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          This page is for sharing experiences that senior students of 2001 in the RN to BSN program at California State University of Northridge have had in their nursing careers. I hope that this page will help you to understand the professional nursing environment in the U.S..  Thank you very much to all my classmates who shared their experiences on this page!!

          As an RN here in the United States I have been able to financially care for myself as a single woman. I have been able to buy a home and with a flexible schedule have been able to attend the RN to BSN program at CSUN without financial burden. If I plan on going on a trip or buying something new for my home I am able to work an extra shift or 2 to pay for the cost. There are not many professions where you could work extra at a higher rate.  Cathy C, RN

          The successful management of a career and family is a challenge to women. A nursing career in the United States offers a great deal of flexibility in terms of setting the hours, the days, the environment, and the location you wish to work. These career qualities have permitted me to prioritize and be a MOM first, remain active in a career, and prepare for future opportunities in nursing should I elect.  Terri H, RN

          I strongly believe that NURSING in general in the United States advances the professionalism of women. Registered nurses in the U.S. have autonomy and are part of an HONEST profession. As a nurse, I enjoy teaching my patients what they want to learn about their health and their hospital stay. I also enjoy the personal relationships that I have with my patients. I believe that nursing is a lot more than "just a job".    Jo Ellen K, RN

          What I love about nursing, besides helping and caring for people, is the abundance of opportunities. A nurse can enjoy a variety of settings throughout his or her career, without ever leaving nursing (For example: Pediatrics, Labor and Delivery, Critical Care, Nursery, Emergency Room, Operating Room, Burn Unit, Doctor's Office, Blood Bank, Recovery Room and Mental Health to name a few). Beckey R, RN

          I can just say it again what the other students and colleagues already said before me: being a nurse in the US gives you autonomy; financial stability; able to live in any part of the country and not worry if you will find a job; practically endless professional opportunities especially with advancing in your education. My favorite: traveling nursing. I was able to move to a different state having a well paid job, private free furnished apartment with all utilities paid, health insurance for just 3 shifts a week - what a deal!!! And now I’m back to California for one semester to study without even stressing about it. Traveling nursing also allows me to take few months off to travel back home to Bulgaria without the fuss of supervisors and begging for vacation permission.   Greta V, RN

          What I really enjoy being an RN in the U.S is that there are many opportunities to learn and brush up my knowledge and skills. There are many certificate programs and variety of speciality in master program. It is not easy to be certified in these programs, expecially for foreigners including me, because of the language barrier. But if you like to challenge and work hard, I am sure that you will make it. And the U.S would be one of the best place to enjoy professionalism as a RN.   Ellie I, RN

          The most memorable experience that I have had as a registered nurse was a fairly recent one. This particular patient had been re-admitted to the hospital for exacerbation of COPD(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). I had taken care of her on a prior admission but not the present one. This particular patient was a very challenging patient to take care of because she was very anxious, demanding and controlling. On her prior admission I exercised a lot of patience and made sure that she was well taken care of. I can distinctly remember being exhausted both physically and emotionally after taking care of her for three days in a row. She did not really express any appreciation or gratitude for the care she received. However, on this present admission, she stated to a colleague that she wanted a "good" nurse to take care of her and stated my name, specifically. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard these words because she was so difficult to take care. More importantly, I didn't think she liked me all that much. This really proved that being a "good" nurse has it's benefits even if no one acknowleges it every time.  Danielle B, RN

          I am really enjoying working at a teaching hospital because I am learning something new everyday. Therefore, I never get board. Nursing is challenging as Ellie mentioned earlier, especially working in ICU. We had a visiting medical doctor (MD) from Japan last year. He told me that the ICU nurses in the U.S.A. were working like residents (MDs)in Japan.The nurses in the U.S.A. have more autonomy than the nurses in Japan. I like a flexible working schedule so that I am able to continue going to school to obtain a Master's degree in Nursing.   Michiko K, RN

