5 year Accountant wants to become a nurse?

[apexsw20trd]

Hi everyone first is first i really enjoy reading all the post because alot of the post answer most of my questions about nursing. i believe i will be on this forum for along time and i will be asking lots of questions and i will first use the search function before i ask any repeated questions.:)

anyhow. i am an assistant controller of a large electrical company in hawaii. i graduated with a bachelors degree in accounting and landed my first job as an accountant. 3.5 years later i quite that job and i landed an assistant controller position with my current company where i manage 5 accounting staff, have my own big office, my own personal phone line, and i make over $50K per year. my job is hectic at times but i get to sit all day long and work in my quiet office in front of my computer all day long. i work about 8-9hours a day but about 1-2 hours is mostly talking to co-workers and such.:)

currently i am not satisfied with my job because i dont get any type of satisfaction. i am the type who would like to help people and not just sit in front of my computer 8-9 hours a day but rather walk around and be active not subjected to sitting in one place. so i thought about becoming a nurse a registered nurse.

my girlfriend and i recently took a vacation to my girls sister who is an RN in northern california. she had her BSN in hawaii and went up to california to work. i guess my girls sister is making alot of money because she drives a nice car, buy expensive things and works hard. i think she said she makes about $35per hour and she does the night shift.

so to my question.

i would liek to start working as a RN as soon as i can and for me to do this i would want to get into a community college and obtain an ADN associates degree of nursing and take the nclex-rn exam and pass it in order to start working.

if i graduate with an ADN degree and take the nclex-rn exam and pass and get my licensure as a RN. would hospitals take me in as a new graduate with no experience openly, then if i had a BSN in nursing? so do hospitals preffer new graduates with a BSN degree then an ADN degree and do hospitals discriminate on the type of degree you obtain?

do you all think its smart to leave my current job and go back to school at teh age of 28year old and not be working for awhile to get my RN education and license?

since i have managment experience as an assistant accountant supervising a staff of 5. do you think this experience will help me find a higher position as an RN , or do you really need a BSN degree to be in managment?

i found out that after 1 year of teh ADN program i will be able to take teh LPN exam and get the license, do you all think it would be wise to start work as a LPN and then take teh RN exma and tehn start working as a RN, or should i just skip the LPN and go straight for the RN license?

and also are the NCLEX-LPN and NCLEX-RN exams very hard? i know the C.P.A certified public exam is very hard and about 15-25% pass on there first try. how hard are teh LPN and RN test? i have read that about 80% people pass the RN exam on their first try.

also i have researched and found out in different place RN make different wages depending on area. as a new grad entering the work force, should $19-$22 per hour a reasonable wage to start? or is it lower?.

if your in a union how much do you pay in union fee's, and also does your union provide you with union paid pension's?

hospitals who are not in a union have regular pay increases like the union hospitals do?

and the most important question of all...i would estimate that i will be graduating in 2007-2008 with a RN license, do you all think there will be plenty of opportunity still available for me as a newly grad RN?

thank you all for your answers.

[Katnip, RN]

Hospitals generally don't discriminate against your degree. A licensed RN is a licensed RN, though sometimes you might see ads that say "BSN preferred" they'll still hire an ADN if that's who applies.

I just got my first nursing degree-a BSN-in my 40s. There are many. many out there, so at 28 you're practically a "spring chicken."

I'm not sure, but most places still want that BSN for a management position. I don't know if they make exceptions.

If you're not sure that nursing is for you, getting your LPN and see what nursing is like. You may also be able to work part-time as an LPN if your area hospitals hire them, and get a foot in the door for when you do get your RN.

Most people seem to be traumatized by the NCLEX, myself included. But the vast majority pass it.

Whether or not starting salaries are considered good or bad would depend on the cost of living in your area. Where I am, $20 is the average hourly starting wage. It's not bad for here, but in NYC or Los Angeles, it would probably be pretty bad.

I don't belong to a union. There are a few here, but most hospitals do not have them here. I've heard good and bad about them. One thing unions cannot do is create nurses who are willing to fill those staff ratio mandates. But in some areas they seem to be desperately needed.

