Enlightenedchild

Hello, I'm a student from the Midwest about to finishing (hopefully) my last semester. I should have finished a couple years ago but I got sick and recovering took quite a long time. Anyways...I'm concerned that I'll have trouble finding a job. It's not a BSN, its a ADN program. I already have a BA but I doubt that really matters except it shows I've had considerable education before this Associates degree. I need to make a living for myself or I'm basically out on the street. What state do you believe is the best to find a job? I like the idea that Florida doesn't have an income tax and a lot of retirees are moving there creating more and more need for nurses. I like California because I have a brother there and the pay is the highest in the country. I like Ohio because its home and I have a support system here. I have two years experience as a PCT in an ICU step down. I also what a Orthopedic Technologist for about 4 months but I was reinstated back in a nursing program and I was not able to keep the job. Anyways...I would really like your advice. I look at all these jobs on Indeed in various states and I'd have to say a majority of them require experience as an RN. This worries me. I didn't go through all this to not be able to find a job. Please...any advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

I've been offered a position as a orthopedic tech part time but I can't decide whether to take it or not. I feel as if the pay is not up to standard. It's well below the national average but you have to take into account I'm not a certified ortho tech and only have PCT (2 years) experience, plus nursing school clinicals. Their offering 12 dollars and change an hr part time. If I worked full time with this amount I wouldn't even make 30 grand a year. I've been out of nursing school about a year and a half now. I had to drop out 3 classes short due to getting sick. I guess it would be good experience if I was to go back to into nursing...right? Another thing is it's an hour away drive. Any thoughts for or against this offer. I'm going to be casting and splinting a lot, I think. I'm just kind of upset about the money. Think it should be more. Maybe not, though, like I said I'm not certified.

I've told myself many times that I'm not trying to be an RN for the money. I, however, want compensation that will allow me to maybe take care of a family some day. I fear being a floor nurse won't provide me with enough money to do this. I'm male, 26, and in my second year of an associate degree program. I have so much doubt about where my future lies in the nursing field. I've pondered medical school but I'm too old and don't want the massive tuition debt. I'm not even sure I could pull it off, anyways, I want to be realistic. I never knew what I wanted to be when I went to college after high school. I ended up getting a bachelor of arts in English. I graduated in 09 during the height of the recession and my future job prospects were very bleak. I prayed and prayed for PURPOSE and found it in a place I never thought I would. I grew up in my local hospital. My dad was a ER doc and I went to work with him weekly. Within the age of 11 he had me transporting patients to and fro. Now I'm a tech part-time and will be done with nursing school within a year. I know I'll stay in school but what direction do I go? So much ignorance is involved with this equation. In the long run I'm not in this for the money but damnit that does not mean I don't want a lot of it. The graduation date gets sooner and sooner and I cannot make a mistake on choosing the wrong nursing career path. I don't know, not even sure really why I posted this, I'm babbling and just feel kind of lost. The confidence that I'll be a good nurse isn't there 100 percent either. I get great grades but that only means I'm a good student and know how to prepare for an exam. That information might be fresh and ready for an exam, but what about when it really matters, like when someones life is in the balance? So much doubt, so much doubt, so much doubt.......I just don't know.

Thank you for your responses. I agree with you in your responses to the core of post, which was to get help for nerves. Thank you very much for that. However, when it comes to my need to vent, I respectfully disagree. Correct, it is the job of the instructor to instruct me on where I'm going wrong. It is a privilege, indeed. It is definately not a right to talk about a student when she is not in the room and use her as an example of the student who makes her scared in her words. I've never failed one skill, one test, anything. All of a sudden you want to question that (that which I've worked very hard for) and talk about me behind my back (I was in the next room but heard everything) when I decide to come in and practice (on my own time by the way, we're on break). I appreciate instructors very much. This is my second degree and I've had many teachers. Many good, many bad. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to foster the minds that will care for the sick and injured. Their job is to encourage me to, correct me, praise my efforts, help me when I fall down so I can get back up, etc. But judge me? Hurt my reputation by talking behind my back? Is that fostering any minds? Is that helping anybody in any ioto of a way?????? Or was it a momentary breath of immaturity and lack of restraint? ANYBODY WITH ANY SENSE WHAT SO EVERY SHOULD KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS! Thank you again for your responses.

