When can you get out in the real world?

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I'm just trying to figure out when a nursing student can begin working as a nurse w/ nurse's pay. I'm sure this is different in different areas, but it'd still be nice to have a general idea.

I do my preceptorship in the fall (grad in Nov...yay!!!:yeah: )

So you think maybe I could work as a nurse at the same time of doing my preceptorship? The reason I'm really concerned about this is due to my housing situation. I've lived on campus all through nursing school and now that graduation is coming up, I need to find a place to live! The problem is that I have not had the chance to save any money up for when that time comes b/c of the chaos that goes along w/ nursing school... as I'm SURE most of you can relate.

And what about after you graduate, but before you take the NCLEX? Anyone know if you can get nurse pay and all that during that time?

Thanks for any input

Amy

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hi Amy. I think it's different everywhere. Here the new grads have to work as techs until they get their "sit pass", meaning they've applied to take NCLEX and are elligible. Then we precept them as nurses at a GN salary. When they pass NCLEX then they get RN salary and can work as a nurse.

I'd venture to say, no you can not work as a nurse while you're precepting but you certainly can get a job as a nursing assistant or tech.

Nurses pay is reserved for nurses, and nurses are people who have a license. Sorry.

Techs and CNAs make a livable wage that will help you out in the meantime. Good luck too!

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Here in NY, you can work as a GN on a permit once you're actually a graduate of an accredited nursing program, but not before. You can always work as a tech, of course, but absolutely not as a nurse until you actually ARE one. In my region, the pay for a GN is the same as an entry-level nurse (that is, passed NCLEX but no RN work experience). So your pay doesn't increase with the license, BUT your ability to keep your job does :) Pay gets increased with merit and time served .

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One other thought: what are your state's requirements for an LPN or LVN license? You might be able to get that now, so you can work as in that scope of practice while you're awaiting an RN?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

Do the hospitals in your area not have extern jobs?

I just took a job as one after finishing my first clinical and I'll be making 12.25 per hr and weekend nights is 16.75.

When we are in our final semester after we take advanced adult health, we bump up to $15.00 and hour with 19.50 weekend nights plus we have an RN job in place after graduation. We get RN pay after we graduate and start .50 an hour higher than a nurse that does not participate in this program.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

I start a job in next Friday as a Senior Nursing Student (aka, PCT), $16.XX for nights/weekends PRN wage. It's basically a tech only with some extra duties that are reserved for nursing students in their final semester of school....so I guess it could be could be considered like an extern position. I don't know all the details because I haven't started yet.....Anyway.....that might be an idea.

Where I live about a month to 2 months before graduation you apply for a GN permit which is actually done through the school and all our stuff is sent in at one time. Once you graduate and have your diploma in hand, you can work as a GN while you wait to test for your NCLEX but you MUST graduate and be able to sit for boards, meaning all your ducks are in a row and you can actually, per the SBN, test at some point and time. Kicker is, you have 90 days from the day you graduate to pass your NCLEX or you get to become a tech again until you pass your NCLEX. While as a GN you get paid a much higher wage than a tech. After you pass your NCLEX and you become an RN, you generally get $1.00 or so more an hour (one place pays $2.50) for your RN wage, which around here is about $18.XX an hour for base rate, plus all your shift diffs. you get.

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Ok, here it goes...

What's a GN??

Boy do I feel stupid:confused:

Oh wait, gotta remember... No such thing as a dumb question ;)

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Specializes in Surgical/Telemetry.

A GN is a graduate nurse who has not yet taken/passed the NCLEX. I had no idea what it meant either until I started reading these boards. I found out that this temporary permit does not exist in Oregon, as we can take the NCLEX the day after graduation if wanted. Not sure how it is in other areas, but I know that it differs btwn BON's.

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Specializes in NICU/L&D, Hospice.

I just took a job as one after finishing my first clinical

Congrats!!!!!!!!! I'm waiting until finals are done, then I have a possible NAP (nurse apprentice) position in Peds. Pay is about the same as yours.

I'm so happy for you getting that job!

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Specializes in Telemetry.
Ok, here it goes...

What's a GN??

Boy do I feel stupid:confused:

Oh wait, gotta remember... No such thing as a dumb question ;)

On that note.....what does "dh" mean, see it here all the time....no clue... know it has something to do with husband maybe????

thanks

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Specializes in NICU/L&D, Hospice.
On that note.....what does "dh" mean, see it here all the time....no clue... know it has something to do with husband maybe????

thanks

dh= dear husband

dw="" wife

ds= "" son

dd="" daughter

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
Congrats!!!!!!!!! I'm waiting until finals are done, then I have a possible NAP (nurse apprentice) position in Peds. Pay is about the same as yours.

I'm so happy for you getting that job!

Oh, thanks.

I'm happy for you too.

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