trying to get into nursing school

But at this hospital here where I live, they offer tuition programs where you can work there for 3 months and they will help pay for your schooling, at least this is what I gathered...I emailed them this is the reply I got from the lady there

I am unsure of what PRN is...anyone know??


Dear Kathy,
No, it does not matter what department you are in or what
your job title is
for you to be eligible for tuition reimbursement. What
does matter is your
status, i.e., only full and part time employees are
eligible. Employees
working "PRN" are not eligible because they are not
committed to regular
hours of work.Hope that helps and good luck to you.
Mary Parks

Give Mary Parks a call and find out. I have no idea what it means, but now Ihave to know or it will bug me for days! LOL

This is a mystery to me. I can't figure out what PRM stands for. However, it appears to mean "on call" or hours only as needed. So a PRN status worker has no scheduled hours, and only works when needed. And has no benefits.

So what she is saying is, if you work there full time or part time, in any job capacity, you are eligible for tuition reimbursement. But if you are working PRN (no regularly scheduled hours) then you are not eligible.

They appear to offer PRN employement status to people like Occupational Therapists. and the like.

Thanks for explaining that.it makes sense now..I did email her back a letter asking about what it meant and that I am looking for work there....thanks again...

I'm not sure what it stands for, but they are like temp workers, contracted out by a company that aren't directly working for the hospital. I think they are also called "travel nurses" because they go from hospital to hospital, staying at one for a certain designated amount of time.. They are not real employees of the hospital they work at.. (i think it applies to other people, not just nurses who are contracted out but I'm not sure??) They go thru an agency who finds them places to work.. I am pretty sure that's what PRN means.. maybe someone else knows for sure?

check out their hospital
http://wregional.com

Kathy- PRN means as needed. When RN's dispense medication even under a doctor's order they do it on a PRN basis, if it is needed, the patient gets it. PRN is a common medical term

Ok...I am just trying to get my facts straight here...I really appreciate the replies....wish me luck trying to get a job here..

Ok, she replied back to me and here is what she wrote to me....

You're welcome. "PRN" loosely translated means use as
needed. All that
means is that we call that staff person when we have a need
and if they are
able to work, they do. There is no set schedule, nor
obligation from either
the staff member or the hospital.

You'll need to select a position for which to apply that
you feel fairly
sure you will be able to perform. If you have data entry
skills, then data
entry is a good choice. If you would like to ease back
into a working
environment and use some of the skills you've been using at
home, our
Hospitality Assistant might be the way to go. As the name
indicates, these
staff members help to make a patient's stay and their
family's visit more
comfortable. They may assist with feeding a patient, or
opening/reading
mail, or simply helping family find their way around.
Basically, it's being
aware of what's going on and being friendly.

You may apply in any form you wish.
Again, good luck,
Mary
I am very looking forward to applying for this position...Please please pray for me ok....

Good Luck Kathy, I hope you get it!

good luck Kathy. You might want to try for nursing assistant if you are interested in nursing.

Kathy, what was such a positive and helpful answer she sent you! So you can apply for a n entry level job as an Hospitality Assistant, and then qualify for tuition reimbursement for nursing school!!! That seems like such a good deal. I hope it works out the way you want it to.

Is that only in the US or can that happen here too? I'd really like to try something different.

I am not sure about that..You may want to try asking one of your local hospitals, or emailing them to see what they say.....

Good luck, Kathy! Nursing school isn't easy, but the end result is well worth it. I believe the entry level salaries here for RN's is now somewhere in the mid 30's. Hospital based Diploma RN programs are the best way to go, that's what I attended. Best of luck!

Thanks so much everyone!! Please keep the positive vibes going my way!! I need em!!!

Originally posted by binkyhoo

You might want to try for nursing assistant if you are interested in nursing.

Click to expand...

I agree completely. Working as a nursing assistant is a good way to find out what nursing is really like.

Kathy, I really wish you the best! You seem to be very personable and that's a great quality to have in the medical field. No one wants a crabby nurse!

I think it's great that you thinking about a career and a future for yourself & family. There is definitely a big need for RN's in this country. I always see several job opennings for nurses and I live in a small town! You've got more guts than me to want to become a nurse. I can't handle blood and needles very well, so I wouldn't make it a single day. One thing that would be a draw back for me if I were in your shoes would be the hours. Sometimes you're required to pull 12+ hours and pulling over night shifts.

Anyway, I wish you the very best & sending you lots of good luck wishes!

Oooh Kathy. Good luck.

I'm currently applying to go to school and become an LVN. (Licensed Vocational Nurse)


I've worked in an assisted living facility for senior citizens, and the memory impaired. I did everything that a CNA does, and to become an employee they put us through an intense training class. I got quite a few certificates and learned all about the medicial abbreviations, medications, and am certified to distribute medications through-out the state of California.


I absolutely loooooved taking care of those people, but one thing I found out was that I got way too attached to those people. They were living there so I was bathing them, dressing them, walking/exercising with them, doing crafts and games with them, and when my favorite lady of the bunch passed away from her lung cancer on my shift (she was a DNR btw) I was shattered.


The hours were easy for em, there were quite a few 16+ hour days for me there, but it was too easy to become attached to them. Working as an LVN I won't be taking of the same people on a daily basis over long periods of time. I know there will be some people that I care for over long periods of time, but it won't be as bad because there won't be as many patients to get attached to.


You'll be great Kathy. It is a very rewarding job. Helping people. Nothing felt as good as when Margaret (my lady that passed away), Madeline, or Mannie would reach over hug me and tell me that they loved me and didn't know what they'd do with-out me there. I would've done it for free. Even though I no longer work there I still visit those and send them all cards on holidays.



Good luck Kathy, you'll be wonderful.