Nursing student in East Tennessee

[Zachtaylor1221]

I will be graduating from high shool in less than twenty days and have been accepted and enrolled for my fall classes in the pre-nursing program at Walter State Community College, with hopes of transferring to ETSU to get by BSN (via the Rn-Bsn bridge) and eventually MSN (Or PA-C). My main area of interest is presently revolved around psych. While I've not actually taken any nursing-specific classes, I'm extremely worried,however, that this career field is too supersaturated and that I will not be able to find a job. My high school guidance counselor even recommended I start off my career by getting an LPN licensure or CNA certificate to ensure I do have a job. Is this valid, or am I totally missing the mark here? Was it hard for any of you to find a job as RNs out of nursing school?

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

What do you mean "too supersaturated"? You mean no jobs available or what exactly?

I have been a nurse 10 years. 2 years med/surg and 8 psych. Those initial 2 years med/surg have been invaluable to me and make me a well rounded nurse. If you graduate and don't get psych right away then getting other experience will only help you. When you are applying to jobs HR people love well rounded applicants.

Slow down...focus on your ADN and the rest will fall into place. That is fine you want to get your MSN, but just set that aside and focus on the now. If you don't get the grades now the opportunities may not be there in the future.

And if you don't get into psych right away..so what..In med/surg I learned such great assessment skills and time management. It is all good man.

[Aromatic]

east tn is pretty saturated in the health care area. Mostly because the economy is not that great and there are not many other jobs. Even some docs have trouble finding great paying positions in east tn. I live in the area so yeah its pretty apparent.

May want to look into relocating