MSN Nurse without clinical experience please help!!

Breplus3 · Feb 5, 2016

I completely understand what your concerns. I am in the leadership and management MSN program at WGU. I will complete the BSN in portion by April and I have been frustrated that almost everything requires experience on a Med surg or PCU floor. When I recieved my ADN I planned to work in hospital for at least 1 yr. Long story short, the week after I passed NCLEX I had gastric bypass surgery, causing numerous complications post op. Over the next year most of the complications were resolved. The lasting effect was neuropathy caused by Vit B deficiency. Because of this I can not do 12 hour shifts on a floor. I have worked and still do work as a school nurse (CNA 2004, LPN 2007, and bridged to RN 2013). I have some experience in nursing home work when I was an LPN as well as hospice nurse through an agency for a short period. When I finally realized my neuropathy was going to be permanent I enrolled in the MSN program because I knew I would need to go into the admin side of nursing. It's not that I want to take a short cut, however what options do I have? Should I really throw away my years of education (and loan balance) because of this physical barrier???

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Feb 5, 2016

I know your struggling to find a position. I had to change this post because I posted right after your follow up.

I'd take a SNF job or LTAC if you really want to get your foot in the door for hospital settings. Some do have 8 hr shifts.

If you work as a school nurse, do you have your phn? Maybe look at county or state opportunities to expand in public health roles. If I think of any other ideas I'll throw them in there.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2016

I was also just thinking of my first ADON that I worked under as a CNA. It was a LTC SNF, and they didn't mandate OT. If they were short a nurse or more than one CNA, the ADON put on a uniform and worked the floor. She was able to do that because she'd worked the floor for years.

Farawyn · Feb 5, 2016

If this is the trend? We're doomed.

dnptobe20 · Feb 5, 2016

I would advise you to look at major/larger hospitals in your area - especially teaching hospitals. They are usually open to hiring new grads. Also, have another experienced nurse or manager take a look at your resume, cover letter and your interviewing style. There may be something missing that they could help you out with.

Many units (including ICU and L&D) are open to hiring new grads out of school occasionally. Look for a hospital with a rigorous RN residency program to onboard you. Honestly, you might have to try to get at least one year of bedside experience before branching out into other areas of interest that may involve less standing.

kalevra, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2016

If you really want a bedside job, look at inner city hospitals with an ER. What you are looking for is a high turnover rate and lots of travel nurses. Usually it is a sign of workplace dysfunction , specifically people keep leaving due to operational tempo. Look for hospitals who pay less than surrounding facilities, they usually have a steady amount of RN turnover due to greener pastures else where.

Management jobs are about connections. Experience on the floors are nice, but mostly it is about who you know and willingness to protect the facility. We have a director who happens to be married to our Chief Medical Officer. Her only experience was as a school nurse.

elkpark · Feb 5, 2016

San Francisco State University is a respected institution and has a Non-Nurse MSN Clinical Nurse Leader. The goal is to have and MSN and NOT work bedside. The goal is to be part of management and to tell other people how to do their job better and manage them as a workforce. The program requires a NON-NURSE (RN) told a Baccalaureate Degree since it is a Master's Program. It should be noted that during the course of your studies, the student will take the NCLEX and become an RN at some point.
I understand how this information irks those nurses that have worked bedside for 10, 20, 30 years or so. The truth is that, it does not take years of experience to be management material. It takes a person willing negotiate, protect the interest of the institution, discipline and manage workforce. There is a reason there are nurse with 10, 20, 30 years of experience at bedside, it is because they do not want to do it. Many feel it would put them on the side of the manâ€ or have to start cracking-downâ€ on workers.
Management positions are not for everyone, figure out what you want in life and go for it. Below is a link to San Francisco State University, feel free to look through it. Best of luck to you and don't let people hold you back.
https://www.usfca.edu/nursing/programs/masters/msn-non-nurses/program-details

There are quite a few entry-level MSN programs now for non-nurses, including CNL programs. These programs have been around for decades. But most (all?) of the direct-entry CNL programs will advise students that they will graduate and compete with ADN and BSN new grads for the same entry-level bedside nursing positions, and they should not expect to be able to move into a management or clinical leader role without first gaining some significant clinical experience.

And the CNL role is not, technically speaking, a management role. People who want to move into nursing management typically have an MSN in administration. The CNL is supposed to be a bedside clinical expert, not a manager.

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 5, 2016

There are quite a few entry-level MSN programs now for non-nurses, including CNL programs. These programs have been around for decades. But most (all?) of the direct-entry CNL programs will advise students that they will graduate and compete with ADN and BSN new grads for the same entry-level bedside nursing positions, and they should not expect to be able to move into a management or clinical leader role without first gaining some significant clinical experience.
And the CNL role is not, technically speaking, a management role. People who want to move into nursing management typically have an MSN in administration. The CNL is supposed to be a bedside clinical expert, not a manager.

I think the the confusion that surrounds the CNL scope lies in the word "bedside".

The "direct-care" that the CNL is doing is patient teaching. The CNL is not meant to be in the staff mix as a bedside nurse.

The CNL is a systems - engineer of the healthcare system flow of the Microsystem. There is a reason why it was decided that the CNL required a Masters level of education versus a Bachelors level of education. It is a unique, specialized education that allows the one educated to function with a more in depth knowledge level and expertise than what is taught in nursing school.

When they say that a CNL is not a Management role, they're meaning one of administration~ the CNL should not be the one balancing the budget, or dealing with administrative tasks. Instead: the CNL is managing the flow of the Microsystem.

The UNIT is his/her patient.

DeeAngel · Feb 5, 2016

I don't care what your education level is, with virtually no experience under your belt beyond that of a new grad, I would consider you to be and treat you like a new grad. If you want to speak with a voice of authority then you had better get to work on a med surg floor and get some authentic, usable experience under your belt. Your education is only a small part of what makes a good nurse.

Cheyenne RN,BSHS · Feb 5, 2016

I'm a new nurse that has worked in a private home setting that really shouldn't be called a nursing position for three years. I am 90% with my MSN program in Leadership and Management and would like to know what opportunities will be available with my lack of clinical experience? I'm trying to avoid doing floor nursing for a long period of time. Any suggestions?

I know this may sound foolish, but if you don't have any hands-on experience and sound like you don't ever want any, why did you become a nurse?

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 5, 2016

I don't care what your education level is, with virtually no experience under your belt beyond that of a new grad, I would consider you to be and treat you like a new grad. If you want to speak with a voice of authority then you had better get to work on a med surg floor and get some authentic, usable experience under your belt. Your education is only a small part of what makes a good nurse.

Are you referring to moi?

I've been a nurse for over 25 years. What is it that you're trying to communicate?

Farawyn · Feb 5, 2016

Nurse;8892081]Are you referring to moi?
I've been a nurse for over 25 years. What is it that you're trying to communicate?

I think she was referring to OP. At least that's how I took it. :sarcastic: