from a potential student...

thisnurse · Oct 17, 2001

hi shannon..

wow so many questions!

ill answer what i can based solely on where i work.

nursing is becoming more flexible. for example, where i work they are offering a weekend option. you only work fri-sat-or sun, 2-12 hour shifts. you get paid 32.00 an hour and you get health benefits and 24 hours vacation time per year. if you call off twice in a year you are let go.

there is no life or disability insurance offered with that , no pension, and no other benefits. but this is great for the second income person who doesnt need benefits and is more concerned about child care.

im sure there are many oppurtunities like this nationwide.

there is always that debate about the ADN vs BSN. what i have done is to complete the 2 yr ADN first and while i am working i will go back for my BSN. the hospital will pay for this if i promise to work there for a specific amt of time. it all depends on how fast you want to start nursing and what your long term objectives are. right now the BSN nurses get one or two dollars an hour more than the ADN's and diploma nurses. im going back for my BSN, not for financial gain but because i like to challange myself and i enjoy learning.

clinicals are about 4 to 6 weeks long and you dont get to choose. you get a wide variety of experiences in the different disciplines and you may even find that you dont want to be an ob/gyn nurse

in favor of another specialty. (thats what happened to me)

you get a more rounded experience and education this way.

most hospitals have a registry where you can work only when you WANT to. you make your own schedule. where i work there are no benefits in the registry but you get paid more. the way the shortage is now most hospitals would be glad to have you even once a month!

as for salary and benefits, i think new nurses in our area make around 15-17 an hour. benefits include health insurance, life and disability insurance, paid vacation, sick days, pension and savings plans. among others i cant think of at the moment.

i work at a hospital that has one of the biggest birthing centers in the city. they hire new nurses for there all the time so i dont see that you would have much of a problem getting hired for ob/gyn right away.

as for the pros and cons. all you need do to see the cons is read this board so ill not go into them. but i will tell you what the pros are as far as im concerned.....

you are able to help ppl in a way that few others can. this profession is one that really gives back to society. its important work and very satisfying.

you will have no problem getting work anywhere in the world and you will always be able to take care of yourself. i hope this helped

good luck to you and i want you to know that i think its wonderful you have goals and plans for your future. you will do well

Jacaut · Oct 17, 2001

Hi Shannon!

I'm a first year nursing student here in Oregon. I can't answer all of your questions, but I have a few bits of information and advice that might help.

First of all, I would highly recommend getting your degree no matter what- every mother should have the ability to support her family should the need arise- and children are expensive! Also, I recommend waiting to start a family until you have the degree (if possible) because both school and children require a great deal of attention. If you already have a child or children, then the road will be a bit tougher. Small children have hard time understanding the concept of study time! That said, nearly every woman and man in my class has children, including myself. It can be done!

OHSU has a wonderful internet program that allows working RNs to get their bachelor's degree after finishing their two year. This gives you options. You can get your two year degree and continue school while you are working. You can go ahead and get your four year degree- which tends to pay better and gives you more status (and responsibilities) and which allows you the option of immediately pursueing a masters. You might eventually want to become a midwife, for example.

Yes, you have to do everything in clinicals, but it's great experience and gives your nursing more depth. It would be hard to really understand all of the care being given to a pregnant woman who has cancer if you have never set foot in radiology, for example. You wouldn't be able to help her deal with upcoming and ongoing treatments nearly as well. I also look at it this way- it's a great way to sort out where my talents lie and what I really like and dislike in nursing.

My school is like this: Mondays I have class from 9:00 until noon. Tuesdays are labs from 9-12. Wednesdays class again from 9-11 and Thursdays are clinicals from 7-3pm. All of this changes next year (or possibly next semester!). I am also taking a computer course for my own benefit, since I have already completed all of the courses required for my degree. There is a large test every week or two, and additional lab hours are a very good idea! Every school has its own program and scheduling, but I thought this might give you a good idea of what is in store. Also, I went to school full time for nearly two years before getting into the program. There are a lot of hoops to jump through- but it is worth it if this is where your heart lies.

Maybe you haven't heard about the nursing shortage- this means there are many options out there for nurses- and many jobs!

One last idea- your school may have a CNA class. Mine didn't, but one of the local high schools does. You could also try the local community college! Becoming a CNA is a requisite for nursing programs in this state (although when it's required by varies) and it's another chance to get experience and information. It pays better than McDonalds and there are lots of jobs out there in different settings. Check it out- and good luck!

Jackie