undecided

There are two NJ schools and both are three years including summers. In my field, the jobs are very, very scarce- there are no per diem weekend jobs. The best I can do is that I am doing right now- work a few days a week here and there. If I go the PA route- I would lose an income of $40K a year so it would cost me $120,000 vs continuing to work and going to school at night and then part time for nursing. THat is the big issue. I still need Bio 1 and 2 , Chem 2 and organic chem. I will have to check out the summer schedule to see if they offer evening courses. Usually, they cram those summer courses into some crazy weekday schedule. Conceivably , I guess I could take bio 1 and chem 2 summer term and the other two in the fall. I am hoping to meet with the director of the PA program at UMDNJ to see where I stand. I guess I am just scared of floor nursing. I read so many horror stories. One of my best friends is a nurse but she works in L& D very part time so she loves it. Still SO confused. Monica

I actually have all my nursing pre-req's. I am a couple classes short for the PA prereqs . THere are a couple bridge programs which are like a class or two for RNs who have a bachelors in another field. David- I have been all over the map looking at programs in PA and NY. I am in northern NJ halfway between NYC and PA. the closest program in PA would be at least a 2-2.5 hr drive away. NYC- well that could be feasible but then I have to take the train into NYC which would cost alot of $$$ and take about 1-1.5 hours. If I could do my clinicals in NJ , then that could be a possiblity . I am just not willing to commute more than 1.5 hours. I think I could get in a few PA programs . My science GPA is 4.0 and my overall is 3.6 I have at least 2000 hours of patient care experience. As far as the ADN program, I am pretty confident I can get in for the winter 09 semester. I will check out the job market. I actually see a PA who treats me for my thyroid . I really like her- more than the doctor. My children's pediatrician employs two NP as does my husband's doctor's office. I know there are a few PA's in the ER at the hospital.

I am so confused. I wanted for years to go the PA route but the route seemed too difficult ( three years full time) to complete while raising three kids with a husband that is so- so supportive. I did not pursue the nursing route because honestly- bedside nursing was not something I had any inclination to do. I ended up studying Nuc med Tech which after completing all the science pre-reqs ( same more or less than those for nursing ) took me a little over a 15 months to complete. Now, two years later, I am in a dying field and have not yet been able to find a full time job. I am already in my early 40's and thinking of starting over again. Here are my options: A. take all the prereqs ( would take me a year) and apply to PA school in the fall of 2009 ( which would start in 2010). I then would have to go full time until 2013. My big concern is that I would not be able to work and that would hurt my family in a big way financially. Now I work per diem which is less than ideal but I still have lots of flexability and make about $40K. THe other problem is that I cannot move out of state which limits the programs nearby to only 2 ( cost $45-90K). 2. GO to the community college up the road for my ADN. Start in Jan 2009 in the evening program. THen apply to a bridge program ( I already have a BA) to transition into a Masters program. My job is pretty flexible and I have lots of free time during the day to study so I could still work while going to school. THe big reservation I have is that I really do not want to do hospital nursing ( even though I work in a hospital now and love it) I can't see myself doing that. an outpatient clinic, OR or same day surgery would be fine. Eventually though, I want to be a mid level provider. My heart says to go the PA route but my head is telling me it would be easier on my family to go the nursing route. If kids were not in the picture, I would go the PA route without hesitation. Thanks for your advice Monica

I have a BA ( plus some post grad work) so going for a BSN over a ADN would make more sense. That being said, I think I will go for the ADN first and then take a bridge program to transition from an RN with a non nursing bachelors to an MSN. THe reason is purely monetary. A BSN will cost $35,000 or more while an RN at the community college is under $10,000. Also, I work per diem at a hospital and can keep my day job while going to school 4 nights a week. I have not found any BSN programs which offer this. I guess it all boils down to your life and what is right for you.

