Some serious questions

AGal110 · Jan 9, 2009

Thank you guys a ton.

Another question... I've researched this too, but was wondering: in order to work per diem, does one usually need experience first or is it something obtainable fresh out of school?

As far as schooling goes, I'm totally ready to tackle that. I'm definitely not doubting that it will be hard, I just know myself and am not too terribly worried about that part. I've also already searched the class schedules for the entire nursing program for my school, and mapped it out, so I'm aware of the time commitment also. AND the costs. Haha. I like to research.

What does worry me is after schooling... I hate the feeling of being new at a job because I do feel so inadequate. I feel like most new jobs will have that, but with nursing, there is SO much to remember and to know that it's a little scary of a thought. But it's also exhilarating.

I'm definitely gonna talk to my mom about this; she is an LPN so from my understanding she's put in a lot of work into the field, maybe more than some RNs. I am also gonna talk to people at my school to see if there is a waiting list or anything to get into the program.

Thank you all so much. Probably not the last I'll be using these boards.

AGal110 · Jan 9, 2009

To LLG - I do love all of that, but I want to do multiple things in life and I want to be able to have something steady that I don't dislike - I highly doubt I won't like nursing. I already have some paid photography gigs which I am very happy about but I really just don't want to do something like that all the time either. I really have a need to do multiple things in life and I've always been drawn to the medical field but always thought of it as something I absolutely had to do full-time, which was not appealing to me. Any one job full-time does not appeal to be, no matter what it is, period.

If I find that I absolutely hate nursing school (which I doubt), then I'm not going to continue making myself unhappy.

FLmomof5 · Jan 9, 2009

Wow.

It must be the old cynic in me......so please excuse me for a moment OP..... Did I 'hear' you right? You are 22, haven't figured out what you want to do with your life....want to live in LA....want a job that you can work only part time (because "a FT job doesn't appeal to you").....

I read that part and stopped dead in my parental tracks! Wow. I am stunned. LA is HORRIBLY expensive. You think NYC is bad...just wait. Oh, yeah they do have PT jobs that pay enough...they are called models and actors.... or you can go find one of those rich old guys with one foot in the grave and another on a banana peel!

I am really sorry for the attack.....guess I am kinda sensitive after having been a SINGLE mom of 5... supporting myself (without help and without child support) and not having a life for years....oh and -by the way- mom's wipe plenty of poopy butts.....and right now, I am waiting for *MY* DD who just turned 23....to come home from her 2nd tour in the sandbox (aka Iraq) as a combat medic.

I guess I simply wouldn't be in a place in life that would be empathetic to your situation.

AGal110 · Jan 9, 2009

FL - sorry if I offended you, and I completely respect your being a single mom of 5; I can't even imagine that. But honestly, I don't see any point in the post you made, other than for the fun of attacking someone, I guess.

Right now, I am 22, yes, I attend school full-time with no financial help, I have a part-time restaurant job on weekends that allows me to pay the mandatory $1,000 a month to live here and that's it. For you to say that I won't be able to make it in LA, I'm sorry but I just don't buy it. I know I'll be fine, all I was asking about was the difficulty of obtaining a nursing job in LA fresh from school, and if I could make enough to survive, which I'm now pretty confident that I can.

Please, if you're just going to attack me and belittle me, just keep it to yourself.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jan 9, 2009

If I find that I absolutely hate nursing school (which I doubt), then I'm not going to continue making myself unhappy.

IF you hate cleaning up poop or refuse to clean up poop, you won't even make it through your first semester. Now , no one says" I just love cleaning poop, from adults". Everyone in nursing school do have to do it at one time or another. I know some people, who can NEVER become a nurse... not because they aren't smart, its because they are afraid or too grossed out my poop and other body fluids. I would highly suggest getting enrolled in a CNA class. That will be a trial run, and if you like it, maybe you will go for nursing. Not all nurses like being a CNA, however it will give you exposure to the nursing career. Good luck. From reading your other posts, it seems like nursing may not be for you... please forgive me if I'm wrong. Take care :) :clown:

FLmomof5 · Jan 12, 2009

fl - sorry if i offended you, and i completely respect your being a single mom of 5; i can't even imagine that. but honestly, i don't see any point in the post you made, other than for the fun of attacking someone, i guess.
right now, i am 22, yes, i attend school full-time with no financial help, i have a part-time restaurant job on weekends that allows me to pay the mandatory $1,000 a month to live here and that's it. for you to say that i won't be able to make it in la, i'm sorry but i just don't buy it. i know i'll be fine, all i was asking about was the difficulty of obtaining a nursing job in la fresh from school, and if i could make enough to survive, which i'm now pretty confident that i can.
please, if you're just going to attack me and belittle me, just keep it to yourself.

