As you can guess from my username my wife is going to school for her RN license. She started applying 2.5 yrs ago and was passed over because of the lottery system here in the Sacramento, CA area. Her grades are near perfect and she ended up doing really well on the entrance exam - the name of it escapes me right now. She stopped applying after the fourth rejection notice, but something told her to apply one last time and finally got in on the fifth try. We're both extremely happy. She finally has a chance to pursue a career she's interested in and not just dropped into. Anyway, she starts the American River College program in Spring 2010 - just a few weeks away actually and will graduate in December 2011.
I've noticed a few online articles about the nurse shortage. You would think it would be great for those entering the nursing program, but from the posts on this site, as well as hearing from others, it appears nursing may not be the best career choice. They (posts) seem to indicate new nurses are unlikely to get hired. Is this just due to the country's current economic state? Or, is it perhaps that those graduates didn't do as well in terms of grades, interview, etc... as their classmates? I just assumed hospitals would be knocking on the instructor's door asking for the top students to apply. I haven't told my wife of what I've learned as it would only serve to upset her. See, I've spent several weeks now trying to convince her that quiting her well paying job was the right decision. If she knew of what I've read, she would back out of the program. I'm not going to let her stay in a job that she dislikes just because it's safe.
She ultimately wants to go all the way in school and become a nurse practioner. I told her not to limit herself as she will get a chance to rotate and will have a better understanding of what she wants to continue with, but for her, sky is truly the limit. She is very intelligent and does very well in her studies. So, I'm sure she won't have any issues with the classroom work. Time will only tell if she'll do well in the actual clinical portion, but that's something you can't know until you do it.
My questions to you are:
Do you think employment opportunities for new grads will improve over the next two years? Is the non-hiring of new grads just temporary?
If given the opportunity, would you recommend going straight-through? i.e. RN->BSN->Masters
If you had to do it all over again, would you go through the Physician Assistant program or Nursing program?
I've seen opportunities for student CRNAs, but not sure how much clinical experience the student must have. Would it be an option to go straight-through to become a CRNA?
Regardless of the outcome, we count our blessings I'm able to provide for us while she pursues her dreams.
Sorry for the book, but I just wanted to introduce myself and ask a few questions. I'm sure I'll have many more for the community over the next couple of years.
@misplaced1 - Hello, thank you for your response. I don't think it was negative at all, but rather real. That's funny you should mention about the NP requiring more education. Not too long ago I read a magazine article, I believe in the "Sacramento" magazine - I not 100% sure though, about a local NP who went into her own practice in order to get away from being overloaded with patients. She felt the patients were not receiving adequate care and thought by controlling the number of patients she had would enable to better care for them. The purpose of the article was to highlight the shortage of doctors and how PA and NP are expected to take on more of the responsibilities in the coming years and how some NP are rolemodeling and leading the way. I think raising education standards is always a good move. I would think even more so in health professions. - Sorry to hear you're second guessing your decision. I'm also sorry, in addition to everything else, you have to deal with the crabs in a basket mentality. It sounds like corporate america. Hence your reference to it being a business first. - Thanks again
@Virgo RN - Thanks for the clarification. You're right! I can see how you might interpret it that way based on how I wrote it. - Wow! You've got to be a strong person to thrive in that kind of environment. Good for you! I wish you the best.
First to husband, welcome to Allnurses. I had several jobs as a nurse that I totally hated before I found my fit. Then I stayed there 22 years.
How about bringing your wife here and have her read some of the student forums and chat with the ones going through what she is.
One thing I think you may have confused is PA vs NP. Those are completely different career tracks. PA's are always under the auspices, supervision of a physician. The NP may be an independent practitioner.
My DH just poked his head over my shoulder and said to warn you of the abuse you will suffer at the hands of a stressed out nurse wife, lol. There are still new grad programs! Things have tightened up in recent years and I'd imagine they will remain so for a couple more but make imo the majority of new graduates are working as nurses. FWIW I'm not a big fan of quitting work to attend school so you might consider "letting" her continue at her present job especially if it provides a good income.
I don't think I can touch on everything you asked about but as far as the hiring of new nurses, I can say this; it's a competitive job market right now. Like any competitive job market, prospective employees need to make themselves an asset to the company they are applying for.
My hospital just hired 6 new grads to our med/surg floor. All had bachelors. All had exceptionally good grades. 1 worked at the hospital as a CNA. 1 was an intern at the hospital. Several others were interns at other hospitals.
Will the climate change for new grads getting hospital jobs in the next 2 years? Who knows. But regardless, if your wife wants a job she better find a way to make herself a value to a prospective company now because passing the NCLEX does not mean you get a job.
I also agree that going straight through to an MSN may not be the best way to go. I work with an RN who's actually an APRN, but works in the ED as a Nurse. He wanted more clinical experience because he felt like the experience he had going straight to an APRN wasn't enough.
I would say, while she's working on her BSN, she should start working. Her job might even offer tuition assistance for getting her BSN.
If she hasn't already gotten into some "get your RN & Master's degree" program (which it sounds like she hasn't), it'll be better if she has experience when applying for a Master's program. Also, I've worked with NPs with no nursing experience, and in ICU, it wasn't pretty.
As for CRNA programs, they require at minimum 1 year of ICU experience.
