lugnutz

"Eh. Go back to school for some sort of IT degree then (although IT degrees are the same dime a dozen as nursing degrees these days). Informatics positions are hard to find and, at least in my area, pay substantially less than bedside so you'll be stuck having to pay off that masters on a smaller salary..if you find a job." quote from dirtyhippiegirl "Yeah informatics is kinda old. Never see ads wanting RNs for that anymore, they just use regular IT folks now. You know it's all corporate now." quote from netglow I don't find either of the above statements to be true at all. You can go to school for Informatics (I attend UC Denver) and you can choose to do a Certificate if you don't want to spend a ton of money on a Masters. The Certificate is only 5 classes. I do the classes all online as I am in Connecticut. There are lots of informatics jobs in my area. They do come and go as far as when you are searching on sites like Careerbuilder, but if you go to the actual hospital website, there is usually an informatics job or two waiting to be filled. I got a job last October in a small community hospital without even having my degree yet and I was salary at $84,000/ annual. In CT they are very strict about having clinical experience and jobs specifically state 3-5 or even up to 7 years clinical experience. They will not just fill the roles with IT people. IT has it's place, but Informatics does too. Informatics is only in it's infancy, it is far from old.

I was pretty sure the Reserves only took BSNs, but someone else said otherwise...I think what makes finding accurate info hard is that they keep changing things. I want to say someone also said they used to take ADNs as long as they had a Bachelor's in another field. If they ever did, they don't anymore! Anyway...thanks.

Sorry...I'm trying to learn the difference as to what is what, which is why I'm here. I feel like I keep seeing conflicting information. Yes, I want to commission as a 2LT. Period. I also was told by someone recently that (at least right now) there is not much difference between the NG and the Reserves. They drill the same and are deploying at about the same rate. If this is true, I may rethink and go Reserves since it seems as though funding and opportunity for advancement is greater in the Reserves. Do you feel there is any truth to this? I feel like I need to speak to an AMEDD recruiter, but I have heard many horror stories about recruiters not being honest...

Hi all! I have been trying to read threads here so I'm not redundant in my questions, but it just gets more confusing and with things changing constantly, I don't want to take advice from a thread that is 2 years old. Anyway, background on me first: I am 34, live in CT, have 2 kids and am working as an RN. I have my ADN, but have a BS in another field. I am choosing NG because of my kids and career. I am not looking for advice on if I should, but more about my options if I choose to do it. I will tell you what I have learned so far from my research. If I am wrong, PLEASE correct me! I can enter two different ways: Enlist and go through Basic Training. This is the long route, but will provide a great base for what I need to know about the military and will garner more respect once I finish Officer Training. OR Commission as an officer and skip basic. If I am right with the above, here are my next questions: As an ADN, once commissioned, I will only be a 1st Lt until I get my BSN or MSN. Right or wrong? Do I still get to pick which MOS, such as Air Guard? How does TriCare work? i thought I read something about only being eligible if you are AD. Is there still SLRP going on? Is this affected by the state I live in and which track I choose to become an officer?

I can't move (got kids in school) but I am now looking for work in facilities that are an hour drive from me... I gotta do what I gotta do...... at least gas isn't 5$ a gallon anymore...Haha

I am an RN in CT not an LPN but I have some grim news for you. Firstly, LPN's (from what I have noticed) mostly work in Long Term Care here in CT. BUT, due to the crappy economy and budget cuts there are some clinics that are now hiring LPN's instead of RNs. I know of two places just in my area that are hiring LPNs right now. Generations (a low income clinic in Willimantic) and Natchaug (a psych clinic in Mansfield). Secondly, again due to the crappy economy- RN's are having a tough time finding jobs too. I started looking for a job in September, passed the NCLEX in October and am just now experiencing some luck. If you search "can't find a job" on this site, you will come up with lots of threads from LPNs and RNs in the same situation. I recently spoke with a "higher up" at one hospital in CT who said they just had a meeting on the very subject. The economy is drying up the nursing shortage (at least here in CT) because experiences nurses are: working more/taking on more shifts and jobs, not retiring or coming out of retirement. Smaller hospitals and facilities are not willing to take on new grads because they can get the experienced people and it costs $$ to train newbies. This means the pool of jobs left open for New Grads is very small and we are competing with everyone who have recently passed the NCLEX. I am hoping to find something before January when all the December grads will be taking the NCLEX. The good news for you is that there are more opportunities for LPNs besides LTC because, as I mentioned, some places are replacing RNs with LPNs. The bad news is you are fighting againt a slew of other people for those jobs. Sorry if I created a dark cloud over your head, but I thought you should know what you are up against. You WILL get a job, but it may take awhile and/or A LOT of footwork. Good Luck!

Stanley- I have considered LTCs but my two worries are: 1)RN positions in LTC's in CT(where I am) are supervisor positions. I don't feel qualified to supervise nurses who have been nursing forever when I am a newbie. 2) If I got over #1 and took a supervisor position, would I get enough "hands on" skills to eventually get another position? I worked as a CNA in nursing school and the RN supervisors mostly did paperwork. The LPN's did the real work. I want to keep my emergency/critical care skills sharp. Am I making sense? What are you thoughts?

I am also a new grad having trouble getting a job. Most places I have looked into will not hire a new grad for: per diem, float, travel nursing, staffing agencies, specialties such as oncology, school nursing, hospice, L&D, dialysis, surgery, doctor's offices, etc, etc., etc. Maybe that is not true where you guys are? I am in CT. I have had three hospitals tell me they are not hiring new grads right now. I even had one tell me that if I had 6mos expereince they would hire me. It seems where i am, if you have experience, you are golden-if not, then you are screwed. I have considered trying to get an LPN position so I can start working and not lose my skills. Also, I may call my school and see if the nursing department can help me secure a job- I did spend PLENTY of money there!!!LOL

I know this is a late reply, but I am having the same issue. I passed my boards (for RN) in October and still have not found a job. I have applied all over the state at this point. I have had three different hospitals blatantly tell me they are not hiring new grads. I do blame the economy. Experienced nurses are taking on more shifts/positions, not retiring, coming out of retirement., nurses are being fired (yes, fired), nurses are being sent home when pt.census is low and being forced to take PTO time because it was budgeted from last year. You name it-it's happening. I am so tired of hearing the old "nursing shortage" line from everyone I talk to. A shortage for experienced nurses only!!! When I look for positions 90% of places want experience- how do I get it if no one will hire me??? I hear your frustration. As for the previous suggestion of dropping off your resumee that might work for some places, but most of the places I have applied to told me to NOT mail in a paper resumee and ONLY do it online or it will not get looked at. Check to see the policy of that facility. Good luck!!!!!

Ok, OK-I know I need to let it go, but....In Open Season (Nancy Wainer Cohen) she states: "Midwives who work in hospitals are not real midwives. They are nurses who have become midwives; they posess a medical training that has taught them that birth must take place in a hospital because "something might go wrong". If they haven't attended home births they are not real midwives and they don't know what real birth is." She goes on, but I will spare you. Please, please tell me you guys don't agree with that! Cohen states that she can't respect nurse-midwives unless they can say "I'm a midwife" and feel that is enough with out throwing in the "nurse" part. Well, personally how can I respect Cohen or read her book if she is telling me I'm not going to be a "REAL" midwife because I'm you-know, part of the system, man, part of the establishment, part of the MAN.( Last sentence should be read in burnt-out hippie voice.) I know that was juvenile, but she really burns by butt!

beckinben-Thank you for the great book titles!! And IMO I don't think my sis IS completely serious-another thing that gets under my skin about it. Apgar10- I know you're right. I shouldn't take it as a form of snobbery. I know that is the clientelle she will be able to work with, and I try to remind myself that her choice is no less important. I just don't like it when she starts bashing hospitals and placing herself (and other women who gave birth at home) above others. I support homebirths and give kudos to those who do it, so why can't she see my side and do the same for me?

