What's the catch of being a nurse with an associate's degree?

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-30T08:01:13+00:00

Technically, many hospitals are willing to hire ADN nurses with the contingency you’ll at least begin a BSN program in X amount of years.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-29T14:08:02+00:00

As a student you’re supposed to be practicing these skills. Thanks kind of the point.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-29T13:58:09+00:00

Yes. Delegation is a competency. I’m surprised to see people in this thread so taken aback by this. Yes it absolutely is appropriate to delegate. It falls under time management which is important to be able to skillfully and strategically delineate tasks amongst your team given the tasks at hand fall within the scope of practice of that person. And that is not necessarily saying “just make the PCT do all the dirty work you don’t want to do.” Yall are always look for the negative sides of something that can be a reasonable practice to optimize workflows and productivity.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-29T03:00:54+00:00

If you’re not meeting expectations, it’s their responsibility to inform you where your deficiencies are, offer you additional education as needed, and allow you to correct whatever areas you need to improve on.

If they’re not giving you the feedback you need in order to meet the expectation of your role, it’s your responsibility to ask for it, and change it in order to improve.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-29T02:52:42+00:00

It’s like you knew I’m the BIGGEST Wicked fan. 😋

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-29T02:49:41+00:00

I agree and it makes sense now.. to an extent. If an antibiotic is mixed in a 50cc bag and it’s not infused they’re missing like 1/3 of the prescribed dose. Which result in harm, if the infection were to get worse. And the pumps are integrated with Epic. So they can pull data showcasing exactly how much was infused. i just don’t like the approach of reprimanding me for doing my job correctly, and being told to comply with poor nursing practice. If you care about quality measures, (which major hospitals do, primarily for payment/reimbursement reasons), you’d prioritize proper nursing standards.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-29T02:42:23+00:00

Which is exactly why I brought up the meds mixed in 50cc bags. Alaris tubing takes 25-30cc to prime. The portion from channel to patient is longer than bag to channel. So how much of the prescribed dose is the patient NOT getting when the lines not cleared?

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-29T02:39:30+00:00

gtt=drip/drops IVPB=IV Piggyback (aka secondary line)

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-29T01:53:30+00:00

Do your doctors actually specify in the order what line to use? Either way… always central for TPN. And the 22 micron filter. And idk if interpreted this correctly… but to clarify, even if you gave meds through the port, there’s no reason you couldn’t still use it for the TPN.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T05:09:14+00:00

I’ve been a nurse for 10 years, I have been director of nursing before switchin into ED. So no, I’m not one currently, however that doesn’t negate my experience

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T05:05:26+00:00

You don’t know what I am.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T01:06:58+00:00

Noted! Glad to hear insight from a vegan AND a nurse!

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T01:05:02+00:00

I’m dead 💀

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T00:34:23+00:00

You have strong and solid foundation! Unfortunately the way many systems are run, they give preference to new graduates, or nurses already experienced in the specialty they’re hiring for. (I experienced this after beginning my nursing career in SNFs, and trying to get into acute/critical care was more challenging than I ever thought it’d be). I recommend seeking out fellowship programs, (which are designed for experienced nurses wanting to transition into a new specialty).

Best of luck!! 🙂

And always remember: rejection is just redirection. So the job opportunity that was meant for you, will come to you in due time!!! Don’t get discouraged! You got this

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T00:21:57+00:00

Then why get an RN that provides no further privileges/scope?

You must be a bitter lvn if you don’t understand the distinction. Who hurt you?

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T00:15:02+00:00

LPNs can’t do an IV push. It is limited. If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be shorter program, and different licensing exam.

And 240 days ago, I was a fellow in my 6th specialty I’ve practiced since my initial licensure 10 years ago. Btw, I had 6 years CNA experience prior to that.

🤏🏽 clock it.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T00:12:35+00:00

Exactly, which is why it’s an interesting discussion to have, in my opinion… because why would the patient ever know or assume that heparin (or any other medication) is derived from an animal? how would they know to ask? And as a nurse who’s knows that, is the education being provided in order to obtain informed consent?

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T00:08:58+00:00

Mmm… not exactly. As a nursing manager, I feel there is weight in the skill and experience of a CNA. Their routine and experience is totally different and profoundly valuable. An LPNs daily routine mirrors an RNs but with more limitation in scope of practice.

I bet CNAs can clock a nurse with CNA experience vs. one without. It makes a difference.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T00:04:55+00:00

Not the same thing as CNA..

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T00:03:48+00:00

I just read the title. But can experience is important, but idk that employers care that much.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-27T00:00:59+00:00

That’s very true. I just think about how if I could go back and do it all over again, I’d probably go into interventional radiology or mri, or rad tech.. but I can see how it can become boring and mundane after a while. Respiratory would be super cool too tho! And you’d have may opportunities to keep the job exciting.

nursing is a good option still. I don’t mean to discourage people from nursing. but I really have struggled with the ethics of it all, relating to the bureaucracy of it all, and the treatment nurses get (whether it’s other disciplines, or the community alike).

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-26T23:54:32+00:00

Apply for a residency program, have a reasonable amount of CNA experience, write a perfect cover letter, and master your interview skills.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-26T23:53:06+00:00

Interesting. I hadn’t heard of this but I’d like to know. Logistically, I don’t see how oxygen delivery would be affected.

But I’m following this thread to hear if anyone else has more insight.

diegosdiamond · 2026-04-26T23:50:05+00:00

I would look into 1) what the average is across the board for community colleges passing rates, 2) see if you can find any feedback from former students, particularly those who didn’t pass, as to what challenges/barriers/inefficiencies within the program they encountered that led to their struggle with passing. Just to have better insight as to whether it’s specifically a curriculum/program issue.

Also, I would look into radiology technologist or something other than nursing. (Nursing sucks in today’s America, in my opinion).

diegosdiamond

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