Why aren't there more nursing programs in your State !!!!

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Everyone knows that there is a nursing shortage. However, there are not enough programs designed or catered to the people who really wants to go to school for nursing.

To me there should be more evening programs, there should be more part-time BSN programs. There should be more evening programs that caters to mothers/fathers who have to work during the day, but have the time in the evening. Or just about any person period who needs work, but desires to become a nurse.

There are so many people, who wants to become a nurse, but either their schedules dont mesh with the program in their vicinty, or there is a LONG waiting list etc.......

I believe that if this issue can be addressed then there would not be a nursing shortage and there will not be "great" to hire nurses from abroad.

What do you think about this??????

I thought you only had to work back for 2 years tops. WAW...did you read the fine prints before you signed up? This sound like a City hospital tho, is it? Does the private hospital not have better contract and benefits?

I didn't sign up ... other people did. You're confusing different hospital tuition assistance programs. Let me explain: typically most hospitals give you money ... something like $5K to $10K to help you get through school. In return, you sign up to work for them for one or two years. It's usually a private deal where they give the student the money and that's it.

However, they still couldn't hire enough nurses. And the school didn't have any more state money to increase enrollments, even with the two year waiting list. So, this time, they did a completely different program.

The hospitals agreed to pay the full bill directly to the school for educating the students, without state subsidies. But that meant they'd have to pay a lot more than $5K to $10K. The cost of educating each student, without help from the state ... is anywhere from $30 to $35K.

In exchange for paying the full costs, the hospitals got these students off the two year waiting list. However, in order to recover those high costs, they made the students sign 5 year contracts to work there.

So if you don't like the hospital and decide to quit ... you still have to pay back the remaining balance of that $30K to $35K, with interest, over five years ... which ends up being $45K by the time you've paid it all off.

Basically the way it works is: every week you work, $167 comes off the balance. But if you quit, then you have to pay that $167 every week until the balance is paid ... unless you can come up with enough cash to pay the principal, which most students can't do right out of school.

P.S. Private hospitals, especially private for-profit hospitals, actually have some of the worst pay and benefits ... at least in my area.

:typing

Thanks for clarifying. I will still be careful with contracts period.

bumping.. 'cause I thought this was an interesting topic and would like more input.

The issue of alumni organizations is an intriguing idea. Here's some of the reasons law schools are so successful at building large war chests from alumni contributions. The graduates are very loyal and proud of their school, and are inclined to contribute to the school to futher alumni organizations. The graduates are well paid. Lawyers have the potential of making serious money;thereby, having money to contribute.

Here is the issue with nursing that I have seen so far. It seems to me that there is an almost confrontational relationship between a large number of the students and the faculty. My opinion only. I try to stay under the radar on these conflicts. If the faculty is despised by the graduates, you can bet they are not going to contribute to an alumni organization. It also seems that there is a lot of discussion about how to pay for an education in these postings. Loans, grants, contracts, etc. If you graduate with a large amount of debt, you are probably not in the position to contribute to an alumni organization. Do not get me wrong, I'm just pointing this out. As a society, we never think living within our means is a responsible way to manage our money. Once again, the Lexus payment, credit cards, student loans, too big of house= no money to contribute to an alumni organization.

The way to change all of this is to change the way nurses think of faculty and the way they manage their money. I had a clinical instructor laugh at me when I suggested that the school turn to the alumni for help with the purchase of lab equipment.

The issue of alumni organizations is an intriguing idea. Here's some of the reasons law schools are so successful at building large war chests from alumni contributions. The graduates are very loyal and proud of their school, and are inclined to contribute to the school to futher alumni organizations. The graduates are well paid. Lawyers have the potential of making serious money;thereby, having money to contribute.

Here is the issue with nursing that I have seen so far. It seems to me that there is an almost confrontational relationship between a large number of the students and the faculty. My opinion only.

Manofcare, I agree: There does seem to be a lot of friction between students and faculty, depending on the institution, at least as expressed on this board. That's not the case at my school. One of the reasons that we're talking about becoming active in the political arena as student nurses is because we've been so inspired by a couple of instructors whose only agenda is improving conditions at school and at work. They're fantastic (and grossly underpaid).

You're right: Law school generate loyal alumni. But I disagree that alums of other professional schools lack the means to make contributions. My husband attended a public law school. When I perused the school's annual philanthropy report last week, I saw that most contributions are $100 or less. I'm not sure whether they're tax-deductible. My point is that people who've had a positive experience find ways to give back in any way that they can. (Members of that law school alumni association also return to campus once a year to do practice job interviews with students about to graduate. What a great -- and no cost! -- idea.) I've also started a small list of philanthropic organizations in my state that we could hit up. I used to do a fair amount of charity fund-raising, and I think we could generate a fair amount of interest in supporting nursing programs because every community in the state stands to benefit.

Is anyone interested in starting a student nurse activism thread? (Or is there one already that I've missed?) I'd love to keep this discussion going and find out what's happening on other campuses.

Specializes in Emergency.
The issue of alumni organizations is an intriguing idea. Here's some of the reasons law schools are so successful at building large war chests from alumni contributions. The graduates are very loyal and proud of their school, and are inclined to contribute to the school to futher alumni organizations.

