Should I really do this?

Nurses General Nursing

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hi everyone :)

i have read a lot of threads, and i really feel like nursing is the job for me. i want to help, i don't want to sit in an office, i want a hands on job and i find medicine interesting. i spend hours watching the discovery health channel!:nurse:

right now i'm doing nursing pre-reqs for my university and its going well, but i'm staring to feel scared of the future. i keep reading threads about how there are no jobs for new grads, and i think to myself " whats the point if i wont even get to work in this field!?:cry: " someone please tell me, how do you think nursing will be in 3 years. is there really no jobs for new grads, or just no good jobs? i don't mind my first job being one in a home, in fact i would like to work with older patients and make their stay in a home a better experience.

thank you so much

mabel

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Specializes in ER/Acute Care.

I think it's really difficult to project what the job market will be like next year, let alone 3 years from now. I finish my BSN next December and I'm not sure what things will be like then, so I'm planning to fall back on my previous career and start NP school. You are younger, and probably have less expenses and commitments than I do, so your options are more open.

I do believe that passing the health reform bill will help with the health care job market, as more people will be covered and more health care professionals will be needed to treat them. This is just my humble opinion and it may be slightly wishful thinking ;)

With that being said, I live by the cliche; follow your dreams and the money will come. If you love what you do, you will eventually attain success. This economy is teaching us (twenty-somethings) that the world of going to school, getting a degree, and being guaranteed a job no longer exists. It will also hopefully teach us to live on what we earn and be ready for life's surprises. Good luck with your decision to pursue nursing. If you feel like its the job for you, go for it! If it doesn't work out, schools aren't closing anytime soon and you can pursue another career :)

P.S. If you would like to get some exposure before making the big commitment, I would encourage you to get a CNA license and work for a while as a nurse's aide. It will definitely give you some exposure to what the world of a nurse is like without the huge commitment of years of school and student loans. Plus, some local community agencies (like churches, service groups, etc.) may cover the cost of your class. Good luck again!

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Having been a nurse for many,many years I have seen the job availability wax and wane numerous times. My generation (baby boomers) is nearing retirement age and we will need caregivers! I always encourage people who are thinking about nursing to go for their dream for this very reason. Be willing to work hard in school and harder in real life. for those who are having trouble finding a job, please don't give up! We need all the help we can get!!

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I do believe that passing the health reform bill will help with the health care job market, as more people will be covered and more health care professionals will be needed to treat them. This is just my humble opinion and it may be slightly wishful thinking ;)

My family was also telling me about the health reform bill idea! I really do hope it opens up for jobs for nursing majors, and hooray for it:yeah:! Finally more Americans can get the care they deserve, and I hope to be one of those taking care of them in the future

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Having been a nurse for many,many years I have seen the job availability wax and wane numerous times. My generation (baby boomers) is nearing retirement age and we will need caregivers! I always encourage people who are thinking about nursing to go for their dream for this very reason. Be willing to work hard in school and harder in real life. for those who are having trouble finding a job, please don't give up! We need all the help we can get!!

Thank you for the encouragement :) I needed it today. I start school tomorrow again, I'll be working very hard to get into nursing school.

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Having been a nurse for many,many years I have seen the job availability wax and wane numerous times. My generation (baby boomers) is nearing retirement age and we will need caregivers! I always encourage people who are thinking about nursing to go for their dream for this very reason. Be willing to work hard in school and harder in real life. for those who are having trouble finding a job, please don't give up! We need all the help we can get!!

Thank you for posting this!!! I have spent way too much time the past few days reading all these threads about not having jobs available for new grads, and it's been wearing on me! I'm a single Mom, working FT, trying to make ends meet and save what I can so I can afford to be off work when/if I ever get accepted to nursing school (which will be my first hurdle!) I have a previous bachelors degree and am in a decent career and make decent money now, I just really don't like my job. I was actually considering holding off on school for awhile b/c the "what ifs" are starting to take over. But, reading this was giving me some encouragement. I am just hoping and praying that in a few years when I am done with school the market is better! Things can change so much in a matter of a couple of years! Hopefully they turn for the better for this industry!

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Hi hopeful,

I'm also starting my pre-req's tomorrow. I say don't worry - as long as you know this is the career you want, you will find a way to make it work. It may take relocating or taking a job on a floor or in an area you do not prefer, but you will only be gaining experience.

In the meantime, we have to do what we can to make ourselves attractive candidates in the future. Like jdcurly said - CNA is a great foot in the door, if you plan on working during school.

Good luck tomorrow! :)

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Hi hopeful,

I'm also starting my pre-req's tomorrow. I say don't worry - as long as you know this is the career you want, you will find a way to make it work. It may take relocating or taking a job on a floor or in an area you do not prefer, but you will only be gaining experience.

In the meantime, we have to do what we can to make ourselves attractive candidates in the future. Like jdcurly said - CNA is a great foot in the door, if you plan on working during school.

Good luck tomorrow! :)

Good luck at school tomorrow :D I have my microbiology class tomorrow, I can't wait. :roll

I have no preference, I just want to be a nurse :) Anywhere. So I don't think I'll have a problem then. And I want to do some volunteering at hospitas to get more comfortable in hospitals.:idea:

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Specializes in Emergency Dept.

you feeling scared, i can definitely understand that feeling. graduation is quickly approaching for me. the closer it gets, the more and more scared i become. i know i want to be a nurse, but it still scares the crap out of me. that's a hard thing for me to admit. i've been in the hospital setting for 5+ years. i don't doubt that this is the career path for me, and i don't doubt that i am capable of taking care of patients, but what i am scared about is that i don't want to screw up and possibly put myself or my patient in a worsening life altering situation.

i expressed these feelings to a co-worker who has been a nurse for 20+ years. she told me that the day you come to work and you are no longer scared, is the day you need to retire or find a new career. she told me that everyday she comes to work, she is "scared". she told me that when you come to work acting like you know everything, and become relaxed is when you screw up. i don't think anyone has ever given me better advice. it's ok to be scared. the medical field (no matter what position) is a "practice". we are constantly practicing. nothing is perfected. just believe in yourself!

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Specializes in ED staff.

As others have said who knows what the job market will be, baby boomers getting older etc. One thing is certain, there will always be sick people no matter if Obama's plan goes into service or not.

When I graduated there was a glut of nurses, I took the first job offered to me and from there jumped to the ER where I've been for 20 something years. It's a rewarding career. I can say that I would do it again!

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Specializes in CVICU, Neuro ICU.

I think as long as you are not picky you should be able to find a job. There are always job openings at my hospital but it may not be on the most desirable area

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Specializes in CVICU, ER.

Haven't read the other responses, but I will give my :twocents:. Just b/c every new grad doesn't get hired right away, doesn't mean there aren't jobs for them. Sometimes this is what happens... They decide they want to take a couple of months break after putting life on hold while in nursing school, which is understandable. But, there is a season for new grads, it's June and January. I started applying in Feb before graduating in May, and had a job to start on June 1. Actually most of my class found jobs, somewhere. There were a few who didn't apply until July or Aug, and they were the ones having trouble finding jobs. The nursing market is constanly bouncing back, if you want to do this, you need to just make up your mind and do it. You aren't getting any younger. If your mind is not firmly made up, when the heat comes on you in nursing school, you will quit. Just push through those hard times and I promise you will be rewarded in the end. Good luck to you!

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