Full time jobs hard to find ?

Sour Lemon · May 16, 2020

23 minutes ago, Anotherdegree4me said:
I am applying to an accelerated program. I’m in my 50s.
will I have a hard time finding a full time position with benefits?
I hear hospitals are cutting back and a lot of nurses are per diem.

You might. Many jobs available to new graduates are labor intensive, and your age could be a negative ...although no one is going to say that directly. Managers also seem to like pliable new graduates, and older individuals may be perceived as overly opinionated or set in their ways.

You are wise to do do a good amount of research before proceeding. A lot will depend on the specific area you're in, whether or not you're willing to move, and what sort of nursing you're hoping to do.

You may have already considered the cost verses the number of working years you have left, and what you're giving up to pursue this new career.

It can definitely be done, just go in with your eyes wide open.

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · May 16, 2020

Does your current/prior career give you either an edge (healthcare related) or some strategic contacts? Either could help...

Anotherdegree4me · May 16, 2020

No. I’m an admin. No health care experience other than taking care of a friend during her cancer battle.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · May 16, 2020

Research here, you will see many new grads have a problem finding a position. What area do you want to go in to? What sparked your interest in nursing?

Anotherdegree4me · May 16, 2020

Not sure yet. I think oncology. I cared for a friend for many years with her battle and I know I have the experience to help there.
I have a friend who is hospice nurse and she said older nurses are a plus there because the young ones don’t have the life experience or maturity to deal with that.

verene, MSN · May 16, 2020

It depends on your flexibility in terms of potentially moving to a less saturated geographic area, willingness to work in a specialty that isn't your top choice (or is a less competitive specialty) and taking less desirable shifts (e.g. nights)-- until you build experience. For a new grad finding full-time work is easier than finding part-time work typically as many new grad residency positions are full-time.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · May 16, 2020

3 hours ago, Anotherdegree4me said:
Not sure yet. I think oncology. I cared for a friend for many years with her battle and I know I have the experience to help there.
I have a friend who is hospice nurse and she said older nurses are a plus there because the young ones don’t have the life experience or maturity to deal with that.

Your intense relationship with your friend and her illness/ death has lead you to this point. Feel that you are romanticizing nursing. Please don't go any farther until you explore that with a professional.

Anotherdegree4me · May 16, 2020

I don’t think I’m romanticizing at all.
just that’s all the experience I have had with health care and I was good at it.

I don’t know what working on med surg is like but don’t think it will throw me. I’m a pretty strong person and don’t get squeamish.
in know to expect a lot of unpleasant things.

maybe during rotations in nursing school I’ll find my niche. I just know I want to make a difference and do something meaningful.
sitting behind a desk and being a servant ain’t cutting it for me.
I make decent money but that’s not what it’s about anymore.

LibraNurse27, BSN, RN · May 17, 2020

I have had recruiters reach out to me for home health and hospice even during covid. From what I've seen the pay is a bit lower than hospitals in my area but if you are interested in these areas maybe it will work out. I can only speak of where I live but it seems hard to get into oncology as a new grad, because it is so specialized on top of the basic nursing. I've had some friends start in oncology and thrive, others found it to be too much to learn at once. Good luck and I hope it works out for you!

Sour Lemon · May 17, 2020

2 hours ago, Anotherdegree4me said:
I don’t think I’m romanticizing at all.
just that’s all the experience I have had with health care and I was good at it.

I don’t know what working on med surg is like but don’t think it will throw me. I’m a pretty strong person and don’t get squeamish.
in know to expect a lot of unpleasant things.
maybe during rotations in nursing school I’ll find my niche. I just know I want to make a difference and do something meaningful.
sitting behind a desk and being a servant ain’t cutting it for me.
I make decent money but that’s not what it’s about anymore.

The "difference" you're going to make will be lining the pockets of your administrators. There's little to no time for hand-holding. The unpleasant things you might experience will be:

Having 16 hours of work to complete in 12 hours

Back-breaking labor (I've had patients as large as 700lbs)

Patient and families who will call you a ******* ***** after you've done everything to help them

Being counseled about the one thing you did wrong while the hundreds of things you did right are ignored

Chaotic schedules and time off requests refused over and over

Filling out the same information, on two paper forms and three places in the computer, for each patient, at regular intervals, "or else"

...and too many other things to list. ?

I actually like my work, but it took me close to ten years to find a good spot and it's still rough sometimes. I swear I'm not trying to be all gloom and doom, but real nursing is not the nursing you see in movies or on TV. If you go in feeling idealistic, you're bound to be very disappointed.

Is there anyway you might be able to take a short course and work as a nursing assistant? You might get a closer view that way, and it's all work you'll be doing after graduation (and during school) anyway. It might also help you network if you decide to move forward.

I went to school in my 30's and am happy that I did, but I had a low-paying "minimum wage" job and nothing to lose. If I'd been financially secure and wanted to make a difference, I would have probably done some sort of volunteer work.

So again, it's very doable, but you have a lot to think about. You say you don't want to be a servant, but as a nurse, you will be a "servant" to patients, families, your nurse managers, your charge nurses, physicians and other health care providers, every other department in the hospital, the phone they require you to carry, etc.

You will have patients who ask you for 10 different things, then hit their call light as soon as you're five steps away from their door and ask for ten more. Okay, I'm done. ?

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · May 17, 2020

7 hours ago, Anotherdegree4me said:
I don’t think I’m romanticizing at all.
just that’s all the experience I have had with health care and I was good at it.

I don’t know what working on med surg is like but don’t think it will throw me. I’m a pretty strong person and don’t get squeamish.
in know to expect a lot of unpleasant things.
maybe during rotations in nursing school I’ll find my niche. I just know I want to make a difference and do something meaningful.
sitting behind a desk and being a servant ain’t cutting it for me.
I make decent money but that’s not what it’s about anymore.

Many, many moons ago I also "wanted to make a difference." That, by the way, IS romanticizing nursing. The health care system beat that out of me pretty quick. Standing on your feet for 12 hours without a potty break will wear you down pretty fast.

You think you're a servant now? Imagine being a slave to call bells. When a patient hits that sucker, you better hop to it. Hospital reimbursement is tied to patient satisfaction scores. It' s all about the money, not the patient.