hey ladies im also on the bride pw board but just joined and wanted to say hi.

Does nursing differ in the state - how long did you all have to school for?

I qualifued last year and struggling to get permentant post im temp at the moment - is the job siutation the same over the water

L x

Hi!!

To be an entry-level Registered Nurse in the US the school is typically 2 years, some programs it is 3. The trend nowadays is programs where you enter with no degree and end up not only with your RN but also your Bachelors degree in nursing - so those programs are longer, usually 4 years.

I already had my RN when I went back for my BSN so it only took me a year, then another year for my MSN (I am a nurse practitioner here). But I had previous college - it takes some people longer for all that.

There are also still Practical nurses here (aka LPNs) and the school for that is a year long but they are pretty limited in where they can work and what they can do (can't start IVs in most places or give meds). In my state (NJ) we really only hire LPNs in nursing homes and not in hospitals anymore.

Yeah the job situation here is crappy right now....I know of new graduate RNs who finished school a year ago and still cannot find a job - my hospital is hiring (more than others in the area) but the positions being offered are mostly PT anymore.

Ditto Jessie.  Some areas here are hurting for nurses like Arizona and New Mexico but in many places new grads are having a hard time.  Wishing you luck!