Welcome to allnurses!! It think it's wonderful that you've taken such an interest in your wife's career plans. You seem like a very supportive husband. Contrary to what most people will tell you, you do not need years of bedside experience to be an NP (for most specialties). I graduated from a direct entry program and went right to work as an NP without ever having worked as an RN. Honestly, I use very little of what I learned in the RN portion of my program. I am competent and my patients are very happy with the care I give them. I think RN experience definitely gives added value, but isn't critical except maybe for an acute care NP, and a CRNA. If your wife already has a bachelor's degree, she might want to investigate a direct entry program if she's interested in becoming a NP. The job market in my area was (and I think still is) terrible for RNs, but much better for NPs. If she chooses to continue with her RN program, she can certainly go right into an RN to MSN program after she graduates. Those can be done full time or part time, so she could work part-time as an RN while going to grad school, if she can find a job that can accomodate the schedule she needs.
I find this thread quite fascinating....giving career/school/employment advice to someone who isn't actually planning to be a nurse. Rather, he is planning his wife's career....
Just out of curiosity, why are you posting here rather than your wife?
For some reason, this statement bothers me:
"If she knew of what I've read, she would back out of the program. I'm not going to let her stay in a job that she dislikes just because it's safe. "
I guess I'm thinking that if I were your wife, I would like to be included in all available information and to be emplowered to make my own decisions. Not "letting" me stay in a job for whatever reason wouldn't be a part of my husband's prerogatives.
I don't want to "let" my mother stay in a job that is making her physically ill either. That's why I'm working to help her with money and assisting her in researching new options for a new job. That doesn't mean she isn't fully involved and not in 100% control of her career decisions.
I find this thread quite fascinating....giving career/school/employment advice to someone who isn't actually planning to be a nurse. Rather, he is planning his wife's career....
We have no proof this man is making the decisions for his wife.
I'm only here because I like forums but not everyone does. Just because people don't utilize forums doesn't mean they haven't done their research on a topic. If I didn't like forums, I would have no objections to my mom or best friend coming by to pick the brains of people here about my master's program and letting me know what the responses were. These are people who are very close to me who I've spoken with in great detail about my future plans. I've reached out to them for their thoughts on my goals and have no objection to them educating themselves further on the topic.
I sincerely hope that if they should post here, asking for information from people who can respond if they please, they wouldn't be met with such a response.
I'm only here because I like forums but not everyone does. Just because people don't utilize forums doesn't mean they haven't done their research on a topic. If I didn't like forums, I would have no objections to my mom or best friend coming by to pick the brains of people here about my master's program and letting me know what the responses were. These are people who are very close to me who I've spoken with in great detail about my future plans. I've reached out to them[/i][/i][/i][/i] for their thoughts on my goals and have no objection to them educating themselves further on the topic.
excellent, excellent point, cindy.
if it weren't for my husband calling the school of nsg for an application, AND pestering me to fill out and submit the application, i wouldn't be here on this bb today.
for crying out loud, this is the guy who would voluntarily go to the store to buy me tampons.:)
all we're saying, is there can be a variety of reasons on why a spouse would post on the other's behalf.
and cindy, you sound like an awesome dtr.:balloons:
...all we're saying, is there can be a variety of reasons on why a spouse would post on the other's behalf...
I agree. My sister and I are considering moving to another state within the next two years. I'm currently an LPN in an RN program, and she's a teacher in a master's program. We will both graduate in December 2010.
Not only have I done research for myself, to find out what the transition process will be for me to obtain a Georgia RN license (from Florida), but I've done extensive research for her teacher's certification, as well. I have even joined some forums asking other teachers for advice on her behalf.
My reason for doing this, is because I know the value of online forums, as this site has been very instrumental in my decision to enroll into the program I'm in right now. However, my sister isn't really into forums. And I know she wouldn't take advantage of them, so I am doing it for her.
The only difference with me and the OP of this thread, is that I relay all of the information I have discovered, good and bad. When he says he's refraining from letting his wife know about the job shortages for new grads, I feel it's something I would want to know if I were her. But everyone is different. Other than that, I think it's great that he's seeking advice from others, who have more insight than he does.
if it weren't for my husband calling the school of nsg for an application, AND pestering me to fill out and submit the application, i wouldn't be here on this bb today.
for crying out loud, this is the guy who would voluntarily go to the store to buy me tampons.:)
all we're saying, is there can be a variety of reasons on why a spouse would post on the other's behalf.
and cindy, you sound like an awesome dtr.:balloons:
leslie
Great points, as usual but I do think there are a few odd statements in the op. Not that he doesn't deserve respectful replies but just that I also raised my eyebrows at some of his statements, like "I haven't told my wife of what I've learned as it would only serve to upset her" and "I'm not going to let her stay in a job that she dislikes just because it's safe". Maybe its just my independent nature and the fact that online communication is flawed?
HusbandOfANurse2B
6 Posts
@misplaced1 - Hello, thank you for your response. I don't think it was negative at all, but rather real. That's funny you should mention about the NP requiring more education. Not too long ago I read a magazine article, I believe in the "Sacramento" magazine - I not 100% sure though, about a local NP who went into her own practice in order to get away from being overloaded with patients. She felt the patients were not receiving adequate care and thought by controlling the number of patients she had would enable to better care for them. The purpose of the article was to highlight the shortage of doctors and how PA and NP are expected to take on more of the responsibilities in the coming years and how some NP are rolemodeling and leading the way. I think raising education standards is always a good move. I would think even more so in health professions. - Sorry to hear you're second guessing your decision. I'm also sorry, in addition to everything else, you have to deal with the crabs in a basket mentality. It sounds like corporate america. Hence your reference to it being a business first. - Thanks again