Im trying to decide my career and I have some questions

GigLs2u · Jul 17, 2005

There are multiple levels of education required to become a nurse. In the hospitals I have worked they now require the "nurses" to be R.N.s in the emergency room but this can vary depending on where you are located in the country. The range of time is approximately 18 months for an LVN/LPN to 4 years for a bachelor's degree. There are 2 and 3 year nursing programs that will prepare you to be an R.N. without getting a bachelor's degree.

Once you complete your college education, you must take and pass a state exam in order to become licensed in your state to practice nursing. Most graduating nursing students who begin working will tell you they are scared. As much as you learn in school there is still a lot you do not know.

Specialty areas of nursing typically offer some additional training and mentoring to new nursing graduates. The time frame varies by facilities and specialties. Areas such as the emergency room, operating room, psychiatry, etc, typically will have more training than a general medical surgical unit from what I have seen and heard.

Unless you are already in a magnet health profession high school there are not any special courses that will prepare you. Typically, most universities now have foreign language requirements as a part of the nursing curriculum at the bachelor's level.

Attending a community college versus directly going to a university is a personal choice. There are community colleges that offer nursing degrees. Universities tend to have very large classes which can be intimidating.

I started at a university and was devastated when at the biology department welcoming presentation a faulty member stated "You all are to get an education and then take my job. I am here to keep that from happening!"

Community colleges tend to be more causal and friendly but if you will eventually go to a university for a bachelor's keep in mind you may have to step up your studying once you get there because it is extremely competitive.

Salaries vary based on the city, state and part of the country you live in. In addition, it can vary even more if there is opportunity to work over time. New graduates in nursing start around the same amount for the area. My best guess is between $30,000 and $40,000 depending on where you are in the USA. I know there are websites that give salaries for careers including nursing specialties by zip code because I used it in a "Nursing: As a Career" presentation but I can not locate the power point presentation at the moment.

I realize you are interested in the emergency room but keep an open mind. You will see of a lot of interesting things in nursing school. The emergency room is an exciting place to work but can be exhausting too if you are not into adrenlin rushes every day.

Something you may not realize it that admissions to nursing schools are extremely competitive. I recently read another posting where the writer indicated more than 1400 people applied for 130 spots in a nursing program. In addition, nursing schools are raising their admission minimum GPA requirements every year. I read on this list one university went from a 3.76 to a 3.8 minimum requirement in the past 6 months and was 3.7 twelve months before.

IT IS WORTH THE PURSUIT!! Though it happens, it is not common, for nurses to get laid off like some other careers. In addition, you can change specialities in nursing and work in environments other than the hospital. Nurses work for lawyers, insurance companys, doctors, schools, the government, etc. Now that baby boomers are getting older and the average age of nurses is over 40 a critical shortage worse than these days is eminent.

Best of Luck! We look forward to having you in the nursing profession.

sprig · Jul 17, 2005

There are multiple levels of education required to become a nurse. In the hospitals I have worked they now require the "nurses" to be R.N.s in the emergency room but this can vary depending on where you are located in the country. The range of time is approximately 18 months for an LVN/LPN to 4 years for a bachelor's degree. There are 2 and 3 year nursing programs that will prepare you to be an R.N. without getting a bachelor's degree.
Once you complete your college education, you must take and pass a state exam in order to become licensed in your state to practice nursing. Most graduating nursing students who begin working will tell you they are scared. As much as you learn in school there is still a lot you do not know.
Specialty areas of nursing typically offer some additional training and mentoring to new nursing graduates. The time frame varies by facilities and specialties. Areas such as the emergency room, operating room, psychiatry, etc, typically will have more training than a general medical surgical unit from what I have seen and heard.
Unless you are already in a magnet health profession high school there are not any special courses that will prepare you. Typically, most universities now have foreign language requirements as a part of the nursing curriculum at the bachelor's level.
Attending a community college versus directly going to a university is a personal choice. There are community colleges that offer nursing degrees. Universities tend to have very large classes which can be intimidating.
I started at a university and was devastated when at the biology department welcoming presentation a faulty member stated "You all are to get an education and then take my job. I am here to keep that from happening!"
Community colleges tend to be more causal and friendly but if you will eventually go to a university for a bachelor's keep in mind you may have to step up your studying once you get there because it is extremely competitive.
Salaries vary based on the city, state and part of the country you live in. In addition, it can vary even more if there is opportunity to work over time. New graduates in nursing start around the same amount for the area. My best guess is between $30,000 and $40,000 depending on where you are in the USA. I know there are websites that give salaries for careers including nursing specialties by zip code because I used it in a "Nursing: As a Career" presentation but I can not locate the power point presentation at the moment.
I realize you are interested in the emergency room but keep an open mind. You will see of a lot of interesting things in nursing school. The emergency room is an exciting place to work but can be exhausting too if you are not into adrenlin rushes every day.
Something you may not realize it that admissions to nursing schools are extremely competitive. I recently read another posting where the writer indicated more than 1400 people applied for 130 spots in a nursing program. In addition, nursing schools are raising their admission minimum GPA requirements every year. I read on this list one university went from a 3.76 to a 3.8 minimum requirement in the past 6 months and was 3.7 twelve months before.
IT IS WORTH THE PURSUIT!! Though it happens, it is not common, for nurses to get laid off like some other careers. In addition, you can change specialities in nursing and work in environments other than the hospital. Nurses work for lawyers, insurance companys, doctors, schools, the government, etc. Now that baby boomers are getting older and the average age of nurses is over 40 a critical shortage worse than these days is eminent.
Best of Luck! We look forward to having you in the nursing profession.

WHAT A GREAT and informative reply Gigls2U...... this reply was a help to me also a very new newbie!!

sgent · Jul 17, 2005

~What are some good high school courses to take to prepare me?

I can't add too much to the post above (great post), but would recommend the following... Take every course your high school has in Math, Biology & Chemistry. Even if you choose not to use any AP credits you might earn, when you take these courses in college you'll have a leg up on everyone else. I would also take a statistics class if offered in addition to Algebra & Calc or Pre-Calc.

carachel2 · Jul 17, 2005

You are really to be applauded for gathering up career info and asking around. Too many young people don't ask these questions and end up in a field that is totally not suited to them or is not what they thought it would be in terms of work, $$,etc.

I don't have too much to add to the great answer you have already received:

How long does it take to be work in the ER? Including schooling? An associates degree will take you about 3 yrs and a BSN about 4.

~On average how much per hour do you make? New grads at our hospital make around 22-23.00/hour. (or so I am told). A nurse with about 10 years of experience can expect 27.00 - 32.00/hr. Weekend shift differential adds an extra 6.00/hr.

~Do I have to be a RN to work in the ER?there are all sorts of ER jobs that will let you test the waters as a student, usually a nurse tech or clinical assistant type of job.

~What are some good high school courses to take to prepare me?

~After high school should I go to a comunity college for 2 years then transfer to a university. Or is it easier to go straight to a 4 year university?

Kourtney16115 · Jul 17, 2005

Thank you to every one that has replyed so far. It has help a lot. If any one else has any more information they would like to share it would be greatly appreciated.