I would like to first say that I come from a family full of nurses, both sides (so I've seen the fight to show that nursing is a professional field first-hand, 1970's onward).
I also have factory worker relatives, and I have respect for hard working people. I am not trying to diss on someone who works in a factory -- it's difficult and honest work. It's not an easy way to make ends meet.
However, where I live in Ohio, something strange is happening. All the trade schools, community colleges and even some universities are push, push, pushing displaced factory and auto workers into nursing due to (you guessed it) "guaranteed employment, plenty of jobs etc." (yeah, RIGHT!)
There's practically an LPN or RN evening/weekend program on every corner, and all the websites show a guy (God forbid they show a female nurse) who lost his job in the auto plant last week in scrubs, putting up an IV or something like that (you should surf the web and see some for yourselves!). Some of these guys look kind of unkempt or need a shave (sorry, not trying to be mean!).
Of course I am very happy for someone who gets a new career in this terrible recession, and works hard to earn a nursing credential. That deserves recognition and respect. But sometimes I wonder if the profession of nursing, which has fought so hard since the 1970's to be considered a white-collar, professional occupation, is going to suffer a big image hit due to these fly-by-night colleges PUSHING "get your RN, get your LPN, make money" to literally everyone with a pulse and then flooooooding the market.
There are lots of news stories up here in Ohio that contribute to this image of "Anyone can do it! Easy money!" They always interview a guy who barely graduated from high school, got laid off from the factory, uses poor grammar, and now he almost has his RN license.
Again -- that's is wonderful for him, and I respect that. If he can pass the courses and the tests, kudos to him! He deserves his success! But it worries me that this situation is going to make nursing look like a non-professional occupation in the future.
People should not go into anything just for the money, especially nursing. You need to have a passion. There are no sure-fire recession-proof jobs anymore; it really doesn't matter what you choose in college (I know first-hand due to a derailed librarian career that was booming in 2000). So, choose your calling!
I hope I did not offend anyone. I just wonder what will happen in the future. My aunt was the head nurse in a large hospital in Columbus, and she was one of those people who fought like hell to let people know that nursing is a professional medical occupation -- not a glorified bottom-wiping job!
Nurses know as much or MORE than doctors. I worry that people are going to forget this.
i just graduated in december from a 2-year nursing program in ohio; it took me about 4 years to complete the program. i spent 2 years fulfilling my prerequisites while on a waiting list for entry into the rn program. my plan to go to nursing school was well thought out long before the current economical issues facing our nation, and long before the government decided they would pay for displaced workers to go to college.
this past fall i watched as the new group of freshman rn students walked into the lecture hall, i couldn't believe my eyes, it's just how you are describing. aside from some young fresh out of high school students, and some single moms striving to make a quality life for her children, it looked like every laid off factory worker in the area was there. this is by no means a slam to factory workers, industry is what has made our country a leader in the industrialized world, and i have true admiration for those workers and i feel for them every time i hear of yet another business moving their operation to china or mexico. there is no doubt in my mind that some of these students will make it through their nursing programs and will make great rn's, i feel for those who have been falsely led into thinking they can go to college for 2 years and get a nursing degree and be making $50,000 right out of the starting gate.
nursing school is hard, they don't put that in the advertisements, they don't tell these nursing school candidates how much effort and how much of your life will be taken away during those years, how hard it is to balance school and your family and still have time to study, learn skills, write papers and pass exams. for those who are able to make it through i admire you even more, congratulations! in the end it is all worth it, the nursing profession is a highly rewarding career, even though there is still a fair amount of butt wiping.
Schools, nursing schools - ARE A BUSINESS OUT TO MAKE MONEY. They are taking advantage of people thinking there are jobs/job security in nursing. As long as you keep lining up - they will continue to take your money regardless of the job market. Again, those who really want to be nurses, go for it - that creates the natural ebb and flow of things; but flooding the market with every Brett, Lindsey, Casey, Harold and Martha, created the mess we are in.
Hmmm, interesting responses. I read the OP not as a criticism of the factory workers or others who might be entering nursing, but as a concern about the nursing programs springing up on every street corner and heavily advertising how quickly and easily you can become a nurse. I share those concerns.
I think we all have these concerns. I teach clinicals, and so many of the students think that there are jobs just falling off of trees. I keep telling them the truth, and of course, the school and on campus instructors are not big about me doing this. I feel that the truth would serve the students so much better. We hear about a projected nursing shortage around 2017-2026, and yet the market is flooded now, with a program on every corner. I also think that the shortage won't hit every state or locale, just some markets will be hit harder than others. What is everyone's thoughts on that?
We hear about a projected nursing shortage around 2017-2026, and yet the market is flooded now, with a program on every corner. I also think that the shortage won't hit every state or locale, just some markets will be hit harder than others. What is everyone's thoughts on that?
We heard for so long about a PRESENT shortage (you still hear that lie repeated on this site) so I have no confidence that "they" know what they're talking about.
You are certainly correct that any actual shortages will be only regional (and probably transient, even there).
My thoughts: The huge oversupply of nurses is going to drive wages and benefits down, down, down over time.
My thoughts: The huge oversupply of nurses is going to drive wages and benefits down, down, down over time.
I totally agree with that. In fact have heard about it already. The couple of jobs that hired new grads in my area recently, did it at less than $3/hr than previously. The claim is supply and demand, and unfortunately for all of us, that argument is a valid one.
I totally agree with that. In fact have heard about it already. The couple of jobs that hired new grads in my area recently, did it at less than $3/hr than previously. The claim is supply and demand, and unfortunately for all of us, that argument is a valid one.
