Haute

Hi! I graduated from Rasmussen's ASN program and don't have anything too negative to say about it. It was a bit disorganized at times as they kept changing things each quarter, and they increased our technology fee for a reason that no one could figure out, but over all I didn't think it was too bad. I thought the curriculum was challenging, and really prepared us for the NCLEX, and the instructors were great. Honestly, everyone except for our student adviser (who was hard to get ahold of), was great and addressed any issues or concerns we had pretty swiftly. As to jobs, the majority of my classmates are currently working as RN's in various settings, including some of the hospitals we had clinicals at. When I enrolled I also heard that people were having issues getting hired because they went to Rasmussen, but honestly no one I know has had any issues finding a job. I believe the biggest thing against us is that we graduated with an ASN and not a BSN and some of the major hospitals (Tampa Genera, St. Joseph's) prefer for outside applicants to be enrolled in BSN programs in order to be considered for a position or residency/internship program. I think aiming to enter into a BSN program should be your main goal, but if you don't get into one in whatever time frame you have in your mind, understand that perhaps your options will be limited once you graduate with an ASN. OR you can get a job at those hospitals (TGH, St. Joe's) as a PCT and then you'll automatically be hired once you graduate.

I think, technically, the hardest would be whatever requires someone to continually be on their toes and those that have to deal with different machines or more invasive procedures (Critical care/trauma areas IMO), but honestly, the hardest thing I have ever had to do was be the only nurse in an ALF over the weekend while we were short staffed. I had multiple residents either fall, develop severe symptoms of CHF, dementia residents getting violent, family members wanting to talk to me, CNA's who needed my help getting residents up because there was no one else to help, etc all at the same time and I felt like I was going to lose my mind. I quit that job a month later.