Not Yet a Nurse

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2008

I'm relatively sure in the larger trauma centers the Trauma nurses in the emergency room are all RNs.

So getting your RN should be your priority and I wouldn't got the EMT route.

It's true that most hospitals has some sort of tuition reimbursement programs for their employees. For example where I work we all get $2200 a year for tuition reimbursement. We even have a few "earn as you learn" positions in that they pay the entire educuation if they work for us for two years after they graduate. So getting a job in a hospital as a CNA might be beneficial, especially if you could be a tech in the ER.

I would talk to your local nursing school and put in an application. They are going to want to do placement tests to see where you place in math and English, plus there are pre-reqs necessary to apply to the nursing program. It's a long hard road that could take up to four years, but keep you eye on your goals and go for it.

JStyles1 · Jul 19, 2008

yes trauma nurses have AT MINIMUM their 2 year RN, but most I know have a bachelors degree, their CCRN and lots of experience in either an ER or an ICU. Trauma nursing is not something you're going to be able to do immediately after graduation. Its a position that requires experience.

heres a path for you that most of our trauma nurses (at a level 1 teaching hospital)

- get your RN (you should prefer BSN over ADN)

- get experience in an ER or ICU and learn learn learn!

- take all those classes the hospital offers (acls, pals, phls, etc...)

- look for open positions

- win

changeofpaceRN · Jul 22, 2008

As someone who lived in MD and went to UMD School of Nursing, I can tell you what I did (mind you, I dropped out of the nursing school- too young for the responsibility and now I'm working to get my RN- talk about long road) Anyway, I went to UMCP and HCC in columbia to get my pre-req's out of the way. You can go to any recognized community college near you to take the 2 years of pre-req's first. Do the best you can with them grade wise. After you complete the required clases, you can apply to UMD's School of Nursing (or Hopkins- whichever you prefer) and wait to be accepted. From there, it's 2 years to get your BSN. As an alternative, you can continue in your cc's nursing degree program (their ADN program) and become an RN that way and transfer into a university to get your BSN.

Anyway, the clinicals at UMD start in your 2nd semester of nursing school. You get exposed to many nearby hospitals including UMD's Shock Trauma in B-more and Hopkins. They put you in the ER, OR and many other departments like clinicals usually do (the only difference is which hospitals you go to depends on your nursing school). Anyway, you can really make a name for yourself and get 1 foot in the door. That is what I would have done if I had to do it over.

As far as tuition, some hopitals will pay after you graduate and some will pay if you work for them while in school. You can always see if you qualify to be a PCT in a hospital and work your way up that way. I know my friend worked in telemetry as a PCT and was offered a job as soon as she graduated. Call around to see your options and see what job openings they have as well as their requirements. Make this your goal and do it!

Audrey28 · Jul 24, 2008

Well I wanted to say Good luck...:wink2: I am just starting out doing this too- and I am taking night classes at the Community College near me here in Virginia- I work F/t and am a single mom- so I know I have a long road ahead of me. But you have to fight for what you want and work hard to get there- so good luck and don't give up on your dreams! You can do anything you set your mind to- and the rewards will be well worth it in the end. Again good luck! And hopefully we will both be great RN's :nurse:in the future! :lol2:

Best Wishes!

~Audrey:clown: