ABC'S DAD

Good luck, mingez. I know lots of lawyers like myself, except that they are so wrapped up in making $ that they are sacrificing family and friends, and carrying the stress of their jobs around almost 24/7. I am afraid that these people will look back on their lives, some day, and wonder why. Hey, I would like to make lots of money, too, but that is too high a price. There is nothing more important than my family. That is why I left the big city, and took a pay cut to work near my home at a small firm in the burbs. But the job itself has become unsatisfying, and there is still too much stress and animosity. I am sure that nursing has its ups and downs, like anything else, but if you look at it objectively, for what it stands for, it is pretty darn noble if you ask me. My wife is an LPN, and she works hard. But it makes her feel good to make others feel better. And there is opportunity for decent money for RN's -- at least where I am from -- the Philadelphia/suburbs. Radiologic technologist pays less around here. Anyway, do what feels right.

I agree. Thanks to you both. I have just mailed in applications to 2 different community college ASN programs. So, now it begins.

HI, MKRN. Thanks for your response. BSN would probably make more sense, but since my BA was in journalism (non-science), I'd have to take a good amount of prereq courses before starting an accelerated degree program. I have a family, so I will have to keep working. I worked full time during the day, and got my law degree at night. But at the time I had an apartment and no kids. This is going to be tough to figure out. I have spent hours. Actually, I am trying to figure a way to keep working as a lawyer while taking the prereqs, then getting into a 15-month acclerated BSN program. I am a little worried that I'd have trouble finding an RN job where I would be guaranteed at least 40 hours/week. I am getting the sense that around here (Philadelphia suburbs) an entry-level RN salary would be about $25/hr. I might be able to live on that for a while, if I could get 40/hrs/wk plus another $3.50 hour shift differential and get overtime fairly regularly. Scary to think about jeopardizing my family's lifestyle (not that it's so high, but I'd like to know I can pay the mortgage and take vacations), but nursing is the only other career that seems interesting and feels like the right thing to do. And with a BSN and the law degree, maybe I could get into management if I really needed the $. (But I don't want to work behind a desk anymore, or at least not all the time.) Nurse practioner seems interesting, but know that is an MSN -- first things first. Anyway, I got off the subject... I wish I did not have to take the prereq courses; then it would be easier to jump into this.... Even the local ADN program presents a problem. They had 300 people apply for the 100 clinical positions open last time around. They give first preference to students who have taken the most prior credits at the college. I did not go to this college, so I am starting with 0 -- so there's no guarantee that even if I can figure out how to take the prereqs on the sly, there's no guarantee that I'd be able to start clinical in Fall '06. On the other hand, its far less classes than a BSN, and a lot cheaper (its a community college). I am going to figure out a game plan though ... Just felt like rambling. Take care...

Piper, do you know what hospitals are paying ENTRY-LEVEL RN's in Philadelphia and/or surrounding 'burbs?" What kind of differentials? Are you the one who told me $50,000 before differentials? I saw an ad from a local BSN program that RN's can start at $40,000. Is is really that low? Thanks, if you know.

I'm trying to figure out what kind of night jobs I might be able to find if/when I get into the clinical portion of the local nursing school program. I plan to keep my day job and take prereq courses on nights and weekends or on-line until I reach the clinical portion. What kind of night job do you have? I, too, am in PA, just outside Phila.

