Jmiami

thank you everyone for your insight. I do enjoy "paperwork" as much as I enjoy patient care, so that part would be fine with me. Especially good observations about sometimes lower level healthcare jobs not being all they're cracked up to be sometimes. I do realize this. In a perfect world... I would work in the industry no matter what the wage. In the real world, the wage I currently make barely puts food on the table. I'm not looking to get rich or go into this just for the money. If I was, I certainly wouldn't have chosen nursing. A job that is not worth it if you were only in it for the money. It is the age old "starry eyed student nurse" adage of the intrinsic rewards that nursing provides. However lame and overplayed, it is true for me. I will patiently wait and search for an appropriate opportunity. It is encouraging to see nurses who were able to get a position after graduation without having years doing this or that in healthcare.

Wow, MoopleRN. Someone's cheerios got ****** in this morning. No need to be a giant turd, especially when you obviously did not understand what I wrote. First, yes, I am seriously qualified for an "admin slot" (meaning administrative, clerical work). Perhaps you thought I was talking about a higher position in hospital administration, which obviously requires a lot of experience. I have done administrative work for over 6 years. Do not assume you know my abilities based on the fact that I currently work in the hospitality industry. I'm sure you don't appreciate people assuming that you are a submissive pillow fluffer based on the mere fact that you happen to be a nurse. Second, yes, I do "really" think that a unit secretary position would be more "lucky" than a position in the office environment. It is on the floor. I would get to observe nurses in action daily and have access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. That is my opinion. Third, crucify me for not having a clear understanding of the pecking order of health care. Exactly why I would like to begin working in the field in any capacity. Fourth, no where in my post did I say that unit secretaries have more access to direct patient care than a CNA. Oh yeah, I forgot.... I should add in some "?!?!" to my reply. You seem to like those. I may be new to this healthcare field, but that doesn't mean that I will let burnouts bully me around displacing their agression about whatever may be bothering them in their work or personal life. Maybe you don't like my opinion or the fact that I am a "newbie" trying to learn something here on this board. Maybe it just makes you feel better to anonymously put someone down so you can sit a little taller in your computer chair. Whatever the reason, it was uncalled for as I am just here to learn from those who obviously know more and have more experience than I do.

I think just for the kids sake it would be good for them not to be left without a parent. There's something to be said about the security of always have a parent there through the night.

My daugher. The thought that one day I won't have to skip meals so she can have all of hers. So by the time she gets into school she won't be the kid in class who gets made fun of because her clothes don't fit right. So she can have all of her needs ( and even some of her wants! ) met.

Thanks everyone! That pt comment is classic!

I am posting here specifically to hear from nurses, so pls don't move! I am in pre-nursing (with a previously unrelated BA) working in the hospitality industry full time. I want to be in the medical field badly, but only have my CNA so far. The wages from that wouldn't be enough to support my daughter and I so as much as I would love it, I can't. I was thinking of maybe trying to land an administrative position or if I'm really lucky a unit secretary position. I just want to be in the field, surrounded by things that are relevant to my career (future career albeit), rather than spend 40+ hours of my week asking people if they'd like cream with their coffee. However I realize that in life, you wants are outweighed by your needs. Right now, the "want" of working in the medical field in whatever capacity while in school is outweighed by the need of being the only support for my three year old. I am worried, however, that when I get out of school a nursing position will be next to impossible because I"m not in the field already. I do envy those who can work as a CNA while they attend school full time. Should I try to gun for an admin slot that will pay only slightly less than what I make now (10 or so an hour instead of the 14 or so I make now)? Will that even make a difference since I wouldn't be there in a clinical setting providing direct patient care? I sure would be happier and learn a TON through daily interaction.

no. you will not. If you can do what you did to get your HS diploma and get to where you are....literally girl, you can do anything you want to do. You have what it takes to do it. If you aren't understanding the subject matter, you are one of the few who will figure out how to wrap their head around it. You can do this. No question. And you probably will be more successful than those who had mommy and daddy put them through private school and university.

I just have to toot. I am not, really really did not think I was a math/science type. However, nursing and the medical field have facinated me since childhood. I read PDRs and other nerdy stuff for fun. I always thought I was more artsy than good at science, so I never pursued nursing. Finally I said, If I never try, I'll never know. I enrolled for pre-nursing courses, but part time. I work full time, have a hubs and three year old, and for example this semester am taking anatomy and college algebra. We just finished midterms. I got a 100% (WTH?!?!?) on my anatomy midterm and a 88 on my math. I. DID. IT! You can do this too!

