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Naija
Student
Memphis, Tennessee
1
Question
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What is your life like as a nurse? How many hours do you work? What is your salary like? How can i become a successful registered nurse? What college do you recommend i go to?
I am in the 11th grade and i want to become a registered nurse. I wanted to get some tips on becoming a registered nurse. How can i succeed in this field? What i need to do?
#hospital #registered nurse
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Summer Hardy
Library Assitant
11
Answers
Boulder, Colorado
Updated
Summer’s Answer
I'm not a registered nurse, but my mom is. She works as a registered nurse in primary care, so the majority of her time is spent talking on the phone with patients or seeing patients in person when they come into the office. She generally works 8-5 every weekday except she has one day off each week because she requested that. I'm not sure how hours work in other companies, but at her company you're allowed to have at the most one day off each week. Her salary is above the median salary in the United States, but is definitely below 6 figures.
She became successful by going to nursing school after college. She actually majored in English, but she took all the pre-nursing courses that are required for nursing school. She simply went to her state school, which was a large public university. I know there are pre-nursing programs at some schools like the University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor but I don't think you need to necessarily go to a school like that.
She became successful by going to nursing school after college. She actually majored in English, but she took all the pre-nursing courses that are required for nursing school. She simply went to her state school, which was a large public university. I know there are pre-nursing programs at some schools like the University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor but I don't think you need to necessarily go to a school like that.
Miranda Marquette
Registered Nurse
2
Answers
The Colony, Texas
Updated
Miranda’s Answer
What is your life like as a nurse? How many hours do you work? What is your salary like? How can i become a successful registered nurse? What college do you recommend i go to?
Hi there, Naija! I am a registered nurse in a level 1 trauma ICU at a larger hospital near Dallas, Texas. I've been a nurse for 4 and a half years and I love it. I received my ADN (associates degree in nursing) from a Dallas community college called Brookhaven college. It took about 16 months to 2 years of studying. A lot of community colleges have certified ADN programs. You can also apply and go to a four year university and receive your BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) that way. After I got my ADN, I passed my NCLEX. The NCLEX is the big board certification test you have to pass to officially be licensed as a registered nurse and begin practicing in whatever field you choose. You can work in schools, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, companies, etc. The possibilities are endless. Many new nurses will choose to work in hospitals if possible because it gives you a lot of experience, but you can choose whatever field you like. I loved the ER and the ICU during my nursing school rotations, so that is what I applied for when I graduated. I started in a Neuro ICU for 3 and a half years and now I'm in a Trauma ICU.
I work 38-40 hours a week, but we all do 12 hour shifts in the hospitals. They're long, but it's nice to work three really long days, and then have time to do other things you enjoy on your days off. You can work more if you like. You can also work a side job in another field or company. You can work part time at one place and PRN (which just means as needed) at another place. Nursing gives you so so much flexibility. I am currently working full time and am pursuing a graduate degree to become an Adult-Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. You can also continue your education to become a Nurse Educator at a school, manager, case manager, etc.
Salary wise it will all depend on if you have your ADN or your BSN, what area you work in, which hospital or healthcare system you work for, what state you live in, etc. I personally make around $60,000 before taxes. It pays well and if you gain more experience, and go to different places you can ask for raises like any other job.
As far as schools go, you just have to look in your area. If you're looking for the cheapest alternative, an ADN through a community college will have you becoming an RN in half the time of a university. However, many big hospitals are starting to want their RNs to have bachelor's degrees. The plus side is many universities have programs that allow people with their ADN to get a BSN pretty quickly and many hospitals will pay for their employees to get it, so it ends up being very affordable!
If you have any other questions post them here and I will get back to you ASAP. Best of luck. Nursing is a wonderfully flexible, intelligent, interesting, and caring field. I've been working during this pandemic and I truly have never felt more proud.
Hi there, Naija! I am a registered nurse in a level 1 trauma ICU at a larger hospital near Dallas, Texas. I've been a nurse for 4 and a half years and I love it. I received my ADN (associates degree in nursing) from a Dallas community college called Brookhaven college. It took about 16 months to 2 years of studying. A lot of community colleges have certified ADN programs. You can also apply and go to a four year university and receive your BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) that way. After I got my ADN, I passed my NCLEX. The NCLEX is the big board certification test you have to pass to officially be licensed as a registered nurse and begin practicing in whatever field you choose. You can work in schools, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, companies, etc. The possibilities are endless. Many new nurses will choose to work in hospitals if possible because it gives you a lot of experience, but you can choose whatever field you like. I loved the ER and the ICU during my nursing school rotations, so that is what I applied for when I graduated. I started in a Neuro ICU for 3 and a half years and now I'm in a Trauma ICU.
I work 38-40 hours a week, but we all do 12 hour shifts in the hospitals. They're long, but it's nice to work three really long days, and then have time to do other things you enjoy on your days off. You can work more if you like. You can also work a side job in another field or company. You can work part time at one place and PRN (which just means as needed) at another place. Nursing gives you so so much flexibility. I am currently working full time and am pursuing a graduate degree to become an Adult-Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. You can also continue your education to become a Nurse Educator at a school, manager, case manager, etc.
Salary wise it will all depend on if you have your ADN or your BSN, what area you work in, which hospital or healthcare system you work for, what state you live in, etc. I personally make around $60,000 before taxes. It pays well and if you gain more experience, and go to different places you can ask for raises like any other job.
As far as schools go, you just have to look in your area. If you're looking for the cheapest alternative, an ADN through a community college will have you becoming an RN in half the time of a university. However, many big hospitals are starting to want their RNs to have bachelor's degrees. The plus side is many universities have programs that allow people with their ADN to get a BSN pretty quickly and many hospitals will pay for their employees to get it, so it ends up being very affordable!
If you have any other questions post them here and I will get back to you ASAP. Best of luck. Nursing is a wonderfully flexible, intelligent, interesting, and caring field. I've been working during this pandemic and I truly have never felt more proud.