I started out my college career with the hopes of finishing grad school & getting my LPC, so that I could be a Counselor.
The job outlook as well as the pay in the location I'm in is really pretty terrible. So as someone who already has high student loan debt- I decided to not continue to grad school to a career that looks bleak.
My 2nd career direction was Nursing. I would get my fulfillment of helping people, as well as my love for science all in one (I love Micro, A&P, Chemistry--the human body in general is incredible & I love studying it & thrive academically in this area). I also think that the pay & job security seem really alluring.
However, after reading & researching....and questioning my poor nurse friends to death-- I am beginning to doubt I would be really happy.
It seems incredibly harsh to work many holidays & weekends, not just in the beginning, (& as a new nurse I absolutely would have to) but even throughout my career as a nurse, I would be constantly the one saying, "I've gotta work this holiday, sorry family can't come."
So the holidays & weekends are really making me question if I should go forward.
----->As well as the 12 hour shifts.
I'm in my mid twenties & married & do want to have kids in a year or 2. As much as I've read you can "make it work" it seems like I would miss a lot more of my newborn than I'd want to---and wouldn't even be able to get pregnant until after 2 yrs of nursing school.
So--just asking for feedback--maybe stories of similar situations/decisions.
Also--as a new grad do you have the ability of working as a part time nurse? To my understanding you cannot go PRN until you've worked 2 yrs at a hospital. But if not PRN --what about just part time nursing w/out the extra benefits that PRN offers?
Not all employers switch off holidays, ours go by seniority.
We work 3 weekend days per 4 weeks and 2 Fridays, 1 Monday. We sign up holidays as 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice and we count the eves as many night people prefer the eves.
But with a staff of over 100, vacations are a thorn in our sides. You may not get a full week off in the summer if you are under 10 years...we have a very low turn over. We even limit vacation to 2 weeks from May to September.
If you are having doubts about nursing and you feel you just can't handle working a non-traditional work week, then think hard before you commit.
As someone who started working at age 14, the oldest in a large family that was not well-off, and who had a successful career in law prior to becoming an RN later in life, I was offended when I first read this posting. Then I re-read it, and I just had to shake my head.
So, you don't want to work on an occasional holiday, or on the weekend, or to work 12-hour shifts (even though those 12's allow you to work three days a week, and have four days off, with full benefits). Millions of people, across a broad range of occupations, work on weekends and holidays. Personally, I'd rather work a Saturday or Sunday and have time off during the week ... movies are less crowded, and so is the beach, the grocery store, and the gym. If you want a M-F, 9-5 job, then go get an MBA and take a job with a bank ... if you can get hired. No RN I know works every weekend and every holiday, unless he/she wants to. And believe me, some do. Nursing hours can be incredibly accommodating to a person with a family, but to think that you're entitled to escape any vestige of inconvenience is pretty startling.
Now comes the touchy part: you want a nursing career, but you want to have a baby "in a year or two". Well, I suggest you choose one or the other. But you won't, because you "want it all". You want a family AND a career AND you want to feel fulfilled, etc. All without working weekends or holidays. Ugh. I better stop here before I say something that some will feel is inappropriate.
I mean, really ... the words that come to mind are "prima donna". I guess it's a generational thing; your generation seems much more entitled than mine.
Anyway, I wish you luck finding that interesting, well-paying, and fulfilling health care job that allows you to work 10am to 4pm, Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday. With holidays off, and full benefits.
Why must you generalize/stereotype a whole generation as feeling "entitled?"
On anothet note, I personally was not offended by OPs post. I did find it naive, however. Someone who is in for a big wake up call. But luckily, she got kind, thorough responses from other posters. I just don't understand grouping an entire generation as entitled. I grew up with so many classmates working through high school and then paying their own way through college, myself included (I'm 31 y/o).
Why must you generalize/stereotype a whole generation as feeling "entitled?"
On anothet note, I personally was not offended by OPs post. I did find it naive, however. Someone who is in for a big wake up call. But luckily, she got kind, thorough responses from other posters. I just don't understand grouping an entire generation as entitled. I grew up with so many classmates working through high school and then paying their own way through college, myself included (I'm 31 y/o).
Excellent response! I felt the same way, not offended but that maybe the original poster needs more info and is just a bit naive. We all have things we hope for and plan for and maybe have unrealistic ideas about. I think her asking for the info instead of assuming is a great step in the right direction.
