SURVEY: What degree did you get for nursing and other questions

Advocate1 · Feb 20, 2008

Hello yall! I wanna take a survey asking every nurse out here these questions. Im sorry if a similar thread like this has been made
1. What degree did you get? Eg: AA, BSN.. Have you had other degrees in different fields?
Got my BSN- no other degrees
2. Why did you pursue this career (demand, family request, your own interest, money, passion, etc)
-My own interest- very impresses w the care provided by RNs when my mom was ill
3. When(or how old) did you realize you wanted to become a nurse?
about 20 yrs old
4. Where do you currently work (I dont need a specific address or something like that)? A private doctor clinic? Hospitals? Schools?
Hospital
5. What is your salary?
About $28 +/- Hr (with the differential)
6. By far what is the most challenging thing you have faced so far?
Making a med error
7. What do you find the most rewarding?
Advocating for my pts and seeing that they get the right care- Also, the way some pts can really tough your heart
8. Do you have a family? If so, how often do you spend time with them?
A Hubby- we wk different shift (he a daytimer & I work 1500-2300) but we see e/o very ofter and talk daily
9. Would you say you get days off more or work more?
With vacation days I'd say even-steven
10. If you could choose a different career, would you do it?
Not sure really- I have so many interest that I probable would
11. How long have you worked in the nursing career?
~1 yr
12. When you graduated and got your first nursing job, were you able to handle the situation well? Was it demanding? Did you get yelled alot? Were you happy?
staff is very supportive (mostly), its very demaning and there are times I wanna scream but in the end it is the most rewarding job I could think of
13.How demanding was your work hours at the beginning?
Full-time 40 hrs/wk- not super demanding but I would like to do three 12s or 4 8's if possible
14. Are you happy with your job now? If not, why?
Not really- I still feel overwhelemed at times but I am still learning so until I feel absolutely comfortable I don't think I can say if happy or not
15. How many hospitals have you worked? Which is your favorite and why?

1 hospital

SDS_RN, RN · Feb 20, 2008

12. When you graduated and got your first nursing job, were you able to handle the situation well? Was it demanding? Did you get yelled alot? Were you happy? Yes-No-No-Yes

13.How demanding was your work hours at the beginning? Same as now 3 shifts a wk more if short staffed

14. Are you happy with your job now? If not, why? Yes

15. How many hospitals have you worked? Which is your favorite and why? 1

But I have worked on different units surgical & pediatrics(together on one floor), now same day services & ER (working in the ED we have to rotate to SDS because we don't have fulltime staff for SDS)

athena55, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2008

1) received my nursing diploma from st. clare's school of nursing in 1975; my bsn 1998, now attending a fnp program. also have my ba and ma in anthropology and was getting my doctorate in cultural anthropology but put that goal aside to focus on higher degree in nursing

2) something i always dreamt about: becoming an rn - since childhood

3) again, see #2: since childhood specifically when i was a young child having a tonsillectomy done and the nurse was super patient with all of us screaming and carrying on....

4) work for the government/da (department of the army)

5) working for civilian (va) $91,000+...make about $50,000 less with the army but money isn't everything!

6) when i worked on a busy telemetry/step-down unit: one evening only two of us on that shift: we each had four admissions and total of 12 patients each! (this was the evening shift - 4-12); in the more remote past working in an oncology critical care unit (12 hour nights) and we had four arrests that night....

7) providing care to our wounded warriors and veterans

8) yes but my three sons are now young adults and are in university. my so working "the wheel" i.e., works a different shift each week: one week nights, next week evenings, third week days, start all over again....so i don't see my out-of-state sons all that often and my so, well we have maybe three days off together per month

9) since i work 12 hour nights i only work 13 days out of the month schedule

10) no no no no no no no i would do it all over again and i counsel others thinking about a professional career in nursing, as well only thing i would have done differently is....gone into the army nurse corps earlier in life hooah!

11) i have been an rn for over 32 years

12) since i went to a diploma nursing program we were on the floors taking care of patients since the very first week of classes! so i felt ready to handle my first 3-11 shift as the charge nurse with 35 patients and two nursing assistants my first month post graduation. but but the patients were not as sick as they are, today. never got yelled at, yes it was demanding and challenging and yes i was and still am happy

13) way back in the day no such thing as 12 hour shifts so working "8" hour shifts a few times i work 9 and ten days in a row plus, before i went into icu, i worked two floors! my regular 35 bed med-surg unit and then a smaller 15 bed unit (yeah, i know but we were so much younger then and the concept of cya etc was not something that was talked about. you're talking mid 1970s in a small (

14) yes yes yes very happy and proud to be a 66h (army nurse)

