Not working while doing an RN-BSN program?

[misspickle, RN]

Hi everyone,

I will be graduating with my AAS this fall and we are immediately being transferred overseas for my husband's job. We are moving to a developing country where I may or may not be able to work as a nurse (quality of healthcare there is very low). My question is: how will this affect my ability to get a job as a "new graduate" nurse if/when we return to the US in 2-3 years? I plan on completing my BSN or working on an MSN (I have a BS in another discipline) online while we are there. Is there anyone else out there who didn't work while doing an RN-BSN program? I'm just concerned that I will have trouble finding a job 2-3 years out from nursing school and having very little experience in nursing besides my clinicals. I'm hoping that working on my BSN and/or MSN will somehow make up for that gap.

There might be an opportunity at the US embassy working in their clinic, but I don't know how much nursing experience I would actually gain from that -- might be just taking vitals, etc. Other options I am exploring are international internship programs or possibly working as an assistant to an American CNM (I'm hoping to go into midwifery someday) if I can find one who is working there.

I appreciate any advice anyone might have!

Thanks

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Could you volunteer with a health care program (like Mercy Corps, the Peace Corps, or Doctors without Borders) while you're overseas?

[Jules A, MSN]

Hi,

Personally I'd try hard to get a job but if you can't your excuse is a good one. I guess it will depend on the demand for nurses when you get back to the states as to whether or not you will have trouble getting a job. If you can't get work continuing in school is good but keep in mind starting as a new grad with your masters degree can be frustrating for both the new graduate and the floor nurses who expect a masters level of skill. Good luck.

[mariahas4kids]

Check out the Department of Defense, you may be able to get a civilian job on a US military base. Good Luck!

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

i agree with the others... get a job or volunteer somewhere so that you have clinical work experience. rn-bsn programs are setup for nurses with work experience or new grads who have a job. it is not set up for a nurse whom has never worked as a nurse and will not do so for a long time. in fact, there was a new grad in my class when i began my program who was similar to you... she ended up dropping out because she could not complete the assignments since she had no patients. i am not stating you will definitely drop out. i am just trying to make you aware of the realities of a rn-bsn program. for example, many of your assignments are focused on application of theory on your real-world patients (no job = no real world patients). besides, my program as well as others expects you to put in some time clinically within your community, the local hospital, and/or lab so not all programs are completely online even if they state rn-bsn online. nurses spend time with patients. i cannot imagine that there exists a program where you will not need to spend time with patients in order to complete assignments. gl!

[misspickle, RN]

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for all of the advice. This is really helpful to me. It looks like the best thing for me to do is to try to find some sort of work, whether it be in the clinic or a volunteer job.

Unfortunately, there are no military bases where we are going, but that is certainly an option for the future. I will to look into Mercy Corps; I know that Doctors without borders wants experience (1-2 years, can't remember exactly) and they are not even fielding questions from potential applicants because they have so many already. I have looked at the Peace Corps website and from what I can gather they don't have nurses in the country where we are going. But I could always contact them directly to find out for sure.

MBARN08 -- thanks for the advice on the RN-BSN; that answered my suspicion that I would probably need to be working as a nurse in some capacity during the program.

The ultimate would be to find an RN-BSN program with a school that has an international internship program! :)

[Simply Complicated]

Just wanted to add that if you are unable to find a job due to no experience, and being out of school for a few years.. check into a refresher course. Some hospitals will hire nurses who have been out of the job when they take the refresher. Not sure if it would be the same for your situation, but its still something to look into!