I think an important point about this subject is the fact that coming from the TOP nursing school is not necessarily going to put you into any better position as a nurse who came from a small never-heard-of-it community college in the middle of nowhere. Other professions rely on the name of their educating institution to give them credibility, therefore want to contribute $$ to ensure their school maintains that reputation. If I went to Law School, I would definitely want to make sure that the school had a good reputation & would likely want to contribute to make sure that well-renowned name continued. As for nursing school.....does it really matter where you went to school? Yes, I know its a selfish thought, but will contributing to the alumni association of your school really make any difference in your career? I don't see myself being a contributor to my alumni association, as there are other NGOs/Organizations that I feel could make a far bigger difference to students...

......

Here is the issue with nursing that I have seen so far. It seems to me that there is an almost confrontational relationship between a large number of the students and the faculty. My opinion only. I try to stay under the radar on these conflicts. If the faculty is despised by the graduates, you can bet they are not going to contribute to an alumni organization. ....

Therin lies the cux of the problem. You can even see it here on allnurses. How many times do you hear how mean certain professors were. it almost seems to be a nursing school refrain we get the sheet music to and learn to sing just as we start first semester clinicals.

True, it may be that some have an entitlement mentality, bad attitude or poor study skills they blame on the teacher as I don't the majority of nursing instructors are this lacking in interpersonal skills. Still its hard to give money to a place when everyone from the registrar to the Dean to the chit in the bookstore gave you an hard time.

Manofcare, I agree: There does seem to be a lot of friction between students and faculty, depending on the institution, at least as expressed on this board. That's not the case at my school. One of the reasons that we're talking about becoming active in the political arena as student nurses is because we've been so inspired by a couple of instructors whose only agenda is improving conditions at school and at work. They're fantastic (and grossly underpaid).

Yes, they are not all dragons and your post proves it. Folks who've had a postive experiences like yours are much more likely to contribute to an alumni fund.

Is anyone interested in starting a student nurse activism thread? (Or is there one already that I've missed?) I'd love to keep this discussion going and find out what's happening on other campuses.

Count me in! It is HIGH time that studnet nurses get toghether for the future of the profession

*Sunny pulls out her placards to start making protest posters* :lol2:

OK! I've started a thread called Student Nurse Activists. It's under the General Student Nurse Discussion. I've put up a question to get the ball rolling -- but if someone's got a better topic, I'm all for it.

Hopefully I'll see Sunnyjohn, her protest signs and the rest of you boat-rockers over there.

Yes,

Lets see if we can keep this ball rolling.

I hope some of the vanguard of allnurses joins this discussion soon!

OK! I've started a thread called Student Nurse Activists. It's under the General Student Nurse Discussion. I've put up a question to get the ball rolling -- but if someone's got a better topic, I'm all for it.

Hopefully I'll see Sunnyjohn, her protest signs and the rest of you boat-rockers over there.

I will be more than pleased to join this thread...here I come

Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

I have wanted to reply on this one...but I was thinking...that takes a while LOL!!! OK I am in an evening weekend program...we are going to be the second class to graduate from it at our school. When we signed up and went on the wait list it was advertised as a great alternative for parents and people that were wanting to make a carrer change and had to work full time...Well needless to say our school realized to late that they had gotten in WAY over thier heads. They cannot find clinical instructors that want to get paid crappy money and be in class every weekend...the teachers that we have had are all breand new and they have really sucked...mostly...well the problem here is that we are a class full of ADULTS...no one under the age of 25 in class... most people have a Bachelors degree or higher and are going back to school. So we do not take crap from the administrators...we fight for our rights that were "advertised" to us and now we have a reputation for being a "mean" class...I do not see that we are standing up for ourselves and by the way getting our way!! I would not give a dime to this school after I am done...I have been way to screwed for way to long with them...it is one battle after another...so I can absolutely see why people do not donate money or time to help these schools!!

I have wanted to reply on this one...but I was thinking...that takes a while LOL!!! OK I am in an evening weekend program...we are going to be the second class to graduate from it at our school. When we signed up and went on the wait list it was advertised as a great alternative for parents and people that were wanting to make a carrer change and had to work full time...Well needless to say our school realized to late that they had gotten in WAY over thier heads. They cannot find clinical instructors that want to get paid crappy money and be in class every weekend...the teachers that we have had are all breand new and they have really sucked...mostly...well the problem here is that we are a class full of ADULTS...no one under the age of 25 in class... most people have a Bachelors degree or higher and are going back to school. So we do not take crap from the administrators...we fight for our rights that were "advertised" to us and now we have a reputation for being a "mean" class...I do not see that we are standing up for ourselves and by the way getting our way!! I would not give a dime to this school after I am done...I have been way to screwed for way to long with them...it is one battle after another...so I can absolutely see why people do not donate money or time to help these schools!!

You made some strong points!!! Well I think first of all that the school was trying to accomodate a different crowd with the weekend program. Like you said they just did not think it through. You all meaning (The mean class) :lol2: is setting a precendence for the other classes and the administration and I think that is a good thing. That will only make the adminstration better!

I think you were kinda tough on your last statement..I will still donate to schools if I had the finances. After all it is not about them, but about the overall program.

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