15) have only worked in three civilian hospitals in my more than 30 years as a registered professional nurse

lorilou22RN · Feb 20, 2008

Hello yall! I wanna take a survey asking every nurse out here these questions. Im sorry if a similar thread like this has been made
1. What degree did you get? Eg: AA, BSN.. Have you had other degrees in different fields?
ADN no further degrees.
2. Why did you pursue this career (demand, family request, your own interest, money, passion, etc)
Money, schedule (thought it'd be better)?????
3. When(or how old) did you realize you wanted to become a nurse?
Mom is a nurse, I never really wanted to, but once kids came I needed a more lucrative position....so on to nursing school. Began when I was 26, began nursing at 28
4. Where do you currently work (I dont need a specific address or something like that)? A private doctor clinic? Hospitals? Schools?
Hospital
5. What is your salary?
approx $50000
6. By far what is the most challenging thing you have faced so far?
Staffing 40 beds (when doing that job), responding to codes efficiently, and anticipation of docs request
7. What do you find the most rewarding?
Stabilizing critical patients, fun adrenaline rush. and satisfying
8. Do you have a family? If so, how often do you spend time with them?
3 kids, one ex-husband, one Common-law hubby.
9. Would you say you get days off more or work more?
days off
10. If you could choose a different career, would you do it?
yes. but it'd be in medicine still.
11. How long have you worked in the nursing career?
11 years.
12. When you graduated and got your first nursing job, were you able to handle the situation well? Was it demanding? Did you get yelled alot? Were you happy?
NO!!! does any new grad. Did not get yelled at alot, but I had diarrhea before every shift at least for the first year!!!!!
13.How demanding was your work hours at the beginning?
Very, did 8 hours 5 days a week, then did 16, now do 3 12's
14. Are you happy with your job now? If not, why?
15. How many hospitals have you worked? Which is your favorite and why?

3 different, LOVE where I am at now. Good pt-staff ratio. Boss listens to what we say.

lorilou22RN · Feb 20, 2008

1) received my nursing diploma from st. clare's school of nursing in 1975; my bsn 1998, now attending a fnp program. also have my ba and ma in anthropology and was getting my doctorate in cultural anthropology but put that goal aside to focus on higher degree in nursing
2) something i always dreamt about: becoming an rn - since childhood
3) again, see #2: since childhood specifically when i was a young child having a tonsillectomy done and the nurse was super patient with all of us screaming and carrying on....
4) work for the government/da (department of the army)
5) working for civilian (va) $91,000+...make about $50,000 less with the army but money isn't everything!
6) when i worked on a busy telemetry/step-down unit: one evening only two of us on that shift: we each had four admissions and total of 12 patients each! (this was the evening shift - 4-12); in the more remote past working in an oncology critical care unit (12 hour nights) and we had four arrests that night....
7) providing care to our wounded warriors and veterans
8) yes but my three sons are now young adults and are in university. my so working "the wheel" i.e., works a different shift each week: one week nights, next week evenings, third week days, start all over again....so i don't see my out-of-state sons all that often and my so, well we have maybe three days off together per month
9) since i work 12 hour nights i only work 13 days out of the month schedule
10) no no no no no no no i would do it all over again and i counsel others thinking about a professional career in nursing, as well only thing i would have done differently is....gone into the army nurse corps earlier in life hooah!
11) i have been an rn for over 32 years
12) since i went to a diploma nursing program we were on the floors taking care of patients since the very first week of classes! so i felt ready to handle my first 3-11 shift as the charge nurse with 35 patients and two nursing assistants my first month post graduation. but but the patients were not as sick as they are, today. never got yelled at, yes it was demanding and challenging and yes i was and still am happy
13) way back in the day no such thing as 12 hour shifts so working "8" hour shifts a few times i work 9 and ten days in a row plus, before i went into icu, i worked two floors! my regular 35 bed med-surg unit and then a smaller 15 bed unit (yeah, i know but we were so much younger then and the concept of cya etc was not something that was talked about. you're talking mid 1970s in a small (
14) yes yes yes very happy and proud to be a 66h (army nurse)
15) have only worked in three civilian hospitals in my more than 30 years as a registered professional nurse

can i just say wow, what a resume!!! :yeah: :nurse:

