High school students get angry if you tell them the truth about nursing

BluegrassRN · Feb 23, 2011

It isn't being a Debbie Downer to encourage those who are considering going into nursing to set aside the storybook version and take a good hard look at what's really out there. That includes the job shortage for new grads as well as real conditions in the workplace.

I agree. As long as perspective is offered, that's great. I'm referring to those in our profession (i.e. on these boards) who say things like "I would never encourage my child to study nursing" or "Turn around and run for the hills. Do ANYTHING but nursing." Hence my previous comment to offer a realistic view of nursing, not simply a Debbie Downer, I-hate-my-job-you-will-hate-nursing-too-I regret-ever-entering-this-profession-don't-make-the-same-mistake-I-made point of view. Which, to be fair, can be valid, but certainly (I hope) not representative of the entire profession.

Simply because the economy stinks and employers are not lined up to offer 10 jobs to each new grad does not suddenly make nursing a poor professional choice. In my local economy, last year there were over 250 applicants for 1 elementary school teaching job at my child's school. Over 50% of new grad architects remain unemployed at *one year* after graduation. Everyone is struggling, health care professions no less.

I stand by my statement that teenagers typically have unrealistic ideas about their future in general, not just their potential profession. For several years I taught "life skills" to teens. In general, they had no clue how much "life" costs. When we would make up household budgets, they would think they could get by on less than $1000 a month, easily. To them, people who made 25K a year were raking it in. Then I would show them my own very detailed household budget (at the time, we were scraping by at 40K a year). Taxes, health insurance, mortgage/rent, car payment, car insurance, grocery budget, phone bill, utilities, upkeep on home and vehicles, medications/health deductibles, student loan payments; all the "basics" they had NO CLUE cost so much, or even that they existed (utilities? What's that?). We're not talking gym memberships, cable bills, eating out, etc. In their own budgets, for example, they would budget 150 for rent, 80 for food, just crazy small amounts for everything, not realizing that the average one bedroom apartment in this area goes for 500/month with utilities typically not included, or that unless you are a coupon genius you can't feed a family on 80/month.

Teens are in general amazingly ignorant as to how much "life" costs, but they are also incredibly optimistic about their opportunities and their abilities. Sure, objective, realistic information in small amounts is helpful. Teens do not, however, typically respond well to attitudes that completely negate their dreams. They will simply dismiss them. Rather than the attitude that says "You have no clue what you're getting into. If that's what you think nursing, is, you better think again," which will just result in the teen not listening to a word you say, a better approach is to provide some objective information and refer them to some sound resources. Encouraging volunteer work or jobs in hospitals or nursing homes, or offering shadowing opportunities, encouraging them to read a broad range of media articles regarding the health care industry (blogs are awesome, I think), and encouraging them to enroll in health care opportunities classes (where available) are much better, and better received, means of educating them regarding realistic job expectations and opportunities.

In short (ha!) I don't think we disagree, RNwriter. I just want to caution those who speak with teens to be positive as well as realistic; your message with get farther. Be negative or condescending in the least, and your input will be completely dismissed.

rn/writer, RN · Feb 23, 2011

I agree that we don't disagree.

And I second your assessment of the typical slippery grip on reality that many young people have. I had four teens (out of six kids) at once. And we also used to take teen mothers (and their babies) as foster children. Talk about unrealistic.

When one of them would come out with some truly outlandish statement about future finances, I learned to ask them to show me what they were talking about, so I could learn something new. I let the facts do the teaching. That way they could still come to me for comfort when life intruded on their fantasies.

You're right, too, that the job situation is tough pretty much across the board. I suppose the best market now is the one for unemployment counselors.

Jules A, MSN · Feb 23, 2011

Personally I encourage people to pursue nursing if they express an interest. For me it has been a very flexible, decent paying career that makes me feel proud of what I do. If they are really serious about inquiring I would definitely give them both the pros and cons as I see them. What always strikes me as odd for the people that truly are Debbie Downers about nursing, not talking about anyone in particular here, but wth are you still a nurse if it is so miserable?? :rolleyes: Imo life is far too short to continue with something I'm not relatively happy doing. Just my two cents.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2011

Ok so I'm one of the ones that knew I wanted to be a nurse since age 10. My mom is a nurse so I knew the reality of it. I also became a CNA at 16 years old and started nursing school at 18. I heard the reality of nursing and now that I'm a nurse I'm experiencing it for the first time. I honestly can't see myself doing anything else. Yes I have my bad shifts and say why did I choose this career. Highschool students should not be mad at you. If its something they want to pursue then they can't let what others say discourage them.

CanuckLPN73 · Feb 23, 2011

And what high school students think of the job as a nurse itself just makes me want to drag them to work with me.
I've heard this from two girls in my A&P class "Oh well CNAs just empty bedpans.. LPNs do that too. RNs are the nurses.. and CRNAs are one step down from anesthesiologist and make $160,000 a year so I want to be a CRNA"
Drives me up the damn wall.

I love that!! Im assuming a CNA is equivalent to an HCA here in Canada. Yup we just empty bedpans. I wish!

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 23, 2011

If you're discouraging HS students from considering nursing because of the new grad job shortage... well we're talking 4 years into the future at least (if they go the BSN route). I don't think that hospitals will be able to keep demanding experienced nurses only... eventually the supply will run out. So by then there will be openings for them. The new grads of today may well have moved on by then, and I HOPE enrollment in nursing school will drop to reflect the decreased demand. So a HS student of today who goes into nursing may well be making a good career choice.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 23, 2011

have you ever experienced this? twice i've encountered this lately, once when a friend of mine got all bent out of shape when a surgeon told her daughter that he would not recommend this career. she was ticked off!!!
then i have been gently giving bits of truth about how nursing is to a friend's high school senior daughter that is thinking of pursuing nursing. and it makes them so angry. they think that i'm a debbie downer, but i'm telling honest facts about how the nursing profession is. i didn't know i could make enemies like this!!

i guess i'm wondering what "the truth" is that you're telling folks. and how you're telling it.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2011

I stand by my statement that teenagers typically have unrealistic ideas about their future in general, not just their potential profession. For several years I taught "life skills" to teens. In general, they had no clue how much "life" costs. When we would make up household budgets, they would think they could get by on less than $1000 a month, easily. To them, people who made 25K a year were raking it in. Then I would show them my own very detailed household budget (at the time, we were scraping by at 40K a year). Taxes, health insurance, mortgage/rent, car payment, car insurance, grocery budget, phone bill, utilities, upkeep on home and vehicles, medications/health deductibles, student loan payments; all the "basics" they had NO CLUE cost so much, or even that they existed (utilities? What's that?). We're not talking gym memberships, cable bills, eating out, etc. In their own budgets, for example, they would budget 150 for rent, 80 for food, just crazy small amounts for everything, not realizing that the average one bedroom apartment in this area goes for 500/month with utilities typically not included, or that unless you are a coupon genius you can't feed a family on 80/month.

My daughter wasn't a teen, but only a little girl when we were driving through a very low income neighborhood. My daughter's eyes were huge and she said "Mommy WHY do these people live here? " I responded, "well, these are their homes and what they can afford to buy here." She shook her head in disbelief and said, "Well, then why don't they just MOVE?"

Sigh. We had to have a talk about economics on a child's level. Prior to that, I guess she just thought everyone lived at the same standard to which she had been exposed.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2011

i guess i'm wondering what "the truth" is that you're telling folks. and how you're telling it.

exactly.

every job...every job...has their good and bad points.

good advice based on reality: "if you think you will never have to touch a bedpan...it is incorrect...we all get freaked out over this at first, but you wear gloves for everything, you wash your hands alot and after you do the first few, the weirdness goes away".

bad advice: "if you think you will never have to touch a bedpan, this is the wrong profession to go in."

i think the high school lpn programs are fantastic programs for students who want to be a nurse to go into..that way they can work while they work on their rn.

however, like the op said about the surgeon who "discouraged anyone from having his job"...he can stop what he is doing tomorrow and go into general practice or teaching, etc. but he probably isn't going to be willing to let go of that big fat paycheck that goes with his job either...that is the real reason he doesn't quit.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 24, 2011

My daughter wasn't a teen, but only a little girl when we were driving through a very low income neighborhood. My daughter's eyes were huge and she said "Mommy WHY do these people live here? " I responded, "well, these are their homes and what they can afford to buy here." She shook her head in disbelief and said, "Well, then why don't they just MOVE?"
Sigh. We had to have a talk about economics on a child's level. Prior to that, I guess she just thought everyone lived at the same standard to which she had been exposed.

Your story reminds me of a similar conversation I had with my much younger brother when he was 5 or 6 years old. He was impressed with the fact that "poor people had such bad taste" in housing, as he put it.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 24, 2011

The same phenomenon happens at all levels. Staff nurses don't want to hear that the manager's job is also difficult. The manager doesn't want to hear how difficult the director's job is ... etc. etc. etc.

It's also true that people looking at graduate programs often fail to seriously consider the down sides of the career paths they are pursuing until after graduation and after they have accumulated another $20K - $30K of debt. Being a nurse practitioner ... or manager ... or nurse anesthetist ... or faculty member ... or whatever sounds good when they are unhappy in their current job. They don't look too closely at the realities of those advanced roles until they actually face the realities of the job market and/or the jobs themselves.

We've had lot of posts here on allnurses that say things like, "I am halfway through a graduate program in XYZ. What types of jobs will I be able to get with that degree?" or "I just graduated with my MSN in XYZ and now I think I have made a mistake."

It's not just high school students.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2011

My daughter wasn't a teen, but only a little girl when we were driving through a very low income neighborhood. My daughter's eyes were huge and she said "Mommy WHY do these people live here? " I responded, "well, these are their homes and what they can afford to buy here." She shook her head in disbelief and said, "Well, then why don't they just MOVE?"
Sigh. We had to have a talk about economics on a child's level. Prior to that, I guess she just thought everyone lived at the same standard to which she had been exposed.

I remember a similar conversation with my parents when I was young...but I think it was pertaining to rusted out cars.

It is sobering, when children realize that everyone is not at the same economic level. I am trying to teach my children this early..."if we buy this...then we do not have the money to buy this." I was very surprised on how quickly we got the concept..so anytime we go to McDonalds, etc...especially my daughter, she will ask, "Mommy, do we have the money to go?"...I have told her we have the money so she will never be without a place to live or enough to eat, but right now, we have to cut back on extras until Mommy is done with school.