Need Some Advice

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Hello,

I am currently a nursing student in an ADN program and will graduate in May 06. I have been taking core classes for my BSN along the way so I will graduate with my BSN in may 07. I am looking for a way to gain some experience during the summer months after I graduate in the spring, but I can not continue working when I return to school for my BSN because I run cross country and track for my school and there is no way I can work, go to school and run. I know that there are many summer programs for students in straight BSN programs between there junior and senior years, but is there anything similar for someone who has completed their ADN and is going back the next year to complete their BSN? Any suggestions about how I can gain some valuable experience would be appreciated! THANKS :nurse:

At some point you will have to decide between nursing and running. One will have to take priority, although I hope you continue with both. If you work as a nurse extern that would give you some experience. Even after you get your ADN there is a period of time before you have your RN license, so you cannot work as a nurse. Good luck.

Daytonite, BSN, RN

1 Article; 14,603 Posts

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

It is unlikely that you will be a licensed RN by the time the summer starts, so you really won't qualify to get into a new grad orientation program. It is very unlikely that you are going to be able to find RN level work without a license, so the next best thing is to do work where there are RNs nearby so you can be watching what they are doing. You can work as a nursing assistant. What some of the larger hospitals do is give jobs to nursing students in positions like a nurse tech or patient care tech. Because they are nursing students they are often given more responsibility to do a few more nursing procedures like putting in foleys. These hospitals often encourage their nursing techs to apply for an RN job with them after they are licensed. The other place you can easily find nursing assistant work in is nursing homes. It should be very easy for you to get your CNA if you don't already have it.

Once you get your RN license it will be a different story. Hospitals will not want to hire you on a temporary basis with no orientation as a new grad and you will be unable to commit to a new grad orientation. You may be able to find some temporary or prn work as an RN in nursing homes until you finish up your BSN program and can finally look for a permanent full time job.

Michele84

3 Posts

Thanks for the advice. Running is what pays for my school so I can't really choose between running and nursing. I have worked as a CNA in a nursing home and that was a good experience. Thanks Again:wink2:

mitchsmom

1,907 Posts

Specializes in OB, lactation.

Yeah I was wondering if you could do PRN work, just like 1 day a week or whatever you can handle?

Michele84

3 Posts

yeah I have thought about that as an option...but how hard is it to work PRN as a new grad with no experience?

Daytonite, BSN, RN

1 Article; 14,603 Posts

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
yeah I have thought about that as an option...but how hard is it to work PRN as a new grad with no experience?

This is where nursing homes might help out. They are always looking for weekend or prn help. Most of the time you're dealing face to face with a DON when you go looking for jobs in nursing homes and there is often a DON who is willing to give someone a break. As a new grad in a nursing home you could be a med nurse or treatment nurse, or even work for just a short 4 hour shift to help the other nurses out with things like med passes and treatments. I think that is always an option. The trick is to find someone willing to let you do that. They're out there. You just have to look.

AuntieRN

678 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg.

Michele814..I live and attend an ADN program here in SC too. I work as a nurse tech at the local hospital. They have a tuititon reimbursement program (which I do not take advantage of for a personal reason) but I do know that another hospital in the area will help you pay for your books and tuition and you do not have to be working there now. You sign an IOU. For evey semester they help you out you have to sign an agreement that you will work 6 months for them after graduation. (sorry think I got a little off track here). Anyways...at the hospital I am at...they love nurse techs. I get the feeling it is because the charge nurses can get two things out of it...one they get to teach and watch you grow and this most of them seem to love and 2...they get help from you and you can help lighten up their workload a little bit. The pay is not bad at least not for this state and you get a world of experience. In my opinion...just watching different procedures and being exposed to different things puts you further ahead than not seeing it. There are many procedures that are extremely rare that you may never even see in school but who knows...one shift you might actually get to see it if you work in the hospital. (well I think I have gone off the path again...and enough...good luck to ya!!

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