nursing specialty: critical care, ed, cath lab,ctpac,trauma
received 2,012 kudos from 595 posts
join date: aug 2005
posts: 1,297 today, 11:34 am
originally posted by ninja2011
sadly,
there are even programs where having certification prior to being considered are a requirement. in san diego there is a hospital that even requires a 600 dollar regional perinatal class before you can even be considered.
i would do acls and pals if i was you and anything else you can get certified in to be more marketable.
i'm just shocked that's all.......i am sick right now and cannot work.......i read this stuff and i think if i ever get well enough to go back to work......would i ever find a job again.......
i agree they should do whatever it takes to be competative but i still think it's shameful that the hospitals are shirking their responsibilities to pay for training. how ethical is it to make someone pay for a $600.00 course for a job they may not get.......but if you do get the position you've already taken the course they should be paying for.....talk about finding more that one way to skin a cat. there isn't any amount of money that will make me believe that the hospitals are perfectly aware that making an employment candidate take required courses is saving them tons of dough........ but that's off topic.
i started this line of thinking in another post. are hospitals shirking their responsibility? do you think it's right for hospitals to do this? anyone else experiencing this? i am godsmacked at just another tactic by the hospitals to cheat people in order to save money.......
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
In the private sector and in many federal jobs, there are often courses required bscore you are considered for employment.
Plus, even if you got hired into some units, with requirements such as ACLS, your employer is not required to pay for the course. That is YOUR obligation.
Now if they choose to do so, that is lovely and appreciated, but not required.
They ARErequired by law to pay for the course IF it is required for the position......AFTER you get hired. My point being are hospitals requiring pre employment certifications .........not because they want the best and the brightest........... but because they have found a way to get what they want at someones elses expense? I realize they have every right to demand this but is it right???? They claim they don't have the money anymore then their CEO's need to take a paycut....!
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
They have been doing this lately. As well as IV certified. Sorry, but I haven't even been able to find a job. I let my ACLS go because I couldn't afford it without working. Now I am facing the fact that I can't even afford the BLS. Next, I will not be able to renew my license. There goes my career. I wouldn't even know where to get IV certified anyhow.
It isn't unfair they spend thousands training people and getting them these certs for free only for them to quit. I agree it is life. The fact lies that they just don't have money to do it anymore.
They ARErequired by law to pay for the course IF it is required for the position......AFTER you get hired. My point being are hospitals requiring pre employment certifications .........not because they want the best and the brightest........... but because they have found a way to get what they want at someones elses expense? I realize they have every right to demand this but is it right???? They claim they don't have the money anymore then their CEO's need to take a paycut....!
Ah. I was going to chime in and say: Well, in the "calling vs. its a job" debates, often the need for stricter qualifications for entry into nursing is needed debate also arises. This is it. People who "lack compassion" or "just want to do this cause its a job", at least the real borderline ones, will be scared off by this.
Now, whether the motivation for these new policies is to raise the bottom line or for more altruistic reasons............I'm willing to bet its a little of both.
I think many of us, as you put it "remember the good old days" when nursing jobs were easy to come by. Very little competition for the weekend shifts/nights, everyone could work wherever they wanted and wait for something higher paying to come along. Now the tides have turned. Little benefits like paying for certifications to lure people towards your hospital instead of the other are no longer necessary.
I like how my hospital does it. They pay you an "orientation" wage, you get certified right in the hospital, taking classes taught by their educators and get certified. Then, you go back to your RN wage after you pass the course. But not everyone is going to do it that way, some find it too costly and would rather spend that money on supplies/building maintenance etc (or, CEO bonuses as you said, as I"m sure thats the real motivation for some institutes).
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Ah. I was going to chime in and say: Well, in the "calling vs. its a job" debates, often the need for stricter qualifications for entry into nursing is needed debate also arises. This is it. People who "lack compassion" or "just want to do this cause its a job", at least the real borderline ones, will be scared off by this.
Now, whether the motivation for these new policies is to raise the bottom line or for more altruistic reasons............I'm willing to bet its a little of both.
I think many of us, as you put it "remember the good old days" when nursing jobs were easy to come by. Very little competition for the weekend shifts/nights, everyone could work wherever they wanted and wait for something higher paying to come along. Now the tides have turned. Little benefits like paying for certifications to lure people towards your hospital instead of the other are no longer necessary.