          I work in a 1100 bed Level 1 trauma center in East Los Angeles. The staff is extremely diverse with employees from over 100 countries on staff in the General Hospital. The facility serves the poor, uninsured population. The patients I serve are thankful for the health care services they recieve and have respect for the doctor's, social workers, therapists, and especially the nurses who care for them. Most of our patients have no where else to go to be treated for their illnesses. Nursing is a highly respected profession in the United States. I consider my profession to be the best among all choices and encourage nurses from around the world to come to the U.S. and share the experience.  Debra B, RN

          1. My most rewarding and challenging experience as a registered nurse started in the ambulatory hematology/oncology clinic at Kaiser Permanente. The intimate and supportive communication I have had the privilege of sharing with my patients in this clinic has truly been an ongoing learning experience for me. There are philosophical, heart-warming, thought provoking, happy, sad, fearful,and tearful emotions, and many moments of laughter in this clinic every day.
2. I have always been interested in pursuing by bachelor's degree in nursing, and am proud to be a graduate this month from California State University, Northridge. The opportunities in nursing are abundant, with more professional and independent choices in nursing careers with advanced education. Jasmine C, RN

          Being a registered in the united states is rewarding and exciting. There are so many opportunities available for the nurses. There is no limit to achieving a career success, depending on one's motivation level. It involves discipline, hardwork, and commitment to reach your horizon. If you want to be the $$$$$$$$-RN, or a academician, it all depends on one's spirit. My experience as a mother of a toddler, a csun RN-BSN student, a critical care registered nurse and a wife, is not an easy one. I was able to joggle it all with a good spirit.   Hippo RN

          I have worked within the medical field now for twenty years. I find the multiple opportunities in the nursing profession a real asset in terms of job security and variety. Learning about health and the body is also very interesting. It is satisrying to be able to support myself financially with this work which often includes excellent medical and retirement benefits. There is also a spiritual and emotional element involved which is stimulated by helping others in need. Another important point that I would like to mention is that I have made some wonderful friends within this profession. Nurses tend to be not only caring, but intelligent, resourceful and interesting people.   Paula T, RN

          After a lot of thought, I cannot really narrow this down to one experience. One thing that comes to my mind over and over again, is the immense responsibility and respect we as nurses have in the ICU when dealing with our open heart population. We are given a great deal of autonomy and leeway to make our own decisions regarding fluid replacement, the use of hemodynaamic drugs, and weaning from the ventilator for these fragile patients in their immediate post operative period. There are certain protocols (that were composed in collaboration with the surgeons and anesthesia) that we follow that allow us to choose what fluid repalcement to use, how much of it, what drips to use, titrate for desired effects, etc. We are also allowed to wean and extubate the patient from the ventilator per anesthesia using our own ability to evaluate blood gasses and assessment of condition, without having to call everything to the physicians. We are respected for our judgement and ability to critically think, anticipate problems and head them off using certain protocols developed both by the surgeons, anesthesia, and the nurses on the unit. I love being asked on the phone, "well how does he look to you? what do you think he needs?" There is constantly room to expand one's knowledge base, and we are often invited to the critical care updates that many physicians put on, given for physicians. I am not saying that we are trying to be physicians, only that with this population of patients and MD's, we are really treated as a irreplacable, valued part of the team and often asked for our professional opinion and judgement calls (within our scope of practice of course). In talking today ironically with one of my collegues who has done much work outside of the country especially in India, we compared the level of independence and respect we are privilaged to have here in the States, as opposed to many cultures that are more old fashioned, male dominated and where the nurse has no say in the care of the patient. We are also relied upon to advocate, many times aggressively for our patient's safety and protection of their dignity and wishes in light of a medical society that is focused on intense technology and textbook situations and statistics. The RN's role in patient and family care, advocacy, and competence level is constantly increasing, and we are expected to keep up with an everchanging environment. This involves being able to use our voice, knowledge and incredible assessment ability to provide the best possible care, and I think we are not only expected to do this, but also respected for this in this country.  Amy RN