Froggybelly

If you are sure you want to be a nurse, BSN entry is going to be the way to go. You probably have a lot of the courses done and it will make you more attractive to recruiters. Alternately, if you are interested in a bedside healthcare career but don'...

It can be tricky getting into the operating room, and more so if you want to scrub. You can become an operating room circulator with an internship. The recommended length is 6-9 months, though I tend to see local hospitals offering more like 3-4, bec...

That all sounds very much like me. Maybe I would like the ED. . . .

Almost three years. I was a stay at home mom for many years before I decided to go to nursing school. No regrets there!

There are some areas where nurses have a reputation of being more vicious toward other nurses, or hardened in general, such as the OR, ED, or ICU. OP may want to steer clear of these areas. I am in the OR, but when I was a student, I really, really l...

All is not lost. Nursing school is a time where you are exposed to a lot of new knowledge with the end goal of being licensed as a new Nurse who knows enough to hopefully keep from killing someone. Nursing school doesn't usually do more than touch on...

Most of our unit's staff work 4-5 days per week on 8s and 10s, though we do have people on 12s as well. We utilize a Go Home Early list that people can sign up for. If they leave due to low census, they still receive accrual toward PTO, but no pay un...

We only offer a 16-week internship for new circulators, regardless of prior experience. The 6-9 month ideal is few and far between in my metropolis.

I would do whatever it takes to get into the best program you can. Coincidentally, the highest quality education is very likely not the most expensive option, by far. I would attend an excellent community college that is difficult to get into, prefer...

I think Nurse Beth offered solid advice. I thought of SATAs as four T/F questions in a row. Remember not to qualify your choice. Either it's true and you choose it, or it isn't and you ignore it. Like the previous commenter, I passed in 75 and my ove...

The OR can feel very different depending on where you work. A surgery center will be much less physical and mentally demanding than a trauma center. That being said, I wouldn't worry about age or any call requirements. There are options. Mostly, OR n...

I moved a month after graduation. If I were you, I'd get a PCT job while you're in school and take your NCLEX as soon as you graduate. It was a pain to try to bet licensed in a state different from the one where I completed my education; it's easier ...

Whatever you decide to do, keep in mind that it takes time to become vested in any company match that the hospital offers, whether it's a pension plan or 401(k) match. If you decide to move, wait until you're vested (usually 3-5 years) and put whatev...

I don't think you'll necessarily have an issue finding employment. Many people pursue nursing after (self or family) illness. I knew that with no experience and minimal qualifications, I wasn't the "best applicant," so when my interviewer asked me, I...

Hi, JJ, I know there are educational opportunities for holistic nursing through some universities, as well as alternative health teaching companies. The certification process for Holistic nurses is similar to other specialties. The difficult part for...

Nurses are understaffed and overworked. They are caring for sicker patients in greater size and numbers with less support, experience, and training. They are supposed to earn subsequent degrees while working full time or more, regardless of future ca...

I usually do around 14-15k steps during a 12 hour shift, so I consider that enough exercise for the day. I speed walk everywhere and I'm frequently pulling a bed or lugging trays/ equipment, so I think my heart rate gets up. My watch ticks off all of...

My current commute is pretty similar to your first one (same amount of time, shorter distance). It was rough when I was working shorter shifts because I was making the commute 4-5 times per week. I did that for several years and the afternoon commute...

I would do things the way you learned them in school, just as those experienced nurses are likely doing things the way they learned in school. It's not about correcting your coworkers (which is not how I read your post). It's about giving your patien...

I would say that nurses should not play personal music in most bedside roles where an environment of quiet is expected for facilitating the healing process. Some places, some form of music is reasonable, such as in a waiting room or operating room. I...

Not all nurses deal with bodily fluids, and certainly not to the degree you may be imagining. There are plenty of drier specialities you may like!

We have woefully few male nurses. In our entire department (I think we have around 100 staff nurses), we only have two males. I have never once heard anything said about their gender. If anything, they are very well-liked. As a male nurse, you may fi...

I don't think it's going to matter at all that you quit your CNA job, unless you really want to work for the same employer as a nurse. If the interviewer asks, simply tell the truth- the commute was terrible and you wanted more time to dedicate to sc...

I agree that it's very common to rotate between "the big house" and ASCs with little to no orientation. They will give you the small cases and in a hospital with 40 operating suites, there will be plenty of people to ask if you need an item or a phon...

You can become an OR Nurse straight out of nursing school if you want to. However, you may find it valuable to gain experience in a different specialty first. Many larger hospitals offer paid clinical internships that range from 3-9 months. You may l...