Gal220

@Esme12 Thanks for your advice!

Thanks for the info Esme12. It's good to know that nurses can make their professions work for themselves and family. You're right about holding prior degree, I certainly don't expect any special favors since I'll be starting in a new field just like other new grads that need to build experience on the job. I do think that I still benefit from learning how to handle myself in an often high stress job and that I'd be able to apply those skills anywhere, including the nursing profession. But, since I'll be putting lots of time and money into schooling, I need want to educate myself with informed input. What strategies would you recommend that a future nurse work on during school in order to be more competitive in the job market? :)

@OCRN63, thank you for the advice, I appreciate it. I'm definitely not stressing, but I just want to find out more about why there is a turnover of 57% of nurses leaving the profession by the second year (according to a recent survey by Pricewaterhouse Coopers). Since I'll be putting lots of time and money into schooling, I need want to educate myself with informed input. What strategies would you recommend that a future nurse work on during school in order to be more competitive in this job market?

Thanks for the advice! Getting info firsthand from those in the field will help me make informed decisions about a future career.

Thanks Esme12, I appreciate your advice. It's good to know that there are women that make nursing work for themselves and family.

I'm a pre-nursing student finishing pre-reqs and looking forward to graduating with a ABSN-RN degree program within the next two years. I am currently gaining volunteer experience at two different hospitals-in the ER and in home health care. I'd like to find out from the nurses that have been through school and working in the field, if working days is a hard shift to come by as a new grad? From what I understand, some hospitals (especially magnet hospitals) require new grads to gather work experience in med-surg for at least two years experience before moving on to other units. My questions are these: Are working 8 or 12 hour day shifts a difficult schedule to come by for new nurses? Would I expect to have to work nights for a time before getting seniority, and how long does it take for a new nurse to gather the seniority they need in order to choose day shifts? From reading other RN's posts, I get the sense that working night shifts may move at a slower pace (depending on the unit). I would probably really appreciate this as a new grad. However, I have a bachelors degree in another field, and 3 years of work experience after college. That being said I'm hoping for a position with a day shift that will allow me to get married and start a family after I graduate in about 2 years (I'm 27 years right now). I know that from past experience that I'd have a hard time adjusting from switching from working nights and living days on my time off. Thank you for your input and comments, I appreciate it very much! :heartbeat