I am specifically posting this in the Nursing forum to get advice from actively practicing nurses, so please don't move! I have heard some recommend online ADN-BSN programs from those "university of phoenix" type schools. This seems like a convenient option, however are BSN degrees from those schools taken seriously? Granted, it would be building on a brick and mortar ADN. I wouldn't want to waste time and money when the time came for a degree that wasn't worth the paper it was printed on, if you know what I mean. That being said, if it is an acceptable form of BSN, it seems like a great option for the working ADN to continue their education. What do all of you who work in the field and/or hire nurses think?

Do you only work 7-3, 7-7, 3-11, 11-7? Or do you have to bounce back and forth between all these shifts? Do you have a weekly schedule with chosen days off? Do you get it in advance? Do you get scheduled for whatever they want (maybe even all of these in one or two weeks) and you just have to take it and be happy you have a job?

I see a lot of day shift vs. night shift on these boards and was wondering what people define those shifts as. Days I get...it's obviously during the day. Nights...are mid shifts classified as nights for the most part? The 3-11? Obviously the dreaded overnight shift is a night shift. I currently work mostly mids and a few days (starting as early as 6 and ending as late as 8 with a variety of start/end times - yes, it's retail, it's all over the place.). The days I love. The mids I like now because LO is not in school yet, she's 2. The overnights (which I used to have to work) were extremely difficult with a young child (she was 4 months old to a year and a half old) and I just don't know if I could do them again. I could never get childcare so I could sleep during the day and when I would work them ( I would work mornings, afternoons, overnights all in one week) I would have to stay up for a couple days straight with naps when she napped. It was hell. Do you think a nurse has to work overnights to "pay her dues" when she starts out? I'm not looking for the cherry day shift right away, a mid would work too )

I have a two year old (4 kids! wow!) and work full time, go to school part time. I sit down on sundays and schedule out my week. Study time, work, one hour/day exclusive mommy daughter time (more on days off, one whole day of the week is nothing but mommy/daughter day doing something of her choice), one hour/day exclusive housework time (again, more on days off). One load of laundry a day keeps it from piling up. Menu planning. Grocery shopping trips to last two weeks at a time. Efficiency and time management is key. So is prioritization of reorganizing the schedule should an emergency occur. I agree, it's the little things that take up the most time. It will be great when she's old enough to help out!

I loved CNA school, but the clinicals left a bad taste in my mouth. My preceptor didn't speak english (which I loved because I am trying to learn their language), but because of that I feel like I didn't learn as much as I could. Still, I liked having the opportunity to converse and work in only her (and most of the patient's) language. I mostly disliked how the residents were moved around like slabs of meat and hosed down in their beds like it was a carwash. We "did" 5 or 6 residents in a couple hours (got them up, dressed, bathed and off to activities or whatever) and it was slam bam thank you ma'am. I understand the need for speed and efficiency, and that we probably did half the load she does alone. However, I think you need to treat people with dignity. Not like they are on a conveyor belt. While being speedy and efficient. Also, when she changed "pampers" (how disrespectful!), she left the mess uncovered at the foot of the bed, stinking up the whole room while she cleaned and dressed them. Come on lady! Control your odors. I have a 2 year old. Roll the damn thing up and put it in the trash. The resident doesn't need to smell that if it's unnecessary and neither do I. Doesn't stop me from continuing on, however.

I saw it in London (or maybe one like it?) about ten years ago. AMAZING. Really solidified my interest in medicine and set me on the path to NS. If you haven't seen it, RUN, don't walk...eat ramen for a week so you can buy a ticket...do whatever you need to in order to see this.

I did well in my CNA course and clinicals. One who helped the others and loved doing it. I am getting a high A in Anatomy and Physiology (but putting the time in for it) and loving the course enough to research clinical applications of the knowledge we are learning for fun. The rest of the class is hovering at a C, middle B range. I struggle with College Algebra, getting a low to middle B, but enjoy the challenge of "solving the puzzle" and put the time in every day for it. Do these results indicate an aptitude towards nursing school, in that I may possibly be one of the lucky ones who "get it" and thrive with it? I take criticism well and enjoy the challenge of non-ideal situations (ie: short staffing or the young eating clinical instructor). In life, if a challenge will not move out of my way, I will find a way around it, over it, under it, or just blaze on through it. I don't care if what I want need is on the other side. I hear stories of how NS is, and am intimidated by the acceptance standards and the intensity of the programs. That intimidation is also fueling me to keep trucking day after day because I am going to be a Nurse. A short staffed, frazzled, verbally abused, un-appreciated, underpaid but very happy nurse. I know what I'm getting into, and I still want the pile of poop sitting next to that bed of roses )