arkmann

Since you're French, would you mind working in Canada?

I agree. Norcal is a totally different story. You'd be lucky if you get hired as a new graduate there.

From I have read around the forum, a newly RN graduate will make about $30-35/hour here in Southern California. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I guess the articles that I read didn't really address your experiences. I am weighing my options right now and trying to see what would be best for me. Also, what I meant regarding the mid $60K per year was I would be getting that much next year. Correct me if I'm wrong but I was assuming that a newly grad RN would be making around the same amount.

Thanks for the experienced input Johnny. Hopefully what you are saying would not be the future norm because if it does come true, healtcare as we know it would cease to exist (imo).

I read somewhere that 54% of health care workers are nurses and that they are the foundation of the health care reform and there will still be a shortage that they say will last well into the 2020's. I really want to be a nurse and to make my decision harder, by the time I graduate, my salary as an new RN will be similar to what I made from the job that I quit from (which should be about mid to high $60K by summer 2011.). I am shooting to be a NP and according to what I have read, the bill will encourage way to nurse run health clinics (NP) to alleviate some of the pressures caused by a shortage of doctors. I will try to get the resources for what I have said above. Also, hard work and long hours are nothing new to me. Oh by the way, is there any part time BSN or entry level bsn programs in CA? I really want to get an MSN and get most of the training out of the way thus I am aiming for CSULB or CSULA. If there's no school, I would have to quit a good paying job and pursue nursing full time with the assistance of my very talented girlfriend.

If you think about it though, nurses will always have jobs. Its just a matter of being where the jobs are and how many years you are willing to sacrifice to get the word "experience" under your belt and then you go hunting for the better paying jobs.

But will the law be beneficial to the nursing career? I won't be done in 2 hopefully 3 years time anyways so I am fine with that.

^I definitely think about that cosmicsun. Specially now with the passing of the health bill. I will definitely keep a close eye on how the nursing field will get affected with the new bill.

I am in the same boat as you. But in my case, I have called almost al of the nursing admissions counselors regarding my gpa and according to them my gpa (2.96) would generally be accepted as a 3.0. If I was in your shoes, I would still apply and not expect anything out of the very competitive schools. I'm going to apply to a total of 7 schools this fall for admission on summer/fall 2010 just to play it safe...

Again thanks for the insightful posts guys. To the other post on page 3, I'm a civilian and not enlisted in the navy. I really like the post that I owe it to myself to go for it because eihter way, I will have something to fall back on with my experience in the environmental field. With regards to the work hours, I think I can handle that easily. I was working 12 hour nights at a warehouse 2 weeks after my arrival in United States. I work hard and have always been commended in all the companies that I have worked for in my 11 years in the United States. In terms of long term goal, well let's just say I might set up my own nursing care facility or even care for special children. Then there's my gf's architectural firm, a cake shop.... Hahaha... A lot of plans but one step at a time I guess.

Also, I don't know if this is a clincher but I actually know a handful of people who are nurses or pt. I also know a couple of DON one of which is my gf's mother.

Thanks for the input guys. All your responses doesn't make my decision easier. For now though I will finish my pre-requisites and come fall, I will submit all my applications to 7 schools and then I will decide depending on a multitude of factors. Also, I think I really want to be a nurse. I seem to have a "helping bone" in me. I remember how wonderful I felt when I helped older people when I was a customer service representative. I know the analogy may be a little askew but I guess I am willing to take the risk...

Thanks for the input vegas. I'm pretty sure no one would want to be in my shoes right now. I'm doing great at work, praises here and there, huge projects being assigned to me eventhough I've only been in my current job for 6 months. I guess if I continue with my work ethic at my current job, it can be a career. I can only imagine what I can do in the nursing field. I have always been a hard worker and have great work ethic. I also think that the entry level master's program would suit me well because I already have a bachelors and after getting my MSN, I can pursue certifications in my chosen acute specialty. It would be great if I can get to CSULB or CSULA since they offer FNP off the bat. Again thanks for the kind and blunt words. It puts more things into perspective which makes the decision even harder.

^Strong words music in my heart and I like that. I've heard that your last line more than once... My motivation to be a nurse is that's what I would like to do and I know I will be good at it. If I should push to go in that direction or not is another story. Again thanks for the mixed opinions everyone. This thread could have been a poll