simbaman

Is it possible for a RN/BSN to get hired at a VA with no connections. People tell me it's almost impossible to get a job there now a days. I work for great hospital with a state pension for the last 6 years but I think I would get 5-6$ raise at the VA if I get hired as a nurse 2. I would also have flexibility to work at different VAs rather than being stuck at one hospital for the next 24 years. Most importantly I think working for war heros would be a true honor and make nursing even more awesome. So what do you guys think, is it worth going through the absurd hiring process?

Currently, federal loan repayment is not offered for crna loans. í ½í¸’

I found it best to switch in house. I was a floor nurse for 5 years when I switched to icu. It was a big change for me but I got the hang of it in 6-10 weeks. They let me sit in on the new grad classes to help brush up on knowledge. When I decided to do icu I walked in to the ICU and just met with the manager for the icu and told her I was interested in a transfer. 3 weeks later I interviewed, 6 weeks after that I started an abbreviated orientation in icu nursing. I also applied when they were criticaly short, so maybe they were desperate.

It works great. You check each IV for blood return each shift (q4h if you want to be fancy), why not steal 1 ml of blood for a quick cbc,bmp, or vbg? I would never use a PIV for blood cultures because you will get a false positive result. I would avoid for things like coagulant (lite blue top) or a blood type screen (pink top in most hospitals) because you need more blood for these type of tubes 2.7+mls and unless you have a fast blood return you will be sitting there a while drawing back blood. also don't draw vanc levels off a iv you just ran vanc through. I have yet to blow an IV pulling blood of them and as long as you use your brain the results are good. Many pts can avoid a central line with 1 or 2 well placed 20-18g IVs.

Gosh, I would be absolutely horrified if people were becoming NPs with 0 hours of clinical time. Its offensive that someone even dreams they could become a nurse or NP by doing some online modules and participating in "discussion boards."

Ok, thanks for the clarification everyone.

Anyone here know an NP who did post masters certificate for CRNA. These post masters CRNA programs are available at a few schools in my area and seem shorter (cheaper?) than regular CRNA programs. Im thinking about becoming an NP and then applying for post masters CRNA programs. My current place of employment will pay for my NP degree at a state university and flex my schedule so i can work full time while in NP school. I can apply for CRNA post masters certificate after NP school and hopefully save some cash. I don't mind school or spending an extra year or two getting an NP degree but i hate the idea of going 40-100K depending on which CRNA schools I get into. My cumulative GPA is 3.45 with a BSN GPA of 3.62 with 6 years nursing experience with 1 in critical care, so currently I'm very average CRNA candidate (below average?). I'm hoping getting an NP masters will 1) allow me to apply to CRNA post masters programs and 2) improve my cumulative GPA and make my resume stand out and get me into some of the best CRNA schools.

Good news. i actually had a 3.3 in my original undergrad, 3.9 for 40 credits at a community college and 3.62 for a 56 credit nursing degree. my cumulative average is a 3.485. I'm only one class away from breaking into the magical 3.5 GPA realm so many schools are looking for.

Thanks for all the replies and survey submissions. I was beginning to think i was the only one who was watching this phenomena unfold.

thanks bluebolt, Thanks for the advice. I was able to speak with one admissions councilor today that told me that at her school they use only your BSN scores to compare student GPA in order to avoid this type of apples to oranges comparison. I was pleasantly surprised but believe this is more fair than comparing me to someone that has never actually taken orgo or calc. I wish more schools would adopt this type of thinking. I also wish i had just gotten a BSN and avoided the classes that pull down you GPA. .... and so it is.

Thanks for the input and encouragement guys. I wrote this 2 months ago and truly feel a whole lot better about the ICU now. I had a review with my ICU manager and preceptor who said I was doing just what was expected. I started praying to God that he could help me find purpose and contentment in ICU work and i think i am starting to find my rhythm gain. Thanks again all nurses.

Background on me: I have a degree in biology with a GPA of 3.19 and a BSN with a GPA of 3.62 and am just now considering applying to CRNA school. I have been a nurse for almost six years and have spent the last year working in the ICU. I am just now considering applying for CRNA school for fall 2018. I know CRNA school is competitive and I'm worried the my original degree GPA will be held against me and "overshadow" my BSN GPA. My biology GPA includes classes like calc 1 and 2, advanced organic chemistry, and very challenging 300 level science classes. The biology degree was just much more challenging than the BSN (please don't be offended nurses, its my opinion). Now I'm competing against mostly people who have just a BSN for entry into CRNA school. comparing my cumulative average against someone else purely nursing average is an apples to oranges comparison. People rarely get straight As in classes like university level organic chemistry and calc based physics. I remember the average in these classes being 78%. Conversely, in my nursing school 25% of class was getting A- or A. Are there any graduate schools that take this into account with their GPA formulas and comparisons? I hate to think they just plug my GPA into a giant excel sheet without some focus on the degree rigor. Looking for honest feedback guys/gals. Thanks in advance.

I have worked in both nursing and EMS. i truly believe the real source of the rudeness is jealousy. Doing the work of a paramedic for 15$/hr gives you a real complex when you know the majority of nurses, some that are half your age, are making double and triple what you are. Every medic/basic gone nurse i know (including myself) gains a whole new respect for nurses once they actually become one.

Did any of you NPs take a pay cut when switching from floor/unit RN to NP? I work for a large hospital system that posts our wages and salaries online. I make 5k-20k a year more than most of the NPs. I work an average of 48 hours a week over 4 days. meaning I still get 3 day weekends every week. Most of our NPs average 45-50 hours a week over 5 days and are salaried employees without overtime and weekend pay bumps. These NPs are doing real work, putting in A-lines and central lines, procedures that have some risk associated with them. These are ICU NPs that have to do night and weekend time. They have all this responsibility to guide care and still make less than I do. I want to be an NP so I can work on a mercy ship when I retire (20 years from now..lol) but I am in complete disbelief I have to get a doctorate and do three years of intensive study to take a pay cut. In my area its almost comparable to how waiters and waitresses sometimes make more money than the general manager and head cooks at restaurants. The float ICU/ER nurses are literally making 25-35% more than the NPs. I know its not all about the money and I suspect I will end up in NP school someday regardless of the pay. Are there any NPs or hospital admins who can explain this discrepancy to me? Thanks in advance for the advice.....

Thanks for the feedback. I know my old floor will take me back. I still pick up there as a charge/floor nurse once a week just for fun. I hate that the ICU is gonna take such a financial burn on this whole thing. In the last 6 months they spent at least 12000 on my training.