Weekend Only Nurse?

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 29, 2011

[quote=NAURN;5311695

Oh and the ADN takes more like 3 years, a year of pre reqs and 2 years of nursing school

*** That depends. Here in Wisconsin technical colleges the ADN is desined to be finished in two years. There are no college class prereqs, just CPR, CNA, high school chem, back ground check, HS grad or GED and immunization record. many, many people finish in two years from start to finish, others take longer by choice or circumstance.

IMO three years for an ADN is kind of a rip off for the student.

Rntr · Jun 29, 2011

I've done this with Rehab.... look there. You will need to get Rehab training and then go for it....

NAURN · Jun 29, 2011

I don't believe the 3 year adn is a rip off at all. It's only a rip off if you want to be a bedside nurse forever. Having a lot of the pre reqs out of the way, like college level a&p, chem, micro, english, math, psychology etc... I am better prepared to further my education. If you do the 2 year and then want to get your BSN, you will have to turn around and take all those pre reqs anyway.

Direct Entry MSN programs are designed to allow the student to go from RN-BSN to the MSN without working as a nurse first. A lot of MSN programs want you to have a certain number of years of nursing experience before you can apply to a program. The direct entry option allows you to not have to do this if bedside nursing was never your goal.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 29, 2011

I prefer weekends fulltime, BECAUSE the population is out there doing everything. I like weekdays off when everyone else is working, because I don't have to battle the crowds.I'm not anti-social, just a little asocial. And it is so satisfying to sleep in on a Monday AM while the 'rest of the world' commutes:zzzzz:p

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 30, 2011

I don't believe the 3 year adn is a rip off at all.

*** I mean students are being forced to attend and pay for three years of school to recieve a two year degree.

It's only a rip off if you want to be a bedside nurse forever.

Having a lot of the pre reqs out of the way, like college level a&p, chem, micro, english, math, psychology etc... I am better prepared to further my education. If you do the 2 year and then want to get your BSN, you will have to turn around and take all those pre reqs anyway.

*** Do you think that those who complete their two year degree in nursing in two years haven't taken every single one of those classes you mention? How would one become an RN without taking college level A&P, micro etc?

The ADN programs here in Wisconsin require all of those classes (obviously), they are just not prereqs to get into the program.

Direct Entry MSN programs are designed to allow the student to go from RN-BSN to the MSN without working as a nurse first.

*** All the direct entry programs I know of are designed to allow the student to go from non-nurse to nurse. If one is already an RN-BSN how is it a direct entry program?

A lot of MSN programs want you to have a certain number of years of nursing experience before you can apply to a program. The direct entry option allows you to not have to do this if bedside nursing was never your goal.

*** All of the direct entry MSN grads I know are working as staff RNs same as those with ADNs and BSNs are.

Tarabara · Jul 1, 2011

Wow, thanks for the speedy and informative answers.
I've got another question. She mentioned she only had an associates or maybe she said she only went to college for two years, something like that.... so does that mean she's an LPN right? But I think she called herself an RN... I thought RN needed a Bachelors which takes four years?

To be quite honest, this^ plus your original post make me feel like you're just looking for an easy quick way to make decent money. Nursing is by far not something to go into for that reason, its hard work and a difficult degree, plus a lot of the time it takes longer than 2 yrs because of lengthy wait lists...If i'm way off on this then I apologize but this is how you came off to me. Good luck to you

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2011

To be quite honest, this^ plus your original post make me feel like you're just looking for an easy quick way to make decent money. Nursing is by far not something to go into for that reason, its hard work and a difficult degree, plus a lot of the time it takes longer than 2 yrs because of lengthy wait lists...If i'm way off on this then I apologize but this is how you came off to me. Good luck to you

Another person's reasons for entering the nursing profession are none of our business. If someone wants to do nursing for a quick way to earn some decent money, all power to them. It is not up to us to determine the 'right' or 'wrong' reasons for changing careers. The monetary aspects are very significant.

In addition, virtually none of us would arrive to work day after day, week after week, without some form of monetary compensation. Imagine being told by the payroll people that they can no longer pay you. Would you respond, "That's okay! Compassion is going to pay my bills, and my love of people is going to keep a roof over my head."

jaznia15 · Jul 3, 2011

Our weekend program is a bit different. Ours requires That You work two weekend days and one weekday for ur 36 hours. On the weekend days You get paid wow (work on weekends) pay which is a $5.50 added to the weekend differential ($3) and night shift differential if u work night shift. Its a really good deal for those working nights cuz Fri, sat, and sun count as weekend days. Alot of ppl work Friday and Sunday so they'll still have their Saturday. With the differential u end up making bout the same amount ppl make working 4 days a week working your 3 ( the hospital is huge so extra days are easy to cone by). Dayshift ppl have to work every Saturday and Sunday cuz the weekend starts at 7pm on Friday so their Friday doesn't count. Since I'm a new employee I have to wait 6 months before I can sign the contract which lasts for 6 months. I'm definitely gonna do it though. You get six weekend days a year which totals about 3 full weekends a year

Rntr · Jul 3, 2011

Thanks so much for saying what I was thinking....

Tarabara · Jul 3, 2011

Another person's reasons for entering the nursing profession are none of our business. If someone wants to do nursing for a quick way to earn some decent money, all power to them. It is not up to us to determine the 'right' or 'wrong' reasons for changing careers. The monetary aspects are very significant.
In addition, virtually none of us would arrive to work day after day, week after week, without some form of monetary compensation. Imagine being told by the payroll people that they can no longer pay you. Would you respond, "That's okay! Compassion is going to pay my bills, and my love of people is going to keep a roof over my head."

While I agree with what you're saying, I do think people should know what they're getting into. I dont know where you or the OP are from but I know at least in my state I hear commercials daily telling people to get into nursing because its "only 2 years! and you'll make great money!" I think these are misleading because nursing is usually not quick anymore (where i'm from the wait lists alone are 2 years) and is definitely not easy. Plus, I think some of the responses make it sound like it will be easy for the OP to get just a weekend job and get paid full time. We all know its difficult right now to get any job as new grad much less than weekend only ones. My intention was just for the OP to know the reality of nursing and that its not easy, not to judge her reasoning.

Rntr · Jul 3, 2011

"hear commercials daily telling people to get into nursing because its "only 2 years! and you'll make great money!"

This is so sad and yes, it's all over, not just your state... it's all about business. Nothing more.... back to money isn't it.. think if no one pushed nursing the schools would go out of business.... and my opinion is we have way to many nursing schools now.

Another thing, how can you really know what you're getting into until you're there...even from a CNA view it looks alot better than where they are but you never know until you're there what it's all about..

No Stars In My Eyes · Jul 3, 2011

What continually amazes me is they keep pumping out nurses and talking about the "nursing shortage" and yet ssooooo many of us can't find jobs and short staffing seems to be rampant. The wires are seriously crossed somewhere!