Future Nurse.. NEEDS ADVICE

[Livy022]

Anytime I google anything nursing related it brought me to this site, which is what made me join. I have read so many great, helpful responses. I'd like to have my own questions answered. So Please help!!!!!

I am so naive in the nursing field. I was under the impression that to become an RN a 4 year degree was required. I have recently started researching the nursing field and SURPRISE!... you can become an RN with a 2 year degree.

I think that I have come up with a rather solid plan, however I need advice from nurses. Practicing nurses, right now! The close I have is my program nurse and she thinks it's a great idea. I need more affirmation.

I will be finished with my B.A. in psychology in May. I had thoroughly researched graduate schools. I wanted to apply for clinical psychologist, Ph.D. program. I also threw around the idea of school psychologist. I feel that I would be a strong competetor to get into these programs. My GPA is around a 3.8 (since I grew up, transferred, and started caring about my future) and I have excellent reccomendations. Both programs will take anywhere from 3-6 years to complete and at least 60k more in debt. Both will reward me with a mediocre salary. My goal in life is to help people. I have worked for the past 3 years with adults with developmental disabilities. This is what has inspiried me. I know that I want to make a difference in people's life.

Recently the idea of nursing has crossed my path. One of my staff said his wife does it and mentioned the salary. Salary isn't my motivation, however knowing an RN could be acquired after 2 years sparked my interest. I decided that instead of going to grad school, that i should go to a 2 year nursing program instead. I have applied and am going to take my TEAS Nov. 10th... I'm applying for fall of 2010 (immideatly following the completion of my B.A.). My partner is already enrolled in a nursing program, part time, and will graduate the same time that I will, pending my acceptance for fall of 2010.

My goals are to get into nursing (TEAS?), pass NCLEX, get a traveling nurse job, and look into furthering my nursing career. My bachelor's will be in psychology. I'd like to be a psych nurse and I'm thinking about advanced nursing. I've looked into NP or CRNA. I'm more patient focused though. I also have thought about medical school (too much time and too much money) and when I thought about it, OBGYN and psych stuck out....

Sorry for that long background. I found it imperative to give. Here are my questions.

1) Do you think it's a bad idea going for a 2 yr. degree in nursing after I already have a BA.. just not in nursing. Should I find a school that does a 1yr program to get my nursing bachelor's as well?

2) Like I stated previously, my goal is to travel first. What are some good travel nursing agencies to look into? I will be traveling with my partner, who will also be a nurse and my dogs. There are so many agencies out there. If anyone has advice, please help!

3) Advanced nursing... can you go into an advanced nursing field with only a 2 year nursing degree?

Any advice would help. I'm so lost in my quest and figuring out my future.

[paddingtonRN]

Graduating from a 2 year program last summer, I do recommend it. Although I did not come into the program with BA, I would estimate more than 50% of my classmates did. Here in Washington State, nurses with a BA in another field have the opportunity to take a bridge program and jump from a diploma straight to a Masters. A Masters would open the door to advanced nursing. With an attempt in cyber sluething to see if New York offers something similar I wasn't able to come up with anything. Hopefully this will give you something to look into! Best of luck!

[Livy022]

Where in Washington are you? When I was on vacation I had met an older woman (older than me! not old!) who had told me that nursing was great in Washington State. Seattle is one of the places I'm looking into traveling to. How were the TEAS? DID you take them?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I would strongly recommend that anyone interested in traveling have a solid background of at least a year's nursing experience. I'm wondering if registries will take a brand new RN?

[paddingtonRN]

I agree, Seattle is great for nursing! Being born and raised here I might be a little biased, but from talking with travel nurses and staff nurses from other parts of the country it seems to be pretty unanimous... I took the HOBET, something similar to TEAS it looks like. I bought the generic study guide which was more than enough to prepare for it. I'm sure you'll do great!

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I think there are programs out there for people with other Bachelor's degrees to jump into a BSN nursing degree, since you already have most of the prereqs done. If I were you, I would look into that. However, if you want that 2 year degree, it is possible to get the advanced degree afterwards. There are RN-MSN programs out there (bridge programs).

Good luck to you.

[Junebugfairy]

every travel nursing agency that i have researched requires at least 1 year experience, some require 3+ years.

you do not learn everything in ns, you are given a solid background, but you actually must attend orientations and other sessions to learn and practice your skills.

as a new rn you take "new rn grad" jobs, which help you to learn and grow in the profession.

[Livy022]

What do "new RN grad" jobs entail? I will have my BA in psychology and want to be a psychology nurse. I have read that psych nurses are a special field? Will I not be able to get an entry job in the psych dept?

[suanna]

Have you looked into how much more it would take to get your BSN considering you are almost finished with a BS degree already. I can't imaging it would take much more to get a BSN than an ADN with all the credit hours you have already. Talk to your advisor. As to a BSN having an advantage over an ADN as to areas of practice- it depends a lot on geography. I my area there is a surplus of BSN grads- a lot of area employers not only give preferential hiring to BSNs but you have NO chance for advancement- If the BSN is 6-9more mos it would be worth it esp if you want to travel.