Unanswered Questions Pleas Help Delaware

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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:rolleyes: I need help.:coollook:

What is the average pay for a starting RN?

I have called several Hospitals and they act line I am asking for directions to the Holey Grail and it is there job to be the gate keeper. I can get no information.

I seems as through this entire process of becoming an RN is more designed to discourage people rather than to Encourage.

Where can I get a practice test that I need to take before I start my clinicals

Where can I get the practice test that I would need to take to pass and get my RN License.

I strongly believe in being prepared.

If there is such a shortage of nurses why then is so little direct answer information available. Why do the instructors and information seminars tell you its so difficult and competitive, and act like you almost have to be a rocket scientist to qualify, However when I speak to students who are in there clinicals they say it's not that hard.

What is the average starting pay?

Do I need to take additional classes to be in a specific area i.e. surgical nursing as an RN student or do I Get my license and then apply for a random area of nursing and just automatically qualify after 1 or 2 years of general experience.

I have so many questions can someone pleas start by answering these.:uhoh3:

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

If you do it the way I did, you decide it's time to be a nurse, you don't realize that there are several different points of entry, so you apply to the nearest school's BSN program, get in, take your pre-requisite classes, don't realize that at some point a test you took on a Saturday morning heavily factored into your entrance into the nursing school, go to classes and clinicals while working full-time, study a bunch in some areas, not so much in others, nearly get divorced over the strain, graduate, take the NCLEX, throw up, get notification of passing, and stumble into your dream job after a couple of interesting and very educational pit stops on other units.

In other words, I think you may be over-planning ;). In general terms: there are three points of entry to becoming an RN - diploma, associates degree and bachelors degree programs (I leave it you to search the many threads pertaining to this to determine what works best for you in the context of available offerings in your area.) Apparently there can be substantial waiting periods in some/many schools.

Yes, it's a lot of work to get there. Your pay will vary - a search of your Sunday paper or the HR job listings at your local hospitals should give you some idea of the starting salaries in your area. When selecting an area to work in after school, you'll have to factor in a combination of shifts, personal preference of unit, and whether there's anything available that closely matches those. Yes you can specialize immediately (althought don't make the mistake of not realizing that med-surg, I believe what you're referring to as more general experience, is a valuable and challenging specialty of its own and not a stop along the way to grander things.) Also realize that the entire scope of nursing doesn't begin and end in the hospital.

Good luck! :)

Thank you:rolleyes:

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

here are several sites for you to explore while finding the answers to your questions about nursing. lot of information in both these sites. have fun exploring.

http://www.nursingsociety.org/career/cmap.html

http://www.discovernursing.com/

http://www.salary.com/

also, check out this thread on this forum.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f198/nursing-career-info-websites-97639.html

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Great advice and links provided above. Best wishes to you. :)

brezyblaze:

Welcome to the site :) Your questions are really good.

Nurse Ratched, Daytonite:

Thank you for the suggestions :), I have added them to my notepad folders.

Angels’

Most hospitals don't comment on wage as many are governed by how many years of experience comes into play and Union rules regarding pay. Just a hint: Don't ask about pay right off the bat when you interview. It looks as though that's the only reason that you are there and it doesn't sit well with the interviewer. Don't ask about benefits until the second interview. Be prepared to have at least 2 interviews: The first with H.R. and the second with the floor manager.

Secondly, you are right to be prepared. However, you shouldn't have to take a pre-test before clinicals. Your schooling should be enough to prepare you for that. NCLEX is helpful but that is to prep for state boards and you probably have enough on your plate.

As far as a "specialty" goes, interview for the specialty that is being advertised, ie: med/surg, ortho/neuro, oncology, etc. You will be assigned a preceptor RN who will mentor you through Orientation and help you find your wings. If you aren't sure what specialty you want, be open to learn on any floor and your opportunities will be unlimited. You won't be an expert right away, even if you are a superior student. Grades won't tell you what kind of nurse you will be.

Only experience will do that. Good luck!

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