I'm thinking about getting my BSN

[Jen in Van.]

Hello to all out there,

- I'm a Registered Nutritional Consultant looking (maybe) to do my BSN. (I see the bachelors program is getting some heat but I agree that training does not represent the type of care you will provide-)(the loan forgivness program is promising for me- 2 yrs in rural area and 40% of my loan is paid, 5 yrs and it is all paid.- and rural isn't really super rural according to the listing--)

I am having a hard time figuring out all the areas for RN's

ie. Acute care, rural, 1st nations, pediatric, ICU etc....

is there somewhere where I can see all my options?

When would I focus in on one area??

Would this be after the 4 yrs?

Upon graduation do I have to work in a hospital?? or can I opt to work in a different environment- what would those options be??

thanks guys-

[fergus51]

If you are in BC, you should know that this probably only applies to your provincial student loan, not the federal portion. AND only if you get a regular position (casual doesn't count).

[adrienurse, LPN]

Regarding areas that are open to you as a new graduate, the possibilities are endless. Homecare, acute care, public health, longterm care, Psych, Rehab, outpost... the list goes on and on. Don't let anybody tell you that you have to work in a hospital after you Graduate. I went into Long term care after I graduated with my BN from The University of Manitoba. Some say that the best place to start out is up north or else in a rural hospital so that you are exposed to all areas of nursing. The choice is really yours. Check out the Canadian Nurses Association homepage for all the recognized specialties.

[Jen in Van.]

thanks Fergus- I'll keep that in mind. Is it hard to find perm. work? Even if I will work in a small rural town?

[Jen in Van.]

thanks for the words of support Adrienne! I have been starting to wonder if the world of nursing is going to fit with my ideas... but this helps. Thanks! ~ Jen

[fergus51]

Rural hospitals offer the best job opportunities for new grad RNs right now. The good thing about the shortage is that even some specialties that used to be off limits to new grads (like OR and ICU and ER) are opening up, and in a rural hospital you often work in all areas. They also offer specialty training for their staff in a variety of areas. I think rural is an excellent way for new grads to get experience and figure out where they want to work. You just have to be up for anything! You can often arrange rural practicums during your schooling and I know Williams Lake has a nurses' residence you can live in while doing this and they are aggressively recruiting new staff. I did a placement there when I was in school and loved it. I moved to the US because believe it or not, there weren't any jobs available for nurses at the time!

[globalRN]

I started out in acute care medicine...in a large teaching hospital.

Teaching hospitals are good for keeping up-to-date. If you want to go to rural areas...BC has many nice small towns. I did my masters clinical in a small town and loved the community.

Small town nursing can give you an opportunity to try many different departments but....they may not be as progressive or as research-based as the staff you find in large teaching hospitals. The teaching hospitals tend to have departmental support for research and staff development and perhaps even CNSs.

Going for a BSN is a good move....Just my two bits.