mianders, RN · Feb 20, 2008

Hello yall! I wanna take a survey asking every nurse out here these questions. Im sorry if a similar thread like this has been made
1. What degree did you get? Eg: AA, BSN.. Have you had other degrees in different fields? ADN
2. Why did you pursue this career (demand, family request, your own interest, money, passion, etc) Money and passion
3. When(or how old) did you realize you wanted to become a nurse?
Always
4. Where do you currently work (I dont need a specific address or something like that)? A private doctor clinic? Hospitals? Schools?
Hospital based IV therapy clinic
5. What is your salary? $34/hr
6. By far what is the most challenging thing you have faced so far?
CPR on children
7. What do you find the most rewarding?
Taking care of oncology patients
8. Do you have a family? If so, how often do you spend time with them?
I am home every evening and we have a lot of time together.
9. Would you say you get days off more or work more?
I think we all work more than we have time off.
10. If you could choose a different career, would you do it?
NO
11. How long have you worked in the nursing career?
13 years
12. When you graduated and got your first nursing job, were you able to handle the situation well? Was it demanding? Did you get yelled alot? Were you happy? I started in a small rural hospital for the first 2 years and had a great support system.
13.How demanding was your work hours at the beginning?
3-12's
14. Are you happy with your job now? If not, why?
I love it.
15. How many hospitals have you worked? Which is your favorite and why?
I have worked at 3 different hospitals and would have to say the 1st one was my favorite. It was a small hospital and you got to work in every area. I learned so much and I figured out I loved the ER.

I hope this helps.

sweetsmiles2007 · Feb 20, 2008

1. what degree did you get? eg: aa, bsn.. have you had other degrees in different fields? bsn, no other degrees

2. why did you pursue this career (demand, family request, your own interest, money, passion, etc) to travel, so i will always have a decent paying job, so i'd never be bored, and cause it will always be a challange

3. when(or how old) did you realize you wanted to become a nurse?in highschool-- didn't want to go to school for 10 years to get a job

4. where do you currently work (i dont need a specific address or something like that)? a private doctor clinic? hospitals? schools?hospital--icu

5. what is your salary?currently $24.85/hr.

6. by far what is the most challenging thing you have faced so far? slow codes, pts with clots, young people who are really unlucky, moms/babys gone wrong.

7. what do you find the most rewarding? transferring someone out of icu

8. do you have a family? if so, how often do you spend time with them? parents--dinner every couple of weeks.

9. would you say you get days off more or work more? definatly more work.

10. if you could choose a different career, would you do it? nope. i chose this career for a good reason.

11. how long have you worked in the nursing career? 10 months.

12. when you graduated and got your first nursing job, were you able to handle the situation well? was it demanding? did you get yelled alot? were you happy? i like to think that i handled that situation the best i could---no i didn't enjoy it, it was really crappy and i felt stupid and terrified and confused and wondered if i could really be a nurse every day---i still do! it was extremely demanding--took up more of my energy--physical and emotional--than nursing school ever did. i got yelled at four times, and every one of them i smiled, said thanks for the guidance then went home and cried. it is my firm belief, however, that medical/nursing people are some of the most patient people on the planet--my unit was extremely patient with me and i'm grateful to them for that. am i happy now? yes. i have a fulfilling job that i do well. i still go to work scared that i'll make mistakes, i still get emotionally involved with my patients, i still spend a rediculous amount of energy--physical and emotional--giving my patients the best care i can.

13.how demanding was your work hours at the beginning? 12 hr shifts 3/4 days a week plus 8 hrs of extra classes

14. are you happy with your job now? if not, why? yes.

15. how many hospitals have you worked? which is your favorite and why? 3 hospitals, and i like the one i'm in the best--that's why i chose it.

choose what you want--don't debate for years, choose, then give it everything you have and be happy. good luck!

