Although I've been a nurse a mere 7 years I definitely realize at least in my own experience that this beloved field is changing dramatically for good and for not so good and quite quickly and in my own honest opinion too many nurses are not prepared to let go of the ''Florence Nightingale'' image of our profession we were taught to map our careers out after. What I mean by that is that nursing is increasingly becoming a numbers game like every other industry.
Being a nurse who is both young
Also what's up with people thinking they'll get their preferred place of employment right out the gate or in a year? Or people who think just because they have RN, BSN, MSN behind there name they immediately qualify for whatever they want????.....
REALITY CHECK: unfortunately our dear profession has become a rat race and institutions want the Peron who is most suited, most qualified, easiest and cheapest to train to fill the spot. At least in my region most employers only want to hire nurses whose experience closely or perfectly matches the position, so good luck switching specialties, and good luck competing with all those other RNs with mid to top level experience.
Also like every other profession (because idk why some believe nursing is any different) you have to
work your way up. How many lawyers, physicians, teachers, business or finance majors, pharmacists, you name it find top level positions after 3 years post graduation? And even after working at the ''bedsides'' of there chosen careers how many of them land high level jobs within 3 years? Why do SOME believe is nursing any different?
Unfortunately working in certain specialties does make you less marketable, less skilled, and less competitive unless you plan on working the same unit or specialty for the next 10+ years of your career, and hopefully your employer doesnt give you the boot during that time or youll be on the unemployment line like the couple hundred of RNs in my area that lost their jobs when 4 hospitals decided to close within 24 months, leaving them to compete with each other. That's the harsh reality, but can you still find your dream job? sure just know that you are less competitive and will have to make yourself an attractive candidate somehow if you are not already. I don't know why we give new grads and newer nurses the notion that they'll have no problems switching specialties or finding their dream job??? When the industry shows us thats simply not the truth. The proof is in the pudding just ask most employers who they want to hire and why.
Also even tho its not about credentials, I've learned that employers like to see bsn, MSN, and certs even though they do not accurately reflect the quality of ones practice. Unfortunately that's also what makes you way more marketable and to be honest it simply shows you care to some extent about your profession and are not just the run of the mill sally or Joe with two letters behind your name that come a dime a dozen. That's all employers seem to see.
I work with a nurse who abhors any type of bedside nursing or mild patient care, never tried it, won't do anything but small clinic/light procedural stuff but wants to do research because it'll be ''easiest'' for her but doesn't qualify for any research positions (even one she knew someone who worked there and was willing to get her in the door all) because she has little to zero hands on patient care experience.
Its a rat race and the best man wins... whoever has the broadest, most practical, translatable experience and credentials (and connections) will most likely, of course not always get their dream position. Nurses have to equip themselves to always learn new practices, acquire new skills, and be in control of their career, too many of us treat this great profession like a job and not as a career or platform. Nursing is becoming like every other profession, slowly more corporate, tougher, and more competitive, for good and not so good.
