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

Published

I've been contemplating going back to school to do prereq's for nursing. All of a sudden it seems like everyone I know is going to be a nurse! Does anyone else see this? Four girls I work with, about fifteen friends on Facebook, and at least 1 or 2 random people a week.

Do you think this has to do with the recession? Are people just all going back to school to get a healthcare career for more job security? I can't think of why else this would be happening so quickly??

Mrs.TT,

Personally, I believe the new nursing school boom has a lot to do with the economy. I also believe that there are many other reasons for so many people exploring the career.

As for the those who expressed concerns as to why people want to be a nurse.......... WHO CARES and what business is it of yours, mine, or anyone else?

It's all a matter of perspective though. While some may think it's a bad thing that "everyone" is going in to nursing, I say it's the best thing for anyone needing the services of a nurse. (patients and doctors alike)

Competition breeds excellence. Take a look at this forum, the student forums, advanced degree program forums and so on. One of the biggest complaints is that "I'm afraid my 3.4 GPA won't be good enough."

So ask yourself this question; who would you rather be in charge of YOUR care: someone who was in a program that would take just about anyone (due to lack of interest) or someone who graduated from a program that was totally impacted therefore providing a scenario where only the best of the best got in, moved on, and graduated?

Is it going to take longer because there are so many people interested? Are we going to have to work harder to be successful? Might it take longer to find a job when we're done? Yes it will, but I for one don't want to be part of a profession that allows the meek to survive.

Good luck to all of us. If we put in the time and effort we will be successful.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.
As for the those who expressed concerns as to why people want to be a nurse.......... WHO CARES and what business is it of yours, mine, or anyone else?

Because motivation DIRECTLY affects professionalism and patient care. Someone who is in it for a secure paycheck is far less likely to put extra effort in as someone who is in it for patient care or intellectual interest. Sure, they'll work hard on the front end to get themselves in... but after?

Believe me, I see it in other professionals all the time.

Genuine care and interest is no guarantee by itself, but combine it with talent, ethic, and intelligence and you'll get much better results.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Because motivation DIRECTLY affects professionalism and patient care. Someone who is in it for a secure paycheck is far less likely to put extra effort in as someone who is in it for patient care or intellectual interest.

All due respect you, I, or no one else has the right to determine what some ones motivation MAY impact. That said, once a person receives a license to practice they have the duty, in fact they are bound by their license, to provide the best and safest patient care possible. If someone is in a job and they are unable to perform at (or above) the standards required they will not be successful and they will not have the paycheck you are saying is their sole motivation. Further, the topic is regarding nursing school, not actual nursing practice. That in and of itself is an entirely different subject.

Back to the original topic at hand, unless you're on the admissions board of an accredited school, your thoughts of what a persons motivations are is irrelevant; in-fact, I would argue that if you're already making prejudices as to what an applicants motivations are and how they will impact them as a licensed, state registered nurse, that you are the one who is more likely to have a direct negative impact with your professionalism in the workforce.

My point is and remains, it doesn't matter what drives a person. At the current time, only the best of the best are getting in to, graduating from (nursing school) and finding employment after licensure; therefore statistically speaking those BEST QUALIFIED candidates will be the ones finding employment in a vocation that is currently impacted. Once the field thins out and we are faced with another shortage it will be a different story though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

If you think a qualification is all that makes a good nurse... I suppose you are right. But I think there is more than that. Maybe I'm all wrong about that, but I HOPE I'm not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you think a qualification is all that makes a good nurse... I suppose you are right. But I think there is more than that. Maybe I'm all wrong about that, but I HOPE I'm not.

That is an excellent point SummitAP but I also think that takes us off on to an entirely different conversation.

All nurses must be qualified ie: have an education and pass the state licensing tests; HOWEVER not all "qualified" nurses are "good" nurses.

Does this mean that an RN with a "C" average is not as good of a nurse an one who had an "A" average? Obviously not but in both cases the motivation to become a nurse is not a factor in the actual practice of nursing.

I may be wrong but I suspect that a high percentage of men and women who enter nursing programs with a weak motivation (or desire) end up dropping out long before gaining their RN license.

Good luck to you in your program and I hope we cross paths again. It's nice to have a discussion with someone where we can both express our opinions whether we agree with one another or not.

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

yes.. i heard that a lot these days and i'm so scared.

it's getting competitive too.

one of my friend got her RN lincense during summer and

she went to one of the hospital to get interviewed and they

said to wait 3 months to start working...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm in a nursing school prereq class: I would say that 75% of the class is below the minimum grade they would need to apply to nursing school. Many students have already dropped the class, several are failing. This is just the first of 6 prereq classes.

NEWS FLASH: getting into Nursing School is not easy. Completing Nursing School is not easy. Passing the Nclex is not easy. Why do all of the current nurses think that Nursing students expect that finding a job after graduation will suddenly be easy. We are obviously not unintelligent, we've already been competing for a couple of years just to get into nursing school and graduate. We expect to compete for jobs as well.

If it's difficult do you think we'll just give up? If we were going to give up we wouldn't have finished school we would have dropped out. If there's not a job in the city you live in, move to the rural area, move out of state. Take a job that isn't your first choice. Pay your dues. Isn't how every job field is anyway? We will pay our dues and move up and love our careers in Nursing.

Fellow students: Don't let the naysayers put a seed of doubt in your minds. You've got one life, live it. If you want to be a Nurse, if you REALLY want to: nothing is going to stop your momentum!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Chiropractic assistant, CNA in LTC, RN.

As for the those who expressed concerns as to why people want to be a nurse.......... WHO CARES and what business is it of yours, mine, or anyone else?

I'd like to respond to this quote. When you find yourself or worse yet, your child, being cared for by a nurse who is ONLY in healthcare for the money, and really doesn't like people, you'll be able to understand why we ask this question.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As for the those who expressed concerns as to why people want to be a nurse.......... WHO CARES and what business is it of yours, mine, or anyone else?

I'd like to respond to this quote. When you find yourself or worse yet, your child, being cared for by a nurse who is ONLY in healthcare for the money, and really doesn't like people, you'll be able to understand why we ask this question.

ur right...

wish everyone luck...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As for the those who expressed concerns as to why people want to be a nurse.......... WHO CARES and what business is it of yours, mine, or anyone else?

I'd like to respond to this quote. When you find yourself or worse yet, your child, being cared for by a nurse who is ONLY in healthcare for the money, and really doesn't like people, you'll be able to understand why we ask this question.

I'd rather be cared for by someone who knows the job. I can care less if they talk nice and sweet. I decided I wanted to be a nurse because it looks pretty easy, classes are probably not too hard, and it only costs about $6K for me to get a job making around $35k+ to start. I'm not going into it because I love people, but I don't hate people either. I've been working manual labor jobs my whole life. It is about time I made a change to a nice indoor job where I don't have to work at a desk. I'll post here to let you know if I graduate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.

Everyone is trying to became a NURSE... the thought of getting good pay and recession proof job could be the reason ... but who cares ... its their personal choose... sometimes those choose dont work. Getting into nursing school is a challenge it self... learning the course and its application would require lots of brain and physical work. Lots of requirement to complete the course plus passing the board. this is just the academic side of being a nurse.. the more challenging is giving the CARE .. see it yourself when you visit someone in the hospital.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think the second Bigest challenge after nursing school is finding a JOB!!!

For example in California: a study just released mentions that 40% of nursing grads won't get a JOB!

Talking about recession proof job....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion