Does it seem like EVERYONE is trying to be a nurse?

In my life's experience, an Assoc Degree has never been worth much more than a HS diploma......except for nursing. For many of us career changers, we looked at what we could study that would have the highest rate of return for the least amount of time investment.

Also, if there are other parents like me out there....I have advised my children to consider whether or not the job they want to do can be done by someone else in a foreign country. If so, avoid that. Whatever you do, you have to work in a field where the human body MUST be in this country...this way they can't outsource your future to India or China.

I have been in IT for the past 18 years and laid off more times than I care to shake a stick at. For nursing, you can get a ADN in a little over 2 yrs, fairly cheap at a CC and earn a good wage!

We've been getting pummeled with the "nursing shortage" malarky for years so everybody thinks it's a guaranteed way to get a good job.

News flash: It's not.

The stability and security of nursing, I think, draws a lot of people to it. Especially with the recession lately and a lot of people looking to change jobs. People are always shocked when I tell them how I hear its hard to find a job when you graduate as a nurse, so there are definitely a lot of misconceptions out there. Thats really unfortunate for the people who go into nursing and then after putting in all the energy realize its not that easy!

I feel the same way as you. I do think everybody is trying to be a nurse,including me. I wish I can study some other healthcare career instead of nursing right now but the job market in other fields are not great in numbers of job openings.

Is nursing not a good way to get a good job?

Is nursing not a good way to get a good job?

In most parts of the US, many or most graduating nurses are unable to find regular work.

I am in the same situation as you are. I'm by no means a social butterfly--I have very very few friends, but nearly all my friends are thinking about nursing school, or already in.

To be honest with you, the recession is the reason why I've headed back to school to get my Nursing degree. In my A&P classes, about 1/2 are going into Nursing, and a handful has chosen nursing as a second career.

In most parts of the US many or most graduating nurses are unable to find regular work.[/quote']

Is this just general knowledge that I don't know about, or, where are you getting this statistic??

Is this just general knowledge that I don't know about, or, where are you getting this statistic??

Well, for the most part it's anecdotal based on posts on these forums and some reports from friends and friends of friends in a few regions around the country.

It's also based on information like a note that I saw on postings from a major medical center in Washington (Harborview or something like that?) which added that experienced nurses will be considered for jobs that are posted as "new grad" positions.

It's also based on my firsthand experience looking for regional jobs.

Finally, in terms of hard data, it's based on a July 2009 report about the state of nursing in California. That report provides the only hard statistics that I've seen.

Note that I didn't make a blanket statement. There are some new grads being hired everywhere, even here in Northern California, and apparently there are a few places around the country where they're actually being hired in numbers. Here in Northern California, though, even though some are getting hired, most are not and there are huge numbers of applicants for every posting (as related by two different hiring managers as well as the very short time that some postings remain open).

It does seem like it is hard for new grads to get nursing jobs unless you know someone (not all the time). I know personally of 3 students at my former CC who have relatives that work at certain East Bay hospitals were hired quickly. At my church one of the members already told me to let her know when I get my RN, she has been a nurse at the same hospital for 25 years.

Yes, while this may true, i think what people have to remember is that it's not enough to finish nursing school, then pass your exams to work as a nurse. It's SO true that there are like a million new nurses each month, all looking to get a hospital job after graduation. While this job may be "recession proof", i'd like to say that it's a tough, competitive world out there-- so all you guys who are planning to be in this profession should be prepared for this. It's not like, okay, I want to go to nursing school, then I'd work as a nurse and earn tons of money then I'm good for life. It's definitely not a walk in the park. You need lot's of patience, prayers and persevere 'til the end.

I have to say that the volume of nurses is a bit intimidating, but I just wish that they know what they're getting into-- NOT EASY at all.