Full Time Work Nursing Positions - Fact or Fiction -2013?

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Hello,

As a recently unemployed 45 year old single woman, I am looking at a career change. It seems all we hear in the media is how short the nursing profession is and the upcoming demand. In reading through these posts, though, it seems that new grads can't get jobs, sounds like there may be a real "nurses eating their young" epidemic (possibly, job insecurity? - bullying) and if you want to live in a city such as Calgary or Edmonton, it is going to be difficult to find a position full time.

I think that nursing can be a great career because you are helping people that are truly in need...I worked in construction for 11 years and I can honestly say that the amount of drama I heard from people when things didn't go as planned (heat drops in their basement for example) made me a little sick to my stomach. I guess I can understand or at least I hope that I would be more sympathetic to people when it involves something as crucial as their health. I also think it has some real diversity in the field and once again, after being "restructured" out of a job, job security would be an asset...or at least a union.

Anyhow, I am very green and possibly naive so I am looking to you for some experienced guidance. Please share with me, as I am considering investing a substantial amount of time and resources in the after degree nursing program at the U of A and need some real world advise from people that are in the profession.

Thanks!

Specializes in Cardiology.

@OP

If you are contemplating becomming an RN because of the $$ and "job security", I would seriously recommend to take some time and think long and hard before sinking years of time and money into school and do some more research into the profession. I would try and get on doing some volunteering in a hospital or other health care facility. Try to "shadow" an RN for a shift.

Some other important questions:

Are you OK doing shift work?

Are you OK with working casual aka no set schedule, no set hours and no "guaranteed" income for the first year (or more) of your nursing career?

Are you OK with problem based learning (as that is the methodology of the U of A after degree program).

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

At our staff meeting yesterday we were told that we have 23 vacancies on our unit, soon to be 25 if the two people waiting to hear the outcome of their interviews are successful. (And we have 6 on orientation.) When our manager was asked if there was a plan to fill these vacancies, she said yes, they would be filling all of them if possible. So what would you think if you went to the online carreer postings and saw 23 postings for one well-established unit? The red flags that raises might explain why the vacancies exist. That's something to think about. If you're happy to take a job in a very undesirable location temporarily to get a foot in the door, look for those units with frequent multiple postings. If you don't think you can tolerate a less-than-wonderful work environment for more than a few weeks, be prepared for trouble getting and keeping that first job.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Hey, U of A After Degree Grad here. Do I think the program is fantastic? Not really, however many of the criticisms that apply to it also apply to 4 year programs from what I have heard from colleagues/precepts and it's over in a flash.

As for the job market, nursing is cyclical, we go through ups and downs as to whether nurses are in demand. if nursing is something you have an interest in don't let the current trends put you off, we're not going out of style anytime soon.

As an example, when I went into nursing it was all apple-pie "nurses are in demand, you can work anywhere you want" then after graduation my fellow students and I were all able to get jobs, just in time for a hiring freeze, people who graduated a semester late were out of luck. That said I don't know anyone from my program currently unemployed, just goes to show that the predictions don't mean all that much.

As to the nurses eating their young, this has not been at all my experience. There are obviously differences in workplace cultures but as a youngish nurse I have been treated with respect and kindness by the vast majority of nurses I have worked with.

Sorry, long post, but my two cents are ADP at the U is worth it and nursing even more so.

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Hello All...thank you for sharing. I guess I have had some rather "crappy" jobs so far (nothing dealing with actual "crap" yet) so it is tough to know whether nursing is for me or not. I have definately been in positions where I covered something because no one else seemed to do it. I guess that is part of being a team. I have never worked in a union environment and I know it must be frustrating to see other departments/roles complete their "scope of work" and then leave for the day. It happens everywhere. I am fortunate (or not fortunate) in that I am single, no children and therefore, I am pretty flexible where I live to get experience. I know there is no crystal ball on this but trying to do as much research prior to jumping in as possible. As for the O & G world, as far as I know, it can be cut throat, ruthless business and the Calgary world seems to rotate around the all mightly dollar and who has the latest and greatest BMW. I know that "things" don't make a person happy...experiences and people do. I would just really love to find something I love to do and that is fulfilling/worth while. One last question if anyone is still with me...how do you find the relationship with doctors and nurses? Do most doctors (or all?) respect you?

Thanks again.

Lisa

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Inspiring posts ladies! Thanks for the strength! # New grad nurse job searching

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Depends on the Doctor and the service. Surgeons can be total prima donnas. Medicine doctors are notorious non responders to pages.

Arg, they are all high maintenance until you develop a relationship of sorts. The more specialized they are the bigger the ego. Every psychiatrist I've met at work has been shall we say different.

Respect? It's earned over a period of time. I've worked with a couple of surgeons who I get on well with and still see when their patients are off service. They respect my skills and the care I provide their patients but that's been earned over a decade. I've also seen the same guys pitch a fit at a coworker because she didn't know how to handle their little quirks.

Look at it this way, if you decide to go for it, after graduation and when you find a job, are you willing to lose or see your relationships with friends and family deteriorate? If you obtain a line, you'll be bottom of the seniority list for vacations. You will wind up working shifts (usually 12 hours, which with travelling time can turn into 16 hour days), you will work stats, you will miss things that may seem small to you now, but after missing them a few times become important. I know one nurse who used up 24 hours of vacation time just to be able to go to Cubs and meet the teacher nights.

We can't tell you that it's a great life or a lousy life. It's a job. I don't get a huge sense of satisfaction most days. I can say that in over a decade of nursing, I only remember a handful of patients and it's not usually the ones that made a great recovery (but that could be the services I've worked). The PITAs, we all remember, I'll never forget the patient that assaulted a co-worker, the patient that was coded for aggression on a unit, several that died due to complications, and the ever popular local celeb who used the "don't you know who I am" to try and get his way. I've been hugged as patients have walked off my unit, given Timmie's giftcards, etc.. But I'm only doing what the government pays me to do.

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Specializes in Emergency.

My relationship with doctors ahas a lot to do with what the working environment is. As a floor nurse I had very little interaction with the physicians, I had a good relationship with residents who were on the floor doing the "grunt work" but saw the attendings only during morning rounds and codes. Now working in a specialty area I have a much closer relationship with the physicians I work with. We know each other well and there is a lot of cooperation/collaboration.

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Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.

Fiona is right... Some doctors are better than others.. Surgeons are notoriously evil but i have 1 like lol..

Nursing isn't for everyone and your experiences may unfortunately make u reconsider your career choice...

I have been nursing for 5 yrs and it hasn't been perfect but i do get a sense of satisfaction from my job.. I choose to continue to be here and i hope that i make a difference in someone's life.. I have grown close with some pt's and they have left a mark on me.. Not all negative slthough i have my fair share of scary nursing moments..

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Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.

Fiona is right.. When u r low on the totem pole u will get all te crappy shifts.. Work all the holidays and be denied vacation because someone with higher seniority wants it off too.. Working ot and on holidays doesnt bug me.. My dtr is 14 and is used to me being on shift work since she was 2 so her not seeing me on some xmas morning or missing an event hasnt hurt her... Its just part of my job..

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I've been looking through postings for the last 2 weeks. Many are .5-.6, which isn't really enough to live on if you're single. Of course, there are full time positions in medicine, ortho, and ltc which accept new grads. Jobs exist, but you'll need to be flexible and take what you get as a new grad. Most people I know who wanted specialty units waited 6 months to a year after graduation.

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