"If I only knew then what I know now..."

kddt · Jun 22, 2011

That is a GREAT question, and I am following this thread! I hope you find someone to come and answer.

heartbeep · Jun 22, 2011

I hope so too, thank you!

fairydogmother · Jun 23, 2011

Oh, I hope some of the seasoned folks will respond! Great question!

I♥Dexter · Jun 24, 2011

If I only knew then, what I know now...

Let's see, where to start... First off, nursing is not a recession proof career!! Don't believe the hype!!

Second, grades are not nearly as important as they scare you into believing. My Nsg school suggested that we not work while in school in order to help ensure our ability to maintain a high gpa because according to them, a high gpa will make you more marketable and it almost always guarantees that you'll pass the nclex the first time... Well let me tell you this: I didn't work while in nursing school and I graduated at the top of my class and I did pass the nclex the first time...BUT, am I working as an RN, now 6 months after I graduated?! Nope. The students from my class that are working as RN's are the same ones who worked in healthcare all through school. And yeah, they all had lower grades than me and some of them did take the nclex twice, but in this economy, it's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know, that will get you a job as a new grad!! So, I wish someone would have told me to do what ever I had to do, to get a job in healthcare, before nursing school, so that I could have worked while in school, allowing me to gain healthcare experience and make networking connections... Also, one more thing, and I will preface my statement by saying that I'm not sure if this is r/t the economy, my location or even both but: if while deciding to go to nursing school, you have the opportunity to choose between ADN and BSN, choose the BSN program!!! Around here, all the RN jobs clearly state, "BSN Preferred". :twocents:

Good luck!!

maanggohs · Jun 24, 2011

thanks so much for the advice. I hear what you say a lot at other places, so although people are saying it's hard to keep a job while in nursing at UF, i want to work as a LPN. Do you think that would be helpful? Or what kind of specific part time should I work in?

But as far as continuing to masters or DNP, would working or getting a higher GPA be better? Both, I'm assuming LOL

thank so much for you great and practical advise.

I♥Dexter · Jun 24, 2011

thanks so much for the advice. I hear what you say a lot at other places, so although people are saying it's hard to keep a job while in nursing at UF, i want to work as a LPN. Do you think that would be helpful? Or what kind of specific part time should I work in?
But as far as continuing to masters or DNP, would working or getting a higher GPA be better? Both, I'm assuming LOL
thank so much for you great and practical advise.

Well, I think that working as a CNA helps, a lot. I took the LPN nclex, half way through the ADN-RN Program and was unable to find a job as an LPN because A. I didn't have CNA experience and B. they said they felt that I would quit as soon as I became an RN. But that may depend on the location.... Where I live (Washington State), LPNs work predominantly in LTC and around here, LTC exp is not considered "nursing experience" that is required to get a hospital job... CNA exp isn't 'nursing' exp per se, but it is hospital exp and the hospitals tend to hire internally before they recruit externally... and around here, to get into NP school or CRNA school, you have to have good grades (3.5+), but more importantly, you have to have a minimum of 2 years experience in ICU, CCU, ER... some type of "specialty area" hospital nursing. You know, the typical catch 22 of the new grad... how to get a job w/o exp, and how to get exp w/o a job... I hope that helps!!

In quoting the words of Forest Gump, "and that's all I have to say about that..."

heartbeep · Jun 24, 2011

I actually have one...I wish someone would have told me how hard nursing school is to get into if you're not right out of high school!

emblray · Nov 2, 2012

I really wish someone would have told me to get a job in healthcare BEFORE going to nursing school. I had a very different idea of what I thought nursing would be like, compared to what nursing and healthcare really IS like. Had I been a CNA first and dealt with all there is to deal with beyond just patient care, I might have chosen a different career.

I also wish people would have been realistic about how hard it is to find a job as a new grad RN! I was led to believe that as a nurse, "you can get a job anywhere!". Wrong. Like someone else had posted, it is often WHO you know, sadly, that gets you in. Experience is very important to people hiring you, but how do you gain experience if no one will hire you!

If you have a passion for nursing, then stick with it! I wish you luck!