chaplainjanie

My mom's a RRT and I recently asked her the same question. She said that if she could do it again, she'd be an RN because there are more opportunities for advancement. That's a good point, but so is the one about having to put up with less crap... but my mom still changes bed pans and stuff. All the non-nursing clinical staff had to get certified in patient care or something. She works exclusively in the ICU, though, and doesn't travel around the hospital. Also, due to the nature of the job, RTs always have to deal with codes/vents/death. As an RN, you have the option to seek a job that's less death-intense if you ever feel the need.

Subbing to this thread for some great information!

I dont' know about pay, but I can comment on lifestyle. I grew up near Nashville and lived outside of Charlotte for several years. I currently live in East Tennesse, about equidistant from both cities. I disagree that Charlotte is more cosmopolitan. I think Charlotte is very "average" in terms of what a city that size has to offer. I often headed to smaller large towns around me to meet my needs rather than Charlotte because it felt very... forced. It hasn't been a large city for a very long time, so it lacks something unique, in my opinion. I'm sure I'm hurting some lifelong Charlotte residents' feelings and I'm sorry, but that was my experience. They have the banking industry and are attracting lots of people because of it. Still, Nashville has tons of character. Its an older city with a richer legacy, but it still maintains a cozy feel. I've heard it called "The New Austin" in terms of growth and "coolness." The music industry - beyond country and Christian music - is moving to Nashville. Lots of artistic, creative things have always been happening there. I'm not sure if that's your thing, but it appeals to me. Also, the landscape in Nashville is prettier than Charlotte, IMO, but neither city is bad. Nashville just has some beautiful rolling hills and natural beauty. Charlotte looks more industrial. As far as pay, I know that the COL in some areas around Nashville (extending to central and western KY, the rest of TN, north Alabama) is among the lowest in the nation. I would expect it to be a bit higher in Nashville because of its size, but I wouldn't expect it to be better than Charlotte for sure. Don't get me wrong, Charlotte is fine, but I guess the "more cosmopolitan" argument hooked me. Charlotte is close to Atlanta, Columbia, Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, and the beach. I didn't meet a lot of people who were actually FROM Charlotte, but a lot of people moved in from elsewhere and loved it. It is probably more diverse in the truest sense of the word (in that it has more ethnic groups and nations represented). And if you're into Nascar, then its your town. I'll admit I'm completely and totally biased toward the south that's west of the Appalachians because its my home. :) HTH! :)

I asked a similar question here: https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/what-can-i-576395.html Its not OB/GYN specific, but you may find some helpful information there! :)

I do think my chaplain experience will help in the long run, even if not on paper... of course I'm going into nursing school with years of experience in stressful clinical situations and I've observed some amazing things, so I do think it helps... since we're talking "big picture" and all. :)

Yeah, that's in Chaplain 101... its cruel to say that.

I'm just beginning the process - I'm second career and will be returning to school in the fall for a few pre-reqs and then hopefully beginning in January and *hopefully* finished in Dec 2013. It looks like a lot of new grads struggle to get hired at all or in a field in which they're interested. At this point, I have a wide variety of interests. Its probably easier to say what I'm NOT interested in rather than what I AM... but still. I want to be able to work hard now to have the best possible chances of getting something I like when I'm finished. I'm thinking that stellar grades are a given. I'd rather now work while attending school, but would one or two shifts a week as a CNA in a unit I like be advantageous? The experience will surely be a benefit. I also have two years of experience as a hospital chaplain, so lots of experience in Critical Care, the ED, and palliative care - all areas I'd be interested in serving. I also have those chaplain-y skills as well (not all chaplains do! ) I hope this would help; what do you think? I hope its okay to post this here - I thought you all would have the most insight. :) Thank you!

Oh my goodness, can we be friends? :) I cried when I watched a surgery. I'm sure that sounds super cheesy here, but I did. I'll never forget the first time I saw a real, live beating heart inside someone. It was miraculous and awesome. Thanks for the info on the BSN, also. I may take a look at a local University and see how that would go. That's not a bad idea at all. Thanks again! :)

That's really helpful information... the 110 out of 600 is intimidating, but I'm up for it. :)

Thanks so much for the info. Do you mind if I ask what your general area is?

