. I think it might be harder if you have to take EVERYTHING you need for a degree AND work, but I know a lot of the other students in my class were doing it. I was glad that I'd already gotten everything else out of the way first!

[Wylie's Mom]

I worked PT at the VA while in nursing school - I loved it bc so many of the patients had no visitors ever - and I'd give them extra TLC and talk with them alot.