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Hi everyone, I am graduating in December and have heard that we should start applying now. I have applied to UCI Medical Center for their Clin I position. However, I can't seem to find any kind of new grad careers for other hospitals such as St. Jude Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital, HOAG- Newport, Kaiser Irvine, etc. Does anyone know how I can look into these? How do I specifically filter to their new grad positions, or find a place to apply to their new grad programs? I am really confused about how to begin looking, and any help would be greatly appreciated!

@HouTx You are right. I don't know much about nursing at all. That is why I came on here to ask questions! And I want to thank you all for your help... I have decided to go the ABSN route. I intern at a hospital right now and pretty much do the same things a CNA does. The only thing I am lacking right now to apply for ABSN programs... is that I am missing a couple classes, such as public speaking and developmental psychology. I have already applied for a few CCs to get that over with asap. I plan to continue my internship whilst I do get my BSN degree, and getting clinicals through the program is a big plus too. The only obstacle right now is.. I am not sure if I can even get into those classes because CCs are really impacted.

Couple more questions... thanks for all your help! What would the BSN degree/programs allow me to do after I graduate from them? Would they give me sufficient experience to securely find a job and practice as an RN? And what about different nursing specialties (like cardiac, oncology, peds, etc.)? Or will I just be a general nurse (medical surgery), while MSN allows me to specialize? I am not familiar with the nursing pathway... I have read that MSN programs will give you clinical experience, but I am not really sure about BSN programs giving you experience to find jobs easily.. Can you help me out with that?

So, if I finish taking the classes I need for an accelerated BSN program, that will allow me to take the NCLEX (since you need ADN or BSN to take it). If I pass the exam, I can practice as an RN?

Actually, I was thinking of becoming an RN, hence my accelerated BSN track research... but I'm missing a couple of classes to apply for those. Or... if I went the PA way, I am trying to see if I want to do Medical Assistant programs, so that I can get my hours in. But that will take me a while to get PA... I know the health field has no rush, but I feel behind because the classes I'm missing are some easy GEDs... BSN will allow me to work as an RN with higher education... I think I will just take the missing classes, and apply for accelerated BSN programs. So that I can also take the NCLEX-RN exam.. I would like to work as an RN first, and decide if I want to become NP. Any thoughts?

Well crap... I do have PA application, but... I do not have the required hours for most PA schools even though I am in a patient care internship right now. Any kind of certification for the hours (paid) needs at least 1-2 years. I am wondering how long it will take me just to become a PA now... I feel useless.

I would like to go under APRN with a specialty in surgery if possible. I have no idea how to get started with researching this kind of information... I have looked at CNL-type programs, but was overwhelmed with the different types of programs I could get into. Would APRN allow me to specialize to become a surgical RN? If not, I was looking into FNP as well. I've looked at two types of programs: MSN-Entry and Accelerated BSNs. The accelerated BSNs require me to take Developmental Psychology and Public Speaking, which I did not take in my GED to get my Bachelor's. I am not sure what APRN requires, but I will try to research that. I am just really disappointed in myself right now. Feels like I am on the path to become a bum since I didn't even manage to fulfill nursing requirements. (Though I was originally going to become a PA). Are you able to relay some APRN programs to me that are in the state of California? Thank you so much for your help... Just any school names that I can get started with so I can get my research started from there.. Also I am not sure what the difference is between the MSN-Entry Level versus APRN. Are they not the same thing since they both allow specialization with access to NCLEX without getting a BSN?

Hi everyone... I have received a Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences, and would like to transition to a Master's in Nursing. In order to do this, it seems the program I need to go under is through the 'Entry Level MSN' program. But I am really confused on how to get started, which schools I am fit to apply to, and how to get the necessary materials I need (such as reference letters from instructors who might not even remember me anymore...). Can anyone shed some light on how I can approach this? I am pretty bad at researching different schools, and I really have no one to go to for guidance right now... I really want to be able to start back in school next year. Any help would be appreciated... thank you.