Have you considered any of the other health care professions? Most require just about the same educational pre-requisites. Some have a Masters entry level, but Bachelors degree is more common. Since nursing & respiratory therapy are basically the only 24X7 services in most hospitals, the other clinical areas have more "normal" hours. They don't have the same problems with salary compression (bedside nursing tops out at ~ 5 years) and intense physical workloads. Take a look - maybe laboratory science or a radiologic specialty is for you!
The things that stick for me are "high student debt" and "baby in two years".
How long do plan on paying those student loans?
Babies and childcare cost money.
And yes there are jobs where you don't work shift or statutory holidays but it also depends on where you live. In my area, public health/school jobs are like gold. They go by seniority.
Tele-health wants at least three years experience
Doctors offices hire LPNs or NPs.
Before you sink anymore money into your education, figure out what you want to do. You want to help people, have you considered ultrasound? My region is always short of sonographers. Dental hygienist?
I became a nurse after my youngest started school. I didn't want strangers raising them. I also worked casual for the first five years. No guarantee of hours or wages but I could make sure I was there for their fieldtrips, soccer games, and scouts. I paid my loans back in 16 months.
So you are saying that working mothers don't raise their kids?
So you are saying that working mothers don't raise their kids?
Awesome.
Can you show me where I said that?
My choice was to stay home and raise my children. I wanted to see them take their first steps, hear their first words. My husband worked away from home and he wouldn't have seen them either.
I was the mother who wound up looking after my friends sick kids when they had to work.
But then you are putting words in my post that aren't there. Projecting your own feelings much?
Bitter. You just sound bitter & burned out. Exactly what I do not want to be. You twisted several things I said & also ASSUMED much about my personal work history & character that you know nothing about. You are incredibly rude. Thanks for the eye opener of how wonderful a life in nursing can be- by turning you in to a rude, bitter & judgemental person.
The most awesome schedule I've ever had was when I was an LPN in a clinic, M-Thur 8-5 no weekends or holidays with an hour long paid lunch. I was 20 years old and loved going out all weekend and napping in my car on my lunch break.
One RN job I had was weekend option 7am to 1130 pm Saturdays and Sundays. I loved the lifestyle that allowed me to have. In that one year my fiancée and I traveled/adventured in 11 different countries.
I now work most holidays and weekends because I choose to. It helps that my significant other works 12 hour nights as well and we copy each others schedules. I don't like being out doing things like dinner, beach, camping, wandering, shopping during 'normal' hours. I guess I am really lucky to have this perception. I don't have children yet. I know plenty of nurses who have kids and who work nights so someone can be home with them all the time. I expect that will be my plan as well.
Bitter. You just sound bitter & burned out. Exactly what I do not want to be. You twisted several things I said & also ASSUMED much about my personal work history & character that you know nothing about. You are incredibly rude. Thanks for the eye opener of how wonderful a life in nursing can be- by turning you in to a rude, bitter & judgemental person.
I'm sorry but could you be more specific about who you're referring to? You didn't quote any specific comment.
I guess we're not giving the OP the answers she wants to hear?
We shouldn't be asking how she proposes to repay student loans (which she brought up), the fact that she wants to start a family in two years (which can put a dent in repaying those student loans), and suggesting that maybe nursing isn't the way to go for her.
I say wait two years. Do not conceive a baby, do not take any classes & pay off as MUCH of your debt as you can. After two years, make a decision.
Nursing is a great career field but does require sacrifice. You will at some point have to work a holiday.
To jeroboam: your comment was offensive to anyone in the generation that you feel is "entitled". Not everyone fits the label. If you are going to call someone out on their issues, please do not ignorantly generalize.
Bitter. You just sound bitter & burned out. Exactly what I do not want to be. You twisted several things I said & also ASSUMED much about my personal work history & character that you know nothing about. You are incredibly rude. Thanks for the eye opener of how wonderful a life in nursing can be- by turning you in to a rude, bitter & judgemental person.
You will see alot of that here, stick around awhile!
NicuGal, MSN, RN
2,743 Posts
Not all employers switch off holidays, ours go by seniority.
We work 3 weekend days per 4 weeks and 2 Fridays, 1 Monday. We sign up holidays as 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice and we count the eves as many night people prefer the eves.
But with a staff of over 100, vacations are a thorn in our sides. You may not get a full week off in the summer if you are under 10 years...we have a very low turn over. We even limit vacation to 2 weeks from May to September.
If you are having doubts about nursing and you feel you just can't handle working a non-traditional work week, then think hard before you commit.