General questions...lots!

Nurses General Nursing

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Would any kind soul out there like to take the time to answer many general questions I have about getting an RN and getting into nursing? I have many, as I'd be a career changer with a bachelors degree in communications. If anyone would help me and trade a few emails with me i'd really really be thankful!

Derek

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Specializes in I/DD.

1) How long does it generally take to get an RN? I already have a BS in commmunications but i did it through U of Phoenix so im not sure how many classes would count?

As others have said, generally 2-4 years. However, at the university hospital I currently work at there is an accelerated nursing program for people with bachelor's degrees (in anything) which allows them to get their RN in one year. It is a very rigorous program but a good way to get your RN quickly. I work with nurses with backgrounds in anything from accounting to pre-med.

2) What is the avg starting salary for a 1st year RN?

Can't add much here, I started at 23.5/hr, and after a year I am getting 25/hr

3) Any details or advice on the RN exam like how long is it, and how soon after you get your RN degree do you take it?

Unless things have changed in the last year (which is quite possible), the NCLEX-RN is anywhere from 75-265 questions, with a max of5- 6 hours? I highly recommend taking it as soon as possible after graduating. In order to register for it you have to get something called an ATT# by applying to the state board, as soon as they send you that you can sign up for a test. I got tentatively hired while I was in school on the condition that I pass my NCLEX before my start date in July...it was a bit tight but I made it. Few employers will hire you unless you have passed the test already (there are a couple hospitals in my area that hire GN's and give you 6 months to pass).

4) What if I may get an RN in one state but want to move to another state to work?

You can transfer your registration to any state, but I here that some states are harder to get into than others. For example, NYS is famous for red tape, I have been told that since I am registered in NY originally it will be much easier to move around. I haven't looked into leaving the state at all so I don't know to many details.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.
No pun intended, Jenni? :p

haha i didn't even realize that ;)

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Specializes in Intermediate care.
Thanks again guys. So it sounds like its not hard at all to get liscenced in whatever state you want? I'd really like to be a travel nurse, do you have to work in a hospital for a certain amount of time before you can do that?

If an accelerated BSN is 12-18 months is it shorter than even getting an associates?!

Is it hard to get the 3 day 12 hour shifts?

Continued thanks!

No accelerated programs are generally for people who already have an associates degree. Because normally if someone goes back to school with an Associates degree and wants to go back for bachelors, it would take about 24 months (give or take). Accelerated i believe is only for those who have associates and want to get their bachelors in less than those 24, if that makes sense.

a CNA course is about 6 months, so i couldnt see anyone getting their full nursing degree in anything less than 18 months....there is A LOT to nursing other than giving meds and shots as a lot of people think.

Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in I/DD.
No accelerated programs are generally for people who already have an associates degree. Because normally if someone goes back to school with an Associates degree and wants to go back for bachelors, it would take about 24 months (give or take). Accelerated i believe is only for those who have associates and want to get their bachelors in less than those 24, if that makes sense.

a CNA course is about 6 months, so i couldnt see anyone getting their full nursing degree in anything less than 18 months....there is A LOT to nursing other than giving meds and shots as a lot of people think.

Best of luck to you!

I'm pretty sure the program through my hospital is relatively rare, however it is definitely for students who already hold a bachelors degree (they accept BA or BS). However it is literally full-time, I haven't had many students come through clinical who are working. I am not sure how I feel about cramming that much work into one calendar year, however the students I have encountered doing their clinical are typically very knowledgeable, proactive, and have common sense compared to students from other schools that I have dealt with. Perhaps the rigor of the program helps prepare them for the reality of nursing?

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

I cant imagine doing nursing in less than 18 months :eek:

I was stressed to the max when it was spread out in 4 years!!!

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Specializes in family practice.
No accelerated programs are generally for people who already have an associates degree. Because normally if someone goes back to school with an Associates degree and wants to go back for bachelors, it would take about 24 months (give or take). Accelerated i believe is only for those who have associates and want to get their bachelors in less than those 24, if that makes sense.

a CNA course is about 6 months, so i couldnt see anyone getting their full nursing degree in anything less than 18 months....there is A LOT to nursing other than giving meds and shots as a lot of people think.

Best of luck to you!

Accelerated is not only for those with associate degrees. There are schools out there that have accelerated programs for people with BSN in non-nursing fields an dit is 12-18 months. the difference is that they go to school all through the year. Also most these schools charge much for their programs (I've seen as much as 80K for the whole program)

Columbia University accepts people with non-nursing BSN into their CRNA program while they tell nurses to have 1year experience in ICU and not enough space.

Its just funny what some programs (most especially private institutions) would do for the money

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Can anyone talk about any of the nursing fields and why they chose the one they did? I think mental health nursing/psychiatric looks the most interesting and fun by far any thoughts on that?!

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

To Derek:

Cardiology/Pulmonary.

I like it because, we still get VERY sick patients, but they are stable sick patients. I love working with trachs/vents. I really enjoy my Post operative cardiac patients. I LOVE doing that stuff, but i don't like it when things go wrong. Which is why i like these patients, when they are stable! So an ICU setting i would probably love but would not like iit when things go wrong. My unit....i get best of both worlds, i get my sick patients but MAJORITY of the time they are stable :)

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Specializes in CICU.

I do cardiac step-down and love it.

PS - You'll find "psych" or "mental health" patients on any unit in the hospital.

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Starting salary was 20.65 an hour plus differentials depending on if you work nights and weekends. I usually make 27ish depending. My NCLEX was 75 questions long and took me half an hour, but it can be up to 265 and you get 6 hours to take it. I took mine within a month of graduating. I don't really know the answers to your other questions. Hope that helps.

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Just curious I start Eng 101 and psycology 1 this August, are these classes hard?

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How hard is it in general these days to land an RN job if you are willing to work in a number of different states?

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