By Mark Mueller
From Flagstaff, AZ
Aug 3, 2012
| 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... | 
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By Peter Stokes
From Them Thar Hills
Aug 3, 2012
| 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... |
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By BigJuggsjohnson
Aug 3, 2012
| 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! |
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By bergbryce
From South Lake Tahoe, CA
Aug 3, 2012
| 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. |
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By RNclimber
From Riverside, Ca
Aug 4, 2012
| 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) |
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By RNclimber
From Riverside, Ca
Aug 4, 2012
| 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 |
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By BigJuggsjohnson
Aug 4, 2012
| 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! :) |
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By Bill Matlin
Aug 4, 2012
| 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. |
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By drpw
Aug 4, 2012
| love my job. love what i do and the people i work with. |
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By Nick Stayner
From The Magic City
Aug 6, 2012
| 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! |
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By Rob Fielding
From Las Vegas, NV
Aug 6, 2012
| 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. |
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By NickinCO
From Westminster, CO
Aug 6, 2012
| 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. |
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By sibylle
From Currently in California
Aug 6, 2012
| Love my (winter) job as a ski instructor at Beaver Creek! |
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By Scotty Nelson
From Boulder
Aug 6, 2012
| 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. |
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By Bill Czajkowski
From Albuquerque, NM
Aug 6, 2012
| Hated my last job most of the time.
Just started a new job 4 days ago. It hasn't started off well. |
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By Nick Jackson
Aug 6, 2012
| Colonel Mustard wrote: 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 ;).
How are nursing wages/cost of living/living in general in Reno? I'm considering making a move there in a couple years if I can get hired into a good ICU. I want to be closer than a 16 hour drive to the Sierra...and Reno seems to be the best option in regards to proximity to rad climbing, skiing, biking and a good nursing job. |
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By Justin Brunson
From Broomfield CO
Aug 6, 2012
| I love my job but I don't really care for the Front Range. I'd love to move back to Idaho. Everything's a tradeoff i guess.
What is your specialty within audio? |
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By Christopher M.
From Campton, NH
Aug 6, 2012
| I love it. I ski patrol in the winter and during the summer I work as an arborist. I love ski patrol more though. |
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By Morgan Diefenbach
From Forest Falls, CA
Aug 6, 2012
| Wildland firefighter here. Two words: winters off! :) |
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By Olaf Mitchell
From Paia, Maui, Hi,
Aug 7, 2012
| Professional wind surfing instructor on Maui. It's, well,It's OK I guess?
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By Matthew J. Murphy
Aug 7, 2012
| I really really enjoy my job. I get excited just thinking about leaving for work. If the commute involves traffic, even the worst, I'm still drumming my hands on my steering wheel and singing at the top of my lungs. I love walking through the door. I love the work I get to do. I love the potential the day or night holds. I love being dead tired, physically and mentally. I love the guys I get to work with. I love the fact that I don't have to work a job. I am a New York City fireman. One of the luckiest guys on earth. |
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By Mike McKinnon
From Golden, CO
Aug 7, 2012
| I love my job. We just got voted Best Company to Work for in the USA by Outside Magazine. You cah check it out here
Been working here for 8 years and they would have to kick me out the door. |
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By Mike McKinnon
From Golden, CO
Aug 7, 2012
| I love my job. We just got voted Best Company to Work for in the USA by Outside Magazine. You cah check it out here
Been working here for 8 years and they would have to kick me out the door. |
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By cmagee1
Aug 7, 2012
| I work as a sales associate at Columbia sportswear. I get great deals on mountain hardwear, columbia, sorel, and montrail and get to talk to people about outdoors gear all day. I dig it. |
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By Princess Mia
From Vail
Aug 8, 2012
| I love my jobs, and I have for years. Lots of flexibility, time off and fun. |
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