I'm becoming discouraged about becoming a nurse :/ How will I get a job?

jammin246RN · Mar 19, 2011

Here is how the economy and nurses works... Economy tanks, daddy loses his job, mommy who was a nurse many moons ago but has stayed home raising the kids goes back to work. Economy picks up daddy finds a job, mommy goes back to being a stay at home mommy. There is a nursing shortage, and it is getting worse. The reason it seems as though there isn't as many job openings is because they are being filled with temporary nurses who have no intention of staying in those positions for many years. Also look at the average nursing age.... it is increasing dramatically. This means that nurses that want to retire can't because of the economy, stocks took a hit, or whatever. Nursing schools can't churn out nurses fast enough to keep up with the ammount of nurses we will lose here in the next couple years. Yes some hospitals are singing the tune "must be a BSN" however this is only temporary. As soon as the economy starts to recover they will be singing a different tune. Lets look at Texas... 8 years ago they were so hard up for nurses they were giving out $50,000 sign on bonuses, and letting LPNs work in the ICU and do IV pushes. This has now changed and LPNs are as a rule being pushed back into nursing homes. This comes and goes in cycles. Don't give up hope. When you graduate look in out of the way places such as acute access hospitals, or clinics.

Best of luck!

anon695 · Mar 19, 2011

I don't think you need to worry so much. If you're starting the ADN this summer you won't be graduating until at least 2014, and by that time the economy could be much better. I think the ADN is fine for you, you can do that and then go straight to an RN-BSN bridge afterwards. You'll save a lot of money that way and will be able to start working as a nurse in 2 years without student loan debt. I think you've made great choices! Good luck in nursing!

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2011

two years from now the market will be very different. Last year my hospital hired 2 new grads...this year they're in the market for around 11(last I heard)...not counting the other open positions. You will find work, no matter what you have to do to do it. good luck, use the student forums here at an.com, helped me soooo much when I was in school.

Chin up · Mar 19, 2011

I am starting college this summer, taking the ADN prerequisites. I plan to get my bachelors but can't until I graduate nursing school and my family moves to another state. There's only one community college near us and it's ADN so pleae don't say "ohh just goi straight for your BSN"...I wish I could but I can't right now.
I would love to be a nurse. I think it's the most amazing and challenging career and I'd love interacting with people and learning all about the medical field. However, I have ran across a few threads that have discouraged me a little about nursing and it's irritating to me.
Everything said about nursing contradicts it's self! I don't understand how there's suppose to be some 'nursing shortage', everywhere you turn there's nurses! EVERYONE is going to nursing school because of the 'nursing shortage and recession proof' propaganda! But now a BSN is becoming the minimum requirement for bedside hospital nurses, I mean come on...if there was a nursing shortage then hospitals would not be that picky. I'm so scared that if this economy continues, and with as much as abundance as there is of the nurse population...that a nurses salary could drift down to minimum wage because some of these experienced nurses posting on this site are making it seem that way....Not to mention how hard it will be finding a job.
I was so excited about being a nurse because it's a profession I know I'd love...but if I'm not able to find a job or barely scrape buy on finances I wonder if it's even worth it I mean there's so many nurses out there that complain and hate there job and are just in it for money....while some of us actually want to be a nurse. It's not fair!

What is not fair? You either want to be a nurse or don't. Why should others unhappiness or complaint with the profession affect you? What does, "being in it for the money mean?". What does any of what you wrote in your last paragraph, have to do with you and nursing??? Read the above post ( jammin246RN) regarding the shortage question, which is a good question and response, but still, what has that got to do with you being a nurse? If you want to be a nurse, go to school. If you want to work in a hospital, get their minimum requirements. How people feel or not feel about nursing has absolutely nothing to do with you. How people practice, or not practice has nothing to do with you. Why people entered the profession, their status, title, has nothing to do with you. You are not even in school and are complaining about folks who busted their butt for how many years they attended and are busting their butts "doing nursing". Let's not get it twisted...you are just making excuses. Because if you want it, you will get it. No one can steal your excitement or joy. Examine yourself, little sister, then proceed as your maturity allows. Peace!

allnurses Guide · Mar 19, 2011

The above post is a tad harsh, but I definitely agree. If you want to be a nurse, be a nurse. Fair has nothing to do with anything in life. Happiness is largely a self determined state.

