After Graduation

:uhoh21: ..

With a BSN you have given yourself the advantage if you would like to become somemore more then just a "regular nurse" as you put it.

However, you need to have experience as a floor nurse before you can be placed in a supervisor position, etc. You can also go back to school to get your masters, but there are some places that require 1-2 years as a floor nurse in order for you to gain experience before starting up school again.

Right out of school you can :

Be a floor nurse

Try working home health

You can work hospice

Maybe work in a drs office

a "regular nurse" isnt really that regular. There are so many different fields of nursing to go into. Different floors in the hospital, or outside of the hospital. Nurses can do it all!

There are many different areas of nursing you can go into after school but i stress that *many jobs require experience* You cannot be a supervisor or something to that extent without knowing how to be a floor nurse. Its almost like jumping to management position without knowing the ropes. Its almost impossible....you kind of have to work your way up the ladder..

ok. Thats what I mean by regular nurse. I saw some one here put that they became a staff nurse after graduation. So that raised a lightbulb in my head. Thanks for your info. How long does it ususally take to go up the ladder? Do I have an advantage since I have my BSN or its all the same wether you do or not?

Excellent posts.

After graduation, you need to get at least a year of floor experience. After that... the possibilities are endless. You can very well become a charge nurse or move into management positions, etc. There are a lot of positions that want 2 to 3 yrs experience for the position but having a BSN substitutes for a yr of the experience. Whatever aspirations you have, the door is open to you by you having your BSN. There are some positions that are MSN preferred, but a BSN is the minimum qualification. If you have more experience in your field, it is possible that you can get this job too. I too, will graduate with a BSN next month, and I am sooooo excited. I had planned to continue on for my masters but I am so sick of school right now, lol, that I think I am just going to have to make this BSN work for me! I have accepted a position in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and I can see lots of possibilities that will be open to me after a yr or 2 of experience. Consider getting certified after a few yrs. in your field, that can bolster your resume and credentials even more. Good luck to you! I hope that you are excited by our future as much as I am!

Brina