elleon

Can anyone tell me the difference between LVN and RN? Is LVN in demand just like RNs? How much do they usually make and what exactly do they do? Thanks!!!

I'm not from that area....could you give me more information on that? i'm planning to get my ADN in Houston...is there a shortage there too?

congratulations!! So what's considered a passing score for the RN exam? I'm planning to get my ADN next year after i graduate with a B.S. in psychology. Will i be able to have some form of tuition reimburstment too? What places usually offer this? Like big hospitals? I don't even know what should be my next step to being a RN. What should be expected throughout the whole ADN nursing program? The first thing is to get into one, then what usually happens and what's next? Do you take the exam right away? And how soon can you start looking for a job? Argh...i know a lot about all different career paths related to psychology, but i have no knowledge in anything related to nursing, PLEASE educate me!!

Hi all, I'm graduating in Dec 05 with a B.S. in Psychology, i've been planning to go onto grad. school in psychology until i found out about psychiatric nursing. I'm wondering if any of you can give me some idea what is psychiatric nursing about and what's a typical day is like? What kind of education do i need? As i said, i'll have a B.S in psych and I'm planning to get an ADN in nursing and become an RN first. I thought about accelerated BSN but there are so many prereqs and it's going to take me at least a year to finish about 50 credits prereqs because i don't have too much biology background. If i've go take about 50 credits of prereqs, i might as well just do an ADN program and take the RN exam first. I've heard that usually hospitals will provide tuition reimburstment, i can pursue more education by that time. Does it make a big difference between ADN and BSN...i mean if i want to be a psychiatric nurse, do i need more education than that? Or do i need some other experiences before becoming a psychiatric nurse? Please educate me because i have no knowledge in this area, thanks a lot! Any suggestions/advice would help!! Btw, i'm thinking of moving to TX Houston, any idea about good nursing program and job outlook for RN? elleon

Yes, i meant psychiatric nursing. I'm a psych major and i've always wanted to be a psychologist and was planning to go to grad. school in psych. But a professor just introduced me to this growing field...psychiatric nursing, i've never thought or heard about it before, but i mean it's going to be easier for me to find a job and make some money, plus if i eventually become a psychiatric nurse, i can do what i've always been interested in, and be practical in a way..meaning make a living..u know what i'm saying. I know it's easier said than done, maybe when i'm put in that situation, i might not be able to handle it..but as for now, i'm still very interested in psychology and helping people who have mental illnesses. I'm just not sure if ADN is the right thing to do for now, i can get into an accelerated BSN, but they required about 60 credits prereq....i have to complete all those courses before applying to their program, so in a way..it's like completing an associate degree on my own... if after the ADN, i can take the RN exam, why not right? I'm just undecided and not sure...cuz i don't have too much biology background and i'm not too interested in it either.... sigh!! elleon

75 is the minimum, so how many total questions are there? It sounds really hard, i have only had one intro. to biology, never had anatomy and physiology nor microbiology.....i'm so worried now... How do i find out if the program that i want to get into is a good one? I'm thinking of a community college cuz the tuition is lower..... or would you suggest a university? Btw, congratulations..so you are a RN now, right?

Does it make a big difference if i get my ADN in a community college or a university? So basically there's really no way to find out if i'm interested in this field or not without actually going into a program.... sigh~~ Thanks a lot, now i know it's more about biology and has little to do with chemistry...i personally like biology more than chemistry, which is a good thing i guess.. :)

How about TX? anyone from TX here? I'm planning to move there....