Apgar10- I didn't mean to offend you by using "lay-midwife" and CPM synonymously (sp?). I would love to work together with my sister, but she gives off the impression that she will only work with a certain group of women- the ones who are fortunate to be low-risk and are comfortable enough with themselves and the birth-process to be able to have a birth at home. I, on the other hand, feel it is MORE important to help those who are not-so-comfortable. I agree with okchug all the way...

Thanks everyone.... Sorry this is so long, but this has been bothering me for a long time... We live in Connecticut and I believe she wants to train as a CPM. Here in CT, if I'm not mistaken, CPM's are not legal or illegal. It is kind of strange. They can practice and even get paid through insurance companies, but they are not sanctioned either. The books my sister has include titles I know have been updated. It's funny you mentioned Immaculate Deception HeartsOpenWide, because that is one of the books she has! Also, no offense to anyone out there, but I don't care if Open Season is updated from Silent Knife, it was written in 1991, almost 20 years ago! (Scary I know). My issue is not with the good ol' basic knowledge in these books, but the hospital bashing and outdated hospital practices and statistics. My sister is one of those types who likes to back up her arguments with statistics. One of our arguments came from her spouting off statistics regarding her midwives (she had two births at home) birth/death ratio compared to a hospital. She feels like that is a reason to promote homebirths. Doesn't she realize how skewed those statistics are based on the fact that most midwives won't birth high-risk babies at home? High-risk women usually have to give birth in a hospital. That will cause the number of deaths in hospitals to go up. My sister is SOOOOOOOO against hospitals that she takes every opportunity to mention how awesome it was to have her kids at home and you must be a fool to have your child in a hospital. As I mentioned, I am not a hospital advocate by any means. I am a woman's advocate. As a CNM, I hope to give those women who choose a hospital birth, a "home-like" birth as possible. If hospitals are so bad then it's my job to be an advocate and help those women have better hospital experiences, not try to turn everyone against hospitals and convince them to birth at home. I think it drives me crazy because I have spent ( and will spend) many many hours researching and studying to become an RN and then a CNM and she feels like she can just take the easy road with the same outcome. I realize CPMs get extensive training, but what am I in school for if the outcome is the same????

I am most likely being very petty here, but that is how my relationship with my sister works. I am graduating in August ( YAY!!) with my RN and plan on going onto my CNM. My sister, on the otherhand, claims she wants to become a lay midwife and has since bought numerous books on the subject. Now, don't get me wrong, I have all the respect in the world for midwives of all types and the magical work they do. My issue is with the books she bought. MOST of the books are from the 1960's to 1980's. I know that the good old basics never change and there could be some valuable info in there, but what drives me crazy is the hospital/Dr. bashing. It's not that I am naive here. I realize that there are currently "interventions" being done in hospitals that could be modified or done away with, but give me a break! Some of the stuff written in these books is so outdated it is just ludicrous. I really don't need her (or anyone else for that matter) spouting off a bunch of crap that hasn't existed or been an issue since 1982. It turns me off to the point that I can't even get through one of the books without getting annoyed and not reading anymore of it. Am I being ridiculous or what? (Yes) Can anyone point me to some titles/authors of some more recent books on midwifery that may be useful and informational? Maybe there are books which aren't so much "bashing" as they are helpful to try and integrate medical with natural birth? It would be great not having to buy a bunch of books o' crap and end up wasting money. Thanks so much for your input!:tku:

Thanks to all. I certainly don't want to use unnecessary interventions and I want to reduce the many medical alternatives which are used in hospitals. Maybe that is why I am so drawn to it in the first place. I would love to make the hospital experience as home-like and stress free as possible. There are many women who for various reasons choose the hospital, and I guess I feel as though they should be able to benefit from the positives of midwifery just as those who chose it in the first place. I have had an argument with my sister on that subject. She only wants to help those who choose home-births because she is so caught up in the statistics of it ( hence why I know so mcuh about them I, on the other hand, feel that every woman has the right to the best birth experience possible, even if it means being in a hospital. What do you think? Also, I will be sure to read that book!