along the lines of the what do you do topic. Who here really enjoys their job?

Colonel Mustard wrote: I'm sorry your attempt to turn up your nose at Ellenor turned out so badly. I said nothing about selective hospitals or the myriad of occupations within the field that would require more rigorous education, etc., from my perspective you just keep modifying the discussion so you can pull this one out. I guess till we meet I'll remain the online nobody you would like to group me ;). Now, don't reply with anything too crazy, those selective hospitals might do a search for your big name!

I'm not trying to "turn my nose" up at anyone. I was genuinely curious. Good point about the name thing too... hopefully I haven't said anything too inflammatory! (Maybe that's why ellanor changes her name so often... :) ).

I appreciate hearing from you guys (and gal) working in the field and am honestly interested in where you work. Clearly your locations have a shortage of RNs if you're saying that an ASN=BSN. I wish I could say the same for some of the hospitals I've looked at in places I want to live.

And definitely not trying to knock anyone who has an ASN. I wish I could go that route for financial and time reasons, but based on research and what staff & faculty have told me, a BSN is the best option for someone looking to make themselves as desirable as possible.

Sorry for the mega thread drift! Interesting note: just listened to a story on NPR about how despite the already high and increasing demand for nurses, many nursing programs are unable to staff adequately qualified instructors!

Nick Stayner wrote:I wish I could say the same for some of the hospitals I've looked at in places I want to live. And definitely not trying to knock anyone who has an ASN. I wish I could go that route for financial and time reasons, but based on research and what staff & faculty have told me, a BSN is the best option for someone looking to make themselves as desirable as possible.

Here in Reno the ASN program is as respected amongst the profession as the BSN program. Perhaps moreso.

I would not fault anybody going for the BSN. I only went for the ASN program because it bit first. Today with how competetive programs are from the BSN to ASN, you take whatever comes first.

Some hospitals are more difficult to get into, and some states are known for not hiring new grads at all, it just depends....

No hurt feelings here, man, I'm sure you'll eventually score the gig you are looking for ;).

Mustard speaks da truth! Indeedy he does!

BigJuggsjohnson wrote:Mustard speaks da truth! Indeedy he does!

Agreed! Nick, you would be wise to open your mind and listen a little bit instead of being such a know it all. Just a suggestion, you dont have to take it of course.

New grad RNs pull out a map of climbing states and start calling their hospitals for a new grad programs 6 months before u graduate. Be persistent, work in health field, does not matter er or a nursing home. Keep mind open to do areas like psych or hospice. Best of luck! Get your first year on the floor u r home free!

Get the asn, find any job, hopefully in critical care, while gaining experience take online/night bridge to bsn, work more, go for crna.. Simple...

Regarding the original topic.... I was just thinking last night that if I won the lottery (not likely since I don't play) I'd probably still do what I do now, so I guess I like my job. I might not do as much of it, though...

The thing is when u start making money as an RN you as a climber will reevaluate the need for more degrees according to your goals. First year- floor, next 4 years -stretch your legs in different fields find what u like. If u burn out in floor nursing by then and decide to go into management go for more degrees. There are so many things u can do just with Associates!

I'm hunting for programs/doing pre reqs and from what I'm gathering from all the nurses I've talked to is that associates vs. BSN doesn't really matter. Since I've got a bachelor's degree already, it's certainly in my interest to get into an accelerated BSN program but the number of programs are few and competition is stiff. My pre-req grades are solid but even with those there isn't any sort of guarantee I can get into a program. Whereas there are like 200 associates programs in the state of California. Yes, getting into them is also difficult and entry is based usually upon a lottery and not merit.

Some nurses I've talked to support associates degrees because that curriculum has more emphasis on clinical work and less classroom when compared to an accelerated BSN degree.
I've only heard of one hospital that prefers to hire BSNs and I wouldn't want to work there, so the BSN vs. associates degree is kind of moot for me at this point in time. It's going to come down to finishing pre-reqs and seeing what works with what I've currently got going on at the hospital I'm working at.

Mark Mueller wrote:Get the asn, find any job, hopefully in critical care, while gaining experience take online/night bridge to bsn, work more, go for crna.. Simple...

