straight out of highschool and lost

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi everyone ! I recently graduated from high school and after realizing how lost I was I came here...

How long does it take to get a BSN from freshmen year of college ? Also as soon as I get my BSN could I start working as a nurse ? (Pass all the needed tests of course)

If anything I acquired 18 credits already in high school so I met many of the prerequisites

In certain parts of CA, it is extremely difficult to find a job, even with a few years of experience under your belt. However, I have heard that it is possible to find jobs in the more rural areas. If you are willing to look into relocating after graduation, I wouldn't be too worried about it. You can always consider going out of state as well.

hi there cracklingkraken,

Wow, that sounds really competitive. I wonder why it's so hard to obtain an RN job in Ca whether it be he northern or southern part. Thank you for your tips!

Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Hi runbabyrn,

I'm in the southern part of Ca. Do you think having a hospital or clinic related job during nursing program would help get employment as an RN later on? I appreciate your sharing of your experience :) I hope that you do get he job that you want I'm the near future.

It may, but it's not a guarantee. Several classmates of mine worked CNA jobs while in school, and not a single one had an offer waiting for them when they graduated. The smartest thing you can do is make connections. Connect, connect, connect. Be your own best advertising. I'd connected with a nurse manager during clinicals, and she hooked up my preceptorship in postpartum at the hospital (she became the manager of that unit). It was an amazing experience, and she offered me a job halfway through. Sadly, because of politics related to a residency program (that didn't accept anyone from a prelicensure program... don't get me started), the offer went to someone else. I am working other connections to see what I can do elsewhere. I have a couple that I've held off on contacting, but the time has come to see what falls when I shake those trees.

Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
hi there cracklingkraken,

Wow, that sounds really competitive. I wonder why it's so hard to obtain an RN job in Ca whether it be he northern or southern part. Thank you for your tips!

California has some of the best laws protecting nurses (good nurse/patient ratios, good labor laws, etc.). We also have some of the best pay. It's a very desirable state to live in. There are lots of schools graduating nurses. The list goes on. Nurses have moved here en masse, but now even experienced nurses are having difficulty finding work here (check out the California forum). A lot of new grads are moving out of state to gain experience (I have a classmate who interviewed in Tennessee) with hopes of returning at some point.

A BSN takes about 4 years, give or take some time. Depending on whether or not your credits from high school transfer, it can give you an edge. Some AP tests no longer meet the requirements by some colleges. For example, I know AP Bio was up in the air at my school. Other times, it's simply just not accepted. AP Bio isn't acceptable for pre-med majors at my school because it doesn't meet the requirements. Some classes require labs that you'll still have to take. AP courses and college courses aren't the exact same thing. I've talked to people who took AP chemistry and took it again in college and struggled.

But generally a BSN takes about 4 years to complete. I know people at my school have completed it in 3 1/2 and I know some who graduated with a degree in another major before even being accepted into the program. It all depends on you.

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