Sentara Care Partner to BSN question about specialty

Published

Hello all,

I start Sentara's Care Partner class right away and want to be a Care Partner for a year or two. Also, I am taking the last 3 prereqs. for Sentara's BSN program, to hopefully start on the BSN in 1 1/2 years. Question: When I become a Care Partner, will having experience in a particular specialty make it harder to change specialties after I actually get my nursing degree? Seems that it would.

For example, if I end up in LTC as a Care Partner for a couple of years, will I find myself not able to transfer out of that specialty as an R.N.? I can envision that I might know more about choosing a specialty after actually being a Care Partner for a year or two, but by then it will be very difficult to change my specialty for nursing....

Trying to think ahead. Thanks VERY much for your input..... :confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Good question ... one that I haven't seen on allnurses before.

My first draft of this response was long and convoluted because it really depends on so many factors ... and there really are so many different possibilities to consider. However, the bottom line is simple:

In a tight job market, the people with Care Partner experiene in a specialty that is the same or very similar to the job sought will have an advantage. New grads whose work experience is in a specialty that has a dramatically different skill set and culture will be at a disadvantage.

However ... in a job market where there are lots of available jobs (and not dozens of people applying for each one), most employers are happy to hire a new grad with ANY experience as a Care Partner, regardless of their specialty.

In today's horrible job market, the best thing a student can do get a job after graduation is to get relevant experience as a Care Partner, CNA, extern, senior-preceptorship, etc. while they are a student.

By the time you graduate, I believe the job market will be a little better than it is now. But how much better? Nobody knows.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Llg,

Thank you very much for taking the time to give me this input. It makes a lot of sense. It will help in the long term. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I will be attending a nursing program beginning January 2012 and needed to work a more flexible job. I was considering taking the Sentara Care Partner course or the CNA course fall 2011. They seem similar in job description. Does any one have an idea what each make per hour? I am also interested in working the 3rd shift at either Sentara or CHKD in Norfolk when I get my license. What is the shift differential and hourly wage offered? I just need an estimation from someone that work at a Sentara hospital or CHKD.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion