questions about jobs

[nicolerj116]

Hello everyone. Im not sure where to post this because I'm new here but i thought I would try this board. I am just starting school for my ADN. I have a bachelors in psychology already. I have a few questions about jobs, etc. I know its different in different area, but what is the starting pay for an RN? Do you get to pick your hours/shifts? What are the shifts? Do you have to work every holiday or do you get to pick? I would also like to hear what you like/dislike about your job. Im just trying to get an idea of what it will be like. Thanks so much.

[RN1989]

All of the answers to your questions depend on where you get a job.

[nicolerj116]

ok well is there a ball park range? I know every hospital is different but I was just trying to get an idea of what the shifts would be like, etc.

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Do you know which hospitals that you might want to work in? Go to their websites and look at their open RN positions they usually state how much the starting pay is, plus it will tell you if they have a intern program or not. Most hospitals that I know of state what the hours will be on the job ad or put registry/per diem. Most hospitals also will say if every hoilday or how many hoildays are required. For instance their was a job ad that I saw for a perdiem job, that stated, must work 6 shifts a month and 1 hoilday a year.

[nicolerj116]

Ok, thank you so much. I will have to check their websites and see what they say. Thanks again.

[mpccrn, BSN, RN]

1. i started at $6.42 an hour, but that was 30 years ago...lol, now i hear it's more like $18/hr in my area.

2. do you get to pick your hours and shifts?..umm NO. being low man on the totem pole, you'll likely work nights or day/nights at first. you take what they have open.

3. shifts come in many shapes and sizes. 8 hours, 12 hours and if you're lucky 10 hour shifts. 0700-1500, 1500-2300, 2300-0700, 0300-1500, 1500-0300, 0700-1900, 1900-0700, 0600-1630.

4. most places rotate holidays, usually every other. again, you fit in the hole there is. easter is not considered a holiday, nor is columbus day, martin luther king day, president's day etc.

5. like any job, there are days you like it, there are days you'd rather stick pencils in your eyes than go in. the job is what you make it.

[nicolerj116]

thanks so much for the helpful response. I would want to work overnight shifts or shifts that start as early in the morning as possible. I just didnt know if that was possible to choose those. I would rather have those shifts than a daylight one. Thanks again.