I'm just wondering what is a nursing program like? Do you mainly take a lot of biology and chemistry classes? How do you know if you are going to like it? I mean i've only taken one intro. biology class a year ago, it was ok, i didn't really like it but i don't hate it. Haven't had any chemistry class since high school.... So if i don't like biology, does it mean that nursing is not right for me? I know the both ADN and BSN prepares you to take the RN exam, do you guys think that graduates from an ADN program will know enough to take the test? I mean how soon after you graduate do you take the exam? I noticed that some schools emphasize that they have like above 95% passing rate, but some people said it's really hard.... is it kind of similar to GRE/GMAT, just different subject? elleon

Hey...you can read from the very beginning of this thread, then you'd be able to catch up. So are you thinking of getting a degree in nursing with a background in something else? I probably can't help much, i'm here to get help just like you, but post a question and people here are really nice, they'd be able to give you suggestions. If you are going through the same thing as i do, read this thread, you might get something out of it. elleon

That's a good idea too, but i just don't know where to start. I mean besides having to decide between ADN and BSN, i'm not sure which state i'd be moving to either :smackingf . I'm thinking CA and TX might have more opportunities cuz it's a bigger place with more diversity. I'm in the midwest now and planning to move somewhere else after i graduate. I mean it'd be ideal to work or volunteer in a psych unit before i pursue more education, so that i know what i'd be getting into...but i wonder if it's that easy to find that kind of opportunity. I don't know anyone who's a nurse, but i'm glad that i found this site, cuz people here are really nice and helpful. So what do you do, do you not like psych too cuz i noticed most people here don't like psych. Just curious~~

Btw, i guess i have never thought of it that way, i kept thinking that it's weird for me to have a bachelor's degree in psych and go back to get an ADN in nursing, i never realized that it might be an advantage too. I guess i might also be able to get into an MSN program after i got my RN without having to go back and get an BSN cuz i already have a bachelor's degree. Thanks a lot~~

I know real nursing is nothing like those tv shows, i'm just wondering how do you know if you can handle it? Should i ask for a shadowing opportunity before i get into a nursing program or...? People told me that if a person is scared of blood and all that kind of stuff...they shouldn't be a nurse. I don't think i've a problem with blood, but you never know until you are put in that situation, right? And if you don't mind me asking, why is psych your least favorite area? I noticed that itnash also said she hated psych... :chuckle Well...i understand there's a high demand for nurses, and they get paid pretty good too.....i guess nursing and psychology are similar is some ways.....it'd be nice to combine these 2 things, so i have a higher chance to find a job and make some money, plus eventually move on to do something that i like, which is what most of you guys hated --> Psych.... Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. Good luck...i'll definitely come back when i have more questions! Take care!!

That's true, i think i should do that. Should i do that after i got into a nursing program, because i don't think they would need someone who doesn't have any knowledge in that area.

Thanks a lot....one more thing i'm worried about is that i'm not sure if i have what it takes to be a nurse....and i'm not sure what to expect, i mean it'd be kinda dumb to spend 2 years to get an ADN and realize that i don't have what it takes or ..u know..... are you a nurse? Could you give me some first-hand information about what a typical day for a nurse is like? I know there are so many different kinds...like ER...and all that..just anything would help...thanks!

Hi, i'm new here. I was surfing the net looking for more information about different nursing program, and i came across this site, i think it'd be helpful to get some information here. I'm in college getting my first degree right now and i'm graduating in Dec 2005. My major is Psychology, and i'm thinking of getting a nursing degree and maybe went on to psychiatric nursing after i get a taste of what it's like to be a nurse. I'm struggling between ADN and accelerated BSN, BSN seems to be a better choice, but the thing is i don't have a lot of biology/chemistry background, and most schools require about 50 credits prerequisites. That's like an associate degree in another word....since after i finished all those prerequisites, i can still take the RN exam, i'm thinking that i should. Can anyone give me some suggestions? Does it make a big difference in salary if you have ADN or BSN? I understand the BSN gives you more opportunity for advancement, i'm hoping to take advantage of the tuition reimburstment after i find a job..then i can go on to get my MSN. It just sounds weird for me with a bachelor's degree to go back and get an associate degree in something else. PLEASE!! Any advice will help!! THANK YOU !! elleon