Does it make sense to stay a nurse if there is a predicted glut in 2025?
We already know plenty of people are trying to become nurses.
I see on Allnurses where many do not think these people cannot handle the schoolwork,
but i know for a fact that many of them are actually succeeding.
I would say 90% of the people i know who wanted to become nurses in the last 5 years have succeeded.
I will only be 43 in 2025. I have been a nurse since 2004,and have never really worked outside of nursing(besides being a Cna)
I will also have 21 years in nursing if i stay in 2025.
Of course,i can get a Bsn to stay competitive,but i do wonder if that will be enough.
It might get so competitive that employers might ask for something else or they might have even more stringent requirements(such as 1 year med surg experience) that i do not have.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I don't think Ladyfree was talking about formal leadership roles, but rather the informal leadership that is pretty much required of most nurses - whether that's precepting students, orienting new staff, conducting an inservice to other employees, rewriting an outdated policy, etc. if you have no interest in doing any of those things, then yeah, I agree with you that maybe you SHOULD be concerned about the longevity of your career.
I don't think Ladyfree was talking about formal leadership roles, but rather the informal leadership that is pretty much required of most nurses - whether that's precepting students, orienting new staff, conducting an inservice to other employees, rewriting an outdated policy, etc. if you have no interest in doing any of those things, then yeah, I agree with you that maybe you SHOULD be concerned about the longevity of your career.
Well excuse me for wanting to stay at the bedside.
I already said I do not have the personality to be a leader.
What was i thinking when i entered nursing.(sarcasm)
What the heck does having leadership skills and being a charge nurse have to do with anything?
You do realize charge nurses get laid off too?
Some places they are the first to go.
Read klone's post.
If you don't expand from the bedside, and include those leadership skills that are valuable at the bedside, which include precepting co workers, educating peers, and at least interested in knowing the leadership side of nursing-NOT administration, but supervision on a small scale, then you may risk becoming stagnant in your career; again, it will be up to you to expand your base and skills as a nurse.
I don't think Ladyfree was talking about formal leadership roles, but rather the informal leadership that is pretty much required of most nurses - whether that's precepting students, orienting new staff, conducting an inservice to other employees, rewriting an outdated policy, etc. if you have no interest in doing any of those things, then yeah, I agree with you that maybe you SHOULD be concerned about the longevity of your career.
We don't do many of those things in Private Duty Homecare.
I do orient a nurse here and there to a case,but its very rare on nights.
I plan to stay in Pdn until retirement(which is 30+ years away)
Smartnurse has indicated that she wants to remain at the bedside in extended care home health. There are few other options, leadership or not: clinical supervisor, or director of patient care services, perhaps office admin staff for quality assurance or such, might be titled the assistant director. It is quite possible that as an RN, she can continue to work cases as field staff for another 30 years. No harm in that, as long as one realizes that these are the limited options in extended care. What makes it less than palatable at times, is when one is working for an agency that insists on paying the RNs at the LPN rate of pay when they have the discretion to show consideration to the RN. Smartnurse, you are smart! You are not the only RN I have met who does not want to do the clinical supervisor or director's job!
I agree with all the post regarding becoming a Nurse Practitioner. I am 59 years old and do not plan to go back to school for a BSN at this age since I plan to retire within 3-6 years. If I was younger then yes I would go back to school to get a BSN, and the go for either becoming a NP or PA or either a Nurse Anesthetist. Good luck to all who plan to advance their career in Nursing.
^ To the idea of experience trumping new grads - They just don't want to pay them - I live in an area where the nurse glut has come to reality. Pay rates have dropped about $5 an hour on average.
Well, they may take the FNP program but chances that they pass board certification are pretty slim, rendering many of those educational options useless in pretty short order. We have so many nursing schools in the metro area grinding out class after class of grads at all levels. And yes, wages are down for NPs here as well. We were already lower than average at $54 an hour, but as per the PayScale website, we're coming in at around $44 for NPs entering the market in Indianapolis. Here's the kicker - back in the day (5 years ago) as an LPN making $26 in the hospital, with W/E option incentive of time and a half for 24 hours a week, I made that. Now 2 degrees later and working on a masters, I'm...not. Market fluctuations do suck. Waiting for the wheel to turn and if I stay in any more school, time to move to a state with higher demand.
In this market as well as the market the OP lives in and is in a neighboring state of mine, I am more competitive than the OP due to my experience making policies and having some leadership experience.
Even in ones position, being able to be a preceptor/educating peers, gives one an advantage than "just" bedside experience; if one is teaching or educating by the beside; they have taken their "bedside experience" and made themselves competitive and open to other possibilities, IF the OP wants them; otherwise, it will be up to them to decide where they want to take their career.
I agree with the essence of your point - but in no way does one need a BSN to precept or do charge.
I've dealt with this same dilemma since I got out of college over 5 years ago. I originally wanted to become a pharmacist, then saw how much they are on the phone with insurance providers and Dr's offices and changed my mind. I instead graduated with a 4 year degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences but life happened and I've been working for my family's business behind a desk for 5 years now. My parents are trying to discourage me from going into the medical field but it's all I've ever really wanted to do. They talk about a friend who is an MD and trying his best to get out of the medical field. I understand his position as a private healthcare provider in a small community. Their argument is healthcare is going to crash and burn and they don't want to see me in that field when it does. However, I also tell them that if healthcare crashes, I'm pretty sure other fields are going to be affected too. Thankfully, my husband supports me in going back to school. I understand my parents concerns but I'm tired of being behind a desk. I'm too ADD for this! lol. I have two applications pending for ADN school and if this falls through, I'm just going to keep trying. I'm 28 now and hoping to be at least in school again by the time I'm 30. Also, since I have a degree already in P.S., maybe I can have a unique career option of working in the clinical research area.
I am very curious/worried about the future as well. I don't think anyone really knows whats going to happen but I'm tired of pretending like others do. I'm just going to go for it and hopefully I can work my way up to an NP someday. I'm a person of faith and so far, everything has worked out. I've been through some difficult personal circumstances as a teenager and adult. The one thing I have learned is good can always come from the bad and unforeseen things that are inevitably around the corner. Life is full of unknowns and risks even for the most well-layed plans. Good Luck with your endeavors either way!
Personally I feel you should spend the money and get your BSN. I went back to school when I was 42 years old to finally become a nurse. I pushed through 6 years of school so far to get first my ADN and then my BSN. I am working towards my FNP/PMHNS. You will have so much experience under your belt why quit nursing now...that is if you just don't like it? I graduated in 2013 and had 2 different jobs before I found my nurse happy!
klone, MSN, RN
14,857 Posts
I don't think Ladyfree was talking about formal leadership roles, but rather the informal leadership that is pretty much required of most nurses - whether that's precepting students, orienting new staff, conducting an inservice to other employees, rewriting an outdated policy, etc. if you have no interest in doing any of those things, then yeah, I agree with you that maybe you SHOULD be concerned about the longevity of your career.