I graduated this fall with a Bachelors in Interdisciplinary health services with a minor in Health informatics management. I am currently applying to nursing school, so far I just need to take a test and then I will be put on the waiting list for 2 years (maybe less hopefully). I have two years to pay off my loans and relax until school starts and I am not sure what I want to do.
It makes perfect sense to start working with my Bachelors as a clinical specialist or a coordinator of some sort, but at the same time I would like the clinical patient experience for nursing school. Plus it would look good on my resume that I worked in patient care in the future when I actually start applying for nursing jobs (assuming I graduate).
I currently work as a nurse tech at a rehabilitation hospital. Help? What should I do
Okay thank you :). I have a question though, are these people Nurses who get jobs with zero experience and what positions do they work?
I did an internship with at a department and the supervisor told me that if a New Nurse has zero experience with patient care, then they don't even consider them for the job. This really scares me.
That freaked me out, too. About a quarter of the nurses in my ABSN cohort worked as PCTs. We all got nursing jobs in hospitals. However, my peers who had PCT jobs and applied for jobs on those units were hired way faster, and consequently had to send out fewer applications. We all got jobs, but I'd argue that several people without PCT in the units they applied to had to work longer and harder to do so (myself included). The experience itself isn't that essential, but I think that the connections you make with potential employers can give you a huge advantage. If you want to work as a nurse at that specific rehab hospital, it's a good idea to stay on even if it's just PRN. It's also probably a wise idea if you're tied to one location (i.e. you have a family or boyfriend), and you don't have the ability to cast a wider net and move. In that case, you may appreciate having the security of an assured nursing job (assuming you make a good impression on your boss, lol).
I agree with PPs, best of both worlds is to work at your dream job and pick up PRN shifts at your tech job.
I only owe 20k, and the amount I make as a nurse tech is roughly 28k a year. Yes it would pay off my loans, especially since I'm going to live with my parents until I graduate from nursing school. I'm only 22 so its not a big deal to them as long as I am in school or working.
Just stating this in case I decide to stay as a nurse tech. I really appreciate the advice a lot.
I have no idea what this has to do with experience or whether I should work with my bachelors or get experience as a PCA.
But since you care so much, my employer and I have already started contributing to my retirement since I started working at this job last year.
It doesn't necessarily. Well, I mean, it COULD be a factor on how you choose a job but it doesn't have to be for everybody. Many people don't focus on retirement savings until later on in life. I don't actually "care" particularly what you do with your retirement, but I was curious if it was part of your plan. Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers.
It doesn't necessarily. Well, I mean, it COULD be a factor on how you choose a job but it doesn't have to be for everybody. Many people don't focus on retirement savings until later on in life. I don't actually "care" particularly what you do with your retirement, but I was curious if it was part of your plan. Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers.
Sorry, I am just very stressed on what I want to do. There's cons and pros to both and Im slightly desperate and looking for guidance.
My vote is to get work with your new degree, since you aren't sure how long it will take to get into nursing school. It's nice to build on what you actually have, experience wise. Maybe you will find a niche you love and never become a nurse? In my area they are always hiring nurse techs. Once you get into nursing school, if that happens, you could do that again, maybe prn so you can meet people in the place you would like to be hired.
I definitely agree with the majority of the previous posters who say that you should use your BS to get the higher paying job. The patient care experience that you would miss might be helpful, but it is not crucial ... and will probably not help you enough in the long run to be worth the financial sacrifice you would be making by not using your BS. Also, using your degree would set up additional options for your long term future that you might want later.
Having that other degree and the experience you can get with it will be what makes you unique. If you don't pursue that path, you will be "just another nursing assistant" and as another poster has said, that's not as powerful a position to be in for the long run.
As you can see from my title I am a CNA. Use your degree! I love my job currently, its pretty great. That being said a lot of CNA jobs are very hard on your body and the pay is very low. Make some money with your degree. Enjoy the benefits of the hard work you already put in.
adventure_rn, MSN, NP
1,598 Posts
That freaked me out, too. About a quarter of the nurses in my ABSN cohort worked as PCTs. We all got nursing jobs in hospitals. However, my peers who had PCT jobs and applied for jobs on those units were hired way faster, and consequently had to send out fewer applications. We all got jobs, but I'd argue that several people without PCT in the units they applied to had to work longer and harder to do so (myself included). The experience itself isn't that essential, but I think that the connections you make with potential employers can give you a huge advantage. If you want to work as a nurse at that specific rehab hospital, it's a good idea to stay on even if it's just PRN. It's also probably a wise idea if you're tied to one location (i.e. you have a family or boyfriend), and you don't have the ability to cast a wider net and move. In that case, you may appreciate having the security of an assured nursing job (assuming you make a good impression on your boss, lol).
I agree with PPs, best of both worlds is to work at your dream job and pick up PRN shifts at your tech job.