sweetie, you simply need a wake up call/reality check. you stated you wanted to live in la....you stated that you *only* want to work part time because working full time doesn't appeal to you... you want to be a nurse but don't want to do any of the unpleasant tasks requried of nurses. and if anyone says that your 'pie-in-the-sky' idea of life is unrealistic you state that the only purpose was to attack and belittle you?!?!?! geez... honestly, if you are this 'thin skinned' you will never make it through nursing school.

i started my adult life (1984) as an active duty usaf officer with an electrical engineering degree...and my first duty station was in the bay area of california. (up by san jose and san francisco). back then a 1 bedroom apartment was 50% of my 2nd lieutenant's pay! right now a quick check on 1 bedroom apts in la (via google) you are looking at $1400 - $1500/mo for a 1 br place. (unless you are ok living in the projects.) that does not include utilitites. so you have your electric, water, cell phone and/or landline, cable tv, internet, etc.....not to mention the cost of a vehicle/insurance and upkeep....don't forget you have to eat. on payscale.com, the salary for an rn starts @ $22.59 for someone with no experience.

$22.59 * 40 * 52 / 13 *.7(taxes on single) = $2530.08 net per month if you are full time. rent will be more than 50% of your pay! you don't want to work full time. :smackingf

so, believe what you want.:tinkbll:...good luck to you...and don't ask a question if you don't want a real answer.

coolpeach · Jan 12, 2009

Nursing school is different than your normal college experience. First let me explain most schools have time limits on the sciences so even if you have taken all the correct pre reqs you will more than likely have to retake them to be accepted into a program (you can expect a year at least). In addition, most programs have very nursing specific support courses you need to take before being accepted. Then you must have a competitive GPA, no criminal record, and be able to pass a drug test. Admission is very competitive, and even meeting all of the above factors with a 4.0 GPA you often need to apply more than once to get extra application points in order to get in the top points catagory and get in. Other schools have very long waiting lists, and I have heard people are waiting a year or two to get a spot.

Once you have complete your pre reqs, support courses, and gotten your spot in a program the fun really begins. In normal college full time is considered 12 credit hours which means you are in class for about 12 hours a week. First semester of nursing school I was registered for 9 credit hours which isn't even full time which means I didn't even get full time financial aid for all my work. My actual at school hours during that time were massive. Monday clinicals for 12 hours, Tues pre clinical for 4 hours, Wed Lecture for 3 hours, Thur lecture for 3 hours, skills lab 3 hours, Friday pre clinical 4 hours, Sat off, Sunday hospital to pick patient 2 hours, and care plans, patho reports 5 hours. In addition, I had to complete x amount of community service hours each week. So thats 36 hours a week, plus community service, open lab time so I could practice, and tests in the testing center. Your life literally revolves around the program,and you have no time for anything else. It is extremly hard, and many fail or drop out. You really have to want it !!!!!

I am in Texas, and most new nurses here start out from $25 to $30 an hour in a hospital. Most hospital work is 12 hours shifts, and I am told most people have to start nights. You do not have to work in a hospital, but I am told that it pays more if you do. CNA's here only make abut $8 an hour so I am sure if you want to go that route. Regardless, there is a lot of poop cleaning. There is blood, phegm, vomit, running stool, and every possible body fluid. We had a homeless man brought in to the ER covered in his own poo, lice all over him, vomit all over him, blood and who knows what mixed in. You clean him up, delouse him, and treat him.

AGal110 · Jan 12, 2009

FL, please calm down. Say what you will; I know I'd be fine in LA. I live in NYC! The cost of living here is arguably the highest in the country (San Francisco being a close contender). I live with roommates, go to school full-time, and work a ******-paying part-time job. I use the little money I earn to pay for all my necessities, and during the summers I work my ass off to save up money for the upcoming school year when I can't pull off the full-time job. This is my life, and while I love living here and am very happy, I don't love being poor.