I know that many other states have direct entry master level programs. Are there any in NJ? Thanks Monica

Yeah, I have seen her. She looks tough and that is what I have heard. I live in Morris county right down the road from CCM/ I took all my science classes there - 4.0 GPA. Maybe I will see her tonight. If I need to take any classes- I can do it in the fall. I am hoping to test out of the A&P classes though . Monica

Thanks for the quick reply, I work 2-3 days a week in the medical field and I usually have a lot of free time so studying 2-4 hours a day would not be a problem. Two days of clinical does not sound bad. In my last program , I had to do 4 days of 8 hour clinicals -1200 hours total. Now my problem is A/p 1 and 2. I took 1 over 7 years ago so I need to try and comp out of that one. 2 will be just 7 years old when I start the program so I was told it would be up to the discretion of the dean as to whether or not I would have to test out or retake it. I have a BA from 20 years ago and all my other prereqs are less than 7 years old. I almost started the program in 2004 and ended up going for another program that is not working out ( no jobs). I already work at St Claires and did clinical at MMH so I am familiar with those hospitals. Thanks Monica

I am a nuc med tech thinking of making the switch to nursing also for a variety of reasons-number one being that there are NO jobs in Nuc med. Its been that way since I graduated two years ago. I work per diem (2-3) days a week but have been looking for a full time job for two years with no luck. Hopefully, this will change in a few years but for right now- it does not look good.

I am thinking of applying to the evening program at CCM. How many days /wk are you in clinical? What are the hours? advantages/disadvantages? Thanks Monica

I am in a predicament. I want to apply to CCM which is 5 minutes from my house and has an evening nursing program. My problem is that my A&P 1 class is over 7 years old . I am not sure about A&P 2 and Microbiology. IT is ridiculous. I am in the medical field and I have no desire to take these courses over. I need an evening program because I work part time during the day and the day curriculum would just not fit in with my family needs. I called CCM and they are very inflexible. Are they the only college that has a statue of limitations on prerequisites? How hard are the challenge tests? Monica

Having had quite a few plastic surgery procedures myself, I am very interested in plastic surgery. I would love to work in an office administering botox and fillers, and doing other types of non surgical treatment. My question is, how does one break into this area? what type of experience are doctors looking for? Thanks Monica

I am a Nuc Med tech and considering going into Nursing. I really like my job but things are very slow. I graduated two years ago and the market is really bad. The number if Nuc Med studies seems to be diminishing . I am per diem and so my work is unpredictable. I have been looking for a full time job for two years but there is nothing. I really like healthcare and I like dealing with most of the patients. I especially like the elderly as they are so appreciative. Most of the time, my job is not too stressful unless we are short staffed and the schedule gets crazy. I already start IV's and administer some meds. I am looking toward the future. If I crosstrain in another imaging modality, I would still have to go to school for another 18-24 months so I figure , why not nursing. I would ideally like to work as an nurse educator or case manager. The though of going back to school though is not too thrilling and I would have to keep working ( although I usually work 3 days a week). So, has anyone made the switch? How did it work out? What do you like /dislike as compared to Radiology? Thanks Monica

Let me preface by saying I am not a nurse so I hope you do not mind me posting here but I have no other forums to turn to. I have a background in Nuclear Medicine. I want to break into clinical research but everyone wants someone with experience. The hospitals want only nurses and the pharmaceutical companies want at least one year experience. I have found two courses that I am considering. Both are very expensive. One is 12 weeks long and run through Rutgers University school of nursing ( you do not have to be a nurse to take the course). The other is run by an independent school - Medical Research Management. It consists off 80 hours of online courses and then two weeks of full time ( 9-5) classes. The latter claims a placement rate of 85% in NJ ( were I live) and has job placement assistance. The university classes are half the cost but do not offer job placement assistance just advice. In your opinion, would these courses help me get a foot in the door? I really do not know what else to do . It seems like a catch -22 situation. Thanks Monica Both seems to cover

