Reaz

I work as a clinical specialist for a medical device company now! I am in the EP lab with doctors, helping them implant pacemakers/ICDs. I love it!

Thanks for the advise! I appreciate it. I have been a nurse for 2 years, but just recently moved to the CTICU. So it will still be a while before I can sit for that exam. I am just trying to prepare now because of all the classes/certifications I need to get before applying. I don't want to be rushing and cramming at the last minute before applying Still got a while to go:)

Undergrad GPA (health science degree? 3.19 Accelerated BSN GPA: 3.59 Science GPA: 3.22 OVERALL: 3.36 I have already retaken two science courses a few years ago and got Bs in them ?. I took orgo and biochem after I graduated and got As in them. My plan is to retake two more science courses to get As in them, and then one more undergrad science course I haven't taken yet to get an A. Then I was going to take a graduate level pathophys class to prove I can take a grad level class. Does this sound like a good plan or does it look bad that I am retaking so many courses? Is this a smart move or too much? Should I focus on grad level classes only (my current undergrad science grades suck!) I just want to show schools that I am passionate about getting accepted. I also just want to improve my science GPA especially. I know I must do other things to make myself competitive, but I really am worried about my grades. I am currently a nurse in a CTICU at a trauma I academic center, HIGHLY renowned and great reputation. I plan to get my CCRN, join the transplant procurement team, leadership, etc, but I want to better my grades. Is it going too far to retake and take all of these classes? Sorry for the long post (and redundant on this site) but advice is appreciated! *Also, I wouldn't retake courses if I wasn't confident about getting As. I am actually a very smart cookie, I just didn't care about school at all in college.

Did you end up finding a job? I was a nurse in the hospital for two years. 1 year surgical tele and another year pre/post op. I realized working in the hospital was not for me, and I’ve always been passionate about working in plastics. Well, finding a nurse job in plastics is nearly impossible. So, I went on every plastic surgeons website, sent them an email asking if they’d be willing to bring on a nurse to train. I got a lot of rejections or no responses. Finally, a highly regarded plastic surgeon called me, had me come in to interview, and then shadow a surgery. He gave me an offer! He told me it would be a crazy steep learning curve, since I’d be seeing patients pre-op, post-op, circulating and on rare occasions scrubbing in the OR (he has his own surgery center in the building) and then if I wanted to I could train in the med spa doing injections, laser, chemical peels, etc. lots of area for growth and pay raises he told me! It is the perfect job for me and I wouldn’t have found it if I didn’t reach out on my own to find the position. Getting in plastics take time and effort!

Thanks! I got the job and accepted. Thanks for the advise! Super excited.

Okay everyone, be honest! So I worked on a surgical/tele unit for 9 months. I absolutely hated it. I knew from nursing school I would hate med/surg and requested my capstone to be in ICU and I got it and truly did enjoy it. That was my goal but couldn't get a job right out of school so I took the surgical/tele job. I worked there for 10 months and was miserable so I jumped the gun and did an internal transfer.......to pre/post op. I know, I regret this decision with all my heart. IDK why I did it. I think I was in a rush to get out. NOW I have been in ambulatory surgery for 11 months. I am more in tune with my desires and I desperately want the ICU again. I CANNOT get a job. I am obviously all over the place and it shows on my resume. Is this what is keeping HR from even considering me? I've applied to 19 jobs and within a week rejected from 11 of them. I also have been off the floor for almost a year, so does this look bad as well as I basically downgraded into this pre/post op position with barely any critical thinking. How can I get into the ICU? should I wait more time, or start applying to floor positions (ugh). Am I being inpatient or realistic? I do have an interview for an ICU at a smaller community hospital, but of course me being me, I want the most high acuity patients in a level 1 trauma center (I live in Chicago). IF I do become lucky to get this job, should I take it and get the experience to later move into a role at a bigger hospital? I am considering CRNA because I work with them now and think I would absolutely love it. Feel free to give me some advice! Give it to me straight:)

Hi there! I am applying to ICU positions right now as I have some nursing experience under my belt. My goal is to become a CRNA. I do not have the best grades; undergrad GPA 3.2 (BSc in health science) and then my BSN GPA is 3.6. I also took biochem and med terminology and got As so that slightly helps, and I plan on taking a few more grad level classes to boost my grades. I want my ICU experience to stand out since my grades don't. I always see/hear CVICU is the best, but is that just a myth or is it actually true? I would think SICU would be the best but not sure. Are there any specialties that you would not suggest? I hear MICU is not the best and then I also heard that Neuro ICU isn't great either? IDK Im just looking for some answers from people who have gotten accepted and/or maybe even denied. I live in Chicago so lots of great academic level 1 trauma hospitals. I really would love to work at one of these as I'm sure all of the CRNA schools here are extremely competitive. Thanks for your help in advance! - also, I know there are lots of threads on this, but a lot of them are not recent and I know things change over the years

would I be able to get an administrative job with only a year of nursing experience, or would I need more for anyone to consider me?

