Hey guys, I'm new here but I've actually been lurking for a couple months and have found this site immensly helpful. I'm a native of Canada, but I've beein in the US since 2000, and have been accepted to an Accelerated BSN prgram starting in June, 2012. Maybe I'm just having cold feet, but I'm starting to get a weird vibe from the nursing field in general. It's almost reminiscent to me of the housing market bubble, and we all see how that went down! The whole schooling thing seems chaotic, and honestly I've been looking at the numbers of people being churned out every year and it doesn't surprise me that new grads can't get jobs. But when you try to explain that to people that aren't in the know, they all respond with the standard "you can't go wrong being a nurse". It's like everyone has been brainwashed. Before embarking on the university journey, I was actually an admittance advisor in a university in Florida, and I can tell you that no other department on campus had students with that much drive to get in. Not to be a cynic,but I can't believe that they all have that much desire to provide patient care; I think that the good pay the nursing field can provide was (understandably) a driving force, at least to some point. My good friend graduated from a private 2 year school that barely keeps up their accredititation with about 35k in student loans in May, and has yet to find a job. Only a few in her class have gotten full-time jobs. What other field would someone take on that much debt to enter?
Honestly, I'm not trying to be a downer, I'm just being realistic. I've always wanted to be a patient care provider, but I'm thinking of going a different route. Like I said, maybe it's nerves, but it just seems like this whole scenario isn't very good. The sheer number of nurses that are graduating yearly is daunting in itself.
So after my long-winded post, Id love to see if any of you have any insight. I'd love to be proven wrong, because this has been my goal for a long time and I'm sad to let it go! Cheers!
Recently, my dad sat down with a military spouse as he works as a career counselor for active duty military and their families. This woman tells my dad she is thinking about going to back to school... a little while later, my dad asked her what kind of school she is thinking about. She said nursing. My dad goes, "let me tell you about nursing..." and proceeds to tell her about me about my experiences of not being able to find a job.
I have been a CNA for 5 years and I love what I do. Being a nurse is my ultimate goal in life, my PROFESSIONAL life. One can't have a professional life if their unemployed, now can they? In 2007, my university wasn't telling people about the hardship of finding a job. Sure, maybe the Nursing Department was, but we don't have contact with the SoN until AFTER we've applied and been accepted (at least at my alumnus). To be completely, totally, and 100% honest, had I known this is how it was going to be once I graduated and could call myself an RN, despite how much I love what I do I would have took a different career route and came back to this when I was older.
I hate to be so pessimistic, but I'm beginning to think that our current recession may be the way things will be for the foreseeable future; like the next 10 years. So, the crazy hiring that was happening about 5 years ago, may well have been a "hiring bubble", like you said. And, we may never again see that type of frenzied hiring.
Many hospitals in my area are having lay-offs of nurses, not hiring.
I cannot argue with your perceptions of the situation. It might help for you to explore other careers you might be interested in and see how it compares to nursing before you make a decision. In my area the local community college is graduating students from both the LVN and RN program with many complaints of being unable to secure employment.
For those who are commenting about the negativity of this thread, if you look at those who are providing imformation about the REALITY of nursing opportunities, they are experienced or have experienced no job at graduation. We are not embarking on a volunteer opportunity here, but rather we are investing time and money into a career. Thank you for all who've represented the current realities of nursing.
For myself, I just finished my fourth semester of my ADN program at an established community college. I got my LPN certificate the year prior to starting my ADN. I've elected to do my preceptorship next semester, so I will graduate Spring 2011 (God-willing!), as I'm hoping to delay my graduation because of the current job market. I already work in assisted living as a LPN and love what I do. I practice skills of assessment, med admin, interaction with outside health professionals, periodic emergency care, and supervision of aides, but I am hoping to gain experience in a hospital. My goal is to be a nurse practitioner, so I'll be continuing with my BSN.
The profession of nursing needs to be prepared for like a mind of a business student, with careful preparation and development of a resume. No longer is it enough to just be 'caring' or to show up with a smile and a nursing degree in hand looking for a job.
Thanks to all that are saying the reality of what is REALLY going on in nursing to those with many years of experience and those who are just graduating thanks for the heads up on what to expect. I am nervous about the whole thing school and job market but always wanted to be a nurse and it is a big investment but I will remain hopeful but realistic.
I am usually quite long-winded when I post advice but, in this case, I have only a few words:
If you really want to go into nursing, don't worry about the job market, it will work itself out but, if you have doubts about the profession itself, don't do it.
If you are serious about nursing, go for it. Even in this economy, people are still getting hired. You may not get the job you want, or you may have to relocate, but so be it. After a few years, more doors open up anyway. And in the next few years, these hospitals will undoubtedly have to start hiring the much- needed amount of staff. Realistically, they can only get away with this for so long, and the market always goes in cycles. When you are at school, try to network with instructors, as this often determines who is hired in tight markets like this.
YuHiroRN, BSN
58 Posts
Recently, my dad sat down with a military spouse as he works as a career counselor for active duty military and their families. This woman tells my dad she is thinking about going to back to school... a little while later, my dad asked her what kind of school she is thinking about. She said nursing. My dad goes, "let me tell you about nursing..." and proceeds to tell her about me about my experiences of not being able to find a job.
I have been a CNA for 5 years and I love what I do. Being a nurse is my ultimate goal in life, my PROFESSIONAL life. One can't have a professional life if their unemployed, now can they? In 2007, my university wasn't telling people about the hardship of finding a job. Sure, maybe the Nursing Department was, but we don't have contact with the SoN until AFTER we've applied and been accepted (at least at my alumnus). To be completely, totally, and 100% honest, had I known this is how it was going to be once I graduated and could call myself an RN, despite how much I love what I do I would have took a different career route and came back to this when I was older.