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If you feel that school didn't prepare you well and you can't work as a nurse safely, go to reputable nursing school and start straight RN program. It will allow you to re-learn and practice safely as a nurse. People's life will depend on your knowledge, skills, care , critical thinking and intuition. You don't want to loose your license by harming someone before you even start making a living. It's better slowly but safe, and you will become a great nurse!

I am in agreement with others. Unless you won a lottery, and have a desire to learn and help people, I would skip NP school. I am 53 years old and I had to make the same decision. I went back to school to get my BSN degree at age 50, and still have a student loan of over $17k to pay. I love learning and did very well at Chamberlain. I would love to be able to work only part time, or volunteer my services when I reach 65-67, so taking more student loans wouldn't be financially smart decision. Especially nowadays, when student loans maybe not option for us healthcare providers. Good luck with whatever you choose!

My recommendation for you is to remember that nursing in US is very stressful and liability is high. Everything that you will do in your nursing career should be done like from attorney's perspective. If I could turn my time back, I would become a physical therapist instead. Less liability, plenty of work flexibility, opportunities, better pay, and you still helping people. Stress is only healthy/ stimulating in small amount. It helps you grow. Too much of it, affects your mental and physical health. It causes burnout and job dissatisfaction. Good luck in what you decide!

Whien I worked in Memorial Health Care System, I heard only negative opinions about HCA, but my opinion changed for the best. About 2 years ago I started to work in one of the hospital that belongs to HCA . I love where I work, what type of work I do. I love my boss and my co-workers. Even though that the hospital is very far, and it takes me a minimum 1 hour to get back home, (sometimes 1.5 hours),I wouldn't change it. I live about 5 min away from another HCA hospital, but it's so bad, that I wouldn't want to be a patient there, nor even go there for diagnostic tests. This experience taught me , that you need to pay attention not so much on the healthcare system that you want to work, as to choose right hospital, unit, co-workers and your direct boss. I believe only 50% what other people ( patients and employees)saying. It's matter of finding what's is right for you, to make your own opinion and build your own experiences. Remember, that if you not happy with the unit where you work, you can also transfer to another unit or even another hospital within system. I truly love my HCA hospital and wouldn't change it back to my previous Memorial, despite that I worked there for almost 12 years. Each system has its own pros and cons. Signing bonus was very sweet, and pay was great when I was hired, but pay increase is minimal after that. No bonuses, you only get reward points that you convert into gift cards or make purchases through variety of vendors signed by HCA. Health insurance has 3 options(tier) which is great. I have an amazing opportunity to manage my own 401 K plan, to move the funds where I want to invest( build my nest?). I didn't have this much freedom with Memorial, and I barely made any interest. The nurse to patient ratio still high and depends on the unit that you will work. Nursing turnover is huge, at least in my hospital), but another HCA hospital that about 15-20 min from mine, are not. Employees live that HCA hospital only when they retire. It means that do your own investigation, talk to multiple employees in the hospital that you got the job offer, take all the information with a grain of salt, and pray for the best! Good luck on finding your perfect opportunities!

:confused:I am considerably a new RN on telemetry/stepdown unit, working since 03/03/08. And I will appreciate any advice how to get CNA cooperation to clean patients. Only a few CNA take their job seriously and are compationate with sick people, but most of the CNA that work on my floor, work just for money or something else. I was reprimanded a few times by my nurse manager due to patient's family complains, that their beloved family member wasn't cleaned/no perineal care provided. Every time when I ask my CNA for help, she says that she is busy, or she is on break, or some other excuses. During the last complaint and discussion with the Human Resources Department, I was advised to report any CNA that refused to perform her duties, but I don't feel comfortable in doing so, and I think it's supposed to be a last resort.