PHhopeful

I'm a new grad with a very difficult, very blessed decision on my hands. I have two job offers. Job #1: -High need, high risk population -Primarily mental health nursing -Home visits alone with patients -Little to no training or contact with other healthcare providers -Close to home, no relocation -Good pay Job #2: -Primary/preventive care -Solid training period before being "let loose" -Work directly with medical team -Underserved but less "high risk" patients -Requires relocating a few hours away to very expensive area -Slightly better pay/benefits It's very tough decision for me. Job #1 is very much aligned with my values and the reason I became a nurse, but from reading reviews of the company, it also comes with burnout; I'm also concerned about being thrown into difficult situations alone without training. Job #2 offers training and a strong foundation for my career but it also involves a difficult move (my husband and I own our house). I would be proud to have either job and am grateful for both offers. Any insight from seasoned nurses is appreciated.

I'm working through the Vaccines For Children and You Call the Shots modules through the Center for Disease Control. The VFC program is specific government funding but even if you're not part of the program I think it's extremely helpful. The You Call the Shots stuff is exactly what you're looking for :) plus they're pretty quick!

I'm a new graduate interested in public health with two job offers. One of them is in the city where I currently live. It has many elements that make it appealing. My main role will be psych/behavioral health nursing with a very high risk population. I am most interested in community health, preventive care, and health education. But, I also think psych nursing is cool and I enjoyed that clinical rotation. The second offer is in a small town in a very expensive (tourist) region. That role is all of the things I listed above--triage, education, prevention; very community and family oriented healthcare. All things being equal, I would probably choose the second offer, because as a new nurse I feel having a broad focus would be beneficial. However, moving there might be a bit of a financial struggle. I wouldn't completely rule it out, but it's not ideal. So, I am leaning toward a job that is a great opportunity, not exactly what I'd hoped for, but doesn't come with strings as far as relocation, etc. My questions are: How hard is it to go from outpatient psych nursing to other outpatient nursing roles in the future (triage nurse, nurse educator, etc.)? Are you stuck in psych nursing forever? Will a psych/behavioral health position give me a good foundation for being an FNP student (someday in the distant future)?

Starting out as a new grad in an outpatient psychiatric RN position, would it be difficult in the future to transition to another "specialty" such as community-based maternal and child health nursing? I know it can be hard to transition between acute care and community-based health; I'm only curious about transitioning between populations in the outpatient setting. Also, as a BSN prepared nurse with this experience, would it be difficult to get accepted to an FNP program in the future? I know some programs, such as UCSF, require community health experience before applying, but wondering if psychiatric nursing would qualify.

A lot of my classmates were in their late thirties, forties, fifties...and I'd even venture to say one or two in their sixties :) age should definitely not be a hinderance!

I think it definitely depends on where you work, too. Feeling out the culture is important--and deferring to the the employee handbook. My employer practically prides itself in the diverse body art of its employees! At least half my coworkers have their hair dyed an unnatural color. But, since we're a women's clinic, there's probably an element of subversion there :) On the other hand, I wouldnever show up at clinical rotation with so much as a nose piercing. It's not prejudice on my part--it's respect for the rules of the organization. It's about professionalism. When I see other nursing students going against those rules, it bugs me. To me, it means they don't care about following the rules and in my opinion that translates to other things like cheating on tests or neglecting patient care. At the very least, those students must think that the rules that apply to the rest of us don't apply to them. It has nothing to do with their self-expression. I hope that makes sense. Just my opinion!

No, they won't. One poor classmate of mine had to get her enormous lower arm tattoo removed during nursing school, though, so she wasn't banished to long sleeves forever. Just please don't be one of those nursing students that wears fake nails, dyes their hair purple, or sports their septum piercing during clinical. Even if your preceptor doesn't say anything, you still make your whole clinical group look bad. But, I'd say that majority of us are hiding tattoos under our scrubs these days :)

