What do you tell people who want to be nurses?

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

I tell them all to get a CNA cert and get to work.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Feb 28, 2012

Smells like homework

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

Smells like homework

Homework, pour moi? I graduated last May. I have homework (anyone want to do my ECCO classes?) but not this.

I'm actually just curious.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

I don't really get asked this by many people irl. I tell them the truth. Some people are not cut out for it and if I think that, I might tell the person( flame all you want, but it is not for everyone). Not all nurses have the same personality but there seems to be a couple of reoccuring ones I often see in nurses. I tell them reality, what a typical shift is like where I work which is in adult med /surg.. I do not give different advice for an established 2nd career type or a high school student. Some high schoolers are better prepared to be nurses then some 40 year olds in established careers. The 2nd career nurses from different fields on my floor do not seem any more prepared then the nurses who went straight from hs to college.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

^Your experiences are quite a bit different than mine. I've had friends and family who have perfectly good jobs ask me about nursing. The biggest reasons seem to be that they see a nursing job as a) stable (I have quite a few friends in primary/secondary education who are...a bit desperate, given the district cut-backs in our area) and b) moneyzzz.

re. the money thing, I swear to god, trying to explain wage compression is impossible. Also slightly disingenuous because if you work enough overtime, weekends, and nights on top of agency/travel jobs -- you can make pretty good money. But then again, you're putting in the same hours as a MD or JD or a well-placed MBA and making maybe 1/4 the pay.

Job stability seems so hit or miss, I never quite know what to say.

GucciBeaR143, BSN · Feb 28, 2012

I tell people it's not a game or as glamorous as the TV shows.

It is hard because you're responsible for lives.

Perpetual Student · Feb 28, 2012

I say go for it if you want to do it because you're interested in the work (and explain some of the pros, cons, and opportunities of the profession). I then say avoid it like the plague if you're interested for other reasons.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

"Go to nursing school"

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

I say go for it if you want to do it because you're interested in the work (and explain some of the pros, cons, and opportunities of the profession). I then say avoid it like the plague if you're interested for other reasons.

Meh. I guess I get caught up in the little things. Like I get friends who are like OMG I want to be a nurse because jobs are great! It's recession proof and I can find a job anywhere doing whatever I want!

and my initial reaction is "HAH HAH GOOD LUCK FINDING A JOB" but I always bite my lip because, hey, what if the economy does pick up in two years? or four years?

I don't begrudge someone choosing to go into nursing because of job availability and/or stability 'tho in this economy, those seem like absurd choices.

pinkfluffybunny · Feb 28, 2012

It depends on how much I like them.

If I don't really like them very much I tell them: OMG I make so much money, it really is the most recession proof job. I had to turn jobs down. I practically get to pick my days for my schedule.

If they are people I like I tell them the truth: It is not recession proof. Some days it feels like there isn't enough money to put up with some of the things I have to put up with. I live paycheck to paycheck. I work weekends, and holidays. It is an emotionally taxing job, dealing with families and patients, unpleasant co-workers. But it is worth it to me because on the good days I know that I have made a difference. My love for my job outweighs all of the downsides.

missladyrn · Feb 28, 2012

I tell them to run as fast as they can in the other direction.