OKJen

I was wondering if there are any Oklahoma City nurses who prefer 8-5 M-F workdays over 12 hour shifts 3-days a week. If you have an opinion, ket me know. Thanks!

Hi Damaris! I usually don't reply to posts (just like to read and obtain info), but you sound exactly like me!!! So, I felt compelled to respond. I had worked in advertising for 10 years and then realized I needed something more in my life. I moved home (to Oklahoma City) from Phoenix where I had a successful career, earned good money and owned my own house. I realized that I needed to get out of the evil business world and try something new. So, I quit my job, sold my house and have been living on student loans for the past 3 years. I have to say it's the best thing I ever did - I don't regret a single day and certainly don't look back. I am 35 now and started from scratch. I have a BA from the University of Arizona so I had no prereqs that a science degree would require. I am a "senior" nursing student at UCO and although they did accept classes from my first degree such as English, math, etc, I needed to take all the sciences before I could apply for the nursing program. These were biology, chem, micro, physiology, anatomy. UCO also asks its pre nursing students to take three classes before applying to their program - Intro to nursing, fundamentals of nursing and individual and family development (also called developmental psych). I knew I was taking a risk because my first degree GPA was HORRIBLE!!!! I also knew that I had to bust my butt in these pre req classes to get my GPA up to apply for the UCO program. So, I did and I got in! It really depends on how much you want it! So this is what I know...my answers to your questions: 1. Accelerated classes are quite simply a *****. I have friends who just graduated this June (or July?) from OU's accelerated program and they had a hard time. OU is a great school! And, I would definitely not deter you from going there, but think about your learning style and whether you can cram 2 years of nursing school into 13-14 months. If this fits you, then go for it! In addition, nursing schools look at your TOTAL GPA - not just some or part - the whole thing. But, as a saving grace, they also require other things to help you get in such as references and science GPA (by itself in additon to total GPA). I am, of course, talking about BSN schools. Associate degree schools might be a little different - I am not familar with their requirements. Remember, you can get an RN through a four year BSN school OR a two year associate school. RN's are RN's - we all take the same licensure exam (NCLEX). I chose to get my bachelors because I may choose to go into management or get my masters later on down the road - want to keep my options open. 2. As for pay after graduation - well that's a little scary. I know you will know what I am talking about since you have been working in MIS. Starting pay rates for new grads in metro Oklahoma City hospitals average out to $18/hr. Full time is considered 36 hours/week - most people like to work 12 hour shifts so they only have to work 3 days a week. In addition, night and weekend differentials can vary between $2.50 and $5.00. So, if you decide to work a 7p-7a shift on a Saturday night - that shift could be worth around $23 for 12 hours - but remember that is ONE night not every night. To make extra money, some people work per diem shifts at another hospital where pay can be anywhere from $25-$35 an hour but that's only a supplement because per diem might only be 2 days a month. I have to say that I was making a hell of a lot more in the business world, but you know, that's okay. I am happy and I know from experience that money doesn't make you happy. Question where you feel happiest - behind a desk and a computer or caring for people on a daily basis (or at least 3 days a week :) 3. Yes, yes, yes. You can get financial aid. However, OTAG (Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant) just passed a new rule that they will not be giving grants to those who have already received their bachelors degree. So, you will most likely be taking out loans unless you get another grant or scholarship somewhere else. I reccommend using Fastweb. You can sign up for their service and they will alert you through email when a new scholarship comes through that you can apply for. 4. Most likely, you will have to take some prereqs so studying on your own won't be an issue. So, with that said. I would first decide what type of degree you would like to get and how much time and money you are willing to give up for that degree. Once you have researched that and decided your direction, I would contact those schools for their requirements. And if I could give a little plug for UCO, I LOVE it!!! The teachers are great, the clinicals are amazing and the environment is supportive. I have had such a great experience at UCO - they really prepare you for the real world and learning is actually fun. I hope this helps you, Damaris. Let me know if can be of assistance to you. Jen

Thanks Ortess! I was hoping that someone would say what you said. I am 35 years old and will graduate when I am 36. I feel like I don't have time to play around - I want to get my career started. I want to ask the hiring OR manager about extra pay (call and overtime), but I feel that it is inappropriate. So, that's why I have chosen to ask the people on this forum - maybe I can figure it out from the responses I get. I have been in contact with the hiring manager and he was so awesome - telling me to contact him in December so he can help me get my career started in the right direction! He is so pro-OR and seems to be supportive of those who want to get into surgery. I feel good about getting a job in the OR just nervous about the pay. Unfortunately, I am single and have no other income to fall back on so I have to figure something out. Thanks to everyone for your responses! You guys are really making me think - this is good. It's nice to hear all options since I have been swirling different thoughts around in my head for some time now. I want to make this happen - there's gotta be a way :) Have a great week. Jen

