A question for new or fairly recent grads...

Nurse2B16 · Feb 22, 2004

Hello,

Although i am not a nurse yet i wanted to answer to your concerns with the little i know. Although they may raise the available seats in the universities, know that not everyone that gets in will get out or will pass the licensure exam. So although there will be an increase in people coming in only those that are really up for the challenge and really want it will succeed.

Statistically speaking about the 1 in 10 grads leaving the field after 5 years is correct, which means that 1) there will always be a need for it and 2) that does not mean you will leave it. It all depends why you are doing nursing. Many people go into it just for the money. Nursing is a field that in order to endure it happily you must love it for one cause or the other.

I sometimes think about how demanding it is, but then i say : i am only 21 right now and i have the energy to do many things...when i no longer can do bed side nursing or whatever i can always go into administration or teaching or any other sector in the nursing field that does not require much physical or is not as strenous.

Good luck and hope that some nurses reply to you :)

Stitchie · Feb 22, 2004

I graduated in May '03 so that makes me a fairly recent grad. I have not yet had thoughts of leaving nursing altogether, but I have at times wondered how on Earth things got so messed up in nursing.

I had an absolutely horrible first six months on a very toxic floor. Luckily, I got out of that and went to a differet facility, for less pay, but better experience. There were "packs" of nurses who'd run off the new people, like me, the manager was less than competent and the assistant manager was just lazy. And those attitudes came right down to those on staff.

I want to work in the ER and that's what I did. I found a job in an ER; it isn't paradise, but the people seem happy to be there and in support of their manager. The nurses I have met so far are very kind, supportive and willing to help the new people.

I know that this place could run a lot better but that's not my concern. I am getting good experience, EKG's, ACLS/PALS, ECRN and TNCC (eventually) and then hopefully I'll move on to a better organized ER.

Find a place where you can get what you want while doing what you love to do. If your first job isn't right for you, move on = quickly. You won't do anybody any good if you stay in a place where you are miserable.

RNandunhappy · Feb 22, 2004

without wanting to tell you horror stories.....I honestly had mostly bad experiences in a hospital. Maybe it is just that one hospital...because I know of other nurses going throught he same cra.. I went through....:crying2:

IT seemed to me that most nurses eat their young so to say! Not all of course, but The ones who do will get you good. I enjoy working with people and being a team member, but found that most nurses don't make good team members. Why? I don't know. I regret becoming a nurse. I know why there is a shortage. There are a lot of nurses out there...they are just not working as RN s anymore. I don't find it difficult to find jobs and learning how to do them. Just to stick with them because of working conditions do me in. If you have a consciens and want to do your job well it is realy hard out there.:chair:

I switched to office nursing now but wonder why I bothered to go to college for a job that doesn't pay well has inconsistent and long hours...no vacation or health benefits.. no 401K etc..... but a lot of liability issues...

Maybe I still do it because I like to help people:rotfl: but honestly it doesn't make me very happy. Better luck to you! Don't let them get you, too.

I feel like I failed.

Stitchie · Feb 22, 2004

RNandunhappy, my wish for you is that you do not feel as if you've failed. You are providing service to someone else, and maybe those bad days at work, you are the kindest person those patients will run across.

Nursing is a hard job, no doubt. There are days when I come home and collapse, others are not so bad. I hope that you will find a job where you can put your talent to work. I don't know where you are located, but I know that there are lots of places for nurses outside of the hospital/outside of direct patient care.

There are those who care about you. We all do. Be well.

Anniekins · Feb 22, 2004

:) i am not from canada, but from ohio inthe us. i will be graduating on may 8th this year, with my bsn, and already have a job at a big hospital in this area! a lot of the hospitals are offering tuition reembursement and sign on bonuses as well. this hospital has payed for my last year of school, in exchange for a one year full time work contract with them. nobody in my class has had any trouble finding a job after graduation!!!

also, there are so many different options as a nurse that we have. just get a few years under our belts...and see where the road shall lead us :nurse:

zambezi, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2004

I am a fairly recent grad (7-02)...I found work full time right out of school. I really enjoy working as an RN, I enjoy the staff and the unit I work in. I think that right now it is fairly easy to find a job after graduation--obviously finding a job that fits you and your ideal may not be as easy. I think that while increasing seats available in nursing school is a step...I know it won't solve problems. First off--who will teach these new nurses? There are not enough instructors. If nursing schools are only focused on cranking new RNs out into the workforce...I feel that the new nurses will suffer because they won't be as prepared to face the realities of today's nursing. As someone else mentioned, having more seats also does not gaurentee that the graduate will pass the nclex or enjoy nursing and stay within the field. I really love nursing, I have found a niche that I enjoy, my staff members are like a second family (most of them anyway). It is not the perfect place to work, our area has problems that need to be addressed just like everywhere else, but, IMHO I would find that no matter what job I did.