Yeah I have heard both good and bad things about the MBA, I dont know which to believe. In hospital settings, PAs and NPs work almost identically. PAs just need to sign in collaboration with an MD, they are not glued to one. They are able to work without direct supervision just like NPs. They have gained a lot more autonomy over the last couple of years. In clinic they work pretty much the same as NPs, except youre right, NPs have the ability to work independently. That isn't a goal of mine though. Just different goals/opinions! I feel like that would be the best move! You'd have great options and more knowledge in both areas

I'll have to look into some administration jobs to see if id like that. To answer your question-basically, the curriculum of PA programs are more standardized and vigorous to better prepare you to become a provider. I also prefer the medical model verses nursing model. I totally respect the NP profession, but I don't have much nursing experience and NP school kind of relies on their students to have a solid nursing background. I also want to go into surgery, and PA dominates that world. Both are great careers tho!! Thanks for your response!

Hi all! I hope you can help. I just want to know what kinds of specific jobs a nurse can have with an MBA? I'll give you a very quick background on me. I basically really dislike nursing. I am applying to PA school right now because I still love medicine so much and feel this will way better suit me, however a part of me just wants to entertain the business route to see if I would also enjoy that. I tried doing some research and I can only find very general descriptions. Does anyone know of any specific roles and job titles you can have as a nurse with an MBA? The more business-y, the better!! I want to get a full sense of my options before I plunge into a very expensive, time consuming PA program. (Yes, I'm choosing PA over NP, please don't fight with me about it, that is not what this post is about). Thank you! I appreciate all responses:)

I took a job in pre/post-op! I wanted something procedural but also still wanted patient contact and I think this was a happy medium. Also the schedule is amazing :) Thanks for the replies and advice!!

You’re right. There is definitely a lot of money invested in new grads. I already felt terrible leaving my first job so soon but I was absolutely miserable so I had to do that. But at the end of the day I would never have it in me to leave this job right away. I also want to go to PA school, so I’d like to not hurt my chances of getting a job as a PA within the system. Thanks for your advice:)

I have decided to stick with this job and not burn any bridges. I like this job, and I accepted the position knowing I would have to commute, so I can’t complain about it now. Thanks for all of the advice, you did help me make that decision.

Hi!! So I just started a new job in pre/post op. Some background info- I was a new grad and started my first job on surgical/tele and I was there for 8 months. That’s when I applied for an internal transfer to pre/post op and I was hired and just started this Monday! Biggest pro to this transfer was that it was the unit I wanted with day shift, M-F scheduling. Major con: I live in the city and this job was a transfer to a different hospital 40 miles away. I couldn’t get anything else in the city with this kind of schedule or unit and this was extremely important to me. So of course with my luck, my first day on the floor I get a call about a PACU position I applied for in the city very close to where I live. It’s not at a hospital, but a surgical center. My immediate reaction was “absolutely not, I just started this job and cannot get up and walk out.” But after I started talking to a bunch of people about it, almost everyone said “you don’t owe them anything, do what’s better for you.” I am a people pleaser so this is very hard for me. Anyway, I didn’t even get any offer yet, but do I even entertain the idea and interview with her? I’m scared it’s going to sound amazing and then it will just tempt me and I will go through an agonizing decision making process. I can’t keep job hopping either since I left my first one so soon. I know I’m getting ahead of myself because i didn’t even get an offer, but if it’s a terrible idea then I don’t even want to follow through with it. I also wouldn’t even consider it unless it felt considerably better than my new current job (location is a major plus though). Also, it would be 4 day’s a week versus 5 with a better shift time than the job I just started. one more piece of info: the hospital system I am a part of is one of the biggest in the Midwest with many hospitals and clinics. I definitely don’t want to burn any bridges. I just want honest advice please:) this is a very controversial topic.