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 )

Thank you! You explained it really well. I always feel like I should be "doing" something. I feel better, at least I know that I'm not alone in this experience. I just wanted to see if anyone else experienced this borderline obsessive behavior when it came to school. I really WANT this and my drive just takes over. I have to remember to compartimentalize (I think I just made up the spelling for that word...ha!) things and designate time for work, school, even my daughter. I just feel like a schmuck "scheduling" play time for her and not being able to exceed that scheduled amount of time for fear of grades suffering. I want to make sure there's a little bit of every activity (work, school, house responsibilities, daughter/family time) in there so I feel like I'm enjoying the JOURNEY of nursing school as much as I'll enjoy the end result of being a nurse. Otherwise I"ll look back on the missed childhood of my daughter and general disconnect from my life other than school. I want to live now, as well as later, and do well in school. I must be crazy for thinking that, because I see all these posts from people drudging through school. I'm having a pretty decent time right now! Except for the nagging guilt and non-supportive partner )

btw I'm only in school part time, pre-nursing. I LOVE it and can't wait to begin a program, also part time. Working through it. I manage to fit in 20-30 hours of study a week between work and life. I'm getting A's, except for college algebra, in which I'm getting a B. I feel like total crap that I can't spend as much time with my daughter as I do studying every day, but know it'll be worth it. Then again, sometimes I think that these are the precious times that I'm missing. You can't bring the years back. She'll only be 2 once. The other side of me says to "keep on keepin on" as my great grandma used to say, because we'll have a better life and she'll have a happier momma in a few years when this is all over.

I work full time, go to school part time, have a two year old with all the fun responsibilities. I am having issues with feeling guilty when I take time away from work and school for myself or my daughter. My normal day looks something like this: Wake up, make bfast for my daughter and I, study for a couple hours while she plays. An hour or so of housework. An hour or so of exclusive time with my daughter in which we go outside and play. Then it's lunch, get ready for work, get daughter down for her nap. Then I leave for work until tenish. I get home around 11, study for an hour or so, shower and eat something. Once a week we have a "fun day" where I don't have to work and we do something my daughter has picked out. I'll do my morning study session, study during her nap, and after she goes to bed. The other day off is probably about 5 or 6 hours of studying, housework and any other family responsibilities - grocery shopping, laundry etc. On days when I "cheat" like today, when we stayed out all day having fun and there was no nap (she's at the age when sometimes she doesn't, so some of these days I'm losing 2-3 hours of study time), and I float around all nurses or something instead of studying I feel so guilty and can't even enjoy my time. Even on days that I work when I take more than an hour of time with my daughter I feel guilty and can't really enjoy it. WTH?

wow. I hope to God my nurse or any of my co-workers are not using pot. There is just no reason for it. The "what you do on your off time is none of your business" is a load of crap when you are a nurse. If anxiety and lack of appetite are an issue, then there are other ways to deal with it than smoking pot. It is the oldest trick in the book to get a prescription so you can smoke legally. Nurses are held to a higher standard, in my opinion. It doesn't sound like you are able or ready to take your position seriously if this really is an issue to you. Believe me, many are standing in the wings (minus the pot) to take your spot. Also, you are a representative of the facility or company that you are with. What would you do if a former patient or patients family member saw you getting high or while you were under the influence? You could get fired and your place of employment has been made a fool of or worse. Is this really an issue? Really?

I don't understand why the families of patients are entitled to snacks or food anyway. Of course, aside from the one attending the critically ill. Doesn't that drive costs up? Are these people being charged for all the strawberry ice cream they snack on while they visit the patient (ie: the cost added to the patient's bill)? Is it all just free to them? I understand feeding the patient what they need to regain their health. Ice cream and sugary popsicles hardly would make you heal, so I don't even know why they would be offered to the patient, let alone the family. In my opinion, the family should be directed towards the water fountain, vending machine or cafeteria if they are hungry. RNs have too many important things to do to get snacks. Couldn't you delegate the task to a CNA or volunteer for when they get around to it? It just doesn't seem to be a priority with short staffing and already too much to do. When I was in the hospital, it was sugar sugar sugar on my meal tray. I had to have my hubs bring me in something healthy from home so I could even start recovering on track. I can understand the food not being the best, but for it to be so unhealthy that it is detrimental to the healing process? come on. If I would have eaten what was deemed "healthy" for my recovery, I would have become a diabetic ! Also, it was like pulling teeth to even get some sort of towel/cloth/bathing kit for proper hygine. After the 4th day of no help bathing and no one (from volunteer to cna to rn to charge nurse) even responding to my requests to just drop a pitcher of water off with a wash cloth so I could half assed scrub myself down for christ sakes I just had to talk to administration. An hour later I had everything I needed and a CNA helping me out. I had just come out of surgery and had tubes sticking out of me everywhere and couldn't leave my bed, which is why I couldn't find a damn supply closet to jack it from myself. I hated not being self sufficient, I hated that I had no one to advocate for me since my hubs was out of town, but I hated even more that I was asking for something basic to wash myself with after surgery to get all the muck off and I had to sit for 4 days in my filth. My point is, if staff is too busy to offer basic care to patients (I know it's not for lack of trying, we just don't have enough time or people), what the hell are we doing getting damn sodas for the visitors?

This is inspiring everyone! It sounds like NS will be a good fit as well, because as I'm learning these things in my pre-reqs my mind wanders to clinical applications of the info. It's like putting puzzle pieces together, many of which could be right )

I would be an RN (ADN) with the intention of working towards my BSN, then MSN. I would like to hear LPN comments as well, since that pathway to RN may be an option for me in the future. Ideally, I'd like to go straight to an ADN program. However, if I need to I will obtain my LPN, then RN. It's just a matter of what opportunities are open to me.

Thanks everyone for your feedback! It's helping me get an idea of what to expect. Shade43, did your estimations include the amount of time spent in class or is there additional time added onto that for class time?

Let me preface this with I AM going to do this, it's just a matter of how. It's also a matter of being realistic and prepared with my expectations. I know the job market is poor for new grads. That's nothing new. I've seen the posts. I haven't seen anything recently about the Miami-Dade / Broward county job market. Does anyone have any feedback? I am finishing up my sciences and plan to begin nursing school next year (God willing). It will be about 2-3 years before I grad. with my associates. Then (again, God willing) into the job market. I plan on continuing for my BSN for another year while I'm working as a nurse. Then on to MSN. Possibly PhD later on. I know I should get a job as a tech or CNA before graduation. I have the certs, just can't survive on the pay ($8.50/hr - ish. I am the sole support for my 3 year old and my McJob will just have to do for now since it pays around 13-14. boo.). If basic expenses weren't hanging in the balance, I would take a cut in pay no problem to do what I love. So, I will be working my McJob because although not ideal, it is what will pave my way through school. I will make as many contacts as I can in the med field. Of course, I will be trolling for ANY job that will remotely cover my expenses in the med field in the time between now and graduation. I enjoyed LTC while in CNA clinicals, so I am open to that. I'm open to ANYTHING to get my foot in the door as far as units or specialties when I start nursing. I can take time to move into my dream position later, after I've actually started nursing. The only thing I don't think I could handle is the 7p-7a shift. I had to work that for my current job for a year and it just does not work with having to care for my little girl. I all but missed out on her infancy because of that shift. ( If I am open to ANYTHING besides overnights, do you think it is feasable to get a job in the miami-dade / broward area as a new grad?

Thanks for the insight everyone! It's odd that nursing schools wouldn't want to space out the material a bit more in order to make sure that you really have the time to digest it without being so rushed. I understand the "boot camp" mentality to weed out those who don't really "want it" since there are so many who decide they want to go into this profession though. In the real world, you won't have the luxury of time since quick decision making and prioritizing are key. So I get it. That being said, yes I want it. I'm just wondering whether PT nursing school while working FT is feasible along with my other responsibilities. I wish I could quit and go full time, but financially it is not possible. Even with loans. It is my second degree, so many other financial aid options are out for me. When I did my CNA certification course, it all made sense. It was a lot of info., but I "got" it. I would see the skill performed once and be able to perform it myself seamlessly afterwards (thank the Lord!). My professor was very supportive of me since it was clear that I was there to soak everything up like a sponge and master the content - take no prisoners, make no excuses. I thrived on her criticism because her points were valid, although sometimes not well delivered. I knew that all she had to say would only make me a better nurse and that if she didn't care, she wouldn't waste her breath on me. She ate most of the other students alive. Maybe it's an indication I might have what it takes to survive this jungle of NS? I wonder if NS will be a continuation of that school of thought/training? Of course, with a much higher level of difficulty. I am willing to put in the hours, if the hours in the day are there. I need to work to live. I need to feed, clothe, and bathe my little girl. I need to keep my house out of a squalor like state (sorry, it will not gleam while I'm in school). I am just worried that when I am out of this, I will have missed her early childhood due to the vicious cycle of work, school, and household responsibilities. She will be 6. I barely get to see her now, but maybe it's not the quantity of the time spent, but the quality? I need to do this for her, so that she can have a better life. I need to do this for me, so that I have a sense of realization of my full potential (good ole maslow). I need to do this for others, so that I can be someone who makes a difference (even if it is small) in their day. Sigh. I just need to do this.