I want to be a surgical NURSE (RN focused on surgeries/trauma) HELP!

[theperfectday0]

Hello friends,

I've been desperately running around all of Los Angeles looking for a damn program that is reasonable for me.

What I REALLY want is to become an RN and focus on trauma. (If I can even have a say lol)

My mother was pushing me to get into surgical tech.... which is nothing like an RN obviously, but the closest thing/quickest way in the OR.

BUT. The school I was planning on going to (Concorde), has not been working out because of financial aid reasons, and I'm not planning on spending $30k on a dumb course that everyone reviews as not educational and a "money hungry school".

My main point is...

I have no one to help me or at least even talk to me about my future. And slowly but surely my panic is increasing. I have no idea what to do.

I'm not sure which school is the best. If I should just go to community college first...

Help!!!!

Anyone have any suggestions? BSN is 4 years, surgical tech is 1 year or so. A lot cheaper, but no good schools around. Which one is more likely to get hired?

And what about a physicians assistant. What are the requirements for a PA?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Becoming an RN requires a generalist education. Once you become an RN, then you can specialize via nurse residency programs or fellowships. You don't choose a nursing focus until after you've passed boards and found employment.

[Ellekat2]

How much and what type of education do you need to be a surgical tech? In this area, they are trained from off the floor-usually a CNA that wants to shift focus.

I'd compare programs. If you can get a surgical tech training through a community college, it would be an opening to finding a job. Then if you want to become a nurse, you could gain experience and make contacts while going through a nursing program. If your focus is on surgery, that is. If you like actual trauma, you might want to check out EMS/Paramedic programs and a bridge program into the hospital setting. Most community colleges have vocational counselors whose job is to help define what works best for the student and provide testing to see what you are best suited for. I would start there.

[legume]

Becoming an RN is very difficult and immensely rewarding. It takes focus and hard work but it leads you to a career that is full of choices. If you are patient enough to work for what you want, go for the RN program. Even if you have to start with an associates degree at your local community college - it will be a start. Scrub tech's make decent money and get to do some pretty cool things, but they top out at a much lower ceiling as far as salary and potential.