What is exactly considered to be one year experience?

[KareBear0609]

I am still completing my pre-reqs at my local CC and plan to transfer to a university to obtain my BSN. I hear a lot of people talking about needing to have one year experience to even be considered for an RN position. What counts as one year experience?

I am asking because I just completed my CNA course and am now working as a CNA. My local CC offers a PCT course that I will begin in January and finish in May (EKG, Blood draws, etc). By the time I finish with the PCT course, I will have been working as a CNA for almost one year. I am hoping to get in to a hospital with the experience of working as a CNA and having the PCT course under my belt. I then want to work as a PCT for the remainder of my time in school. (I know things don't always go as planned but that is my goal and I am working hard towards it) So........ would that count as having experience? Or is it STRICTLY experience as an RN?? Like basically starting out at a LTC???

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Employers are usually looking for experience as an RN. Depends on the employer, of course ... a lot of job advertisements specify a year of experience as an "acute care" nurse. However, working as a CNA and/or PCT will give you opportunities to network and hopefully get hired as an RN. And things might be better by the time you graduate, too! Good luck. :)