So I thought about being a hygienist because I liked the healthcare field and they got paid well and had flexible hours. But then after thinking about it, I thought it sounded monotonous. Then I thought about nursing and it seemed like a much, much better option for many reasons - money and flexible hours being two of them. I was pretty sure that nurses got paid a decent amount but just wanted to verify. I also needed to verify how flexible the scheduling is, because I'm hoping that nursing can take the place of serving - something kind of part-time that can pay my bills while I go back to school and pursue other interests. What is wrong with that?

You talk about my desire to pursue multiple things in life and steer clear of the full-time job like it's horrible. Why is that? It might not be your thing, but it makes me happy when I can do a few things that I really enjoy rather than just one all the time. I certainly don't mean I will always be this way, but I'm young and ambitious and I can't see myself just getting a full-time job and throwing everything else out the window. I just can't do that and I'm sorry that's seen as a weakness to you.

So, in politeness I'll say thank you for your answers, though your idea of a "real answer" seems to be my idea of little more than denigration.

AGal110 · Jan 12, 2009

Coolpeach - Thanks a lot. Really helpful info.

I'm going to talk to the chair of nursing at my school hopefully today. I don't think I'll have to retake any classes since it's the same school I've been attending, and I only have one more pre-req before getting into the nursing program. But, like you said, who knows how long I'll have to wait.

Your nursing school sounds very rigorous! Congrats on getting through.

One thing that really draws me to nursing is the fact that I can work nights... I realize it's the most undesirable shift for most but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of that. So hopefully that works in my favor, haha.

coolpeach · Jan 12, 2009

I am not through yet. I just finished first semester, and will start second semester next week. I swear to god if I hadn't wanted to do this since I was born I would have given up forever ago. It has taken me 5 years to get here, and I still have 11 more months (for an ASN degree). My best friend started a semester after I did, and earned a four year degree already. Nursing costs more, takes more time, and its just not worth it unless its something you are sure you want more than anything.

See if you can volunteer in a nursing home for a while. Once you are there for a couple of weeks buddy up to a couple of nurses, and tell them you are interested in nursing, and ask to follow them for a shift. Do the same at the hospital, and you should get an idea of what your looking at then decide. It's just too much money, and time, and its really is devestating when someone drops out after all they have put into it.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Jan 12, 2009

I am an avid (not necessarily to say real talented) amateur photographer, and one of the nice things about nursing is that I can work 3 twelve-hour shifts for essentially full-time pay, leaving me a fair amount of free time to go shooting, and enough disposable income to buy some moderately-nice camera gear. I've actually contemplated, and looked into, going pro, but it looks to me like a way to turn an enjoyable hobby into a potentially miserable job.

Nursing--even the gross parts--isn't drudgery, to me. Some nights are better, or worse, than others. This morning, I began report with the observation that I had been having a pretty good night, right up until 8pm, when everything went to hell in a handbasket. Bear in mind, I work 7pm to 7am. Or 10am, today. But as hectic as it was, it was a good night. I wouldn't say I saved a life, but I was a key player on a team that kept a situation from getting very bad--even potentially lethal. And the other players on the team made me proud to be among them. So, you know, there's nothing wrong with flipping burgers, but I'll take my job.

But as others have noted, it has taken a lot of hard work, frustration, and discouragement to get to the point of feeling marginally competent. It is not a career to undertake lightly. But if it's something you think you might like, it's surely worth considering. You can make a decent living at it. Not lavish, but decent. It's hard, stressful work, and you'll meet people who don't know a nurse from a maid/valet, but also people who genuinely appreciate what you do. I've wondered, before, whether we ought to feel lucky to have jobs that matter enough to us to cry over. Because even on the most routine, day-at-the-office shift, there can be moments where just asking an anxious family member if they would like a cup of coffee can be a way to connect and let them know you care about them. You'll learn what nurses mean by PITA and "pillow therapy," and you'll have patients who just insist that you stop by their room before you go home because they're being discharged and they want to give you a hug (or cookies!) before they go home.

So, by all means, shadow a nurse for a day, if you can. Check out some job-placement websites for an idea of starting payrates in various locations, and compare them to the cost of living.

