It has been noticed that due to mass media and just general word of mouth that there is a HUGE number of people scrambling to get into nursing school any way they can. I just wanted to provide a little information for those of you who are considering it and dismiss some myths that you have probably heard.
However, if nursing is what you really want to do in your heart, this is not meant to discourage you, just to provide a realistic view of the current nursing trends.
#1 There will always be a job for you
This is not necessarily true unless you have the ability to relocate on a whim's notice, even then, no guarantees.
I am a new graduate RN and have many former classmates who live in the bay area of california. They are currently working as LVN's or not at all. Many of them are unable to find jobs, and I know that the bay area is not the only area that has this problem. It has taken me three months of job hunting to obtain employment, and I started searching for a job two months prior to graduation. By the way, it is not my dream job, it's a med-surg night shift every other weekend. I am actually a lucky one.
#2 You can work in a lot of different areas right away
Don't I wish! Some places will hire new graduate RN's in their dream area. But certain state regulations can vary. For example, in California there is a law that states a nurse must have a year of experience to even be hired in hospice. Some facilities require a year or more experience for specialty units. And you will probably be competing against other nurses for those sought-after positions.
Also, all those travel jobs that I know most pre-nursing students google (I know this, I did it too!) are reserved for experienced nurses, usually several years of experience is recommended if not required. You don't want to go onto a floor you're not familiar with and have a patient crash on you and not even know where the crash cart if or what the hospital protocol is.
#3 Nurses make really good money
They make average salary for as long as the schooling takes to complete. Most people who go the traditional route are going to realize that an associate's degree of nursing even takes four years to complete. 2 years prerequisites and applying, then another 2 years of nursing school. Same amount of time as the average bachelor's degree. The salary may be a bit more, but you are giving up your weekends, your nights, the typical mon-fri normal job life. If you plan on having a family, or if you want to take a weekend trip, it's not going to happen that often. The main part of the "shortage" anyway would be hospital med/surg nurses who are willing to work nights/weekends.
Even more so, many do not realize the emotional and physical exhaustion nursing brings. As an LVN, I have had MANY shifts where lunches did not happen, breaks did not happen, and going home and hitting the bed was all I wanted to do. Not every job is like this, but it happens. If your patient is dying it's not like you can leave the bedside to go eat an apple. Nursing school will give you a crash course in how much of a luxury sleep is in nursing.
#4 You can live anywhere (exotic place, whatever)
Each state has different licensing requirements as well as different "needs" for nurses. California right now, many graduates cannot find work. If you had the dream of moving to California after nursing school, it is not likely to happen because many hospitals are refusing to even look at candidates who are not locals, because they are even turning many locals away for jobs.
Also, if you planned on moving to another country, different countries have licensing requirements, and many of their nurses come here because the salary/cost of living ratio is better in many states.
#5 Nursing is a safe job
It is, if you work at an office job. You can get a back injury from lifting heavy patients (yes nurses lift their patients!) An injury from a patient, whether intentional or accidental. I have had a patient grab an insulin syringe from me and attempt to stab me with it. There are many precautions you can take to make the job safer, but the risks are still present.
I'm sure there are more myths out there, this is just a few of the one's that I see all the time. I actually believed them at one point too. Anyway, good luck to those of you out there who really want to be nurses!
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I know it's not going to be tea and roses. Just like I did grunt work in the beginning of my first career, I expect to start at the bottom again. Most of the people I'm in school with are on the same level of thinking. I have no clue what type of nursing I truly want to do. I'm open to what comes. I know where I'd like to end up, but I'm open to whatever road will get me there.
~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN
5,259 Posts
First I have to say, you could not PAY me to live in CA. LOL:p
I see a lot of negative posts about nursing on this site, as a newbie reading, I have to admit, it's been quite depressing, I just told my husband today that I am worried. It seems that my idea of a great nurse and who I want to strive to be seems lost. Then I had to remember, this is a forum and it appears to have TONS or helpful information and resources, it's also a site composed of thousands of people and it's human nature to vent, to talk about the negative things, to get it out. So I try to remember that and as I read I try to not let it get me down and take away from my goals.
I decided in 2003 after being a SAHM mom with no more then a HS Diploma for 5 years that I wanted to go back to school. My first "dream" wasn't realistic for my changed lifestyle of settling down and having children, so I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do. First was a Social Worker but I knew I couldn't do it, well I could but I would end up in Jail and well know one can care for my kiddos like I can. Everyone told me to get into psychiatry, even psychiatrists themselves after some sessions would tell me that I really should consider getting into that field for children and teens. I couldn't do that either, I knew even though I might be good at it, it isn't for me. Like sith social services I would get far to attached and wouldn't be able to keep work at work. God forbid I ran into an abused child that my hands were tied on helping.
So I decided on nursing. Researching it a lot and talking to TONS of nurses in my numerous times at hospitals with my medical problems it seemed like it would be a perfect fit for me. Sure not all aspects will be ideal. But I have to believe the good will outweigh the bad. I started doing pre reqs, got on wait lists and now this Fall a total of 6 years later I will start the RN program. It wasn't without many hurdles and all out road blocks, but when I got my sights set on a goal I WILL meet it.
I am fortunate in that if it takes a while to find a job, we will be fine. my family doesn't NEED me to work. In fact I have a 2-3 week trip to Europe planned as a graduaton present from my husband.
I know like with all jobs it will not be a bed of roses and their will be obsticles and if I have to do grunt work and start at the bottom I will do it with pride. Why?? Because I worked damn hard to get to that point. Thankfully my local hospital that actually has 2 hospitals is a very good place to work for. Voted one of the best hospitals to work for. They have a 8-10 week orientation for new grads that is a general orientation. In the Day shift they have a 1:3 patient ratio, 1:4 for evening, and 1:4-5 for late night shift. They do SO MUCH for their employees. Special care units like ICU are less then that.
In all my life and I have worked in actual work places since I was 14 I have never NOT gotten a job that I set my eyes on. It might have taken a long time, but I eventually got it. If I have to be persistent but not over the top, to get a job at this hospital I will do it. I will show them that I have what it takes and I have the motivation and desire.
Ok I sort of got way off track there. HAHA. So anyway, times are tought right now, the economy is ad, it WILL pick back up. It's the natural cycle of this country and I am sure many other countries, this isnt the first recession we have had and it won't be the last.
Those of us that are actually starting nursing school right now have a min. of 2 years before we are even going to be looking for work. Those not yet accepted have any longer. The economy at this very moment doesn't apply to us really, we can't predict what it will be like in 2 years from now especially with a new president. But I believe it will get better.
I think above ANYTHING, to be a good Nurse you have to have the heart..... If you don't have the heart you should for sure find a job that you have the heart for. I wish everyone the best of luck and I hope you get out of all this what you hope to. If you come to realize this job is not for you, there is no shame in that, in fact it's admirable that you can recognize that and find something that suits you.
Please please please though don't just talk to people frustrated with nursing, talk to nurses who LOVE their job 70% of the time. People that can keep it real and tell you the bad but will also share with you all the rewarding wonderful aspects of the job.