I've been considering an Accelerated BSN degree for some time now (and eventually after two years a masters in family nurse practitioner) and have been doing a lot of research into the nursing career. I really don't want to jump into a career that I will regret later on, especially one that I will have to take out a loan for. I keep running into two views and I want to know honestly which one is the truth, especially for nursing in NY since that's where I live:
1) Is this shortage of nurses true? More importantly, is it very difficult for someone new to nursing to get an entry level job? I keep looking up at job postings and every single posting requires at least a year of experience.
2) Is the saying that "nurses are overworked and underpaid" true? Is the career of nursing THAT draining that burnout is common?
3) How good is the pay?
4) I think asking this in a nursing forum makes no sense but i'll ask it anyway: Do you believe its worth it to become a nurse? Would you do it again if you were told you'd become 18 again and be able to choose any career you wanted?
I try to stay positive about nursing as a possible career but I keep thinking that i'm being blinded by the hype ("nursing is booming and pays good") and need an honesty "splash". I'm also considering other allied health positions because of this constant nagging negative views I read from time to time ("there is no boom, pay is mediocre, work is killer"). Please, could anyone provide me some honest facts.
No. There is no shortage. Search this forum for that topic and you will see that is an ancient urban myth at this point.
Yes. We are overworked and underpaid, pretty much across the board. Burnout and turnover are high. I am burnt to a crisp after only 8 years. I have taken two extended leaves of absence. My health is shot.
The pay is solidly middle class. See examples posted so far. You make an average living if you're moderately smart with money.
If I was 18 again, I woulda pursued astrophysics like I wanted. Absolutely not would I choose this again if I could turn back the clock.
It sucks. Do something else. Nursing is a hot mess right now and cannot get its act together to save its life. And it's going to be pretty screwed up for a long while. Sorry, but it's true.
As you can see the doom and gloom stories are here. People come online many times to vent. But some people do like their jobs. It's possible. :) personality and how you see your life and handle it is up to you. I don't believe in a life of regret.
The job market is very difficult. Even if you end up in a specialty it is difficult to change to another. For example, new grad hired as postpartum RNs have a very difficult time getting hired for another specialty 1-2 years after hire. And same for those working home care and clinic. Med surg makes it easier to go into specialties. Postpartum RNs have transferrable nursing skills but are often on same level or below new grad level (some employers prefer to "mold" a new grad than to take a chance with someone with nursing exp in other department) in terms of being given a chance in hiring. Even in transitioning to L and D...it takes years ...I wish I hadnt gone into postpartum and held on longer for a more general hospital RN position. Postpartum is nice but at some point it becomes routine and you feel like theres nothing left to learn.
If I was 18 and knew what I know now, I certainly wouldn't be a part of an accelerated program. Administration scrambles for teachers at the last minute, trying to find someone, anyone, who will teach during the summer term. My assessment teacher had never taught level 1 before. The regular term students are treated with more respect. They are the real nursing students. They have their pictures on the faculty room wall. They get better, more thorough instruction and better organized clinicals. We often felt like the "step-children." None of us even attended graduation because it seemed like we weren't really welcome. Sad, but true. Any of my classmates would say the same.
You obviously attended an inferior ABSN. In my accelerated program, we received a thorough education and no less clinical attention than basic nursing students. My skills now differ in no way from the nurse that graduated with me from the basic program. And ... pictures of students from my program do line the walls of the nursing school administration halls. I would recommend my program to anyone who can handle it.
I'm very happy with nursing. I had to go to school in FL (cheaper) and when I applied for jobs around the country, I found it very hard to get interviews, even with my BSN. I ended up staying in FL to get that golden first year of acute care experience. The good news is, once I gave up on living somewhere better than FL, I got a job within a week. The pay isn't that bad by FL standards, w/differentials and BSN pay, I make up to $29 an hour (in a state with no income taxes: state, city or local!). Half of the patients are horrible people, and you have to have a thick skin. I really don't care when I get treated like crap, because I remember all the benefits to this job. I work 3 days a week, so I'm off more than I work. I earn a day off a month, so I can take plenty of rejuvenating trips. I only have to work 36 hours a week, which is better than the 50-60 I used to work. Thanks to the 3 day a week requirements, taking 3 days off means you have two weeks off (just work the early part of one week and the late part of the next). We're currently making double pay for overtime because all the old geezers are dropping like flies for some reason. It's the busiest my hospital has ever been. That means I'm making $58 an hour on my overtime shift this weekend, and I'm a new grad. Not too shabby. My health insurance is also $78 a month. What other job gives you that?
Are there easier jobs where you are treated better? Sure. But do those jobs only require less than 40 hours a week? Do those jobs offer the same benefits like taking 3 days off and getting 2 weeks out of it? Do those jobs offer endless possibilities like nursing? You may have to move someplace like FL and pay your dues, but once you get one year you're golden. You can do anything for one year. I'm happy I made this choice. Good luck to you.
You obviously attended an inferior ABSN. In my accelerated program, we received a thorough education and no less clinical attention than basic nursing students. My skills now differ in no way from the nurse that graduated with me from the basic program. And ... pictures of students from my program do line the walls of the nursing school administration halls. I would recommend my program to anyone who can handle it.
Agreed. I'm a new grad from an ABSN, and several nurses have mistaken me for an experienced nurse. A CNA even asked if I was the new charge nurse. HA! If you go to a real university, you'll probably get a good education. If you go to the "career-colleges", well, good luck.
I'm very happy with nursing. I had to go to school in FL (cheaper) and when I applied for jobs around the country, I found it very hard to get interviews, even with my BSN. I ended up staying in FL to get that golden first year of acute care experience. The good news is, once I gave up on living somewhere better than FL, I got a job within a week. The pay isn't that bad by FL standards, w/differentials and BSN pay, I make up to $29 an hour (in a state with no income taxes: state, city or local!). Half of the patients are horrible people, and you have to have a thick skin. I really don't care when I get treated like crap, because I remember all the benefits to this job. I work 3 days a week, so I'm off more than I work. I earn a day off a month, so I can take plenty of rejuvenating trips. I only have to work 36 hours a week, which is better than the 50-60 I used to work. Thanks to the 3 day a week requirements, taking 3 days off means you have two weeks off (just work the early part of one week and the late part of the next). We're currently making double pay for overtime because all the old geezers are dropping like flies for some reason. It's the busiest my hospital has ever been. That means I'm making $58 an hour on my overtime shift this weekend, and I'm a new grad. Not too shabby. My health insurance is also $78 a month. What other job gives you that?
Are there easier jobs where you are treated better? Sure. But do those jobs only require less than 40 hours a week? Do those jobs offer the same benefits like taking 3 days off and getting 2 weeks out of it? Do those jobs offer endless possibilities like nursing? You may have to move someplace like FL and pay your dues, but once you get one year you're golden. You can do anything for one year. I'm happy I made this choice. Good luck to you.
mclennan, BSN, RN
684 Posts
No. There is no shortage. Search this forum for that topic and you will see that is an ancient urban myth at this point.
Yes. We are overworked and underpaid, pretty much across the board. Burnout and turnover are high. I am burnt to a crisp after only 8 years. I have taken two extended leaves of absence. My health is shot.
The pay is solidly middle class. See examples posted so far. You make an average living if you're moderately smart with money.
If I was 18 again, I woulda pursued astrophysics like I wanted. Absolutely not would I choose this again if I could turn back the clock.
It sucks. Do something else. Nursing is a hot mess right now and cannot get its act together to save its life. And it's going to be pretty screwed up for a long while. Sorry, but it's true.