My hospital has annual pay increases-partly based on cost of living increases, the rest is performance. I live in a competitive area, and I think my hospital does a very good job taking care if its nurses for the most part. More so than some prestiguous places around.

I would say, even with the economic downturn, you will probably have an easy time geting a job in 4-5 years from now. They are still pretty desperate in many parts of the country.

Good luck to you.

[Brownms46]

I wasn't going to say anything, but maybe it would be a good idea to shadow someone before you jump into the water so to speak. I have come across many hospitals that have shadow programs, but those not sure of taking the plunge so to speack.

I would do this before even thinking about going for your LPN, because I think you might find the green isn't much greener over here. :)

[MICU RN]

Shadow some RNs to get a real perspective of the kind of work you will be required to do.

1. You will most likely be required to do your fair share of dirty work and I mean dirty ( cleaning up poop, vomit, and urine).

2. If you are use to having plenty of autonomy look out you will not have much as a RN. although the hospitals will glad to dump as much responsibility on you as you will accept. You can literally be responsible for someones life. However, you will have very little say on how to manage their care.

3. As far as money goes you will start at around 40k, but within a a few years be maxed out in the 50k-60k range. Unless you work a job and half which most RNs do to get by.

4. Nursing can be rewarding, but it is not for everyone, trust me on that many of my friends are trying to get away from the bedside whether by going back to school or getting out all together.

5. Education level is very important in health careas far as job status, besides nursing where you have different entry points, most of the better jobs that pay more and give you more autonomy require at least a masters level degree. For example, PT, pharm D, dentist, MD. nurse practitioner, crna, and physicians assistant. A bachelor's degree is looked at almost like a high school degree( entry level). I won't even comment on how an associates degree is looked at, although that is how I started.

6. If after shadowing someone you are not sure do yourself a favor and don't put yourself through the hell we call a nursing education. You will think you are being trained to run the hospital and call all the shots until you get in the real world and see that you mostly be following orders.

[amyslater]

I have been a "helper" and a "care taker" all of my life. I have been getting paid for it for four years. If you have the heart for it, nursing can be very rewarding but you will not be getting rich. If you can pass the CPA exam, you will blast through the NCLEX. I would say go for the LPN license and see how you like it. I am single parent and an LPN and I love the job. However, the shifts that the majority of nurses work means sacrificing a LOT, and I mean a LOT of family time. This is the one thing that I did not consider when I was thinking about nursing school and it is the one thing that has caused me the most grief. Good luck and ALOHA.

[la mama 310]

Alot of people go into nursing because of the money and the job security. They

are sucky nurses who are mean and lazy. Nursing is for those individuals who are

compassionate and hard workers. And if you don't want to clean up others rear

ends, clean up poop and vomit, it that disgust you. Then go TO ANOTHER FIELD.

[la mama 310]

Anyone who wants to be a nurse should try becoming a CNA. As a nurse you will

have times when you have to do the same jobs that CNA's do. It is hard work and demands you are compassionate, ethical & patient. I feel if a person is not

willing to work as a CNA for one year, they shouldn't become an RN.

[la mama 310]

I'm applying for RN school soon and now finishing up my CNA clinicals. I heard

some folks who are going to be LVNS dissing CNA's saying it's not good work.

Becoming an LVN, RN is not about passing out pills and starting IV's only.

[elkpark]

You said that you want to get started practicing as soon as possible. Have you looked into "accelerated" BSN programs? These are for people that already have a BA/BS in something else, and are often only a year or so in length (however, they involve a lot of learning crammed into a little time, and are v. demanding academically.) That might be quicker for you than an AD program.

However, I agree with the others who encourage you to get more information and/or experience in healthcare in general before you "take the plunge." Nursing is certainly not for everyone.

Best wishes for your journey! :)

[redranger]

This thread is 6 years old

He has probably became a Beach Bum in Hawaii and rents Boogy Board and Jet Skis and sips Mai Tais all day on the beach

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

This poster has been active on allnurses and looks like he just got into nursing school. Apparently getting in wasn't a piece of cake. I have to admire the determination to push forward.