Thank you for all of your replies! I am currently doing an externship in women's services (I thought that's where I wanted to be but have thinking about my first love - surgery lately). I am mostly placed in Mom Baby which is floor work experience. I know I will have a job in women's services upon graduation but not sure its where I want to be. I have heard a lot about doing a year in med surg first before going into the OR but I hate to say I am really not interested in that. I did not enjoy my clincials much and wanted to do something a little more specialized hence my interest in women's services. I completely fell in love with OR during my clinical experience and want to get back to that feeling again. The OR orientation time makes sense when it comes to no chance for extra money - why would they put a new grad on call at the very beginning during the learning process? I never thought about that - so I appreciate you bringing it up. How about PACU? Would that be good experience for a new grad before getting into surgery? Do they hire new grads? Would that also be a good weekend job to supplement the OR pay? Thanks again. Jen

Hi All, I am going to graduate in a year and I think the OR is where I want to be, however I have been looking at my finances and it scares me. Upon graduation, I can get a job for $18/hr in the OR - this puts me at a little over $34,000 for the year. I can't live on this with my financial aid and credit cards (and other expenses). I realize there is call and possible time and a half pay but can I count on this? If I can count on this how much do you think I can expect to make in addition to my $18 at 40 hours a week? This makes me nervous because now I feel I have to take a per diem job on the weekends (2x/mo) just to make extra cash. I don't want to do this as I value my free time. I also know that the OR can be a demanding job so I want to rest when I can rest. I am very much the work hard - rest hard type. I realize that people across the country have different pay scales but I was hoping that someone could maybe tell me the percentage they receive over and above their regular 40 hour work week. Or maybe the dollar amount you receive in relation to your regular hourly pay. This way I could do some number crunching of my own to see what is in store for me when I graduate. Thank you to everyone for reading my post - I am a little nervous about my financial life after school.

I am a nursing student thinking about surgery...when you are on call do you get paid time and a half? I am confused about the pay in surgery because I am trying to compare it to regular floor work and shift differentials. Thanks!

Hi All! This is my first posting since I have been lurking around this website for about a year. I have a dilemma. I am starting my last year of my BSN in the Fall and last year during clinicals I had the opportunity to take part of some surgeries. It was a lot of fun - loved the cameraderie and one of the circulating nurses took me under her wing. I truly enjoyed it. Then came my OB clinicals which I also loved. This new love prompted me to get an externship in Women's Services where I float between antepartum, L&D and Mother Baby. All summer I have been working in this department and now I am not so sure about it. I am not excited to go into work. I am not sure if it is because I am not in one area and am instead floating. It also could be all the scut work I am doing but doesn't that come with the territory as an RN? I am thinking about inquiring about making a switch to the Peds OR but a position has to be open in order to do this. I am very nervous about making this decision. What if this is a mistake and I find I should have stayed in OB? I feel like I need to find the area I am interested in so I can start in that specialty immedicately after school. BTW, I have a job in Women's Services if I stay in OB. Thanks so much for your help. This has been weighing on my mind!

Hi All! This is my first posting since I have been lurking around this website for about a year. I have a dilemma. I am starting my last year of my BSN in the Fall and last year during clinicals I had the opportunity to take part of some surgeries. It was a lot of fun - loved the cameraderie and one of the circulating nurses took me under her wing. I truly enjoyed it. Then came my OB clinicals which I also enjoyed. This prompted me to get an externship in Women's Services where I float between antepartum, L&D and Mother Baby. All summer I have been working in this department and now I am not so sure about it. I am not excited to go into work and surgery has been on my mind. I am thinking about inquiring about making a switch to the Peds OR but a position has to be open in order to do this. I am very nervous about making this decision. What if this is a mistake and I find I should have stayed in OB? I feel like I need to find the area I am interested in so I can start in that specialty immedicately after school. BTW, I have a job in Women's Services if I stay in OB. I am also worried about the money in surgery. Is there an opportunity to work more than what is required (40 hours/week 7a-3p). Thanks so much for your help. This has been weighing on my mind!