Like you said, it's regional. New Grads at my hospital get paid more than I do with 18 months experience.
My thoughts: The huge oversupply of nurses is going to drive wages and benefits down down, down over time.[/quote']
This has already happened in my area. Some employers don't even bother to apply the new rates to new employees only. They cut the wages of those who are already working for them and because of the lack of work in the area, they are confident that no one will leave because of the pay cuts.
I have absolutely no problem with ex-factory workers, or anyone else for that matter, entering nursing. In this day and age the average young person is going to probably change professions or jobs at least a half dozen to a dozen times. Who knows, nursing could become saturated like it once was years ago.
One of the main reasons I like this push of males and blue-collar types into nursing is that it will once-again employ AMERICAN nurses. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am tired of working with nurses who have problems expressing themselves and who also have very questionable credentials, who graduate from foreign nursing programs.
i find rather odd why the use of the position of 'factory workers" and not the blue collar label or pick any other position? this may sound like picking at words but it can show your view point. for some have the idea that the blue collar workers should stay in those positions as in the same idea as the having different segments of social classes. this is why the op statement of factory workers has bother people.
now to the issue of a person taking the pre reg, nursing courses. there are many different levels where a person can be cut from being a nurse- think of the idea of survival of the fittest concept. if the school admins don’t think the person doesn’t meet the requirements they are not taken. if the person fails the class they’re out. if they can’t pass the state boards they are out. even if a person goes through all that and becomes a nurse and the person is. . . unkempt or unrulely have their undies showing or whatever the unnursly thing is finding a job is will be a issue. if there is such a problem with the person being a nurse life has a way of weeding people out who doesn’t fit into a certain form.
basicly put people can learn alot but the person's personlity and attuide will either carry them or drop them off on the wayside. why bother with trying to cut off the people you don't like? the person who works harder and better at the job with better moods will be be the deciding factor not what job a person held before
i find rather odd why the use of the position of 'factory workers" and not the blue collar label or pick any other position? this may sound like picking at words but it can show your view point. for some have the idea that the blue collar workers should stay in those positions as in the same idea as the having different segments of social classes. this is why the op statement of factory workers has bother people.
now to the issue of a person taking the pre reg, nursing courses. there are many different levels where a person can be cut from being a nurse- think of the idea of survival of the fittest concept. if the school admins don't think the person doesn't meet the requirements they are not taken. if the person fails the class they're out. if they can't pass the state boards they are out. even if a person goes through all that and becomes a nurse and the person is. . . unkempt or unrulely have their undies showing or whatever the unnursly thing is finding a job is will be a issue. if there is such a problem with the person being a nurse life has a way of weeding people out who doesn't fit into a certain form.
basicly put people can learn alot but the person's personlity and attuide will either carry them or drop them off on the wayside. why bother with trying to cut off the people you don't like? the person who works harder and better at the job with better moods will be be the deciding factor not what job a person held before
In my unit (ICU) we have no LPNs. Everyone either has a BSN or is working to get a BSN. We don't even hire LVNs anymore.
It ain't easy money and postions are available but experience is required. I am not sure what to make of the male vs female comment since I am a male AND I have a beard.
Nursing is a second career for me and I did get into nursing because its a steady choice. I didn't pick it because I like to clean diarrhea and vomit all day. It pays the bills. I dont know anyone who doesn't work to get paid.
I read your OP several times to make sure I wasn't just doing a knee jerk reaction and I find your OP highly offensive to me and quite a few of my factory worker friends. I am also a Buckeye (GO BUCKS!) and I find nothing wrong with being on the line building parts for automobiles one day, go to school, then drawing blood the next. I spend 20 years in the automotive industry working my way up from the bottom while going to school to learn computers. I then kept working in the automotive industry as a white collar worker. For you to say (insert job title here) shouldn't be a nurse because they lost their job, well I say BULL. What makes you think they weren't going to find the path into nursing and just needed the little push to get them motivated? I am proof that a person can have several callings in a lifetime and job security is only one reason among many for me to go back to school to earn my nursing degree. Besides, there are so many facets to nursing and plenty of jobs outside of the hospital/acute care setting. I say more power to anyone that takes charge in changing their life!
jjmorr
5 Posts
i just graduated in december from a 2-year nursing program in ohio; it took me about 4 years to complete the program. i spent 2 years fulfilling my prerequisites while on a waiting list for entry into the rn program. my plan to go to nursing school was well thought out long before the current economical issues facing our nation, and long before the government decided they would pay for displaced workers to go to college.
this past fall i watched as the new group of freshman rn students walked into the lecture hall, i couldn't believe my eyes, it's just how you are describing. aside from some young fresh out of high school students, and some single moms striving to make a quality life for her children, it looked like every laid off factory worker in the area was there. this is by no means a slam to factory workers, industry is what has made our country a leader in the industrialized world, and i have true admiration for those workers and i feel for them every time i hear of yet another business moving their operation to china or mexico. there is no doubt in my mind that some of these students will make it through their nursing programs and will make great rn's, i feel for those who have been falsely led into thinking they can go to college for 2 years and get a nursing degree and be making $50,000 right out of the starting gate.
nursing school is hard, they don't put that in the advertisements, they don't tell these nursing school candidates how much effort and how much of your life will be taken away during those years, how hard it is to balance school and your family and still have time to study, learn skills, write papers and pass exams. for those who are able to make it through i admire you even more, congratulations! in the end it is all worth it, the nursing profession is a highly rewarding career, even though there is still a fair amount of butt wiping.