Was working but now SAHM

ldawn79 · May 11, 2014

I think there are people who are not working for the entire program, mostly because they were new ADN grads and couldn't get a job anywhere. There are classes that require you to be working. The Co-op electives require a manager to sign off on your hours (but there are other electives you can take). I think you have to be working for Capstone.

MBrickle · May 12, 2014

I think management requires you to be working, but you could get away with shadowing a manager.

designer-mommy, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2014

So, you don't have to be working as an RN to get accepted to the AP RN-BSN program? I'm an ADN and can't get a job anywhere. Everyone asks if you have a BSN or are enrolled in a BSN program, so I think that being enrolled in a program might help me finally land a job. I really, really wanted to do the WGU program, but again, not working as a nurse. Blah.

Congrats on starting your BSN program, OP!

momofsix · Jul 11, 2014

I finished the program without working even one day while enrolled. I did have to find someone to shadow for the Leadership course and some of the assignments/discussion board posts were a little difficult, but it is definitely doable.

MikeH2013 · Jul 18, 2014

As an ADN nurse, you take work where you can find it. There are jobs available, but they may not be the "dream" job you were hoping for when you enrolled in nursing school.

Places that are actively seeking employees:

DSHS - public mental health inpatient hospitals, ex: Terrell State Hospital (there are openings available right now), Rusk State Hospital, North Texas State Hospital (aka Vernon), Big Springs State Hospital. Not the best pay, but it's a great place for nurses who want flexibility, day shifts, good benefits, and the ability to work and go to school.

Timberlawn (private psychiatric facility. Good pay, scary job)

Green Oaks (private psychiatric facility. Good pay, scarier job)

Home health agencies (some are willing to train new grads)

Doctor's Hospital system (both White Rock and Rowlett for night shift med-surg nurses)

Correctional facilities

Veterans (wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole)

Kindred

Parkland

UT Southwestern

With the exception of the state hospitals, you're almost surely going to be looking at night shift and weekends, but a source of income is better than none. Some of the nursing agencies are looking for seasonal employees to do flu shots, so you might want to take a peek at one of those as we approach flu season.

What will keep you from getting a job? Sloppy resume, poor interview skills, not presenting yourself as "THE" person for the position, not shaking the bushes hard enough. It took me three very determined months to find a nursing job after school ended, but I was persistent and my wife put together a killer resume for me. In fact, several of the employers told me the reason they wanted to interview me was because of the resume. I turned down the med-surg positions because I had a specific vision of where I wanted to be, and that meant I needed a flexible job that would work while I pursued more education.

I love where I work, but psychiatric nursing is not for every nurse. There are hazards specific to working in a mental health hospital, not the least of which is getting clubbed over the head by a psychotic patient. On the plus side, the benefits package is pretty sweet, they will hire brand new grads, and you won't find another system with the sheer number of holiday shifts/comp time that you can get.