Just talked to a nurse- I feel so down & anxious

[StudentNrseMcFarland]

I haven't been able to post much recently, but lurk when I have the chance.

Today, I scheduled a lot of my school-required medical tests and appointments and was excited to start the day because, as unpleasant as the dentist and getting shots are, it's one step closer to school.

I'm sitting in the car after my second Hep B vaccine crying. Not because it hurt (it did, a little!) but because of the nurse I had.

After years of prereqs, applying to schools, visits, decisions, soul-searching and number crunching, I'm about to begin apply for hefty private loans- as a second degree student I don't qualify for a lot of federal aid- and borrow a huge chunk of money to realize my dream and start my program this summer.

When I handed the nurse who administered the shot my school form to sign, she said, "Uh-oh. I hope you get a job when you graduate." I smiled and said, "Me too." She continued on and on about how there's a shortage, but no one's hiring to fill the shortage and when they do hire they want someone with experience- but not too much. She said something along the lines of "They won't take grads right out of school. They want people with a year or two of experience under their belt. And then, you won't be making much money."

She mentioned she'd been out of nursing for 11 years (I didn't ask, but I assume raising a family) and that the Urgent Care center where I went was the only place that would hire, despite her extensive experience in hospitals/the ER. She's now making just $25 v. $35, etc., etc., etc.

I chose nursing because I want to help people and make enough money to pay off my loans and live. I'm not going into it hoping and believing I can lease a Mercedes when I get my first job.

I hope what I was dealing with was someone who is bitter about her own situation, but she also may have given me a healthy (but kind of rude) dose of how it really is out there in the job market now.

But, her comments suddenly made me question every single decision I've made in the past year. I know that no one can predict the future, but I'm suddenly extremely anxious about financing five zeros worth of school.

I'm sure there are tons of posts on this topic, so I'm sorry if this is a repeat. I'll go through them when I'm less emotional, but any words of wisdom, courage or advice?

Am I about to make a huge mistake?

[WestPalmLPN]

You can't let what some un-happy person say ruin your day. You are doing the right thing, there's so many opportunities once you become a nurse... you can be an auditor, even a COO :) the COO @ the facility where I work is a nurse. She is just biter, and miserable. You are making the right choice. Good luck in nursing school

[WittyUsername]

shake it off. There WILL be a large influx of baby boomers getting sick and needing care. This is a fact. There will be jobs, you may have to move and work in an LTC facility to get experience, but the next few years will likely see and increase in need. With all the new grads, facilities will be forced to create some type of training program for them, there simply aren't enough experienced RNs to go around....people need time to learn the job.

[Ayala]

Yeah, shake it off! There will always be naysayers. You are working toward your goal. Don't DO NOT let anything stand in your way.

The ecomony is so bad now that everybody is complaining about everything. If I had had to deal with that "ray of sunshine" nurse you dealt with, I would have said "What are you complaining about? You have a job."

Remember too that people are more strongly motivated by negative emotions than by positive ones. (That's one reason I sift information I get on blogs - the people with gripes are more likely to take time to type stuff than the people who are content or euphoriously happy.)

This is your journey, your adventure, your life. Enjoy it! Be proud.

Congrats on your progress!

[RebeccaV]

dont get down - when you graduate the job market will be different than it is now anyway, a great deal also depends on the area - my area is in desperate need of nurses and they hire grads before they even take the nclex (obviously with a contract stating employment depends on passing) some areas have a nursing hiring freeze, you can always relocate if thats the case by you

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Sadly, I think her assessment is pretty accurate.

Our numerous nursing programs are pumping out way too may students so demand is way down,add in recession and it is even worse.

I doubt the prediction above that it will be better in a few years. Until we cut production of nurses it will not change. I think most of those baby boomers that are predicted to retire are not going to be able to financially......

That said, if it is what you really want to do then go for it. I would NOT borrow tons of money and go into serious debt for it though.

[RadBSN]

I felt the same way when I got my flu shot from a May grad of a nursing program down the road from mine. She was doing a DNP program and giving flu shots because she couldn't get hired as an RN.

I got a job offer a week after my December graduation. It just depends. The job market is crappy, but if you're sure you want to do it, then go for it. Be realistic though, people aren't getting hired the way they used to. I have no predictions for how it will be when you graduate though.

[TheCareerStudent]

I have been worrying about the same issues for the past few weeks. I start school on Monday and I have had this knot in my stomach for the same reasons as you. So I just want to thank everyone for their feedback to the original post because it makes me feel better about my decision to be a nurse and gives me a little bit of hope :)

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

While she sounds a little too much like chicken little, just know that yes it is getting harder and harder to find a job, that it might be lower pay than you are used to, or in a unit you dont want. Just remember also that everyone has to start somewhere and sometimes the best thing you can do is get your foot in the door and be thankful you have a job as an RN

[symphie]

The nursing job market moves in cycles. By the time you graduate, the job market will NOT be the same as it is right now. It might be better, it might be worse. You can only follow your dream and have faith that everything will work out.

I'm a first semester student in a BSN program (I graduate with a BSN in August 2012) and as of last semester, 60% of graduates from our program had secured jobs before graduation. It just depends on your location. You may have to put in alot of effort to get it (more than just submitting online applications that go nowhere...) but you WILL get a job if you're flexible and you want it bad enough.

[StudentNrseMcFarland]

Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement. And I really appreciate your honesty, ThatGuy & CrunchRN.

All industries are experiencing a downturn right now, including my current field, and I need to jump in with both feet with a (flexible) plan and just do the best I can.

[cgravier]

she sounds like an idiot. Dont listen to anybody! Just do yer own thing and stay positive young padawan.