I like how my hospital does it. They pay you an "orientation" wage, you get certified right in the hospital, taking classes taught by their educators and get certified. Then, you go back to your RN wage after you pass the course. But not everyone is going to do it that way, some find it too costly and would rather spend that money on supplies/building maintenance etc (or, CEO bonuses as you said, as I"m sure thats the real motivation for some institutes).
I'm suprised it's gotten so bad so fast...... It's only been two years since I got sick and can't walk what a turn around.......
Do you know if student nurses can take ACLS and/or PALS before licensure? I am strongly considering doing that in order to help me get a job in an area I want to work in or any job for that matter.[/quote']
I think anyone can take these courses. I had a woman in my ACLS course who was not a healthcare worker and who did not have a clue. The instructor took her aside so she did not hold up the progress of the course. Actually, he tried to get her to reconsider staying in the course.
in the it and education world (where my previous experience lies) it is required to have quite a bit of education, as well as certs that are paid for by the jobseeker, before you can get a good job......
nursing specialty: critical care, ed, cath lab,ctpac,trauma
received 2,012 kudos from 595 posts
join date: aug 2005
posts: 1,297 today, 11:34 am
originally posted by ninja2011
sadly,
there are even programs where having certification prior to being considered are a requirement. in san diego there is a hospital that even requires a 600 dollar regional perinatal class before you can even be considered.
i would do acls and pals if i was you and anything else you can get certified in to be more marketable.
i'm just shocked that's all.......i am sick right now and cannot work.......i read this stuff and i think if i ever get well enough to go back to work......would i ever find a job again.......
i agree they should do whatever it takes to be competative but i still think it's shameful that the hospitals are shirking their responsibilities to pay for training. how ethical is it to make someone pay for a $600.00 course for a job they may not get.......but if you do get the position you've already taken the course they should be paying for.....talk about finding more that one way to skin a cat. there isn't any amount of money that will make me believe that the hospitals are perfectly aware that making an employment candidate take required courses is saving them tons of dough........ but that's off topic.
i started this line of thinking in another post. are hospitals shirking their responsibility? do you think it's right for hospitals to do this? anyone else experiencing this? i am godsmacked at just another tactic by the hospitals to cheat people in order to save money.......
Do you know if student nurses can take ACLS and/or PALS before licensure? I am strongly considering doing that in order to help me get a job in an area I want to work in or any job for that matter.[/quote']
I am required to have current BLS and ACLS for my job--both of which the hospital pays for. When I was a new grad, the hospital also wanted the nurses new to the ICU to take the ECCO program, which they also paid for. However, my hospital now is pushing for people to get their CCRN but they are not paying for a prep course or the exam...
Do you know if student nurses can take ACLS and/or PALS before licensure? I am strongly considering doing that in order to help me get a job in an area I want to work in or any job for that matter.[/quote']
Anyone in the world can take ACLS and/or PALS: I think the only requirement for the class is that you already have taken BLS.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I am required to have current BLS and ACLS for my job--both of which the hospital pays for. When I was a new grad, the hospital also wanted the nurses new to the ICU to take the ECCO program, which they also paid for. However, my hospital now is pushing for people to get their CCRN but they are not paying for a prep course or the exam...
You should have these things if you work in theses areas. I am certified up the wazoo..........The hospital can push for the CCRN they don't have to pay unless they require it that's why they encourage it but don't require it.
But did they require you to have it before they interviewed you? This is what some hospitals are doing and they haven't done it in the recent past........is it fair? I guess if the newer nurses have never experienced anything else it would be hard to compare.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
In the IT and education world (where my previous experience lies) it is required to have quite a bit of education, as well as certs that are paid for by the jobseeker, before you can get a good job......
Historically this wasn't the case.......job specific competencies were required after within one year on the job as some of theses compenticies are better suited with experience behind them. I am questioning the motivation behind the education. Are they truely narrowing the fiield looking for the best candidate? or saving a few bucks?
I, for one, don't believe the hospitals are that altruistic.......
today, 11:34 am 
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN
20,908 Posts
They ARE required by law to pay for the course IF it is required for the position......AFTER you get hired. My point being are hospitals requiring pre employment certifications .........not because they want the best and the brightest........... but because they have found a way to get what they want at someones elses expense? I realize they have every right to demand this but is it right???? They claim they don't have the money anymore then their CEO's need to take a paycut....!