Maddi_Rose

I am a little way through my third year of nursing school. We are now starting to have fewer labs for the core nursing skills we are scheduled to learn, for example we just learned how to change CVAD dressings (and will eventually learn to draw blood, etc). My brain's feeling pretty full right now so I'm curious what exactly I'll be learning in the last year and a half of my program. I know we'll learn IV insertion eventually but I can't think of anything else off the top of my head...This is in a Canadian nursing school. Or if anyone knows of some kind of master list of nursing skills, that would be great to look at as well

Thank you for your response, very helpful. I am definitely going to try my darnest to get clinicals in the area I want to go into.

I'm just moving into third year of my nursing program. I know I have lots of time before I need to think about jobs, but I often go searching online out of curiosity. Every job I look at, they're looking for the completion of a specialty program, or 1/2/3 years experience in acute care, O.R., whatever area the job is in (except perhaps medical and surgical floors). I don't particulary want to start on a medical or surgical floor (yes yes I know everyone should do it, it's the gold standard for experience, etc). My question is if I try to apply to these jobs that want experience, will they take one look at my resume and chuck it, or will they read on and consider if I'm worth orienting? It seems possible because I see threads all the time about new grads starting in PACU, ICU, and all sorts of things. Do I have hope or am I delusional...

Halfway through second year ? So this would be next Summer. My main goal is to get into OR nursing but I realize that isn't really appropriate for students, but I might have an opportunity in a PAR. I may be able to get OR clinicals later but the only thing for sure is a couple of observation days in the OR next semester (bummer).

A lot of people have said it's not a good idea for a new grad, but what about student nurses like the OP mentioned? (like a ESN and educator situation) I might have the same sort of opportunity...I really want it haha!

Thanks for the replies guys :) I ask another question here too, instead of making another thread: For hospitals that do an employed student nurse program, is there any way that a student could work in an OR in any capacity as an ESN? If not, is there a related area that is similar that they may allow me to work in?

Hey guys, I'm in second year of nursing school in BC. I'm really interested in OR nursing, and hoping that I can work in an OR in some capacity over the summer if possible, depending on their policies and such, to see if I would in fact like it. But for now I was wondering what you guys think about what kind of personalities are suited for the OR best. Of course everyone is different and there's going to be diversity, but do you think there are themes to an OR nurse's qualities, personality, what they like, etc? Just to give me a better idea possibly if I would enjoy working there once I'm done :) Thank you guys and gals!

I know there's a process involved, exams, registration and all that, but it wasn't a part of my question. I reread my post and I'm sorry you got that impression, but I'm the least over-entitled person you'll meet. Believe me, I hate over-entitled people. Maybe we were misinformed about working as an LPN over the summer, but I have talked with one of the admins at my school about it and I'm pretty sure we were talking about the same thing. I'm going to look into the employed student nurse thing further anyways, thanks for your answer.

Excuse me, when did I ever say "settle"? I would be proud to work as a either a care aide or an LPN. And OttawaRPN, obviously I would have to go through whatever exams and registrations, I was asking about hiring practices. I was under the impression that it was an path we could take, but perhaps I'm wrong. Thanks for the attitude.

I have heard of those too, but only from a classmate. It's funny how the faculty hasn't mentioned anything about those opportunities, but I'll look into it.

I'm in the Okanagan too actually :) I may have the process mixed up, I thought that we could apply for an interim liscence and work over the summer, then write for our official liscence a bit later. Basically what you said. That sucks about the job market, thank you for the answer.

Hey all. I'm in a bachelor of nursing program, so four years. After we finished the first year we were able to work in LTC (or other places if possible) as care aides. I decided not to and relaxed over the summer, but I do want to work as a LPN next summer (we can get an interim liscence I think). Now, what's worrying me is if I will be able to get an LPN job without CA experience from last summer. I know it depends what's happening in the area as well, but my main question is how much do they want experience when looking for LPNs and what are my chances of being able to find a job (in LTC or hospital) without that CA experience?

Thanks for the replies guys :)

Hey everyone! You all seem so knowledgable and diverse that this site seemed to be the best place to pose this question. I just finished my first year of nursing school in BC, which included a clinical component in a LTC facility. I was wondering what your experience of care aide tasks and responsibilities vs. registered nursing responsibilities was. I sometimes hear that Registered Nursing is becoming more of a desk job a little all the time. I don't really mind this, I'm still gung ho about becoming a nurse. Do you find that in your role as an RN you don't do the same kind of physical tasks that care aides do? Of course nurses have a bajillion duties, I guess I'm wondering how or if they overlap with care aid or even LPN work? Do you find that nursing is becoming more of a desk sort of job? I'm not saying or implying that one role is better than the other, I'm just wondering how they are the same or different. Thanks!