gingerdee

Here in CT, as techs we only make maybe couple $$ less than RNs per hour (starting), also I am almost a decade into my career, most of us around here make (or should be making) to $34-36/hr (the 40 includes night shift diff). My issue is that im somewhat young (early thirties) and almost hitting the ceiling for our pay, which the base I believe is right at or a little above $40 for many hospitals here, and there are not much opportunities upward mobility. Furthermore, I am BORED! I feel that I am not learning anymore, I would like a flexible schedule, work off shifts, don't need benefits, and would like more patient contact, which is why I wanted to go into nursing. I am unable to go into med school at the moment, so in the meantime while I wait to go, I wanted to do something different and keep learning...

hello all, just to re-cap: I currently work in the laboratory, been a tech for 8 years ready for a career change, so I decided to go into nursing. I got all my undergrad credits transferred, and since I'm a science major all of my physics, A & P, org chem 1 and 2, physics, etc all were accepted, I just have to take elementary statistics and psychology. The nursing program will take 2 years. As I've been perusing the boards, I'm getting a negative sense of nursing, about RNs eating their young, people are anxious and depressed and regretting going into nursing, and pay expectations are not being met (I currently make ~40/hr, dunno if I'm prepared to go back down to ~26/hr, as I've seen the starting pay is for many on these boards, I live in CT dont know if it makes a difference), My plan was to do nursing and become an APRN. I thought my plan was brilliant! However, as I've read on this site, that sector may be oversaturated in the future. I don't plan on being an RN forever; I was going to use it for the direct patient contact and then branch into some sort of PCP position (be it medical school, PA, or NP). I do not want to make a decision that I will regret, any advice?

I concur with the previous posts, i have worked as a med tech for 8 years and am now looking to get my BSN. i have worked micro, blood bank, chemistry, hemo/coag and i am bored! the micro experience you are hoping for will not be much of an experience at all; many things are automated now so the true clinical experience is reduced to putting things on/taking things off instruments and carefully evaluating results. furthermore there is not much chance for upward mobility as there is in nursing. u can move up to become a shift or section supervisor whereby you are coordinating break schedules, cap surveys, preparing for inspections, ER issues, etc. from that point you can move on up to lab admin manager and deal with budgets, hiring/firing etc and that is basically it. and in the lab it is true, most med techs do not have people skills and borerline ocd (im this way as well) so being a clinical lab scientis is not as glamorous as some ppl think. we are at the bottom, and make less than rn (the starting pay for an adn in my area is $30, as opposed to a bs med tech which start around $24) it is a thankless dead-end job and i can see this new generation just using it as a transient career

Hello all, I mentioned before in a previous post that I work as a lab tech, and would like a different experience, more patient contact, so I've decided to pursue nursing. I was going to go to medical school, but with my current family situation, it is not feasible, so in the meantime, I figured nursing would give me more face-to-face experiences with patients, MDs etc, and something new to learn! Most of my undergraduate credits have transferred over, I need to complete 2 years of nursing courses/clinicals to obtain BSN. The problem is, my friend, who is a nurse, thinks it is a bad idea: according to her, with my personality, I would not be a good nurse, I don't have enough compassion. She thinks I need to be a PA/MD. My ultimate plan is to become an APRN or PA (if possible MD), and I thought nursing would be a great starting point for me (since I've been locked up in the lab for the past 8 years, not learning much of anything). HELP! Should I reconsider? Why would someone with my personality not make a good nurse?

Hello all, I am so glad I found this site! I was wondering if someone can help me, I will keep it short and simple. I'm looking to go into nursing. I have a BS in biology, certified as a medical technologist, and have been working as one for 8 years. I also have a masters of health science in biomedical science/med lab sciences. I am sick of being in the lab, I would like more patient contact. My hours are very rigid and I need more flexibility in my life. I also would like a career ladder and more upward mobility, which I will most likely not acheive being a med tech. I cannot do a one year accelerated program, so I guess I have to do a BSN, however I do not have time to take classes, I work dayshift M-F 7AM to 3:30 or 4 PM How can I go about obtaining my BSN online? I have most of the prereqs with my biology degree (I've taken A&P I and II, organic I and II, micro, genetics, advanced biochem, calc I and II, physics) can these go towards the BSN? Can I take some online courses then do the clinicals at a local hospital? My job will pay for the degree (up to $12000) as long as I work as a nurse for 2 years here, so I would like to take advantage of this benefit, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!