^^^what this guy said...

This is my point of view and from my experience regarding the ADN vs BSN arguement that has been going on. Keep in mine I've only been an RN for 4.5 years now...

First off, I graduated initially with my ADN from a community college, which I loved. I paid approx. 2K for my 2 year degree and made almost the same as my fellow BSN co-workers that owe 70K in school loads (AHH!!) There were arguements saying that hospitals would rather higher BSN vs ADN, which I don't believe is the truth. Hospitals are hiring via your experience vs degree. I got hired into the ICU department right after I graduated with my ADN, which I know I beat other BSN graduates. Could be because of how well my interview went and/or my clinical experience as a student. The ADN program I graduated with was putting out "better" nurses VS all other programs in the area including the BSN programs at all the Cal-States and local private programs like lomda linda medical center (which is a very highly respected medical school and dental school). When I say better, my school was graduating students with a higher NCLEX passing rate (95% 1st time takers) at that time vs the 85-92% other programs were doing. We also focused more on clinical skills and experience vs doing paper work. That loma linda medical center was actually hiring more new grads from my program vs their own students because we were more readily skilled vs their students. So everone here that is saying to do a BSN program vs a ADN program because hospitals would hire you more is most likely wrong. Volunteer at hospitals, do part time jobs where you want to work, or see if your programs have contracts with hospitals to do nursing student work. Get your foot in the door and I gaurantee even an ADN grad with hospital exprience can get hired over a BSN grad.

BTW I did what mark said above. Got to working in a critical care setting, went back to school part time and not have my BSN (and this is without coughing up large amonts of school loans)

BigJuggsjohnson wrote:The thing is when u start making money as an RN you as a climber will reevaluate the need for more degrees according to your goals. First year- floor, next 4 years -stretch your legs in different fields find what u like. If u burn out in floor nursing by then and decide to go into management go for more degrees. There are so many things u can do just with Associates!

You're so right Big. My sister just finished her MSN program and now working full time as NP for USC medical center working that mon-fri job and on all on certain weekends. the biggest perk I think about working the floor is the 12 hr shifts and only working a few days of the week. Gives us A LOT more climbing time. A lot of my co-workers went back for their masters too as a nurse anesthetist, which I really thought about. After re-evaluating my life style as a climber, I don't really need to make that much money and give my time going back to school and eventually getting a stinky mon-fri job with on call weekends. I can't ever see my self being a weekend warrior

Amen RN amen! Time is of a great value to a climber. We don't need much just gas money food and gear and puff off we go on the road. It does rock! :)

BSME, MS Matl Science. Product/Process Dev. in the electronics industry. Doing it for over 10 years. Like the tech. challenge. Kind of tired of the high tech roller coaster with regards to the economy and all the factories moving to Asia.

love my job. love what i do and the people i work with.

Really cool to hear from all of the RNs on here. Definitely shedding a new light on all the things I've learned and been told about ASN vs. BSN etc...
Thanks!

I love my job. Currently working as a paramedic, but am currently doing my schooling to become a RN. Nothing beats a RN for a climber. The money, hours, and abundance of jobs are da bomb.

Medic741 wrote:Ems!! Best job ever. Flexible=lots of climbing paramedic student in the spare time. Ems is a great field with lots of ability to move around and a very flexible schedule. Highly recommended plus when you get pulled over it's a help ;)

LOL but there's no money, it's damn near impossible to move around and the schedule can suck (ever worked a modified kelly?)

I've been in EMS for almost 9 years. I dealt with a hell of a lot of bullshit to transfer from IL to CO. Fire service is the only place that treats you well enough to live. Getting back into the fire service now and doing an online paramedic to RN bridge. My wife also has her MSN and is an ER nurse, great job.

Love my (winter) job as a ski instructor at Beaver Creek!

Work for a small software/consulting company doing portfolio risk management for the power industry. Intellectually interesting work, good pay... need more time off. Maybe someday I will get into trading.

Hated my last job most of the time.

Just started a new job 4 days ago. It hasn't started off well.