Hey the lawyer's "personalities" thing is a stereotype. I know plenty, like myself, who are Type B personalities and very compassionate. The media and the types of lawyers that you see doing commercials paint us all with a broad brush, and that is the only picture that most people see. (Most people probably think that an aggressive, pushy lawyer is the type that they would want to represent them -- it's just an image in many cases, since these Type A guys just bring in the clients and their salaried associates are actually doing most or all of the work). But he is right, having a law degree is not a ticket to riches, like it once may have been. Even the old-timers will get forced out of a firm if they no longer bring in enough new clients... It's become more of as business, and less of a profession. But enough about that, this is a nursing website after all. I am sure that I could be a great nurse. Among other things, I am a good listener and very patient with people -- always have been. I just wish I would have pursued this much sooner. Live and learn. I worked for 4 years as assistant director of public relations for a Philadelphia hospital while attending law school at night. Previoulsy, I worked evenings in the maintenance department of another hospital for about 8 years, while I completed my journalism degree during the day - then kept that hospital job part-time while I also worked as a newspaper reporter (another gig that is not what most people would think). For some reason it never dawned on me to pursue nursing or any other health profession - probably because I never had exposure to these kinds of occupations as a kid. I never knew any nurses, etc. (Although, when I was younger I probably would not have felt comfortable pursuing a nursing degree, due to the former stigma re male nurses. How stupid.) However, please know that I, at least, have always held nurses in high regard for the work that they do. I was impressed with the job that they did, which I often saw first-hand during my prior hospital gigs. (My wife is an LPN, but that has only been for the past 12 years -- so it is not that I am biased on this.) Reviewing these threads, it seems that many nurses feel under-appreciated by their employers -- overworked and underpaid. I have held many jobs in my lifetime. I have seen this in every occupation, including at present. I can say that when I started my first hospital job, in 1981, hospitals were great places to work. They made money hand over fist -- then I saw the institution of Medicare cuts, DRG's and explosion of HMOs -- then things changed big time. Many hospitals allowed themselves to be bought up by healthcare systems, to avoing going out of business! Morale in hospitals plummeted, and the employee benefits kept getting reduced. It became "us" vs. "them" in the employer-employee relationship. Believe it or not, in the mid-80's my hospital actually paid me tuition reimbursement for some of my journalism classes, which had nothing to do with enhancing my "career" in hospital maintenance. It was just an employee benefit! (The law profession has changed just as dramatically, and there are way too many of us.) I am still trying to figure out how to pursue the ADN. I did not realize until a few days ago that the local community college has a waiting list for entry into the clinical portion of the program! Bummer. And with a wife and kids, its not like I can spend even more time and $ getting a BSN. I think it also stinks that my prior BA + ADN would not = BSN. What's the (practical)difference? Thanks for letting me vent people.

thanks for your encouragement. so are you working now as an rn? if so, what type of position do you have, and are you enjoying it?

Thank you so much. By the way, best of luck at your new position/calling. Are you saying that you will get 6 weeks of paid vacation your first year? Does anyone out there know how much contribution toward medical a hospital might require for an employee with a family. In my present calling, I have paid as little as $100/mo and as much as $550/mo -- without vision or dental.

Thank you for the response. O.K., here goes. I have a B.A. degree in Journalism, and a law degree. (I have been a lawyer since '93, but I'm ready for a change.) I have heard that pay scales are not different between RN's with ADN degrees versus BSN degrees. Do you know if that is true? I am also wondering, if there are jobs where a BSN is required or prefereed, do you think it is possible that they would consider my having an ADN with a BA to be the equivalent of a BSN? I know this may be a lot to ask you. I have reviewed the required courses for the ADN program and some BSN programs, and although it would still take two years for the ADN, due to the clinical program set-up, I am fairly certain that I would not have to take about 1/2 of the required courses due to my prior college credits. This would save some expenses and hopefully free me up to still work full-time in the evening (if I can find an evening job). Also, do you know what kind of benefits (medical, 401-K) one could expect as a hospital RN, and how much contribution is required from the employee? I have a million questions -- sorry. How easy/hard is it to land a full-time hospital RN job with full benefits (vs. prn). Thanks.

I am just finding this site, and it could not be more relevant for me at this time. I am making $70K at present. I am a 46 y.o. married father of 3 small children. My wife has been an LPN in a retirement home for several years. I worked in hospitals for several years while younger, but not on the medical side. After all this time, and being dissatisfied with my present, second career of 12 years, I am suddenly excited about the possibility of working in a hospital as an RN. Of course, I would have to figure out how to get through a local 2-year ADN program (there is one) and still support my wonderful wife and kids. I guess I need to know if it will pay off if I can stick it out for 2 years. I have done the salary wizard thing, and seen various other websites, which seem to indicate "average" salaries for my locale, which is just outside Philadelphia. I have seen numbers ranging anywhere from about $55K to $80K. Of course, I need to find out what an entry-level salary would be, and what kind of benefits could I expect. And how easy or difficult is it to get a hospital RN position with an ADN? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!! Thanks.