minimo

I can see where you got the idea that "my attitude stinks," because I tend to write out of passion and sometimes frustration. Nevertheless, I can't help but notice that when I share my goals with some nurses who have been in the profession for a long time, I'm often met with pure adversity and negativity; it never fails that someone tells me I need 5-10 years on the floor before going back to school (which I obviously disagree with). I get even worse responses if I tell someone I went into nursing school with exclusive plans to become an NP. I do understand the value of experience, and that's why I'm working where I am now and didn't go straight into an MSN program like some of my former classmates did. (Afterall, an MSN is a graduate degree, and college students are all but expected to start a graduate program right away.) I'm glad to be working in my unit, and I like my job, but I'm driven to pursue more, and I want to do it while I'm still relatively young. So, I don't see anything wrong with seeing "bedside nursing" as a means to my end. Yes, those skills will benefit me and my patients in the future...I will be the first to agree, and I never discounted that. I completely respect and applaud those who love bedside nursing...I think it's great, and it takes a special person to do it well. We don't all love doing research analysis papers or creating those mile-long, impossible care plans they make us write in school, but we do always take something valuable from them that will aid us in our practice as nurses. Ditto for baths and linens.

Hi, all. This is one of my first posts here, so bear with me. I am writing to solicit advice about moving to the Silicon Valley area and finding a job as an RN. I am an ABSN prepared RN working at Duke University in its heart center (cardiology step-down unit). I've been working for ~6 months and started there as a new grad. I love my job there, and I've found it a great place to work, but my fiance and I are suddenly faced with a tough situation. He lost his job here a couple weeks ago, and now he's got two great offers from companies in silicon valley, with recruiters still calling. Since we're paying for a wedding and his income is (much) higher than mine, we're seriously considering making the move in the next couple months. I'm a bit weary of moving to California since I've lived my whole life in cities along the east coast, but I'm beginning to warm up to the idea. My questions are: 1. How long would it take me to get an RN license by endorsement from NC? 2. Which hospitals in that area offer better work environments and pay? I think I would prefer a hospital similar to Duke (maybe Stanford?), with a good teaching program. 3. I realize no place is really affordable there, but which towns/neighborhoods offer relatively reasonable rental rates with an environment suitable for a (almost!) married couple in their mid 20s with no children? 4. What kind of wages might I expect to make? Is $40 about right? 5. I'm planning to go back to school soon to become an NP...any suggestions re: schools? 6. How reliable, quick, and expensive is the public transportation system? Does anyone regularly use it to go to/from work? I would greatly appreciate any help/advice/warnings/insights anyone could provide.

So, call me a "bad nurse," but I don't particularly love "bedside nursing." I despise doing bed baths, I hate changing linens (sorry, I didn't go to college to tuck in sheets), and I'm happy that I work at a place where the NAs do all that. My intent has always been to work as a floor nurse for one year only, in order to gain the experience needed to become an NP. Yes, the NP job appeals to me, but being a floor nurse does not. I don't believe we need to "rise through the ranks" or "pay our dues," so to speak. If I had to, I would never have even considered nursing school. I'm in nursing because of the many *different* opportunities it provides and the whole-person philosophy it employs. For those who argue that NPs should have many years of experience in bedside nursing before pursuing the masters, I would point out that I don't see MDs doing that, and they have a lot more on their plates (and many NP programs now require residencies). Am I a bad nurse because I'm taking advantage of the new and improved nursing profession? Perhaps I should have become another pin-point-focused, jaded MD instead....