Unless you are terribly unhappy and have already made up your mind, be patient. I remember feeling similarly at the beginning of the program when we labored through taking vital signs (I already worked as a clinic assistant, so it seemed really elementary). The truth is, you'll have to start at the bottom wherever you go, and that attitude is certainly not going to fly in any program (RN, PA, MD). Becoming a healthcare professional takes humility. As a medical student, you may think you've learned everything through your didactic courses but that doesn't mean you can march straight into open heart surgery the first time you're in a clinical rotation. Over the course of nursing school, I've grown to be astounded at the breadth of skill it takes to be a good nurse (you have to have impeccable clinical knowledge and critical thinking skills as well as good "bedside" demeanor); and also learned that much of that comes from what happens in practice, after graduation. Additionally, I would much rather work towards an advanced nursing practice license than a physician's assistant. The APN role is much more attractive in terms of scope. Finally, I would encourage you to look more at the role of working RNs rather than what you're learning now as a new nursing student to determine your course of action!

Prerequisite GPA is super important. As the above poster commented, the last 60-90 credit hours may be mostly what schools consider, so if your grades are improving, that might be sufficient. I'd also recommend taking "fluff" classes to raise your GPA, but classes that are relevant to nursing/healthcare (e.g. upper level biology, any healthcare electives that are offered). Also, other things to make you an attractive candidate, like volunteering, working as a CNA, etc. I'm not familiar with the CSU system but I got into every school I applied to (public and private) and had previously been in your situation. I had a 2.9 GPA from community college but ended up getting a bachelor's degree (another two years) in order to raise my GPA. I had a 3.5 from that, so overall my GPA was about a 3.2, with prerequisites around a 3.5. I just immersed myself in the healthcare field and made up for a lousy GPA with lots and lots of experience.

I obtained my associate's degree and paid out of pocket. Unfortunately, my grades weren't great, so as a non-traditional student I returned to school for two years at a private college to get my bachelor's degree (non-nursing). I significantly raised my GPA, gained a lot of great work, internship, and research experience and completed all of my prerequisites for nursing school. I received significant grant money but still ended up with $30k in debt. Do I regret it? Sometimes, but it helped me to turn my life around and grow from a high school dropout to a professional. Afterwards I got into Penn, Columbia, Hopkins, etc. for nursing school and would have ended up over $100k in debt (easily) but chose to wait a few years and go to a public school instead. The first year of my BSN program I accrued another $15k but received the HRSA scholarship and also received some inheritance from a family member, so currently I'm looking at $30k when I graduate--with a BA and BSN, and my second year of school fully covered by HRSA. It could be better, but it could also be a lot worse. I wish school was free, but I'm grateful for my education and am mostly okay with the investment in my future.

Wonderful advice! Thank you so much!

Three quick questions: 1. I'm graduating with a BSN in May. When should I start submitting applications? Already got some good leads with networking but not sure if I should wait until after senior practicum to submit my resume. 2. I have 3.5 solid years of clinical work experience (between two separate employers) but prior to that it's a hodgepodge of temp jobs (waitressing, etc.) while I attended school. When applications ask for your last 3-4 employers, should I list, literally, the last four employers (e.g. Clinic A, Clinic B, Two-month Waitressing Job C and Three-Month Catering Job D) or can I list relevant internship experience that I completed concurrently instead (e.g. Clinic A, Clinic B, Internship C, Internship D)? 3. Do hiring managers in healthcare generally ask supervisors in-depth questions about employees, or do they save those questions for references? I'm curious becauseI know at least one supervisor no longer works for the company, and those I worked for 4+ years ago probably don't even remember me! For reference, I'm interested in public health and ambulatory care nursing, so that's the bulk of jobs I'll be applying to. Thanks!

Finally! I am graduating in May and am excited to begin the job search. I attended a great networking event recently and feel very optimistic about looking for public health jobs as a new BSN. I have a couple questions for those of you in the field. -When should I start submitting applications? I hope to take the NCLEX within a month of graduation; should be able to work by July 2016. -How should I organize my previous employment? I've worked in a clinic for the past 2.5 years; prior to that I worked at another clinic for one year, but beyond that, my "employment" history consists of odd jobs, contract work (as a massage therapist), waitressing, caregiving, etc. during school so I leave that off and only list "relevant" stuff (internships, volunteer work, research). Basically, my resume looks like this: Relevant Employment History -Clinic A 2014-Present -Clinic B 2013-2014 Other Relevant Experience: -Internship at Clinic C Fall 2012 -Internship at Clinic D 2011-2012 Volunteer Experience: Volunteer at Clinic E 2015-Present Volunteer at Clinic F 2014-Present Research and Presentations (blah, blah) Awards and Scholarships (blah, blah) Is that okay, or should I be listing all those odd jobs? It makes it look like I have "gaps" in my employment history where I only interned/volunteered during school, but frankly, listing lots of temporary and irrelevant jobs seems strange. Also, on the online applications it *does* ask for three to four previous employers. For this, is it also appropriate to list an internship for one or two of them if the internship was a significant commitment? I'd rather do that than list "Manager Bob" from the short waitressing stint I had over the summer between sophomore and junior year. Thank you!