Ok, Anybody have any pointers to overcome nerves? I have a skills test coming up where i have to do hands on skills. I've made up my mind and I've decided I'm going to try and be the best nurse I can be but I have to first become a nurse for this goal to materialize. I cannot accept failure yatta yatta yatta. You've heard this song before, I'm sure. Please just help me with some advice. I can get nervous when I'm being grilled/judged/weighed. I'm pretty sure I overheard an instructor say she was scared after seeing me try a skill today. Inhonesty I wasnt trying and I wasnt ready. I free styled it because I know I'll have it down (theres no question about this) by the day we have check off. Don't respond to this, I don't need any more judgment/uneeded concern (why do so many people struggle with judging others?) Ok, I'm off topic. Let me just tell you that I was comcentrating on a exam, not practicing for the skills when their 2 wks away. Am allowed to take a break from nursing school? The only thing that will mess me up is giving into nerves. I'm intelligent and capable. All I ask is for you to not question this when you respond (if you respond...I know i sound *****, sorry ) And I have to get this out of my system: It's so easy for an instructor to stand there with her BSN (all 50-60 yrs old of her) and judge a student like she came out of her mother ready to put a foley in somebody. I mean, really? Wheres the growth and maturity that should have been adapted and fostered at such an age? Sorry but excuse me when I say this........**** Her.

I've worked at my local hospital as a pct for 8 months now. My unit is a icu stepdown. It's been a great gig and I have learned a lot. I'm currently in nursing school so the part-time gig has been wonderful supplemental knowledge. Anyways...I want you to see my side of this but in truth I want youto be honest with me. I have a bachelor of arts majoring in English. I'm also certified as an EMT basic and a state tested nurse aide (which wasnt required to be hired for my job). I had 2 months previous experience as an aide at a nursing home. Ok, for 8 months now I've worked and done very well. However, I feel grossly underpaid. They started me out at 9.80 an hour and this is what I make now. The median salary for aides in Ohio is 12.00. I got a little preturbed the other day too when I found out patient care companions (kids out of high school who sit with the patient and do nothing but their homework. Seriously. They are not allowed to even touch the patient) are making the same or even 10 an hr. Am I right to feel this way or am I being paid correctly? Be honest. I know techs are not meant to make much but hey...Im a college graduate, EMT/STNA, and I have 8 months of acute care experience and 2 month long erm care experience.I don't know maybe I'm missing something. I'm gaining much experience that is going to help me a lot down the road. I'm also getting 1500 for school each yr now that I've been an employee for over 6 months. Please let me know what you think. A I being underpaid??? If so, who do I talk to? EThe manager of my unit? Whats the best way to bring it up to her if you do agree with me that I'm being underpaid????

So I'm taking my nurse prereqs this Fall quarter and I'm thinking of taking the nursing aid course. I plan on going into psyche nursing. Are there any nursing aid jobs out there that partake in the psyche field. If so, where should I look? What sort of medical establishment? Forgive my ignorance. Just want as much experience as I can get in the psyche field. -EC

I'd suggest using the website quizlet.com for your notecards. On the website you can make notecards and it will make tests for you and you can play games, as well. Also, if you have an iphone, ipad, or ipod touch, or a phone that downloads apps, you can download an app (T Cards for iphone and ipod touch) where it will take the notecards from quizlet and download them to your iphone/ipod touch/phone/ ipod touch. Anways... Don't put so much pressure on yourself...you will psyche yourself out. Do your very best...thats all anybody can ask.

Hello, I am a pre-nursing student at the moment. I'm currently taking medical terminology (any advice?) and Chemistry (any advice?). Anyways...I was just thinking about nursing specialities. I know I want to go into psychiatrics (well, 80 percent sure). At what point in nursing school do I start concentrating on my specialty. Do all nurses get taught the same thing, then after they go into their specialty when they apply for the job? So, if that is true, all they learn about their specialty would be when their hired? I don't know. I'm clueless. Please help.