An Observation

Funny, I have had family move to Arizona and Pennsylvania looking for greener pastures. But PA is in the same boat as us Michiganders. Penn State U pays college grads $8 hr to work for the university! How about them apples?!

As I clicked on the "Michigan Nurses" forum, I noticed how many more posts 'Michigan' had that states listed before and after it. I did a quick glance, and saw that while larger states had more posts, Michigan stands up there right along with them. Is it a sign of our times? The Arizona board is one of the leaders; to me, this is the state where everyone seems to be fleeing. A large group of grads from my school is heading there for jobs. Of course, Florida is one of the largest states of interest, along with California, Texas, and Pennsylvania. (I haven't figured out the Pennsylvania lure yet. It's a beautiful state and loaded with friendly people. They have the four seasons there, though, which seems to be a turn-off for many. But who knows.)

Good observation. Yes, I believe unfortunately that it is a sign of the times in Michigan. Nursing seems to be the one occupation that looks promising in this state. That is good and bad. I wonder when nursing will reach its saturation point and they will start laying them off.

The Arizona board is one of the leaders; to me, this is the state where everyone seems to be fleeing.

Fleeing from or fleeing to?

Fleeing from or fleeing to?

Fleeing to, of course. Not many seem to be in a hurry to come here, unfortunately. Arizona seems to be the 'go to' state right now.

Fleeing to, of course. Not many seem to be in a hurry to come here, unfortunately. Arizona seems to be the 'go to' state right now.

Las Vegas, Nevada is the go to city/state for the building trades. My husband is a journeyman carpenter and when things are slow here a lot of the guys will migrate down there to LV or Phoenix, Az looking for work.

Great observation btw! I was actually noticing this the other day and it intrigued me as well. I know everyone is attracted to the warmer states but doesn't Arizona get up to 110+ degrees in the summer months? Gosh, that is just too hot for my blood LOL. Where can I go where it is about 75 degrees all year round? Now that would be my go to state! LMAO!!!!!

I have noticed the same thing. I have also noticed that everyone and their brother appears to be getting into nursing... at least it seems like it. Or maybe it is like when I get a new car and then suddenly... I see the same car--color and all--absolutely everywhere.

I would love to move out of state. Have to laugh though. I would prefer it to be 75 every day too. But I would take hot. I just like the water a lot, too.

. Where can I go where it is about 75 degrees all year round? Now that would be my go to state! LMAO!!!!!

That's Hawaii...

"I have noticed the same thing. I have also noticed that everyone and their brother appears to be getting into nursing... at least it seems like it. Or maybe it is like when I get a new car and then suddenly... I see the same car--color and all--absolutely everywhere."

Does this in the least bit make you feel a bit... I don't know... mediocre? Knowing that a person can just make a whimsical decision, to just become a nurse just like that? I mean this doesn't necessarily mean that they will because it has to be FOR you. But no one just makes a Eureka decision to become a Pharmacist or a News Anchor {my original aspiration in the medical field before kids OH and Broadcasting...you know...News Anchor/Reporter}.

This has been the field that alot of individuals decide to "fall back on" whether it's because their line of work is becoming extinct or they're not getting the grades that are required for... say the competitive school of Pharmacy. I've heard many people say... I chose nursing because it was easier, or nursings an easy field to break into without a lot of academic rigor beyond your basic math, english, and science... and I do get offended because I wonder is this the "dummy field" because I'm no dummy.

And then I realize that when I decided to become a nurse my friends kind of turned their noses up like... "how did you decide to go that route we thought you were strictly corporate"? I made the decision based off the fact that I wouldn't have to worry about my job as a nurse as I did in Information Technology, I wouldn't be stuck working late to finish massive projects or conducting after hours meetings in the local sushi bar, or mexican restaurants alcohol included, dealing with the politics and paranoia of older employees sucpicious of your motives to replace them yaddy ya ya... or even the time and complete willingness to relocate that it would require to pursue my dreams of being a lead anchor or reporter on the local news and eventually CNN or a National Morning show.

The point is...nursing seemed to be the "easy choice" maybe not the glamorous one but definetely rewarding in the sense of giving back. I'd make a decent income, my hours pretty set, leaving time to spend with my family which at this point is priority for me. Did I push my "dreams aside" I'd say no because the dreams I have for my family far supercede the dreams I once held for myself.

But what about others? Again yes this may have been a fallback career for me but at the same time, in this day and age not many grow up wanting to be nurses at least I didn't. Do some people feel that this field is for the mediocre, that anybody who is not mentally disabled can do? I hope no one takes offense... Just looking for some feedback.

I don't feel that nursing is mediocre. And not everyone CAN do it. It takes a special person to have to deal with bacteria-infected bodily fluids, open wounds, crazy family members, etc., to do the job that we do. I know people who wasted 4 years of school to get their BSN and have left nursing because they thought that they could handle it but realized that they couldn't. It just depends on the individual. Some people like being at bedside, others get their BSN and move on towards their MSN, not that there is anything wrong with that.

For me, I love nursing. I like being at the bedside, but I know that I will not be doing this forever. I'm already going back for my BSN and as soon as I finish that, I'm applying at Wayne State or Madonna University for my MSN.

Good discussion here. I used to think I was special because I wanted to be a nurse. I was a caregiver, it was my CHOICE to be a nurse. Had nothing to do with money, status, etc. I wanted to be a nurse. That used to mean something. Now I feel as if I am just another nobody. Because of the so-called nursing shortage, everybody is being encouraged to go into nursing school around here. So now we are pumping out tons of nurses that never aspired to be nurses and are in it because it pays well, there will always be a need, there is a shortage, etc. The compassion isn't there, the nurturing personality isn't there. And then what? We who aspired to be nurses become lumped into this same group of those who didn't aspire to become nurses but did it anyway. And when the s*** hits the fan because someone is not treated right in a hosp or other facility we all get looked down upon because "healthcare providers just aren't what they used to be and you gotta watch out for yourself so you don't get mistreated by them." Am I a little bitter? Yep. I take pride in the care I provide, and when I have to be lumped in with people who do not care, and I become just another "dumb nurse" it ****** me off. So, yes, I do think that nursing has become a fall back career for people and I do think it has become a career that is a "sure thing" for people. And I also think it sucks!

Thanks for your honesty Handyrn. I'm sure that you came into this field with the right intentions but too many individuals going through nursing just doesn't have their heart in it. It's like you said... a sure thing. I would love to {once I become an RN} stay and provide patient bedside care but it's become something altogether different. Floor nursing at this point has decidedly become a stepping stone for me into an advanced specialty.

I agree with what Katie said. Candy, did you know the attrition rate in your nursing class will be about 40%? I didn't believe it when our dean told us that in orientation 2 years ago, but by God, that's what it ended up being. I think that's people getting into it and finding out what nursing really entails, and not having the heart or the tenacity to finish it out. You really have to want it, and when students see the yuck that Katie just described, the effort sort of wanes, among other things. Perhaps these students are the 'fallback" students, I don't know.

Schools are tightening up their entrance requirements every single year to make sure the ones that get in are going to stay in. It's too much money wasted all around to have nursing students flunk out when they find they don't like it/can't make it, or find that it's just not for them.

It's an interesting dynamic. You'll see. (Sudden thought: you're in the hospital program...that's a lot different that the campus one. Can you ask the attrition rate of that program when you start tomorrow? I think you'll be in the third cohort, so the program is still new, but it would be interesting to how much the last two graduating classes shrunk.)