Becoming an RN?

Nemhain · Nov 30, 2004

No, I don't think working as an ER tech would count as part of your hospital Registered Nurse orientation. Actually, I don't see how it could. You'd have to do the orientation as a Registered Nurse because there are things you have to do that can't possibly be done as a tech. ...sorry.

Hmm...about full time orientation...I'm sure most places would want you full time...at my area hospitals they want new grads doing three 12hr shifts. You never know until you ask, so I'd explain your situation because some hospitals are more accomidating than others.

good luck!

akcarmean, LPN · Dec 1, 2004

Not sure but welcome and good luck

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Dec 1, 2004

It is not at all uncommon for a new graduate RN's orientation to last for 12 weeks, full time. ER tech experience would not be acceptable for this because the purpose of the orientation is to teach the new grad how to function as an RN in the real world (nursing school does not always do the best job of that). ER tech and RN are 2 very different roles, so I cannot imagine how one could possibly translate to the other. It is possible that a new grad RN could be hired part time, but usually not - and most likely not in ER. The transition from nursing student to RN can be quite overwhelming and it makes the transition easier when they can get into the swing of things, so to speak, by working full-time.

Isuhd8u · Dec 1, 2004

Is there anyway you could work part-time at the fire dept. while receiving your full-time orientation?

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2004

Part-time at the fire dept or maybe a leave of absence? I would be very surprised if you could find a facility that would take you on without the full-time orientation process. Quite a few hospitals want you to work at least 6 months fulltime after orientation before you are eligable to work part-time or per-diem. So that may be a 9 month commitment.

rolofd · Dec 1, 2004

Thanks for the info. Keep it coming. It would be very difficult for me to take a leave of absence at this time. I understand that they would not count this torward my orientation. My goal was to work in a hospital environment and gain experience by assisting nurses. More replies would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2004

Welcome. It never hurts to ask for what you need. Is that the only hospital in town? Ask around, you might get the answers you need.

Also, once you have the RN license in hand and pass NCLEX, someone might have a need to great, they will let you orient part-time.

I find it hard to believe that with so many working mothers wanting to work part-time that it's a requirement to orient 12 weeks full time.

Hold out for something that suits you, and it just might happen, especially if you've a way to go until you graduate.

Good luck and welcome. :)

bargainhound, RN · Dec 1, 2004

Another option would be to work for an agency with a contract for certain number of hours as RN.

It would be good if you could do your orientation time when you are on some vacation time from the

other job.

You will have wonderful experience from your current job. I am sure someone will want to snap you up and hire you.

Good luck.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 1, 2004

Someone may hire you, but it might not be a job you are particularly interested in. That's something to think about. Do you want the quality/experience of your first nursing job to be top-rate? ... or do you want to settle for something less.

As other posters have said, a lot of hospitals require a full time committment from their new grad hires because of the difficult transition from student to staff nurse and the many things that need to be learned during the first year on the job. We find that when people go for 3 or 4 days without working, the "lose" too much of what they have already learned. Their professional development becomes significantly delayed and both the hospital and the individual nurse suffers.

Now, I am sure there are some people who have been successful after having started with a part time position. You can always find exceptions. However, the majority of new nurses need to work full time for a while to successfully make the transition ... and employers don't want to risk their investment by not insisting on a work schedule that promotes success.

Sometimes, we all have to make difficult choices in life. You need to think through what your values are, all your options, where you want to focus your energies at that time, etc. You seem to be doing that now and I encourage you to keep thinking about it. You can't always have everything you want ... just the way you want it ... and this is a case where you will probably have to make a tough choice.

Good luck,

llg

opalmRN · Dec 1, 2004

I have visited this board for quite some time, but this is my first post. So let me start out by saying hello to everyone. I have found this web page to be very informative. I hope that someone could answer a few of my questions. I am currently a firefighter/paramedic. I have started nursing school with Excelsior College. My goal is to work as a RN part time(still work for the fire department). Would a hospital hire a new graduate from a nursing program part time? I spoke to a recruiter and she said that I would have to do over 12 weeks orientation full time. That would mean I would work over 100 hours a week(something I do not look forward to). I was going to apply to local hospitals as an ER Tech to try to get some hands on experience. Would hospitals count this toward my orientation? I am sorry that this is so wordy. Just looking for some answers before I get too deep into the nursing program. Thanks.

You can always find plenty of nay-sayers but if you put your mind to it you can get exactly what you need. I know, I am the brick wall queen but it hasn't stopped me.

I was told I would never find the kind of nursing program I needed to accomodate my life/work schedule. They were wrong, I did. I was told I would never be able to complete an RN program through distance Ed. They were wrong, I am. They said even if I did find a program that was best for me I still would not be able to find a decent job from such a program. They were wrong, I did. (over $20/hr for p/t for a PN grad over $25 for RN isn't shabby in my book)

So you see, for every situation there is a need and if you are willing to do the leg work, you will find what you need.

When the free advice is negative, listen with your good ear!

Good luck and don't settle!