jmCARing4u

I want to go back to school to get my MSN w/ option in Nursing Education. I'm looking into the University of Phoenix in reaching this goal. Im thinking about getting the degree online because it's more flexible for me. I know you need to have an MSN in order to teach at the University level- can you teach at this level if you obtain your MSN online? Any feedback would be great. Thanks!

Thank you. I'm living in the bay area... specifically Fremont. I've been asking around through my contacts and checked online for jobs but they're all mostly staff II nurses needed or they want at least a year of ACUTE care experience. I would be willing to relocate, but it's not really a good time right now because I would have to leave my dad, and that would be hard cuz it's now just the two of us...

Hello all! So I've been working at a SNF now for almost 6 months. I'm kind of part time and on call and I FLOAT which really sucks. I feel like I still can't get use to the med pass and getting done on time. Recently my mom who has been so supportive of me passed away, so I've been really stressed. My workplace has been so supportive and let me off for some time. I just went back to work this past Monday and again, the stress with the floating. I woke up this morning thinking, "I think I've reached my breaking point... I really need a change!" I know this economy is really bad right now, but I was just wondering if there are hospitals that do hire a nurse with SNF experience? I heard it's really hard to get into the acute setting after working at a SNF... but I really need a change! Or is there any other options that could work, like do clinics hire a nurse after working at a SNF? I'm super stressed and feeling like I can't handle things anymore... any advice??? Thanks.

I really hope hospitals will still hire nurses that started out at SNFs... I just started last month at a SNF and I really don't want to get stuck where I am. This is why I didn't want to start at a SNF in the first place, because I really didn't know if my experience there would still help me get hired at a hospital later on... but yes, hopefully they will hire whoever they can get later on.

I totally feel you... I graduated in March 2008, got my license in May and am STILL jobless. I think the vast majority of my classmates are working now and I feel like I may be the only person left in my cohort without one... which I really hope isn't the case, even tho I really am happy for those who were able to land one. *sigh* I tend to wonder myself if there's something wrong with me or how I'm going about trying to find a job, but I know it's the economy right now, so it's not YOU. I really sympathize with you a lot but we have to stay strong, even if we feel like giving up! Good luck on your job search and hopefully us new grads will find one SOON.

I think I want to retry asking my question... re-word it i guess, haha. From what I understand, less than 6 months experience working as a nurse is considered a Staff Nurse 1 and 6 months or greater experience makes you a Staff Nurse 2. I am a new grad... If I got a job at a nursing home or convalescent hospital and worked there for at least 6 months, and if I applied at hospitals (acute care) such as Kaiser or those under SUtter Health (after those 6 months), would I be considered staff nurse 2 there? Do you think hospitals would consider that (those 6 months) enough experience to work on their floors like Med/surg and make me a staff nurse 2? I'm sorry if I'm not making sense. I've been trying for a while now to find a job, applying at many hospitals, and am now considering nursing homes to start out with. In your opinions, taking consideration into how the economy is and how hard it is for new grads to get jobs, what would you recommend? Do you think it would be better to start at a nursing home or try to hang in there and go straight into an acute care hospital? As for the other part of my question in the earlier part of this thread... lemme throw this out to anyone who got into a new grad program... did any of you work in an RN position, like in a nursing home or per diem anywhere, before getting accepted into a new grad program? Or did you basically just graduated, took the test and passed, and got into a program with no working in between? Hope this makes sense or else I'm just rambling and confusing everybody else ... haha

I just tried creating a profile and it wouldn't work for me either. I think it was because I was using Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. After that, I tried using Internet Explorer and it worked. I'm not sure if you were using Firefox originally, but make sure to use IE. Hope it works out for you.

Just wondering, If I got a job at a nursing home or rehab facility and applied for a new grad program, is it still possible to be considered for or get into a new grad program? Also, same question but if I got a job per diem at a hospital. If I got a job either in subacute or per diem in a hospital and got the experience, would it be easier to get a staff nurse position in acute care? And if I had that experience for at least 6 months and applied for a staff nurse position at a hospital, would I have to apply for a staff nurse 1 position, or can I be considered a staff 2? Sorry if this is confusing, I'm just really stressed out about finding a job. I wanted to stick to new grad programs or staff nurse 1 positions in acute care but I'm starting to think I should also apply to nursing homes and such.

Yup, just went to an open house today. It was packed with nurses looking for jobs! You know, I think no matter what time anyone came, it would still be packed. Anyways, not a lot of the units hired new grads but I was able to talk to one of the managers from their Ortho/Neuro unit and gave my resume. The hospital tour was pretty interesting as well. I hope you'll have good luck with the open house you are going to!

Hey Vivicaq, I was able to go to the Open House today. Boy was it packed!!! So many nurses trying to get jobs!

Thanks RN08FutureCNM. Yea I have a feeling that it means show up anytime between 9-4, just wanted to see what others thought about that. Also, I very much agree with you that the earlier the better. I definitely wouldn't plan on getting there at 3:50 pm, thinking more like 10 am or 11 am. It's just hard when the place you are traveling to is far, but anyways, thanks again for your feedback!

Hello all. Hope this doesn't sound like a stupid question... When a hospital has a Nursing Open House and they give specific times, for example, 9 am to 4 pm, does that mean you can show up anytime between the designated times? Or does it mean it you should be there at 9 am and it would end at 4 pm? Sorry, I feel like I need a little clarification on this... haha.

Thanks for the replies. I might be able to get a job there as a new grad nurse in the Med/surg (I got family working on it... great to have connections! ) So I guess we'll see what happens. My dad has worked for ACMC before but in dietary. He says you get great benefits with the county so that's a plus. I've read reviews about Highland and that it's the best place for trauma patients and it gets stressful there on the floors... so obviously it's making me feel a little nervous about it. That's why I wanted to hear from anyone who's worked there or have been treated there at all. So yea, thanks!

I'm just wondering if anyone here currently works or has worked at Highland Hospital in Oakland, specifically the Med/surg unit. How are the working conditions and management? Any information or experiences with the hospital would help. Thanks!

Hello ShanMT2bRN. I took the Kaplan course and did all those Qbank and ranged from mid 50s to mid 70s so with me, it really fluctuated. My average though was in the 60s. I actually think you are in pretty good shape considering I just found out I passed today. What happened with me was that at first I did tons of questions each day, like 150 to 200 but realized I should be pacing myself and allow myself to have qbank questions up until at least 2 days before my actual test. So I ended up doing about 50-100 per day. After I did those qbank questions, I reviewed my answers and actually took notes. I reviewed the kaplan coursebook as much as I could and also turned to Saunders review book. With that book, however, I focused more on doing the tests after each chapter and also did the comprehensive test. Basically throughout my studying, I secluded myself in my cousins' attic and studied from about 10am till 6 pm with about half an hour break for lunch. I wanted to get myself away from all the distractions.:chuckle Anyways, hope this helps!

Oh man I did the same as you. I took the test for the first time as well on May 24th, and flew to Florida yesterday. I checked the BRN website and I passed! I was brought to tears! Now I can really enjoy my vacation here. Kaplan is a really helpful supplement for studying in my opinion. Congratulations to everyone that passed and good luck to everyone who have yet to take it as May concludes, walk in there feeling positive and do your best... and for those of you who are waiting for results still... stay positive and don't give up!

Hey all. I just took the NCLEX this morning. It shut off at 75 questions and after walking out of there, I felt so sick and naseated. I got a whole bunch of SATA (which I totally hate by the way:banghead:) and a lot of prioritization. I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope I pass!

Also, to MaleNursesRock... that song you said was inspirational, I listened to it on YouTube just now. Gotta say it's a great song to listen to for studying and to calm someone who's freaking out (like me)!

Hello all May test takers! Congrats to all of you who have passed and Good Luck to those who are going to take it soon! My test date is on May 24th. Studying is SOOOO stressful and I'm trying soooo hard not to freak out! haha

Yeah I got the options of Kaiser, Alta Bates, Washington Hospital, but mainly looking into Kaiser. I looked into CPMC which looked like they do hire new grads but unfortunately seems to be a little far from where I live.. meaning commute time and such. I'll probably take your advice YMM123 and contact them about if it's better to have an RN license first. That way I can get my mind off of worrying a bit and focus a little more on passing that test!

Thanks everyone for your feedback on this. I live in the East Bay (union city, fremont, hayward) part of California and there are a lot of nursing schools in the area, so most likely a lot of competition. However, it does seem like most would be going for a med/surg program. As for me, I'm interested in L&D or Postpartum so I don't know how it is going to be like for a specialty. Is it really much easier to get a job after getting your license? Do you think that if I waited until after I took the test or found out I passed to apply for a job, it would make a difference?

Congratulations! It's a great feeling isn't it? It's always nice to be surrounded by supportive people to give you encouragement (especially if it's the patient telling you you will be a great nurse too!)

I do believe it would be much easier to get a job if you're applying for Med/Surg. I'm sad to hear about the specialty areas though, because I'm interested in the perinatal department and feel that I should really go for the dept. I want first. Again, I did talk to a nurse recruiter and there might be a program later in the fall for the perinatal area so I'm going to apply and hopefully get an interview for that program.

Congrats on the upcoming graduation and a job all ready for you! I wonder if that is true that it's easier to get a job a few months later because less people are applying. It probably depends on where you are though.

Hmm... well first of all, yes in CA you can get your IP and work before taking the NCLEX. I actually just got my IP in the mail a few days ago which is great and all. However, I'm starting to think that I won't even be able to use it because I'm really trying hard to study for the the exam and I want to pass the first time, haha. My test date is scheduled for about 6 weeks from now. Ahhhh! I guess it's true though that it might take a while for the hiring process anyways. I have talked to a few classmates and found that some are actually waiting until after taking the test and getting their results to apply for a job ("because it's most important to have the license first"). I think what I plan to do is just put in an application to the place I want to work now and see what happens. A nursing recruiter at the hospital I want to work at informed me that there might be a new grad program for the dept I want in September (tentatively). Hopefully that works out. THanks for the input... it's been hard stressing over getting a job WHILE stressing over studying!