Thank you for the reply--I'm unfortunately still confused! In my interpretation, the qualifications are different for NURSE Corps vs. NHSC. According to the flyer, NHSC requires "Minimum of two years of full-time serviceat an NHSC-approved site in a HealthProfessional Shortage Area of greatest need" (thus, searching by the second link); but NURSE Corps requires, "Minimum two-year service commitment(or part-time equivalent) at an eligiblehealth care facility" (which sounds more like the first--the list of facilities rather than catchment areas). I dunno--I'll call my recruiter and try to figure it out, but hoping someone could explain it in plain language. I wish there wasn't a discrepancy between the two.

I recently received the HRSA NURSE Corps Scholarship and will be graduating in May. I am having the hardest time understanding/interpreting HPSA scores on the data warehouse website. I know we must look for a job in an area designated 14 or greater. I've found two ways to search--one being searching by address, which populates information about a specific site; the other being searching by county, which populates a list of eligible facilities in that county. I've found that agencies are listed differently on one list than the other. Which should I go by? Here's the two lists I'm referring to: HPSA Find HRSA - Find Shortage Areas: HPSA & MUA/P by Address - Version 2.0 Any help would be appreciated--HRSA hasn't been too helpful in answering. I also am curious if an area has a Mental Health score of 14 but the Primary Care designation is lower, and I find a primary care job, is it eligible because the MH score qualifies, even though it's a primary care job? The handbook made it sound like this is appropriate ('the site eligibility will be determined by whichever score is higher').

Hello everyone! I just received my award letter yesterday and will be following this thread as well to figure out the next steps. My school messed up my enrollment verification form (stated that I was graduating in May 2017 and a third year student, when I am in fact graduating this May and am in a two-year program), so I'm already nervous about working with them on the billing information! It sounds as though some of you have also had difficulty getting your school to cooperate. Has anyone received a clear answer about how we're supposed to proceed with the invoice form/other reasonable costs, etc? I just sent a message to HRSA to ask if all we need to do is give the Invoice Guide to someone in financial aid. It sounds too easy :) anyway, congratulations to other participants, and good luck to everyone! This was my third time applying, so don't give up!

I agree the OP asked a good question, and I also concur that you should choose a hairstyle that is easy to maintain and that looks natural (be it blonde or brown). I actually feel uncomfortable in my program sometimes because blonde seems to be the norm here in Colorado among nursing students! Literally, I am surrounded by a sea of blonde (I'm a black-haired beauty). But that's a different story. The two-tone layered thing, on the other hand, did cause me to raise my eyebrows. Unless it is well blended and actually looks like natural highlights, I would change it to be a uniform color. You don't want an extreme hairstyle to be the first impression a clinical scholar has of you.

*Also, OP, just checked out your profile. Have you considered applying to UNC Chapel Hill, since you're from NC? Sounds like CU would currently be out of state for you (as would UF). I'd strongly recommend considering your applications based on cost, as well as quality--many of those schools are going to be astronomically priced for you, either because they are private or out of state. Anything above $50,000 (total, including cost of living) is not worth it, in my opinion/experience.

