People really need to stop coming into nursing

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

Thank you. I wish someone had told me this back in 2008. But what is available these days? Other than service industry jobs that are minimum wage, there are no other jobs out there

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

Thank you. I wish someone had told me this back in 2008. But what is available these days? Other than service industry jobs that are minimum wage there are no other jobs out there[/quote']
Exactly. Unless your a CEO or Banker you're screwed. It is not just Nursing that isfacing these issues. Look at teachers. They make jack, they have tobuy supplies for their classes, their raises are based on studentperformance (regardless of the student's capabilities), ever risingstudent to teacher ratios, lower pay, worse benefits etc. Soundfamiliar???

Libby1987 · Feb 12, 2015

I don't disagree that the production of nurses should slow waaay down, but I do not share the same experience with non appreciative families, since 1987 they're still appreciative.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

Here are my thoughts on this hotly contested issue.

1. The lowest-quality nursing programs need to be closed.

2. Nursing needs to do a better job of controlling the numbers of new entrants into this profession. Other health professions such as medicine, physical therapy and speech language pathology maintain tight control over the number of people who enter those occupations.

3. Nursing needs to implement slightly higher barriers to entry. Moreover, entry requirements should be standardized and consistent across the country.

4. Nursing needs to adopt limits on the number of times that candidates are allowed to repeatedly take NCLEX. You cannot pass after 10 attempts? Step aside, please. Aspiring attorneys are not permitted to keep retaking the bar exam as many times as they want, and I think nursing needs to follow that model.

5. Nursing is one of the few professions that produces large numbers of graduates who feel entitled to employment in their hometowns. Meanwhile, graduates who enter other professions keenly expect to relocate to land their first jobs.

Overall, I predict the glut will continue to worsen. The powers that be expect all 'older' nurses to drop out of the workforce in the next decade, but real life simply does not unfold in that manner.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

Here are my thoughts on this hotly contested issue.
1. The lowest-quality nursing programs need to be closed.
2. Nursing needs to do a better job of controlling the numbers of new entrants into this profession. Other health professions such as medicine, physical therapy and speech language pathology maintain tight control over the number of people who enter those occupations.
3. Nursing needs to implement slightly higher barriers to entry. Moreover, entry requirements should be standardized and consistent across the country.
4. Nursing needs to adopt limits on the number of times that candidates are allowed to repeatedly take NCLEX. You cannot pass after 10 attempts? Step aside, please. Aspiring attorneys are not permitted to keep retaking the bar exam as many times as they want, and I think nursing needs to follow that model.
5. Nursing is one of the few professions that produces large numbers of graduates who feel entitled to employment in their hometowns. Meanwhile, graduates who enter other professions keenly expect to relocate to land their first jobs.
Overall, I predict the glut will continue to worsen. The powers that be expect all 'older' nurses to drop out of the workforce in the next decade, but real life simply does not unfold in that manner.

THIS.

Well said. :yes:

Libby1987 · Feb 12, 2015

I won't be dropping out, well I'm not even close, and I will stay fit and relevant. I think the fit part is important to reducing ageism, appearance hasn't mattered in nursing as it has in other industries but it might increase with a push to lower salaries. Health reasons aside.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 12, 2015

I strongly agree with TheCommuter and would like to add:

1. People entering nursing need to get a better grasp of the profession before the enter school (or during school). The reason we have so many people leaving the profession in the first 2 years is not just because the jobs are bad -- though some jobs are bad -- but also because some new grads have such unrealistic expectations.

2. One of those unrealistic expectations that needs to be squashed from the beginning is that we ALL need to understand that getting RN behind your name is not sufficient for the best jobs in nursing for the rest of your life. To get the most attractive jobs and be successful in the profession long-term, we all need to be life-long learners. We need to up-date and up-grade our knowledge and skills continuously. We need to invest in ourselves to keep ourselves "attractive" for the job market. That's our job -- it's nice if the employer helps, but we need to take some responsibility for ourselves. That is what professionals do.

3. The best jobs usually go to the most qualified applicants that meet the needs of the employer. A surprising number of nurses don't seem to realize that.

4. If we want to be treated like professionals, we need to act like professionals. I hear/see so much unprofessional behavior among nurses, that I often think many of us don't deserve to be called professionals. (And I see it here on allnurses every day.)

RNperdiem, RN · Feb 12, 2015

Trouble is people will keep coming into nursing. Maintaining a middle-class life is getting harder and there is more interest in nursing now that entire job categories have vanished. You can quote many facts, but a potential nurse will still see a pretty decent starting wage for the cost of a community college education.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

To some degree, the crappiest pop-up nursing schools tend to not impact the profession too greatly, IMHO, simply by virtue of the fact that so many of their graduates cannot pass the NCLEX to save their lives. And the ones that do manage to snag a license aren't likely to stay in the profession long, based on the reading I do on this very website ("help, i think i'm gonna loose my license, i gave the wrong meds to the wrong people at the wrong times.....and it's really not a big deal that i didn't call the doctor when his patient totally crashed......and i just forgot to change the dressings and chart what i was supposed to.......and the other nurses are just old and jealous and mean so they make me call out all the time and why not i deserve to....but i'm a great nurse!!!!"). Or how about this one: "I'm a brand new grad but that doesn't mean I should have to work nights, and weekends, and holidays, and not get my preferred vacation time off every year, does it?? I've sent my resume to every employer within a one hour drive, why can't I find a job???"

I wish a survey existed that could show the percentage of new grads from these crappy schools who can't hold onto a job once they get one!

danielle2000, MSN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

You have to consider the generation who are entering in this profession. The-it-is-all-about me generation!!! Not realizing you have to pay your dues like everyone else. I can understand the frustration among experienced nurses who have been in the trenches and are still standing proud. I think it will only get worse before improvement will occur. Nursing has its moments, but for the most part it is a dynamic area in which you can choose where you want to go, the resources to build upon your knowledge is plentiful. My sister who is 46 years old graduated from nursing school a couple of years ago realized the short coming on her unit and is already enrolled in a BSN to get off the floor. She did not whine or complain she simply decided more education and seek other options.

MatrixRn · Feb 12, 2015

Here are my thoughts on this hotly contested issue.
1. The lowest-quality nursing programs need to be closed.
2. Nursing needs to do a better job of controlling the numbers of new entrants into this profession. Other health professions such as medicine, physical therapy and speech language pathology maintain tight control over the number of people who enter those occupations.
3. Nursing needs to implement slightly higher barriers to entry. Moreover, entry requirements should be standardized and consistent across the country.
4. Nursing needs to adopt limits on the number of times that candidates are allowed to repeatedly take NCLEX. You cannot pass after 10 attempts? Step aside, please. Aspiring attorneys are not permitted to keep retaking the bar exam as many times as they want, and I think nursing needs to follow that model.
5. Nursing is one of the few professions that produces large numbers of graduates who feel entitled to employment in their hometowns. Meanwhile, graduates who enter other professions keenly expect to relocate to land their first jobs.
Overall, I predict the glut will continue to worsen. The powers that be expect all 'older' nurses to drop out of the workforce in the next decade, but real life simply does not unfold in that manner.

I agree with all of the above. In relation to point 2, those groups control the quality of entrance by having a national standard, followed by national licensure. We do have a national test, the NCLEX, but then we are licensed by our individual states. Why? So each state can make money off of licensing the RN. Compact status needs to mean more than just being licensed in multiple states by virtue of where one lives, it should also mean a national clinical and professional standard.

In this way points 1, 3 and 4 can come to fruition.

I also agree the glut of nurses will continue to worsen. There is a large monetary incentive for the schools [tuition money] and healthcare facilities [ability to hire the cheapest staff] to keep this system running.