FLmomof5 · Jan 12, 2009

fl, please calm down. say what you will; i know i'd be fine in la. i live in nyc! the cost of living here is arguably the highest in the country (san francisco being a close contender). i live with roommates, go to school full-time, and work a ******-paying part-time job. i use the little money i earn to pay for all my necessities, and during the summers i work my ass off to save up money for the upcoming school year when i can't pull off the full-time job. this is my life, and while i love living here and am very happy, i don't love being poor.
so i thought about being a hygienist because i liked the healthcare field and they got paid well and had flexible hours. but then after thinking about it, i thought it sounded monotonous. then i thought about nursing and it seemed like a much, much better option for many reasons - money and flexible hours being two of them. i was pretty sure that nurses got paid a decent amount but just wanted to verify. i also needed to verify how flexible the scheduling is, because i'm hoping that nursing can take the place of serving - something kind of part-time that can pay my bills while i go back to school and pursue other interests. what is wrong with that?
you talk about my desire to pursue multiple things in life and steer clear of the full-time job like it's horrible. why is that? it might not be your thing, but it makes me happy when i can do a few things that i really enjoy rather than just one all the time. i certainly don't mean i will always be this way, but i'm young and ambitious and i can't see myself just getting a full-time job and throwing everything else out the window. i just can't do that and i'm sorry that's seen as a weakness to you.
so, in politeness i'll say thank you for your answers, though your idea of a "real answer" seems to be my idea of little more than denigration.

i have a suggestion:

why don't you head over to the "students" forum area....more specifically "pre-nursing student" forum area. look at what these women and men are going through trying to fulfill a dream of becoming a nurse! i am quite convinced you would get seriously flamed over there for your statement above (highlighted red). you have no idea how you come across do you?

that is an issue with internet/email conversations. (not you and i per se, but written communication at large where inflections are lost or misplaced and body language is absent.) imho, you came across as an immature, irresponsible young adult. your statement above appears to 'minimize' nursing....like you simply want to replace (equate) waiting tables with nursing(!)...while you look for something more interesting to do. (career student?) you want to know what is 'wrong with that?' well, how about the young guy/gal who busted his/her butt to get into nursing school and you took the seat? you don't even want to do this (for the rest of your life) and yet, that is all this other person can think about!

you stated that you wanted to do nursing part-time so you can pursue other interests....and at the same time when folks tell you how 'rigorous' ns is, your posts appear to present a: "yeah, ok, so what, i can do it..."-attitude (which can be perceived as flippant). most folks state that you will have to neglect your friends, family, kids, etc just to get through nursing school....and yet, you appear to say that you will do this for 16 - 24 months just to get a part-time job? (not to mention the cost.)

"young and ambitious"...from the way your posts have presented yourself to my eyes (makes this an opinion), i don't see what most folks term ambitious. it came across very "valley girl"-ish.....(oh, like - wow! i want like a totally tubular job that like pays like a ton of money for working like maybe a couple hours a week so i can like spend the rest of my day like at rodeo drive like shopping or like getting like a totally awesome tan at like the beach! i mean like i'm like 22 and i'm like ready to play now and like maybe i'll grow up like later. man, parents are like such a drag man."

something to consider about nursing....my mother, brother and sister are all nurses. never heard one of them talk about getting off of work on time! (went in for a 10 hour shift - worked 12) nursing doesn't lend itself to 7 - 12 is your schedule so you walk in at 6:59 and leave at 12:01. doesn't happen.

i graduated from manhattan college (i suspect you know where it is.). i lived in ca at 22. i know about both costs of living because i have lived in both places. you reject what i tell you off hand because it is not what you want to hear.

at 22 yrs old i had my ee degree and got married. i had my oldest child 23 yrs ago when i was 23. my oldest has been out on her own working full-time since she was 19. my 21 yo son is starting college ft only because he was laid off in this wonderful economy. he has been on his own since he was 18. my 20 yo....ahhh the black sheep, but no, he doesn't live at home. the 19 yo is on full scholarship @ unf and lives in the dorms. my 16 yo is looking at colleges now.......

trust me when i say that you must be giddy with joy that i wasn't your mom! oh the lectures you would have gotten! and i am loving and patient compared to my dad....who graduated from regis hs/mc after growing up in harlem - the son of immigrants who died while he was in hs....where he got to eat meat 1x/wk and that was spam. i think it says it all when you hear what i tell my own children: "helllllloooooo! you are past the age of 18! do you know what that means? that means that your childhood has expired! high school ended folks and it is time to grow up! you were in an all-fired hurry to turn 18, well, congratulations! you made it!" stuff like that!

i was a child of the 70s not the 60s...no communes and silly stuff like that. we were the first group with a gas crisis and jimmy carter's double digit inflation, double digit unemployment and double digit interest rates! we were all about getting educated and a getting a good job to have a career to support us and our children through to retirement.

you and i are from different era's......and i would bap my child for 'floating' in life @ 22. ok....? :clown: