Sentara NCP to RN or Sentara RN students

smn2010, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2009

scpineda:

great idea to determine if nursing is a good "fit". this is a good thing for you to be doing if you are unsure about nursing. :up: :up:

too often, nursing students are too eager to "get their foot in the door" of a local hospital so they can easily go from ncp to lpn (or rn) during the course of their nursing program. it is best to focus on your school, work part-time and as you come to your final year (or last year and a half of school) make the attempt to add additional work hours while you complete your program. believe it or not, you can...and probably will...get "burnt" out working as an ncp if you start at the beginning of your program. most of the ncps that i worked with disliked their job by the end of their nursing program and wished they had never started working as an ncp so early in their nursing program because they realize now that they are on the negative side of the nursing world (clean up!!...grunt work!!...) and in an environment that does not always include good "team" work amongst staff. also, the ncps also stated that when completing tests/exams in school, they have to remove themselves from the "ncp world" in order to answer questions correctly because they tend to answer their questions based on what they "see" and "do" in the work place.

i worked as an ncp while i was in school. luckily, i was assigned to a unit that did not want you on their unit unless you were a team player. the nurses were fantastic!!! they would pull me into a patient's room with them every opportunity they could so that i could observe and/or perform a new skill. the nurses were wonderful mentors. but, i was "lucky." i have many friends/classmates who were not so lucky. they were on floors/units where "teamwork" was a foreign word. they dreaded going to work as an ncp but knew they had to focus on their long-term goal...completing their nursing program and becoming a registered nurse. which they all did! now as they work as rns they openly show their ncps, cnas, nas etc. how much they appreciate them!! they work well with them and make every effort to help any of them who are currently in school to be nurses. they are determined to work with their ncps so they will all have a positive experience on the floor/unit.

as you complete your prerequisites...possibly consider working on a unit that will allow you a "pencil schedule" (you write out the days you can work each week--based upon your school schedule (tests/exams) and clinicals).

in regards to balancing work/school, it doesn't matter if you work as an ncp, secretary, librarian...you will have to balance your time, regardless, between home-family-work-self no matter what you do for employment while in school.

also, your hours worked as an ncp have nothing to do with clinical hours while in school. the state of virginia (as well as all other states) requires all nursing programs to complete/incorporate "x" number of clinical hours into their nursing curriculum. the clinical hours at school do not apply to hours completed at work and vice versa. working as an ncp, in a hospital, is beneficial because you will be able to see the types of patients you are being tested on as well as read patient diagnoses/meds/diagnostic tests/surgeries/doctor's orders, etc. which you can easily relate to school/school assignments.

good luck with your pre-requisites and your nursing program!!! :specs:

scpineda · Sep 28, 2009

Thank you for that informative and detailed response! I am so grateful to be employed with a health system that from the beginning has empowered me to go as far as I possibly can. I began working as a Guest Relations Representative with duties that included assisting guests and visitors at hospital information desks and various waiting rooms. Now, I work as an Administrative Associate in a patient registration setting. Just by examining the careers of our leadership team, I understand how important it is for managers to have relevant clinical experience. Regardless of which direction I go with my career, I think the experience of working in a clinical setting will prove to be invaluable.

smn2010, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2009

you're welcome salvador.

i also worked as an aa/unit secretary (title varies from medical facility to facility) for a short period of time while i was in school. as an aa - you should have the opportunity to "shadow" ncps at your current facility. i did this prior to becoming an ncp. i had a cna license for many years prior to starting nursing school; while i worked as an executive secretary trying to determine if nursing was the right route for me in regards to changing careers. shadowing an ncp, while you work as an aa may be something you want to consider. additionally, in your position as an aa, you should be able to speak to those who currently work as ncp's in various areas/units to get their opinions regarding their "work" experience and how it relates to/helps them in their school "clinical" environment.

as i stated, my ncp experience was very, very, good. i have always communicated and worked well with my coworkers--where ever i have worked. as an ncp, i learned from wonderful nurses/managers/mentors. by speaking to others that are working in positions that interest you (ncp) you will be able to get a sense of their feelings about their position/job and their assigned unit/department. just keep in mind that not everyone will be honest about their likes/dislikes for a job when you put them on the spot...

whatever you choose to do, always make your experiences positive ones! :up:

¡buena suerte con escuela!

xnyk · Jan 16, 2010

Hi Salvador! Did you attend ODU? I'm not sure if you remember me, but I was friends with Kimmie (I vaguely remember you attending a few of the chemistry classes). My name's Nicole, I think we were facebook friends because your name sounds familiar. If it's not you, then nevermind, haha. But have you applied to the nursing program? It's mandatory to become a certified nurse aide now since it's the BSN program. I'm sorry I don't have any advice to give, I'm currently in the nurse aide program (we start clinicals in 2 weeks). I'll let you know how that pans out. Good luck with everything!

Nursiebree, ASN, RN · Jul 12, 2011

I just landed a job at sentara as an NCP . Im a nursing student a NSU and there are a lot of us at sentara careplex. we enjoy working there because the nurses are great and they teach us skills during down time. I became close with the nurse manager and even potentially landed myself a job after graduation. I think you should go for it because you learn more and will be more ready than ever when you have to begin working as an RN .

Hollownet88 · Jul 29, 2011

Nursiebree-

How long did it take you to get this job? I'm also a student at NSU and started applying to sentara but no calls yet. Do you have previous experience or did you know someone who already worked there? Really trying to get my foot in the door.

Nursiebree, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2011

are you in the nursing program ye because usually they'll ask for at least a year of clinical rotations , one being on the med-surg unit of a hospital. i didnt know anyone , just applied.

Hollownet88 · Aug 2, 2011

are you in the nursing program ye because usually they'll ask for at least a year of clinical rotations , one being on the med-surg unit of a hospital. i didnt know anyone , just applied.

I will be in year two when I start back this month. I'm also already a CNA and have previous experience.

Nursiebree, ASN, RN · Aug 6, 2011

cool , me too=)) just apply and seee what happens