This is to the OP. If you want /need extra money ( believe me, I have three kids and know the feeling of wanting to do what you love vs making enought money to be comfortable) why not try either opening up a private practice on the side or hooking up with a physician's office. I worked with a dietician that was part of a physician's practice and was doing very well. Everytime I visited her, it was billed to the insurance as an office visit so I did not even need a referral. She made her own hours and probably made decent money. There are so many people out there who need to lose weight, You could make a fortune in that alone. If you can get hooked up with a few insurance companies, than that could bring you additional clients. One dietician I worked with who had her own succcessful private practice charged $100 for the first hour and $50-75 /hour after that. Many people with out insurance were willing to pay because they were so desperate to lose weight. I think it is a good idea to expand on what you are doing now - esp if you like it. Going back to school with kids Stinks. I just finished a 14 month program and it was hard balancing school and family life. Monica

I don't post often but do not know where else to turn. I am looking for an entry level position in clinical research trials. My background is a BA with years of experience in a corporate enviroment and I am a licensed Nuclear medicine technologist so I have healthcare expereince. I live in NJ so there are plenty of pharmaceutical companies. I see lots of advertisements for CRA and CRO but all the positions want experience. I was offerend an interview for one entry level job but it was very far away and they wanted me to start in the middle of the summer . In retrospect, maybe I should have gone on the interview but the thought of commuting 1.5 hours each way everyday made me sick. Right now, I am working per diem ( 3 days a week ) in Nuclear Med at a hospital. I love research and I don't mind sitting at a desk doing paperwork if I love the job. Should I just mail my resume to all the big pharmaceutical companies in the area and tell them I am looking for any entry level job in clincial reseach? Unfortunately, I don't have any connections. Thanks Monica

I am not a nurse but was thinking of it. I changed careers in my late 30's after working in insurance for 8 years and staying home to raise kids for another 10. I would not do it for the money. If you hate parts of your job , then any amount of money you make will not be worth it. I ended up getting a second degree in Nuclear Medicine tech which is a suspecialty of radiology. THe job market is tight right now but the money and hours are decent. I make $40 /hour per diem at a Cardiologist office and the hospitals here pay $35-38/hour per diem for someone with no experience. Now, I am in norther NJ so the salaries are probably higher than other parts of the country. Full time techs start around $30/hour in a hospital. Most NUc med departments are open 7-7 M-F. There is a little bit of call but now much. You take care of patients but only for 30 minutes - a few hours . You also give a limited amount of meds and have to inject and start IV's - Anyway, its something else to think about. Monica

I attended that school last year . Graduated this year in NUclear Medicine. It was a terrible school and I would not recommend it to anyone. The Dean tryed to cover up alot of bad things that were going on with the program. We went 9 months without a program director and the program almost was dissolved. I have no respect for the way that school is run.

I went to school full time last year . ( 39 , mother of 3). It was in Nuclear Medicine technology which may or may not be as demanding as nursing. It was very hard to balance family/school. I had to complete 1000 clinical hours which was like working full time for six months with no pay. I contemplated other careers ( like PA) but it would take too much time away from my family. You are definately going to need a STRONG support system if you go the accelerated route. The CC route is not too bad but it is two years and seems like you are going backwards if you already have your BA. Don't know what to tell you. I wish I had gone into nursing. At least there would be jobs. Monica

I was wondering if any of you nurses were previously rad techs and why you decided to switch into nursing. How do the two fields compare? advantages? disadvantages? I am graduating in Jan with a degree in Nuc med. There are not many jobs and while I do like some aspects of the job, I find it somewhat boring. I really like the patient care aspect and starting IV's. Prior to pursing this degree, I was considering nursing but didn't think I had the stomach for it. If I had known how dismal the job prospects would be upon graduation, I may have reconsidered my career decision. I would like to hear from anyone who has switched to nursing. Thanks\ Monica

I am a nuclear med tech student ( graduating in Jan) and I am thinking about switching to nursing. I find Nuc med to be very boring. I love finding veins and injecting patients and I like mixing the radioactive substances and making kits. I like mixing the medications. Some of the scans are very long. It is very boring just sitting there waiting two hours for the scans to be over ( of course if you have a good book....). I just find it very monotonous. You do the same scans over and over again. I am in NJ and the job market has gotten very tight in the last two years. WHen I applied to school, jobs were plentiful and graduates were getting 3-4 job offers before graduation. Things have changed dramatically at least in this part of the country. Jobs are not that easy to find. Most hospitals have very small nuc med departments. I thought I would be able to find a job in an imaging center but most imaging centers do not do nuc med - too expensive . The Cardiologists are big employers of Nuc med tech's and pay the best but that can be a difficult job- you have to find your own coverage if you want time off. I have kids and if they are sick or have a snow day, I would not be able to take a day off. I was hoping to work part time. I am now fiinding that most jobs are only full time , M-F . Most hospitals want you there really early in the morning ( like 7:00AM) which is impossible for me since my kids do not even start school until 9:00. From what I understand, starting pay in a hospital for a nuc med tech is comparable to a nursing starting salary( about $30-33/hour ) but no shift differential . There is some overtime and call . Some cardiologists pay $50 + and hour but you work your but off . I would be interested in hearing from Nuc med techs who switched to nursing. Monica

No, I would never base a research paper just on replies I received on a message board. Sorry if that was the way it was intrepreted. I have done hours and hours of research on the subject. Alot of the information I have come across is biased one way or another or may be outdated. I just was interested in hearing some first hand experiences. Obviously, there are many pros and cons to both systems. Although I have excellent coverage myself, I think the US healthcare system is heavily flawed. It is scary to think that if you lose your job, you lose your coverage. The only way to qualify for government aid is to be over 65 or very, very poor. If you are middle class and cannot get insurance through work- you are screwed. I pay $200 a month for health and dental benefits through my husband's work. We also pay a ton of money through taxes to fund Medicare and Medicaid. IF we had to buy private insurance on our own, I think it would costs us $700-$1000 month for family coverage. That would not include drug coverage. Now you can see why so many American's simply cannot afford health insurance. Pam- what you said is true- Many people go bankrupt due to a catasrophic injury or disease. People also die because they cannot afford an expensive ioperation or treatment. Most of the money in our healthcare system goes to treat a minority of people with serious healthcare conditions who have uncertain outcomes at best I could go on and on but I will get off my soapbox. I am a student in the healthcare arena ( nuclear medicine) and my past experience includes insurance and medical malpractice so I have seen the worst of the system. Thank you to all who took the time to reply. I will be certain to look up the articles/links you suggested. Monica

Thank you Pamela Jean; That is very helpful. Long wait times seem to be the common complaint among countries that offer universal healthcare ( for example , the U.K). I agree with you about the two tier system. In fact, I had to write a research paper about reforming the US healthcare system ( which is far from perfect - 60 million uninsured) and that was my recommendation, have the government fund basic healthcare services for the entire population and have those who can afford it purchase supplementary insurance . Monica

Thank you Lori, I did find some good information via the web. Mark- I don't think my questions are severe at all. They are straight to the point. I thought this would be a good place to get some first hand insight from Canadian citizans. Please feel free not to answer my post at all if you feel like I am attacking you in some way. I don't know you, therefore, I have no reason to attack you. I posted the same questions on the U.K. nursing board and got some very good information from the participants there. No one there thought my questions were demanding. I thought these boards were set up for the purpose of obtaining and sharing information. That is all I am asking for- information. I don't have a clue why you are taking this so personally. Monica

well, what are the answers? I would like to hear about the system in general as well as the variations among the provinces. I have some information from articles I read but it is only current as of 2002. Have things changed? What are the main complaints about the Canadian healthcare system? The wait for special procedures or to see physicans? THe shortage of physicans?

Hi all, I need your help. I need to write a research paper comparing the Candian , UK and US healthcare systems. For instance, how is insurance funded? Is there any private insurance? How long is the wait to see a specialist or get a procedure? IS there any one who is not covered? What do you think of the quality of care that is provided? What improvments are needed? Are prescripition drugs covered? How commonly are tests such as MRi, CT, Nuc med scans ordered? What are the advantages/disadvatages of your healthcare system vs the USA Thanks Monica