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!
farmlady
11 Posts
Unfortunately, I live in the less populated areas of California (or shall I say fortunately?) and we have very little opportunity here, unless I want to drive 3 hours. So I must drive to Reno Nv, (right to work state, no benefits in my last 5 jobs) or drive to other small communities in California who have run out their other nurses from poor management. It just seems the majority of DON's are mean and nasty.
If I want money, I have to go per diem and give up benefits. If I want benefits, I have to go for low pay ($16/hr in some places. )