[dansingrn]

EliseM-
Glad you are considering becoming a nurse! Just to clarify some...RN isn't a degree, it is a license. There are several ways to be eligible to take the RN licensure exam. A BSN is a 4 year degree. There is also the Associate's Degree, which is usually 2 years plus a full year of prerequisites. Some states still have diploma schools which last usually 3 years, but do not award a BS or AA degree. These programs allow you to take the licensure exam also. For nurses who already have an LPN license, they can take a bridge program to earn an associate's degree and take the RN licensure exam. Likewise, RNs with associate's degrees can earn their bachelor's degree by completing a bridge program. Confusing?! In other words, several education/degree options, one licensure (RN).
All of these education options prepare you to pass the board exam, not to specialize in a particular area of nursing. Many BSN programs offer a "capstone" experience during the last semester where you can choose a specialty area to complete many clinical hours; sometimes graduates get hired in the very place they got their capstone experience. Most nurses specialize by either getting hired right in or transferring to their area of interest after a year or two of more general experience. After getting some experience in the specialty area, most specialties offer a certification exam that provides "certified" credentials in that area (for example: CDE= certified diabetes educator, CCRN= critical care, etc.) Hope this helps!

[shinyblackcar]

And some programs screw over their students by deciding half way through their BSN degree that they're not going to have a choice of specialty area for transition (capstone). Grrrrr.

[lei7]

For our BSN program, only the students who reached a certain level of competency on a practice med-surg NCLEX-type exam get to choose a specialty, everyone else has to do med-surg.

[mpalta]

Hello, this might be a dumb question but i tried looking it up before asking and couldn't find the answer i needed so i'm just gonna ask it: what is a "freestanding hospital"? for anyone who can give me the answer thank you!!

[elizabells]

Originally Posted by mpalta

Hello, this might be a dumb question but i tried looking it up before asking and couldn't find the answer i needed so i'm just gonna ask it: what is a "freestanding hospital"? for anyone who can give me the answer thank you!!

As opposed to a peds floor (or several floors) in a hospital that also has adult patients. Usually called "XXXXX Children's Hospital" or some such.

[spottybug]

I'm a new grad RN and I work in a free-standing Children's Hospital on a hem/onc floor- I love it.

[BumblebeeRN]

I work at a freestanding peds hospital in miami- and its great. Just peds patients everywhere. no adults.

[Alloush]

Salam

looking forward to be in an oncology/pediatrics unit
just waiting the interview with the director