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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

OH wow I had no idea there was an Oklahoma section here!!

I am 30 years old, married for 8 years, 2 girls ages 2 and 5. I live in SW OKC

Right now I am in school full time at Rose State (anyone go there?). I am *trying* to decide if I want to to nursing or become a doctor. At Rose State they are accepting applications for nursing now through sometimes in March I think. I might apply and see if I get accepted and just take it from there. They go by a point system and last semester the minimum was 126 points. I have all the maximum points to apply with but I'm still not sure if it will be enough (people who have experience do get about 2 more points but that can make all the difference when you have over 300 applying for 20 spots).

Does anyone mind if I ask what are the starting salaries for nursing in OKC area? I called Integriss and they said they start nurses at $16 an hour--is that accurate. I have friend who told me you can make $20 hr to start but I find that very hard to belive.

Anyone in a BSN program? I have almost all my pre-reqs done for the BSN at OU (Im taking Stats and Chem 1 right now and will just have to take Micro next semester). I would like to get my BSN, but I hear the BSN programs you are there alllll day long? What are the class and clinical hours?

Man I have so many questions, Ill have to get back on here later....lol

Marilyn

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Hi!

First of all, I'm just curious...your 30 and starting a new career? I almost went to med school (after nursing) when I was 31. I decided not to because at the time, I was a single mom, without a lot of support, and thought it would be too hard. I could kick myself now.

Oh well, eventually I'll do something I really love. What kind of work do you do now or did before nursing school? My advice would be if you really think you want to go to med school, research all the fields, and pick one that you really, really love. Because.....the medical field is changing rapidly, and is a huge systemic problem. The insurance companies are dictating what MD's can and can't do and how much they will pay for them.

Also throw in the lawyer's, med malpractice, and sue hungry consumers (also known as patients) and the future of health care looks pretty bleak.

Being a nurse for 10 years, and having a mother as an invalid half my life, I've "been in the sh-t". I wouldn't choose nursing if I were to do it all over again. Here are the things I don't like about it:

1. education to salary correlation (we know too much to not be paid like a professional.

2. work hours (your being compensated for the hospital's 24/7 schedule, and anyway, its not enough)

3. lack of respect as a professional.

4. your family life will suffer because of your mandatory schedule.

These are just a few digs, and just my opinon.

Hope this helps!

P.S. the RN salaries sound pretty on target, at least for baptist, but watch out, they are not paying any kind of sign on bonuses.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Jane thanks for posting back to me :) I appreciate your honesty more than you know. I do not want to waste my time with any career if it is not going to be something I truly love.

I have pretty much been a SAHM, but before I had kids I was a supervisor for Barnes and Noble and then later on at Borders books (I love, love, love books) but quit to stay home with my kids 6 years ago (I had a complicated pregnancy and quit during that time). Maybe I should just get my degree in Library Science or become the writer I always wanted to be ;)

I'm hoping to hear from some other OK nurses as well so please speak up as well.

Do a lot of people in the health professions get burned out really fast? Jane you said you kick yourself now for not going to med school....but knowing what you know now would you *still* want to go to med school?

Marilyn

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To answer your question, I guess I'm regretful, because I know that I am intelligent in the area of medicine, yet my timing and opportunity to pursue further education (like Med School) was very off!

If I had things to do over, I would have:

1. Been a total nerd in school, I too LOVE Books!

2. Gone to Med School. Probably gone into a women's health area like Breast Cancer and specialized in Radiology or Ultrasound/ Interventional Radiology.

3. Tried to get my childbearing over at an earlier age.

4. Lived more like men do without regret, and pursued what I was interested in.

Thanks for the insightfulness!

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