Maygone

Just to let you know my experience. I had a prior bachelors degree before seeking a BSN. My previous degree only took one year off my BSN so it still took 3 years. A prior bachelors will only knock off some pre-requisites but you still have to take all the nursing classes. The school I went to (as well as most legitimate, reputable programs) have nursing courses that build off one another, so I was only able to take 2 nursing classes per semester. I didn't have to take the concurrent classes to get the general bachelor of science done because of my previous degree, so I was able to go part time and still work almost full time (though it was tough and a huge commitment). BUT, it still took three years. I have not heard of ANYONE getting a bachelors on this path in less than 2 1/2. And honestly, a reputable school shouldn't let you go faster than that. Nursing is a unique field and regardless of a previous degree, it takes time to learn. Good luck!

I absolutely, 100%, disagree with the people telling you to take the med surg residency program. It is clear from your post that you really WANT to take the wound care option and seem to be posting for validation in that less popular decision. Let me tell you my story. Right out out of school, I was offered 3 positions. A full time residency program in a hospital psych unit with benefits and all, a PRN psych job in LTC with guarantee of full time after a successful probationary period, and a PRN job in corrections with no guarantee of hours but a general "we are always short and you can PROBABLY work as much as you want" statement. Against all advice, I took the corrections job. (I tried to take both PRN offers but the training schedules didn't work, etc...). I took that job because that is what I really wanted to do. Let me also say, I'm not a rich housewife who didn't NEED the job. My husband makes very little, when he can even work, due to chronic pain. So I needed the job. I am the breadwinner. Two years later, I'm so happy I made the choice I did. I was moved to full time about 4 months in when a full time spot opened and about 6 months ago, I took a PRN float position at the hospital. I didn't have their required med surg experience for that hospital job, but the stories I told in my interview of the things I've dealt with on a day to day basis landed me that job. At that point, I'd never seen a chest tube, a trach, or even put in a foley. But my experience in a non traditional, VERY autonomous job, was good enough for them! Don't take a job because you think you need the experience. You will get experience everywhere! And don't let people downplay wound care. There is a lot going on in people with chronic wounds. You will pick up a lot about DM, nutrition, pain management, etc working in wound care. Take the job you want. You will be surprised how much you learn. And being in a position where you go to work loving it every day will lead to full time. People want full time employees who like what they do. So don't be miserable in med surg for a year just because you think you need the experience. If you're miserable, how good of a reference will you get when you leave in a year for the specialty you want? Do what makes you happy now. Trust me!

Yes. I have a set schedule with rotating days on a 2 week schedule. So week 1, I work Monday, Tuesday, then have Wednesday Thursday off, then work Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Then week 2, I have Monday, Tuesday off, work Wednesday, Thursday, then have Friday, Saturday, Sunday off. So so it really "feels" like working 5 days week 1 and 2 days week 2 because of the 3 days on the weekend. But it's technically 4 days one week and 3 the next because Sunday is considered the start of the week. The shifts are all 7a-7p. This makes an 84 hour pay period. I always assumed this is how all nurses worked. Because only 3 shifts a week would be less than an 80 hr pay period. So this is just what I am used to I guess...

My full time job (corrections) does it. An honestly, I didn't know anywhere DIDNT have to work 84 hours in 2 weeks until I started working PRN at the hospital and realized the full timers there only do 3-12's a week! My job does it because we have a small staff and there are 7 days in a week. So if I'm working 4 days one week, the next week the other shift is working 4. So every week, all 7 days are staffed with full time staff. So they have way fewer staffing issues because if everyone only worked 3 days every week, they'd have to cover a whole day (a day shift and a night shift) every week with PRN people. Does that make sense? Honestly, I think it makes you have a better work ethic. I get so irritated when I hear people at the hospital complain when they get scheduled 3-12's in a row. Because I have to work every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It made it easier for me to pick up a PRN job too because I'm so used to doing 3 in a row, that when I have 3 days off in a row at my full time job, it doesn't phase me to pick up at my PRN job. Also, you have built in overtime in every check. People complain a lot that nurses don't make enough, but that extra 2 days a month is thousands of dollars a year! That was the difference between me being able to buy a house or not! As far as the employer goes, I agree with the other posts that it makes more sense for them to pay fewer employees benefits but a little overtime, in addition to the stress it decreases on staffing issues.

While I think that nursing in general is a calling, I strongly believe certain fields within nursing are the real "calling." I work in corrections, and lately, have been having many issues with my job (mostly management/co-worker stuff) but I always feel like it is where I'm supposed to be and my true calling. I've trained several people at my job. Most of whom quit after several hours to a few days stating, "this is not for me!" But I have had so many instances where I have caught something or helped someone that may have gotten completely overlooked by another nurse who would have viewed the patient as "just an inmate." So for me, my ability to do something well, that many others can't, makes it a calling for me. I also work PRN at the hospital, and while I enjoy that job fine, it's more of a job for me, versus my calling. So I think the "calling" really comes from finding where you fit and feel like you make a difference. We all (well, most of us) went into nursing feeling like it was a calling to help people, but not every job is going to feel that way for everyone. Hospice may have been "just a job" to that one nurse, but may be your calling and you will never know until you give it a shot. Btw, I knew nothing about how correctional nursing actually worked until I got my job, but I knew in nursing school it was something I wanted to do, and it ended up being a fit! So if your even CONSIDERING hospice this passionately, you need to give it a try. You may love it! You may also hate it, but it will still be beneficial in your path to nursing. If I let every nurse who hated or talked down on corrections influence me (and trust me, there's a lot!) I wouldn't have allowed myself to find my true calling! Good luck!

Hello! I have been working in corrections for about a year and a half as a full time RN and it was my first and only nursing job out of school. I am starting a PRN float position at the hospital and am wondering if anyone has advice about the transition. I'm not worried about the actual amount of work or how demanding the hospital will be as my position at the jail is extremely demanding. At my current job, I care for up to 1000 inmates with just myself and two LPN's. About 300 get daily meds and I have a clinic with six more critical patients I am responsible for daily. The job is also very heavy on IVs, wound care, and detox monitoring. As well as a heavy emphasis on monitoring cardiac, pulmonary and endocrine disorders. I am extremely good at critical thinking, as correctional nursing is very autonomous, and I rarely work with a physician. However, I have some basic skills that I haven't used since nursing school. I've never even done a foley. Also, when patients become critical, we have to send them out to the hospital due to the lack of equipment available for testing, etc in the jail. So, often times I start out like an ER nurse, but send the patient to the hospital and never see the tail end of their nursing care. Since I am not a new grad, my training at the hospital will be limited. The manager I interviewed with discussed with me, in detail, some of my experiences and seemed confident I would do great at the hospital. I will be doing mostly med/surg. Has as anyone else made a similar transition? And how was your experience? Worried I will not live up to the demand of skills in the hospital.