ysproby

I am a med/surg RN-BSN

I have been a nurse 2 years. I started with 24.75 (0.75 for BSN LOL). I stayed there 1 year and decided to move to local traveling and bumped up to $36 per hour not including shift diff!! Typical shift diff in Dallas is $3-4 starting at 3pm and $5-6 on weekends! You make the most as a new nurse working Friday, Saturday, Sunday because you get about $10 more per hour.

and after reading this article again it is like comparing apples to oranges! Sure some degrees will make less than an LPN but they should compare degrees in a similar field. Dental Assistants vs Dental Hygienist, LPN vs RN, Accountant vs CPA. You just cant compare unemployment, loans, etc of LPN to that of someone who got their degree in general studies! Sure they dont have a job even with a degreee!!

O and let me say this, I went to a trade school, completed it, and worked in the field for 10 years. I maxed out in pay several years prior to leaving the field and I was worked like a slave!!!! IJS

PS, a lot of places are not hiring LPNs anymore even though their skill level is pretty darn good! Hell they know more than me in most cases and I am not ashamed to admit it! If I need an IV started usually the LPN can getter done! but to make less money and do more work sucks! At my hospital LPNs 7 patients (because they cant take new patients) while RNs get 4-5 (most times not getting a new admit) and they make way less money! They may have less loans but if you get with the right company and do the right research your loans can be paid off by someone else!!! I take education and cash!! I can learn the skill from one of the LPNs I work with!

I got my BSN when I was 32 (2 yrs ago) and it is the best thing that I have ever done! Not sure if I enjoy nursing but I definitely enjoy the pay (except when I overspend). And I make 2-3 times more than the experienced LPN/LVN and they work them way harder!!!! The are very skilled and I do think it sucks that they work them so hard but I was always told more education = more money = less work! IJS

I took the ACLS and I didnt prepare at all. I had no problem passing it on the first try. They go over everything in detail for 2 days! You will do fine!

apply for all jobs! Take the first one offered and if something else comes along you can always tell them you decided to go with something else. A bird in the hand beats a bird in the bush any day!

I am a Med/Surg nurse and I currently work at an agency. They called me to ask if I could work in ED if they kept me in my scope of practice (which obviously to them that was taking vitals all night). It was really over rated. I was disappointed but happy I got the experience because the only patients that came through where children who cut their finger in the middle of the night, kid w/ snake bite, pain med seeker, stomach aches and it was BORING! Easy money but over rated. I kinda felt offended that they gave me triage but thanks for the free cash!! I will take it any time. ER on the other hand is not for me!

WOW, GAVagabond, RN. This is the problem with nursing a a whole. There are always "gate keepers" trying to knock down someone elses dream and goal. Stop hating on people who want to further their education. RNewbie, get yours!!! Hating is a hard job but some1 has to do it!

I interviewed Thurs March 4 and they called me today! They asked a lot of behavioral questions so be prepared and be natural. Mostly they wanted to know how you handle stressful situations, how you have taught people in previous situations and how you had to adjust if they were not getting what you were trying to teach, times you had to deal with angry patiens, etc. I think I had an advantage because I worked in the Dental field for over 10 years so I had plenty of patient stories to tell. Good luck and I hope this helps. By the way I am going to be at the Baylor Medical Center in Irving so their interview process may be slightly different.

I applied at Baylor and was offerred a position on the Med/Surg floor. I am so excited!!! YAY.

Definitely NO to the scrubs....unless you really don't want the job.

I am graduating in May 2010 and I have already landed a job! I was worried that I would have a hard time getting a position but I guess maybe I was lucky!! I applied for Baylor, got a phone interview, they called for an actual interview at the hospital, and 2 days later I was offered a position. I will graduate with a Bachelors. As far as an associates vs a bachelors.....it depends once again which hospital you are trying to work in because if you choose a magnet status hospital they are looking for mostly BSN. Other than that I personally feel like the ADN programs better prepare you for nursing skills where BSN programs prepare you for management. So do your research and determine what you want to do with the degree.

I am moving to Arlington but I graduate in May 2010. This site is making me nervous. I went to school thinking when I get out I will virtually be handed a job. Now I find out that there are NO jobs. I am graduating with a BSN and while I have nothing against nusing homes that is not where I planned on starting my career. If I start in a nursing home what are the chances of me being hired in an ER or ICU or Med/Surg unit later?