Help a new grad out! Willing to work anywhere

[UGADawgs]

Hello,

I graduate from a community college associates program in May, but do not want to start working until August at the earliest because I will be taking summer classes to complete a second associates degree that I'm working on. I will also be starting an online bsn program fall semester so I can do it while I work.

So basically, when August rolls around, I'll have an Associates of Science in Nursing (ASN), an Associates of Science in Chemistry, and my BSN will be in progress and expected August 2012 (i transfered alot of credits in so I only have to take the nursing classes)

I have 2 years experiences as a research and instrumental chemist prior to nursing school in a custom organic synthesis lab. We made everything from anti-micobial countertops to pharmaceuticals.

I have no nursing experience. Did not work in school because I was working on two different degrees.

I would like to tech in the ICU/CCU for 16-20 hours per week over the summer, after my ASN is completed, but before my Chemistry associates is completed. The problem here is that if I take the NCLEX-RN right after I receive my ASN, I may not be allowed to tech because most hospitals will not hire a licensed RN into an unlicensed assistance position for liability reasons.

My ultimate goal is to get into a critical care (general CCU, SICU, MICU) training program that puts you through the paces and trains you up that leads to employment. I do not care if it is called a "residency," "fellowship," or "internship," or "new grad training program." However, I would prefer that it be affiliated with a major university or a teaching hospital that is affiliated wth one. But my options are open to anything, I just want a steady enough and diverse enough patient population and quality preceptors who enjoy teaching new grads and will allow me to learn from them whatever they have to offer.

Any suggestions on what I should do to help make this a reality? How much should I emphasize my chemical industry experience? It proves that I am analytical, like to work with gadgets and machines and chemicals, and can be productive in a highly skilled, highly technical environment. My clinical instructors would also agree that I am very analytical and can maintain my skills in the face of adversity. For example, my clinical instructor gave our clinical group a challenge problem regarding drug dilution calculations and I was only the third person to ever do it correctly in the 20+ years he has been precepting. Another instuctor said I had some of the strongest concept maps of the bunch. So, I think I can get good, sepecific recommendations from my clinical instructors that specifically relate to the position that I'm after.

Since I'm going directly into an online BSN program, would I qualify for internships and externships that BSN students who traditionally take 4 years in residency on campus qualify for and be able to do semester-long externships/preceptorships? Or would those be out because of the ASN and the already being a licensed RN issue.

I do not care where I end up working as long as they'll teach me what I need to know to be successful in this field. I will apply to jobs anywhere in the US (including Alaska and Hawaii), but would prefer the states of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Michigan, Texas, California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montanta, Utah, Wyoming, or basically any state with good geographical features and lots of outdoor activities (mountains, hiking, whitewater kayaking, etc).

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[jaznia15]

I am now doing my practicum in Dublin, Ga and its a small rural hospital but a lot of nursing students work there as monitor techs. The ones I've asked said they had on the job training and didn't need to have any certifications to get the job. If you already have your ASN, I would find a job, get experience and eventually go part time. I know some hospitals do a WOW, the hospital I have a job offer at Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon only requires 6 months of experience to do their Work on weekends only which is considered full time so you get benefits and could actually get tuition reimburstment because you are a full time employee. That's just my two cents. Most places only pay a dollar difference or nothing at all for having a BSN over an ASN so if you start your career now versus sitting out to finish up your BSN, you might come out better and it could save you money tuition wise.

[Lauren GN]

How do you get on the waiting list for RN Grad Preceptorship at MCCG. I live in Covington, GA. Macon is a lot closer than Savannah. Lauren GN

[jelly221,RN, MSN]

Good luck finding a job as a tech when you're finished with school- the hospitals around here (SoCal) stop hiring students before their last semester because they won't be able to work very long before graduating and taking the NCLEX. You also might want to consider pass rates for the NCLEX- from what I understand, they decrease the longer you wait to take it after graduating.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

Here's the best advice I can give you:

Get letters of recommendation from these instructors you mentioned, with letterhead and keep it in your portfolio for when you go to interviews.

Mention your chemistry experience, but don't harp on it too much, it's still a different job from what you will be doing as an RN, but there are some advantages to having it.

The jobs that require a BSN will not be available to you because you are not finished with the BSN, unless you will be finished within a month of the start date for that job, there is no point in applying.

I don't think the BSN that you will be doing since you are already a licensed RN would give you the internship or externship hours. Though you never know, you would have to ask them.

Since you don't want to start working until August, look for specific new graduate programs that start in August, most of them have certain start dates.

I don't think working as a tech will happen because you expect to have already passed boards. Too much of a liability for you and for most hospitals.

[limitless-visions]

Hay Jelly221,RN Did you go to nursing school at Middle GA?