Perhaps it's because I'm favorable toward CU, but I really don't understand the draw of either DSN or Regis. I was accepted to all of the schools I applied to, but CU was by far the best option: highly ranked, highly regarded; affiliated with one of the best hospitals in the country, cost-effective; opportunity for advancement (MSN, DNP, and a dual DNP-MPH program), inter-professional training. I don't regret my decision at all--even over Hopkins or Penn. There is a real emphasis on evidence-based practice, and many of our professors are leaders in their specialty. It's as though I'm getting an Ivy League education at a public school price. DSN and Regis, in my opinion (even before I enrolled at CU) are not worth the enormous investment--no place is. Couple that with the questionable NCLEX pass rates and the lack of opportunity for growth, and it seems like a poor choice to me. Yes, CU demands a higher standard for acceptance, and many people have to apply more than once--but, if you really want it, then a year isn't a long time to wait or enhance your resume. Wherever you go, don't make the mistake of rushing the process just so you can become a nurse faster; take the time to ensure you have a solid foundation (from a quality program) to base your career on. That's my two cents.

Nursing student from Denver here, too. I'm on break, but it doesn't feel like break because it has rained every darn day. So, I can sympathize!

Hello, all! I just completed my first year of a two-year BSN program and after my Pediatric rotation I've become very interested in the idea of being a school nurse. I have a background in public health, and currently work in a reproductive health clinic doing a lot of education around birth control and STD prevention (as well as vaccinations, etc). The opportunity to work in the community, and to advocate for students around health issues that affect middle and high school kids, including mental and reproductive health, bullying and accident prevention is very appealing. I'm not too concerned with pay or the menial tasks that come with working in schools, such as paperwork--I know that's just part of the job. If anyone is from Colorado and has experience in school nursing I'd love to hear your thoughts around the challenges of the job, applying for positions after graduation (and getting my foot in the door), and anything that I can do during school to support this goal. I appreciate your feedback!

OP, you are by no means doomed. I had a 2.9 GPA when I graduated from community college, and a 3.5 when I graduated with my first Bachelor's degree. That averaged out to a 3.2. I attributed my 2.9 GPA to immaturity and personal hardship, but the 3.5 was due to some very challenging classes in a very rigorous academic program. What countered a low GPA was diverse healthcare experience, including volunteer, internship, and employment that reflected my desire to become a nurse. And I tied all of that together with an application essay that spoke to my academic struggles. And you know what? I was accepted to Penn, JHU, CU, UIC, MGH and Columbia (everywhere I applied). Thinking negatively about your 3.4 (which, by the way, is still seen as a good GPA!) will not get you anywhere. You have to take what you can't change and make the most of it. Best of luck to you!

Thank you all! I appreciate the positive feedback and insight!

I had an instructor that was involved in hiring new graduates for one of the residency programs in Denver (I can't remember which hospital). She mentioned several times something along the lines of one out of every two new graduates hired was from outside the Denver metro area...this seems like a high proportion, but at least it sounded as though it was unimportant where you were relocating from. She also mentioned being fond of JHU applicants because she trusted the caliber of their education...so drawing from that, I'd say that coming from out of state, where you went to school might have more weight. Sorry that I can't be more specific!

Hello, Colorado nurses and nursing students! So far, my cohort has been eligible for two cycles of the ACP (Advanced Care Partner) position at University of Colorado Hospital. There's one cycle left that we'll be eligible to apply for. It seems as though EVERY students I've spoken to has seized the opportunity to apply, and all have gotten the position. I have not applied. It took me almost a decade to start nursing school after I decided to become a nurse. I've been meticulous at getting exceptional grades, networking, volunteering and working during school to enhance my resume. I currently work in an outpatient clinic in a position similar to a MA. I have years of public health experience. I did not go into nursing to work in a hospital--it's never been my goal. I am in love with community health; it's where I thrive. Our inpatient clinicals have only confirmed this for me. However, I have a wonderful mentor who has strongly recommended doing the ACP and pursuing at least a year of acute care experience after graduation. I really feel this is not a good fit, but I don't want to miss an opportunity during school that could help me find a job after graduation. I'll be $60,000 in debt when I graduate and don't want to take any risks. I've heard horror stories about students out of work for 6+ months after graduation. Have any students skipped the opportunity to do the ACP? Any new nurses? Do you regret it? I would likely have to give up my job in the outpatient clinic, where I've worked for two years. I also have a learning disability, so it would make focusing on school even more challenging. I also fear the once-a-week commitment with the possibility of working nights--I do not do well functioning on little sleep. But I also feel I should be willing to sacrifice now to be the best nurse I can be after graduation...