Hi all. I know this has been discussed so much recently on the hiring freeze of new grad RN's due to the struggling economy, budget cuts, etc. I already hold a BA in Biology and have a job in which I consider to be very stable and secure. I am contemplating returning to school to become an RN. I am unhappy at my current job, I do not see it as a career, I want to be able to make more $$, and there are so much more opportunities in the field of nursing.
Long story short, I applied to a couple BSN, ADN nursing programs in my area and got accepted into an ADN program. I decided to go back to school because I thought that as an RN, there would be so much more job opportunities, I would be able to relocate easily, find jobs w/o any issues etc. When I started reading all these threads, MANY new RN grads are having a tough time finding jobs and they graduated LAST YEAR! And that has me worried. We all have bills that will not go away on their own. Is now the right time to even go back to school if I am not guaranteed a job? I already have school loans amassed. Does anyone think by the time i graduate in 2-3 years, job scarcity won't be an issue and again we'll see RN's getting signing bonuses again? I know new RN's face the challenge of getting experience, but no one wants to hire them because they have no experience. Such a headache!!
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I live in Arkansas, my parents whisked us away due to poor job opportunities and I have been stuck here for over 8 years. I am so ready to move out, live life, and explore! I have looked around for job openings, and most hospitals in this area are only hiring RNs with ding ding ding! 1+ yrs experience.
I graduated from college and by some miraculous luck, found a decent job. I like my job right now, I have a lot of autonomy, sometimes I get a lot of downtime, but there is no room for advancement. It was an entry level position so I am barely making enough money to support myself!!! After graduating, I had to relocate...I didn't know anyone, had to get a new car, etc so I was living paycheck to paycheck with $20 in the bank after bills. I don't mean to bore you guys with my situation, but my point is, monetary compensation is a major motivating reason as to why I decided to pursue nursing. I would never be able to enjoy the finer things in life (and believe me I am NOT a materialistic person) I think it's safe to say, job security and monetary compensation are BIG factors but not the only ones in deciding career paths although there are exceptions to this.
Anyways, I have always had a keen interest in healthcare. I took a medical assisting course and I LOVED the little things we were able to do. Of course the scope of practice is very minimal, but I think I would love to have more hands on with procedures. Nursing is such a big field and there are so many opportunities in it that I don't think it would be a limiting field so much that I wouldn't be able to find my "niche." Ultimately, I would want to pursue an advanced degree in the future. I don't think I would be too picky in specialty, with experience I can choosy. I would just avoid LTC at all costs. I was a CNA for a short bit, loved socializing with the residents. But I hated the nurses/cnas, the system, the environment. I would never put my parents in such a place and hope I never step foot in a nursing home again.
I am single, no kids, none anytime soon (this i am sure lol), not getting any younger so I do not want to delay any more time in my education and career. I am 24, almost 25 and I would like to have kids one day. If I delay this, I am sure I would never find the time to go back to school...
I think a lot of people have preconceived notions that RNs don't ever have problems finding jobs because of this professed "nursing shortage" we always hear about, which makes nursing such a lucrative career choice. I myself didn't think it would be a problem but when I hopped onto the boards, so many were having a tough time and that is definitely worrisome. I just didn't want to make the wrong choice, rack up on even more student loans just to graduate and be jobless, it would be devastating! I guess there is really no way to be able to tell for sure if this is the right decision to make, I was hoping to get some of my fears cast aside, but I know that no one can tell for sure if the job market will improve. Heck, a lot of college graduates are having a tough time period! I hope for everyone the economy improves. Good luck to us all and thanks for the replies! :)
If you have a good job right now, you would be better off paying off your student loan debt NOW before you look to add even more debt onto your plate. You are not guaranteed a job when you graduate from nursing school. It may be some time before you find a job. Do you have enough savings to live off for at least 6 months before you find a job? Do you have other debt you need to pay off? If you are living paycheck to paycheck, how will you afford school without incurring more debt?
You are so young. Don't let yourself get crippled by debt. If you want to go to nursing school, it will always be there, and if you really want it, you'll find a way to make it work, no matter how old you are.
Don't go into nursing solely for monetary compensation. Pay can be low to start, depending on where you live.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Hi thanks for the reply. I've done my own soul-searching on my decision to go into nursing. I have my own reasons and I don't need to justify them here on this board to everyone.
I think we have reasons as to why we want to do something, career-wise. If we could all do what we wanted to do and not worry about job security and salary, we would all be happier. If I could sit on a corner and sell peaches and apples for a living, I would. But I would not be living a life I always thought I would, and be able to support my parents and I and any future children. Isn't the goal at the end of the day is to be able to put food on the table? Are you saying you didn't pick nursing for a salary? Job security?
As I said, nursing is a lucrative field. The salary is not bad, but I'm sure you are worked like a horse, get no respect, get stepped all over work long hours etc. Therefore there IS a nursing shortage because the turnover is so high and people leave the profession. I don't expect nursing to be my career, but a stepping stone to my career. I work with nurses in a clinic, I've scribed in a hospital ER, I've volunteered at a hospital alongside nurses, I know what the work entails. It is not sexy work, and people leave nursing due to the stress and everything in between what goes with nursing.
Regardless, my issue in this thread is not about my decision to go into nursing so lets not get into that, I don't need any lectures. I have thought about this to no end, and it's a personal decision. :) My issue is that I don't want to invest in something if it is unstable. Why would I major in psychology, rack up 20,000 student loans and only make 10 an hr? But like i said, there really is no telling when the economy will get better, I was hoping for some answers to make me feel better...money rules everything around us. I guess I just need to take some risks!
If you post here asking for advice, then get advice you don't like, don't lash out at the people who responded. You're the one who put this out there for people to comment on.
And nursing is not a lucrative field. You're going to be solely disappointed if you go into this just to chase $$$.
That's all I have to say. I'm tired of people who come here for advice, then get mad when they don't like what they're told.
OCNRN63, RN
5,979 Posts
If you have a good job right now, you would be better off paying off your student loan debt NOW before you look to add even more debt onto your plate. You are not guaranteed a job when you graduate from nursing school. It may be some time before you find a job. Do you have enough savings to live off for at least 6 months before you find a job? Do you have other debt you need to pay off? If you are living paycheck to paycheck, how will you afford school without incurring more debt?
You are so young. Don't let yourself get crippled by debt. If you want to go to nursing school, it will always be there, and if you really want it, you'll find a way to make it work, no matter how old you are.
Don't go into nursing solely for monetary compensation. Pay can be low to start, depending on where you live.