A couple of questions.

mamamerlee, LPN · Jan 30, 2010

I am sure that you some nurses - your school nurse, for example, or one at your doctor's office. Do this with someone you can look at, not anonymous people on the web.

nursingstudent6368 · Jan 30, 2010

I don't have a regular doctor in the area I live. I recently moved and know very few people. I am taking classes online. If nobody can help with these questions I completely understand. Just didn't see how it could hurt to ask.

MaxAttack, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2010

Hi Everybody!
My name is Victoria and I plan on being a nurse in the near future. One of the assignments for a class is to do and interview with someone in the career I have chosen. Since I don't know any nurses personally I have decided to take an alternative route. I have a few questions for anyone that is currently or has at one point been a nurse. If you guys could help me out with this assignment that would be great!!! Thanks!
How long have you been a nurse?
What type of education do you have?
What is the average salary for a nurse?
Is there a demand for nurses at this time?
Do you think that this will continue to be the case over the next 5 years?
What type of work schedule do you have?
What are some things you do on a daily basis on the job?
What is the strangest work related experience that you have had?
What is the most demanding part of this career?
What is the most rewarding?
Do you think that you learned more in the class or on the job training?
If you could tell someone one thing about your career what would it be and why?

I'm a student so I can't give you a lot of help, but I'll give you what I know just to kick this off

From what I know:

ADN vs BSN isn't going to make a great deal of difference - they pay the same and you'll be hired just as quick regardless of degree. Some will argue a BSN will get you a job quicker (which makes sense to me)
Median salary for a nurse is $62,450. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $43,410, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,240. -BLS
The demand varies greatly dependent upon your location. Some locales are hiring, some are not. You likely won't get your ideal dream position straight out of school - you might have to work somewhere you really don't want to to get the experience you'll need (sucks, but eh)
The demand will increase, even more so when the economy really picks up. If the health care bill passes, this would likely help even more.

It's not a lot, but hopefully it'll spur someone to give you a real response :)

Good luck!

kclaggett · Jan 30, 2010

-while you really should try to get a face-to-face interview with a nurse, i'll try my best to answer your questions:)

-how long have you been a nurse? i've been a nurse for 5 years.

-what type of education do you have? bsn from east carolina university, currently working on msn

-what is the average salary for a nurse? not entirely sure on this answer, but starting hourly pay for this area is around $20-$21

-is there a demand for nurses at this time? there is always a demand for nurses--it's just a matter of having the funds to pay for them.

-do you think that this will continue to be the case over the next 5 years? as the babyboomers continue to get older, the demand for nurses will increase.

-what type of work schedule do you have? currently i work three, twelve hour shifts. rotate between nights and days and do on-call frequently.

-what are some things you do on a daily basis on the job? spend most of my time in the micu/sicu, but float to our open heart unit as well. responsible for the care of two, critcal patients. assess frequently, administer medications, monitor vital signs and labwork, maintian a safe environment for my patients, collaborate with physicians, pt, rt (etc) to provide the best care. also, assist with code situations on the general floors....i'll have to think of some other things....:)

-what is the strangest work related experience that you have had? where do i start?! every day brings something new and entertaining. ranges from patients escaping, trying to bust windows out, lighting curtains on fire, biting me, etc.

-what is the most demanding part of this career? multi-taking and staying organized. hours are long too.

-what is the most rewarding? everything you do for your patient is rewarding and worthwhile. as nurses, we have such great responsibility, but can really make a difference in our patients' lives.

-do you think that you learned more in the class or on the job training? you get the fundamentals in school, but (at least for me) really get to add to your foundation once you are out in the workforce. i'm the kind of person who learns things by doing them...so my real education started once i graduated.

-if you could tell someone one thing about your career what would it be and why? as hard as nursing may be, it feels good to have a career that you can be really proud of. nurses are highly trusted and respected. when i was in nursing school i wondered if i'd ever question my choice to choose this as a career....and i've never looked back. not only have i gotten to make a difference in my patients' lives, i'm also able to make positive changes in my life as well. because of nursing, i'm able to pursue my future career and educational goals.

livistarr · Jan 30, 2010

1. I have been a nurse for 14 years.

2. I have my AAS-Nursing. Have taken all but 3 classes for my BSN but I'm not motivated enough to finish it :)

3. In my area the average salary for a FT hospital nurse with my experience is about $60K a year.

4. I feel there is a very high demand. I work in all different areas, from ER to Corrections to Risk Adjustment for an insurance corporation and Litgation Consulting. Oh, and clinical instruction too. Busybusybusy!

5. My work has always been very consistent. There are times of increased and decreased need, but I am never without a FT job and PT work also.

6. I work 3-12's (6p-6a) in a ER. I work 24 hours a week from home during the days doing Risk Adjustment. I also pick up time at a prison working 8 hour shifts and will start PRN clinical instruction for LPNs soon.

7. Since I work in a ER, there are no set things that I do each shift. If I'm in triage, I do that. If I'm in charge, I manage the department and flow. If I'm in a section, I care for patients in my module (5 of them) and respond to traumas, etc as needed. For my Risk Adjustment job, I do chart reviews at home and also go to Dr. offices and hospitals in the area to review there. At the prison, I respond to emergencies, do sick calls (like office visits but with a nurse) and administer medications to the guys serving time in the hole.

8. Strangest experience? I have thousands. Maybe hundreds of thousands :) I work in ER so it's a baseline for strange! I think a guy who put an animal thermometer down his urethra for "personal play" and it shattered. He was just flippin bizarre....or maybe the inmate who wrapped a string around his genitals until they turned about black. Strange people....

9. Most demanding is the physical with my job. I am 33 but herniated 2 discs already. This job is brutal on your back.

10. Most rewarding is that I actually save lives. I don't feel like I'm passing meds and wiping butts for a living. At the end of the day, I know I made a difference. Cliche perhaps but true :)

11. Both are equally important. You can't do the clinical without a strong education background and visa versa.

12. I would tell them that it is an awesome choice with job security and unlimited options :) I'm a fan!

Hope this helps!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2010

how long have you been a nurse? 4 years.

what type of education do you have? i have a diploma of vocational nursing (lvn/lpn); i am scheduled to graduate from an rn program in a few weeks.

what is the average salary for a nurse? it depends on the area in which you live and the cost of living that accompanies it. a new rn can get paid as little as $18 hourly in rural arkansas, or as much as $40 hourly in san francisco.

is there a demand for nurses at this time? the demand for nurses is decreasing due to the slumping economy. uninsured people try to stay away from healthcare facilities because they have no way of paying for their stay. this leads to low census, which leads to a reduced demand for nurses. also, people avoid having elective procedures done during recessions, which results in less nurses needed for aftercare.

do you think that this will continue to be the case over the next 5 years? i hope things improve, but i am not an economist.

what type of work schedule do you have? i have monday through friday off, and i work two 16 hour double shifts every weekend on saturdays and sundays.

what are some things you do on a daily basis on the job? the vast majority of my time is consumed with paperwork. i also do basic nursing skills such as injections, finger stick blood sugars, wound care, feeding tubes, medication administration, breathing treatments, etc.

what is the strangest work related experience that you have had? i can't think of anything at this moment.

what is the most demanding part of this career? the unrealistic family members, abusive visitors, condescending physicians, bullying coworkers, and overly demanding patients all place strain upon me.

what is the most rewarding? bonding with a patient or family member provides an intangible reward for me.

do you think that you learned more in the class or on the job training? i learned more on the job, since my classes only prepared me to pass state boards.

if you could tell someone one thing about your career what would it be and why? don't give up so easily if you don't like it at first.