Miss Mab · Feb 21, 2008

hello yall! i wanna take a survey asking every nurse out here these questions. im sorry if a similar thread like this has been made
1. what degree did you get? eg: aa, bsn.. have you had other degrees in different fields? bsn--previous ba in journalism
2. why did you pursue this career (demand, family request, your own interest, money, passion, etc) personal interest. my family used to tease and call me a hypochondriac while growing up because i was so fascinated by diseases and medicine. not sure why we didn't put that together into some sort of educational path....eh, we're slow...
3. when(or how old) did you realize you wanted to become a nurse? around the big 3-0. at the time i worked as a fa transporting troops and while i can work the heck out of an exit row briefing, i somehow knew i could contribute differently.
4. where do you currently work (i dont need a specific address or something like that)? a private doctor clinic? hospitals? schools?
hospital er /af reservist
5. what is your salary?
$69/hr. per diem
6. by far what is the most challenging thing you have faced so far?
i guess just culture shock. the vast disrepect coming from all directions. i'm all about personal reward and innate professionalism but no man is an island. also, the military commissioning process---i got to see my insides!
7. what do you find the most rewarding?
the patients--even the grumpy ones. the constant learning. damn our bodies are amazing ...
8. do you have a family? if so, how often do you spend time with them?
a fiance. plenty of 'us' time, but we haven't faced deployment issues yet and definitely won't for a while. still training
9. would you say you get days off more or work more?
more days off--usually 6-8 in a row.plenty of ot when i choose which i do sometimes for $$
10. if you could choose a different career, would you do it?
maybe if i went back to 18 and first degree. i've kinda seen what's out there now---wouldn't change fields entirely. will definitely move within i'm sure a number of times.
11. how long have you worked in the nursing career?just more than 2+
12. when you graduated and got your first nursing job, were you able to handle the situation well? was it demanding? did you get yelled alot? were you happy? i started in er. in the very beginning it wasn't great. basic newbie anxiety and then a different-preceptor-a-day experience. about a month in i got my very own preceptor who stuck with me for the next couple of months. she was great. i also hope she heard me when i told her so! it was definitely demanding, lots to learn, time critical issues but i was happily succcesful. don't remember being yelled at--except for the ff's but that's just funny.
13.how demanding was your work hours at the beginning? i do 3-12's. very early on we had class 3 days a week and then 1 12. it was a good balance. i think that was the first month.
14. are you happy with your job now? if not, why?
hospital job? eh....not really. not provided resources(staff, materials,time) to do a truly good job.tired of being down on myself for situations out of my control. i have my eye out but other commitment taking much of my time. probably would never leave er if i stay in hospital.
15. how many hospitals have you worked? which is your favorite and why?

2 and a plane...

good luck to ya!

bluesnurse · Feb 21, 2008

Hello yall! I wanna take a survey asking every nurse out here these questions. Im sorry if a similar thread like this has been made
1. What degree did you get? Eg: AA, BSN.. Have you had other degrees in different fields?
BSN. Previously had a BA in economics (pushed upon me by my parents) and AS in cardiovascular science.
2. Why did you pursue this career (demand, family request, your own interest, money, passion, etc)
My own passion. I can't remember not wanting to be in health care.
3. When(or how old) did you realize you wanted to become a nurse?
Well, I really didn't. I wanted to be a doctor. Had serious health and financial problems in my 20's, and by the time I had the health, maturity, and stability, I made the tough decision that it was too late for me to go to med school without being saddled by the debt and overwhelming sacrifice it would have required.
4. Where do you currently work (I dont need a specific address or something like that)? A private doctor clinic? Hospitals? Schools?
A specialist's office, regular business hours, no weekends and no call. Tried critical care (and enjoyed it) but could not tolerate nights for health reasons. Days weren't an option, but if an opportunity arose I'd consider it.
5. What is your salary?
$23 an hour, plus whatever income I can scare up as a freelance echo tech.
6. By far what is the most challenging thing you have faced so far?
Forgiving my family for denying my bipolar disorder and treating me as worthless and weak despite a psychiatric history on both sides.
7. What do you find the most rewarding?
Hugs. Having time to listen. Holding someone's hand. Hearing the words "thank you." The technical knowledge is just book smarts; no big deal. It's knowing that every once in a while, I get to make a positive difference.
8. Do you have a family? If so, how often do you spend time with them?
I have a bio family of origin. I see them once or twice a year. They are sad and selfish people. They would like to see me more but they reap what they've sown.
I have a wonderful, loving spouse, a chosen family of close friends, and five special four-legged companions who need no words to express their love and loyalty.
9. Would you say you get days off more or work more?
Work more. At this point, I have no choice. I'd be a more effective nurse it I had more time to recharge my batteries, but it's not financially possible right now.
10. If you could choose a different career, would you do it?
I still would rather be an MD for the autonomy and respect.
11. How long have you worked in the nursing career?
4 years as an RN.
12. When you graduated and got your first nursing job, were you able to handle the situation well? Was it demanding? Did you get yelled alot? Were you happy?
I handled it OK. It was demanding, but in a good and challenging way. I don't tolerate being yelled at. I was happy to be making a living wage and caring for people, but not happy with the limitations of my scope of practice.
13.How demanding was your work hours at the beginning?
Too much so. Nights 7p-7a. Not bad for some, but as I said, not worth the toll on my health.
14. Are you happy with your job now? If not, why?
Could be worse. Positives: I work Normal People Hours, I don't take work home with me, and my weekends and holidays are free. Negatives: not enough PTO, incompetent manager with no clinical credentials, few continuing ed opportunities, incredible amounts of wasted time on paperwork and phone calls.
15. How many hospitals have you worked? Which is your favorite and why?

Yikes -- I'm losing count -- 10??? Give or take a few. Not all in nursing, but all in direct patient care. No particular favorites. They're all profit-driven JCAHO flunkies. And even the MD's have to deal with those limitations.