Title says it all... is it unusual for new nursing school grads to get jobs in critical care units in large hospitals? Thanks in advance! :)

My mom is a RRT and has been in the same hospital my whole life and in ICU for at least fifteen years. I used to go in with her on days off when she had to run errands, and I just loved being in the hospital. Even as a kid/teenager, I loved the energy of the hospital. I loved biology but not many other math/sciences... but I did "okay" in them. In college I studied history and religion but did well enough in Bio101 that my prof actually said, "Janie, have you ever thought about nursing school?" I laughed at her because I was an artsy type. But to be honest, I had thought about it, and I have been thinking about it for like ten years. After college I went to seminary and found the love for hospital chaplaincy. I did a residency for a couple of years (our residencies are comparable to what doctors do in structure) and its the only job I've ever loved. I was literally excited to go to work every day. I was in the minority in my department in my interest in medical issues. I observed surgeries and lots and lots of traumas. My very favorite place was CVICU... I just meshed with the staff there and they were real teachers at heart. They entertained lots of questions. :) I even talked to my boss (in the pastoral care dept) about nursing school and he was encouraging. I also had/have interest in ED nursing, critical care in general, mother/baby, along with palliative care/hospice. I'm not sure if the latter is as much because of medical interest but just because, as a chaplain, it was an easy fit for us. Then I had my daughter and developed a pretty serious case of postpartum depression/anxiety/OCD. I couldn't return to my residency when it was time because our intense, large, urban hospital was often a trigger for my anxiety. It also didn't make sense financially and I had completed enough units to be board certified, etc. Now that I'm ready to return to work as a chaplain, there are no jobs to be found. I'm competing against literally hundreds of people for the open positions that surface right now. Some hospitals are cutting their pastoral care departments completely and others are just not filling vacant positions. SO... we're super poor right now. We didn't plan on me staying at home. I need to work but there is little that will make it worth my while. Plus, I don't want to be away from my family for just any old job... I want it to be something that I love and something that matters. Nursing has been in the back of my mind for a decade now and its kind of on my bucket list. I'm afraid I'll regret NOT doing it one day. I can always return to chaplaincy if the opportunity presents itself and hopefully I'll be a better chaplain... but I also want to be able to help people in tangible ways... more than just being a great listener/counselor/pastor/etc. (Not that that's not a valid way of helping, but for ME I want to meet people's immediate needs.) I regret not doing this years ago. Now I'm looking at an ASN program because I don't think I can handle the intensity of an ABSN with a toddler at home. Plus, we can't afford FT daycare. Sorry this is long, but I'd love input on this. Thanks, Janie :)

So, I had been looking primarily at LMU because I know a faculty member there and she was really encouraging. But hanging around here I've learned that RSCC is respected and cheaper, so now I need more info! What kind of acceptance rate do they have? I have a Master of Divinity Degree (seminary). My experience as a hospital chaplain actually led me to nursing. :redpinkhe My undergrad performance was... meh... to say the least (3.0) and my graduate GPA was better (3.4ish). When people are discussing their GPAs around here, do they mean previous college or their GPA for pre-reqs? I stil need some pre-reqs, so I don't mind waiting a *little* bit for acceptance, but I'd like to know its a definite possibllity down the line. Thanks for your help! :)

Thanks so much!!

Hi all. I'm new and don't know the culture of this forum. I hope its okay to ask this question in this way! :) I'm hoping to begin nursing school in January 2012. I have a BA and a Master's degree, but I'm looking at ASN programs so I can have a bit more flexibility with my schedule. I know the most about LMU's program, but I'm wondering what the general consensus is about the following: Lincoln Memorial University University of Tennessee Carson-Newman College ... and any others. Anyone know how I can find out about their NCLEX pass rates and other relevant info? Thanks. :)