Why become a Hospital PCT/PCA/CNA while in NS?

Themostsupreme · Jun 21, 2015

ive already contacted a few NP schools that do not require any experience. I plan to gain experience while attending np school. I know a friend that did that and shes making big bucks as an np and is very successful running a clinic. ill actually end up working with her and she said she'll mentor me and teach me anything np school doesnt teach me. she also has a supervising physician who i can also learn from...

SnowShoeRN · Jun 21, 2015

Thank You for the nice post....Now did you work as an RN while in NP school? or did u 1st quit the RN position and then enroll in NP school? If i go the NP route my plan would be to start a program part-time after the bsn while gaining experience as an RN working full-time.

I had applied and been accepted to grad school while still working as a RN, but left - amicably - just prior to starting because I wouldn't have been to work nights (my contracted position) and still attend class. During the summer, while in school, I worked as a camp nurse and also as a graduate assistant at my school. I do encourage new nurses who hope to become NP's to work as a RN for at least 2 or 3 years before going to grad school. I know many classmates and colleagues who either went directly to get MSN's from having BA's or BS's in other fields or were only a nurse for a 1 or less before going to grad school and it's been quite difficult for them to get employment as NP's with so little nursing experience. I had been a nurse for 5 years before applying to grad school. Think very carefully about that decision too. I know many people who - once they attended nursing school and worked as a nurse for a while - wanted nothing to do with becoming a NP. It's a very different role and your opinions and interests may very well change as you get closer to the end of your program and start your first RN job. Also, while it's great NP's can make a good living, please don't go into it with the goal of earning a lot of money. NP's still get vomited, peed, pooped, and bled on. But they also have to contend with not only having more medical responsibility and accountability, but also myriad paperwork, insurance issues, billing issues, and liability concerns. All this is discussed about and examined in length during MSN cirriculums.

Themostsupreme · Jun 22, 2015

QUOTE=SnowShoeRN;8558809]I had applied and been accepted to grad school while still working as a RN, but left - amicably - just prior to starting because I wouldn't have been to work nights (my contracted position) and still attend class. During the summer, while in school, I worked as a camp nurse and also as a graduate assistant at my school. I do encourage new nurses who hope to become NP's to work as a RN for at least 2 or 3 years before going to grad school. I know many classmates and colleagues who either went directly to get MSN's from having BA's or BS's in other fields or were only a nurse for a 1 or less before going to grad school and it's been quite difficult for them to get employment as NP's with so little nursing experience. I had been a nurse for 5 years before applying to grad school. Think very carefully about that decision too. I know many people who - once they attended nursing school and worked as a nurse for a while - wanted nothing to do with becoming a NP. It's a very different role and your opinions and interests may very well change as you get closer to the end of your program and start your first RN job. Also, while it's great NP's can make a good living, please don't go into it with the goal of earning a lot of money. NP's still get vomited, peed, pooped, and bled on. But they also have to contend with not only having more medical responsibility and accountability, but also myriad paperwork, insurance issues, billing issues, and liability concerns. All this is discussed about and examined in length during MSN cirriculums.

I see....well my plan is to work fulltime and attend classes part time.I'm going to do a MSN as oppossed to a DNP, that way i finish quicker. Ill try to find a 3-12's/wk type of job tht way i have 4 days off per week. I know i'd much prefer to be an NP. The quality of work is much better. The np's of shadowed pretty much perform the same role as the doctor. And I will obtain about 2-3 yrs of experience as an RN by the time i sit for the board exam.