As far as your concerns about the future of nursing and the 'nursing shortage', you were able to find out concerning information. So take what you have found out and dig deeper. Nothing comes with a guarantee and all new grads are having trouble finding career launching jobs right now, not just nurses. Take all the information you find out and do something many do not - use it to look honestly at the state of things and arrive at a decision with your eyes open to the actualities. It all feels pretty different when you go into it without buying into the Pablum hype of guaranteed work and high wages. If it being hard is a reason not to do it, then don't do it. Whining about it won't change it. It being hard won't stop you if you go into it with the right attitude and an honest plan.

There are no recession proof jobs.

Nursing will never be a minimum wage position.

The nursing shortage is a vague idea that may or may not come to fruition. Right now it is nonexistant.

The reasons that people go into nursing has nothing to do with whether they are a good nurse or not and most certainly has nothing to do with you.

If the job requires a BSN, then make your plans accordingly if this is what you want.

Jonathank · Mar 19, 2011

While there may not be a nursing shortage nationally at the moment, anyone with a handle on the demographic trends understands that the ranks of older people in the USA who be in need of health care services will be swelling for the foreseeable future. Only so much of that demand can be automated, so more of every kind of health care professional will be needed.

netglow, ASN, RN · Mar 19, 2011

OP, you are right to be concerned. I don't rec nursing. I actually have given people advice on how to find information so they can make a better informed decision, eg. scope out AN, interrogate colleges on how many grads have jobs, go tour hospitals and ask what % foreign trained staff they have, actually look/listen -- you will be able to find out. etc,

Having said that, you will have to decide as in all else. Remember, some posters are younger or will be living off of a spouse's hard work. They have someone still paying for every whim. If you are a "mature" adult, you will be paying your own bills. There is a huge difference.

freebirdRN86 · Mar 19, 2011

I think you should go with what your heart is saying. During the last 2 semesters of my schooling, starting last summer, I started to hear about how may 2010 new grads weren't finding jobs, but that didn't stop me from continuing. I just kept telling myself that I would no doubt find a job, because I have never failed at anything that I put my heart and mind to. Fast forwArd to 2 months after graduation and 1 week after passing nclex, I got an interview at the hospital I wanted and was offered a job. I'm 24 years old, I pay for everything so I worry about getting by too, but it didn't stop me from doing what I knew I was supposed to do.

Don't let what could happen in 2 years stop you from doing what you want. Who knows, we may not even be here in 2 years so do what makes you happy now.

EmergencyNrse · Mar 19, 2011

My God man, buck-up!

Nothing worthwhile comes easy. You DO have to put some work and effort into it? Amazing how other people seem to study, graduate, and get jobs.

You have to actually WORK for it.

Now go grab some chocolate, feel better about yourself and get back to those books. I'm getting tired and need someone to replace me soon...

2011NursingStudent · Mar 19, 2011

Every field has a shortage of jobs right now (not a shortage of applicants), the economy goes through cycles and has never stayed depressed forever. Both the economy and hiring will pick up.

Skylarslaughter · Mar 19, 2011

What is not fair? You either want to be a nurse or don't. Why should others unhappiness or complaint with the profession affect you? What does, "being in it for the money mean?". What does any of what you wrote in your last paragraph, have to do with you and nursing??? Read the above post ( jammin246RN) regarding the shortage question, which is a good question and response, but still, what has that got to do with you being a nurse? If you want to be a nurse, go to school. If you want to work in a hospital, get their minimum requirements. How people feel or not feel about nursing has absolutely nothing to do with you. How people practice, or not practice has nothing to do with you. Why people entered the profession, their status, title, has nothing to do with you. You are not even in school and are complaining about folks who busted their butt for how many years they attended and are busting their butts "doing nursing". Let's not get it twisted...you are just making excuses. Because if you want it, you will get it. No one can steal your excitement or joy. Examine yourself, little sister, then proceed as your maturity allows. Peace!

I understand it has nothing to do with anyone else, but the reason I am so distressed is that I am afraid I will not even get to be a nurse if I graduate and no one is hiring new grads! See my point? Every single job listing I view in the papers or on the internt requires experience. If this economy coninues to get worse I will have no chance by the time I graduate, and I really do want to be a nurse and YES I am going through with my schooling but I'm becoming a little depressed thinking I won't be able to land a job to start my career.