If you could do it again, would you?

[47inBrooklyn]

I read on http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1141.00 that the market appears "strong" and "bright" for nurses, yet I also read stories where graduates can't find work after many years. Considering returning to school for another masters (in nursing this time). Bad idea? Age discrimination? Concerned about being able to pay student loans if I can't find work. If you could take a moment to write your thoughts they would be appreciated very much. Thank you.

[DatMurse]

North Dakota needs a lot of nurses. Just sayin

[krisiepoo]

Yup, you bet. I was able to find a job quickly by thinking outside the box

[ceebeejay]

If the alternative is going back to where I used to work, I have no regrets. I am not employed enough and money is hard to make, but I am happier still. Money is a temporary problem. Being miserable in your work is not.

[Nonetheless]

No, I wouldn't. But who knows what I will say next year once I get my first job.

I am really scared I will end up un/under employed as a new grad. I really do not want to go live in a rural state to get acute care experience.

I really don't even want to go into acute care, my heart is in the non-acute care world.

I want to work outside the hospital setting--my passions rest within the poor/ homeless/ underserved/ psych population, but I feel like this makes me worthless as a nurse in the eyes of employers and will prepare me for a life of low wages and limited room for growth, and constantly having to prove myself as competent.

I am tempted to say I wish I did biology and tried for medicine but it would purely be for the money, because as I get older, I see that life is expensive.

[RNbubu]

The market is really tough for new grads, true. But it also depends a lot on how flexible you can be after graduation, and how much time you will have during nursing school to do extra curricular activities.

My nursing class was very diverse, ages ranging from early 20s to late 50s. The younger ones, on the 20s with no children/spouses/etc, and who had financial support from parents, had extra time during nursing school to volunteer, work as CNAs, actively participate in nursing student associations, etc; not only that, they could also relocate after graduation and therefore were able to expand the job search. Most of them got jobs after graduation within 6 months.

The older ones did not participate as actively in extra curricular activities during nursing school, many kept non-nursing related jobs throughout nursing school to be able to pay for their own bills. They had to limit the job search to a specific area because they could not relocate due to family ties. Very few of them got jobs and interviews after graduation.

I am mentioning this because you said you are going back to school for a master's, which made me think you are part of the older group. People like to generalize what it is like to be a new grad nowadays, but the way I see it: the market is tough, and what you do during nursing school and how flexible you are after graduation will definitely determine whether or not you will get a job right away. So my advice for anyone who asks me about going to nursing school: make sure you devote all your time and efforts into getting a job after graduation. Volunteer, work as a CNA, participate in as many leadership roles as you can. Don't even worry about GPA, that will not get you a job. I find it interesting that some people who graduated with honors in my class are still unemployed, while others who barely passed some classes but made sure to invest time in networking during nursing school were the first ones to get jobs.

[MarkusKrause]

I honestly don't know. I got into nursing, hoping that I'd find a job a few months after getting my license. Because I was sure that I'd at least find part-time work somewhere around my hometown, I didn't do much in terms of extra-curriculars. I see now that that was a mistake, especially considering that I don't have anything resembling a good work history; my first "job" in the last 15 years has been working with my father, a dermatologist, as his staff nurse, and even then, neither of us consider what I'm currently doing to be a real job. I just feel betrayed, both by my parents (an MD and an RN) who told me nursing would always give me a job, and by my nursing school for not making me aware of how horrible and unforgiving the market is.

Then again, I don't have any other marketable skills, so I'm basically stuck. Plus, I worked too hard to pass my boards, and fretted too many nights away agonizing over whether I had passed or not.

But would I do it again?

No. I probably wouldn't. More and more every day, it just seems like a bunch of wasted effort. But I'm going to keep clinging on, because I have no other choice.

Oh, and I'm going to be 28 in June, by the way.

[RunBabyRN]

I knew the market was going to be tough when I got out of nursing school. I've been in health care a long time, so I was there when the nursing shortage ended, and have seen the after effects. I still chose to pursue nursing, and thankfully have two job offers in a very tough market, both in areas that interest me. Speaking up for myself, being bold about asking for what I want, and thinking outside the box have been a big part of this.

[Nonetheless]

I honestly don't know. I got into nursing, hoping that I'd find a job a few months after getting my license. Because I was sure that I'd at least find part-time work somewhere around my hometown, I didn't do much in terms of extra-curriculars. I see now that that was a mistake, especially considering that I don't have anything resembling a good work history; my first "job" in the last 15 years has been working with my father, a dermatologist, as his staff nurse, and even then, neither of us consider what I'm currently doing to be a real job. I just feel betrayed, both by my parents (an MD and an RN) who told me nursing would always give me a job, and by my nursing school for not making me aware of how horrible and unforgiving the market is.

Then again, I don't have any other marketable skills, so I'm basically stuck. Plus, I worked too hard to pass my boards, and fretted too many nights away agonizing over whether I had passed or not.

But would I do it again?

No. I probably wouldn't. More and more every day, it just seems like a bunch of wasted effort. But I'm going to keep clinging on, because I have no other choice.

Oh, and I'm going to be 28 in June, by the way.

Are you working full time or part time, and does your dad/ your dad's practice share any names with you (is it obvious you are working for family)? Have you tried out of state jobs? How many places have you applied to? When did you graduate?

my dad is a doctor too but her never encouraged me to do nursing or medicine. And he has no way for me to work for him either than like an office assistant. At least your dad has an RN job for you.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Age discrimination in nursing (I'm talking jobs, now, not the age discrimination that goes on here on AN) is mainly against nurses at the top of the pay scale after many years on the job. If you're a new nurse, you'll be at the bottom of the payscale along with the young'uns. No age discrimination at the bottom of the pay scale. Now your colleagues may be ageist, but I think you'll find that anywhere.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I go back and forth. I am looking for a job outside of my current hospital because morale is low and honestly, I can't stand the department. I personally value loving my job than being one of the ones that are basically doing it to do it. I am looking at working at other places such as dialysis centers or even the prison. I may get hired into an ER if all goes well.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't go into nursing again. I like nursing, but the things I have had to do to get my job (relocating to smaller towns where I have no friends, no family, and nothing in common with the people who live there) have destroyed the person I used to be. I don't recommend anyone relocate alone, and it seems like that's what it takes for a lot of new grads to find jobs these days. I always thought I was rather stable and secure mentally, but I finally broke after 10 months of isolation. You'd be surprised at how much being away from everyone you've ever cared about, especially if you are unable to make connections in your new location, can sap your spirit. It's a horrible feeling to feel like you don't have roots anywhere and that there's nowhere you belong anymore. I can't recommend this field to anyone anymore if that's what it takes to get a job. At what point is a job worth your sanity? I think I would have rather worked a minimum wage customer service job, and still had my family and friends, than take a slightly better paying job and lose my whole support system. I wish I had known that was the cost of nursing before I started.