Advice Needed on Gaining Experience

[Brookelin]

First off I'd like to start by saying that I am THRILLED to have found this place. I've been doing nothing but surfing AN all week (plus doing homework, of course) and I'm feeling a lot more confident and a lot less secluded in my struggles.

Anywho - I was hoping that some of you experienced RN's out there could help me out with a topic I'm struggling with...gaining experience!!

I'm currently taking my pre-req's to get into the nursing program. I should be able to put in my application for the standard AAS program in a month or two (which I'm required to do first), but then I have another year of pre-req's before I can get into the program I'm really going for...which is an accelerated BSN. The problem is I have zero nursing-type experience. I've never worked in any medical field what-so-ever.

To give you some info about me: I'm 31, married, have three kids (only one in school) and my husband let me quit my job about 6 months ago to do school full time. The only job experience I have is along the lines of administrative assistance. I don't have a whole lot of time to commit to volunteering or a job because I'm pretty swamped as it is right now, but I also don't want to graduate with a degree and no experience.

I was thinking about taking a 19 week Phlebotomy course after my pre-req's are done and while I'm likely sitting on a waiting list. That way I could get a phlebotomy job while in school. But is this good experience to have? And I've also heard people say it's best not to have a job at all when in nursing school. I already have a family to worry about so I don't want to add more to my plate.

As you can see, I'm pretty unsure on what to do and any advice from someone who has some experience would help me greatly.

Thank you!:)

[jocy_anne]

Welcome to AN! :) If it makes you feel any better, I was just accepted into an accelerated BSN-MSN program for Fall 2012 and have zero experience in the medical field, other than giving my grandmother insulin and morphine shots when she was on her death bed. I also come from a background of administrative work and a couple years of customer service. If you really want to gain experience, I think a CNA program would relate better to the Nursing field than would a phlebotomy program. You should check to see how long the CNA programs are in your area. Good luck with everything!

[shay&lynn, ASN, RN]

congrats!

just a question, have you checked out your college to see if they require you to have your cna lic before starting the program?

some colleges make that a requirement, i would check to be sure...if so, right there is the answer-that is great experience!

i know you said you don't have a lot of time to volunteer [that was going to be my second answer :)]...

don't feel bad about going into it with no experience, while experience is wonderful, i had some fellow classmates [i am going into my second semester] that didn't have any experience what so ever.

as far as having a job while in school, that is up to you. i have a job as an stna, but had to take a month off at the end of the semester because there was just too much going on. some people in my class worked and did just fine. it is all up to you and how you can juggle family, school and work.

best of luck!

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I am taking Phlebotomy this summer. My school requires you to complete an externship at the hospital the following semester before they give you your certificate. The externship provides clinical experience and patient interaction. I plan on working as a phlebotomy tech or lab assistant until I start nursing school. I think it will provide excellent venipuncture experience, as well as valuable patient interaction. I see a lot of new nurse post about being nervous starting IV lines. I feel like phlebotomy will provide the confidence to do this later as a nurse.

I was a CNA back in the 90s and while I loved interacting with the patients, I did not like the "grunt work" that goes along with being a CNA (like laundry, cleaning rooms, mopping, etc.) I felt more like a hospital orderly than a nurse assistant. I'm really looking forward to the phlebotomy class. Bought my book a few weeks ago and it looks like it's going to be an enjoyable class.

Good luck to you!

[leenak]

Other than volunteer experience many years ago, I don't have any current experience. I looked at a CNA program (the nursing schools around here do not require it) but the days conflicted with either the class I just finished or my summer class. I would also feel somewhat guilty about taking a spot from someone else who is looking for a new career and the class is fairly pricey at $1500 at my community college. I just did a quick check and Phlebotomy is similarly priced and same schedule conflicts.

I'm hoping nursing schools will overlook lack of experience although the one school I applied to and didn't get in told me that lack of experience was one of my biggest issues. They just have a ton of applicants with recent experience. When you work up to 60 hours/week and go to school, there just isn't a lot of time left over for volunteer work.