Becoming an RN...need advice, please?

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Hi all,

I've been enjoying the conversations on this board before I decided to join, really informative and fun. Ok here goes, I'm currently an 4th year accountant who just decided this field isn't for me. After talking to an adviser, I decided to take the Associates route to becoming an RN since it made sense financially. I plan to get a BSN while working and hopefully an NP. I have 3 prerequisites to do before I can apply to the nursing program and have already registered for the fall.

My reason for turning to nursing is the boredom of accounting. I really can't take the predictability of my work routine. The happiest I've ever been when I started my working life is when I used to work as a pharmacy tech while going to school and volunteering at the local hospital. I like being busy and being chained at a desk really is not my style. I had an idea of what to do for a particular day as a pharm tech but it was never predictable. I enjoyed helping people. The frowns that turned to reluctant smiles when I got customers' rx before they told me their names and solving their insurance issues among others were very rewarding. Some days were extremely challenging dealing with difficult customers but I enjoyed it anyway. I'm not joining nursing for the money, I could get my cpa and make more but I don't want to continue in a field that I don't like and made a mistake of getting into. My mum is a retired nurse if that says anything, lol!

My question is, can I get a job as an associates "degreed" RN as a male nurse in Maryland especially when I don't have any experience? I know I'll have to make some financial sacrifices but I'm willing to do that. I'm just not stable enough quit working and get into full time BSN program especially when I'm getting ready to marry soon.

Also, are online courses advisable for someone like me?

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At this time it's more difficult for a new grad to get a job anywhere, including here in Maryland, but it is doable. By the time you're done with school the market may be opened up more. Being a male won't make a difference on whether they hire you or not.

Good luck!

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My question is, can I get a job as an associates "degreed" RN as a male nurse in Maryland especially when I don't have any experience?

An RN is an RN, whether or not you were BSN or ASN prepared. You take the exact same NCLEX-RN no matter which route you take, hence you are expected to know the same material for licensing.

Male, female, tranny- a nurse is a nurse. So long as you have a passion for nursing and a brain in your head, you can be taught. I am a male nurse and had no problem finding a job.

The lack of experience will limit which positions are open to you, but many hospitals offer internships for new grads in many specialties. You could also get your foot in the door by working as a student nurse. Usually student nurses are hired as RNs on the unit in which they worked upon graduation.

Good luck to you.

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At this time it's more difficult for a new grad to get a job anywhere, including here in Maryland, but it is doable. By the time you're done with school the market may be opened up more. Being a male won't make a difference on whether they hire you or not.

Good luck!

An RN is an RN, whether or not you were BSN or ASN prepared. You take the exact same NCLEX-RN no matter which route you take, hence you are expected to know the same material for licensing.

Male, female, tranny- a nurse is a nurse. So long as you have a passion for nursing and a brain in your head, you can be taught. I am a male nurse and had no problem finding a job.

The lack of experience will limit which positions are open to you, but many hospitals offer internships for new grads in many specialties. You could also get your foot in the door by working as a student nurse. Usually student nurses are hired as RNs on the unit in which they worked upon graduation.

Good luck to you.

Thanks very much for your advice! :wink2: How about the online choices?

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

I am currently working with a nationally known Magnet hospital in Maryland...which should ID it. Probably at least 1/3 to 1/2 of my coworkers are associate degree nurses, though I do not know exact numbers as I do not poll them. And while you are limited in your ability to climb clinical ladder over a certain level, you can obviously still get a good job as an associate degree nurse.

(Have spoken informally in conversation/or noting level on clinical ladder is really the only way that I know BSN vs nonBSN. While there are a few NC3s, one knows that they have to have a Bachelor's. And as I don't ask my coworkers, I was amazed when I mentioned trying to get my BSN.....how many awesome clinical nurses that were here that told me that they do not have a Bachelor's degree)

That said, there is no real "nursing shortage" here, and it is difficult to get ANY job as a new grad nurse. That may change in a few years' time... or it may not. Said facilty has less than a 1% vacancy rate, so have decreased some of the bonuses for the nursing shortage. And having a bachelor's probably does help when deciding to hire a new untested grad.

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Have you thought about becoming a Pharmacist?

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Have you thought about becoming a Pharmacist?

Yes when I doing my undergrad but I wasn't interested in it and stuck with accounting. I have several nurse friends and my mother was a nurse too so I guess that influenced my decision some.

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How about the online choices?

You likely won't be able to take many of your ASN classes online because I doubt many would be offered online (except maybe pharmacy). RN-BSN programs are generally offered in an online format with clinicals at a facility. So until you are ready to transition from RN-BSN, I don't think you have much to consider.

BTW- Some universities offer RN-MSN options. You just have to fulfill the pre-requisits and have 2 years experience as an RN for Indiana University's online RN-MSN program. You may want to consider it since you mentioned wanting to pursue NP status.

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Ah, but from the nurses point of view Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians have much better lives. They rarely have to deal with the families of the patients. Their hours are better, many even get weekends off....

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Have you thought about occupational therapy. You could start as an assistant and bridge online to occupational therapy at 70,000/yr. You don't have to work in hospitals as on OT. You could work in schools, or clinics.

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Have you thought about occupational therapy. You could start as an assistant and bridge online to occupational therapy at 70,000/yr. You don't have to work in hospitals as on OT. You could work in schools, or clinics.

Huh, interesting! I guess I'm just stuck on nursing it's so hard to budge. Thanks for the advice.

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You see, there are lots of healthcare/helping professions that people barely know exist.

Back when I was young I thought of becoming a dietician. But the university that I applied to required a zoology course (why I don't know) and it ran me off.

The dieticians never work weekends or after 5.

Ah, the stupidity of youth....

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