just graduated high school...

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2004

Good luck. Can't answer the salary question, but I understand that salaries are quite good in California. Some of the best in the country.

It usually takes people three years to finish an associates degree. One year of general ed prereqs and coreqs and two years of nursing school. That is if there isn't a waiting list.

Working with children can be general pediatrics, neonatal intensive care, mother-baby, nursery, school nursing, community health nursing, working in a pediatricians office, etc. Although some of these areas might require a bachelor's degree in your area (like the school nursing and community health nursing).

Good luck!

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2004

Your information is a bit sketchy. You said you have enrolled in a nursing program at a community college. It seems than you would need an advisor to do that and they would be the one to answer a lot of your questions. A lot of community colleges have associate degree nursing program. They are technically 2 year programs, but I would not advise trying to get through it in 2 years if you have had no other college. In fact, many schools will not let you into the nursing program until you have taken quite a few pre-reqs. The term "nursing school" may be confusing you a bit.

There are not many "nursing schools" per se left. Most of the time you are getting a degree in nursing from a college or university. You may get an associate or bachelors in nursing. These programs prepare you take a comprehensive battery of tests called the NCLEX. If you pass these (also known as state boards), then you will get a nursing license and may practice in your state. It does not matter if you have an associate or bachelors degree to take boards. You may practice in any state but must obtain a license from each state or some states recognize other licenses (compact states). You do not have to take boards again (thankfully!). There were schools called diploma schools but I do not know if there are any left or not. You may want to do a search for that if you are interested.

Salaries vary from area to area, hospital to hospital. You can check the Sunday paper in a lot of towns and see what positons are posted. You can probably call around to various hospitals and speak with someone who can give you a salary range for new grads.

You really do need to speak to an advisor at school though for indepth information about classes you need to take, and what the best route might be. Good luck!

baby_bubba · Aug 10, 2004

oh thank you guys so very much! :) as for the salary, ive just heard so many "start-out" pays that i don't even know which anymore, but ive heard they were very good. as for the nursing program that the college ive enrolled has to offer, i spoke to a student who is currently in that program and she said that it will take 4 years total. 2 years to meet the prereqs and another 2 years of nursing courses (?). ive yet to speak with a counselor, but i will soon, sometime this week.

however, DixieLee - are u saying i just need my associates in nursing.. and i can take the board exam? that sounds too good to be true..

coverover · Aug 10, 2004

nursing is a great profession but go with the intention of going as far educationally

as you possibly can .every one has there personal limitation ,but don't except everybody elses fight your own fight and good luck

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2004

Yes, baby bubba you can sit for boards with an associate degree. While it may sound too good to be true, you still have a long road ahead of you. Since you just graduated from high school, you are still young and I would recommend that you strongly consider looking for a BSN program. Since the community college is going to take 4 years anyway, why not opt for a BS program. Yes, it may take you a little longer but you will probably be glad later on you did it. Many of us here are AD nurses (myself included) and many of us returned for a BS later in our career (myself included). While I do recognize that I got a LOT more out of school the second time around, it would have been a lot easier if I had not been divorced with 2 kids when I did it. Also, the extra time in school allows you to gain life experiences and a little maturity.

How many nursing programs do you have available that are cost effective in your general area? You may also do a search as to what the first time NCLEX pass rate for each school may be. I just received a bulletin yesterday from one of the states I am licensed in and was amazed at the difference in pass rates between schools. It did not seem to matter if they were AS or BSN programs. Some were 100%, but the state average was 86%. It thought that was fairly low.

In any case, you have an adventure ahead of you. There will be many times you question your decisions. That is natural. Not many people expect an 18 year old to have all the answers. As you get older, you will realize you are not even sure of the questions! Good luck, keep reading this fourm for valuable information. Read some of the forums about different aspects of nursing, i.e., ER, critical care, home health, etc and get a broader view of just what we do.