Is It Just Me?

[Mijourney]

Is it just me that is noticing the large volume of new graduates, especially our younger graduates, that desire to spend very little time, if any, at the bedside before pursuing a non-traditional role in nursing. New graduates come into the profession and immediately want to go into an area such as case management or informatics which generally require over three to five years of clinical experience in order to provide high level service to the client or patient and family. What gives?

[mrmedical, ASN, BSN]

A lot of instructors are egging grads and current nursing students to pursue their masters and doctorates probably to rack up $$$ for the nursing college while suggesting things nursing leadership and management ect... Why not just get an MBA or CompSci for less?

[RNHURT]

I dont think instructors have to do anything with this. People do come into this profession for money, stability and respect. Unfortunately they do get money but no respect .......and stability........ gets lost by rules and policies of management. Going into informatics is a personal choice but I do agree at least couple of years of floor exp is necessary. I have seen only 1-2 % nurses who want to go to informatics in my work area. its just that awareness for these options are more now than few decades ago.

[Kayla.J.RN]

A lot of instructors are egging grads and current nursing students to pursue their masters and doctorates probably to rack up $$$ for the nursing college while suggesting things nursing leadership and management ect... Why not just get an MBA or CompSci for less?

I know some new grads who have decided to go straight into a masters program after graduation. But I don't agree with it at all. I think you need experience as an RN before deciding to be an NP. This title implies experience and skill at a much higher level than what a new grad has. I believe an NP should be an expert (or close to one) in their field/specialty.

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

What? No mention of new BSN grads who would prefer a direct entry into NP programs?

Case management and informatics are old school.

[nursel56]

Yes, I've noticed it but most of them want to be an NP or a CRNA. The colleges are definitely pushing it and have stated so in their think tank committee reports. I'm just amazed at how much high school kids know about these careers. We had specializations, certifications, and some NP programs when I was in school but most high school students (including me) were just clueless.

[amoLucia]

THANK YOU:bowingpur I was thinking it was only me, too, who was seeing the same things as you. I'm stunned by the number of PRENURSING students who talk about advanced degreed positions such as CRNAs, FNPs, midwives, PAs, etc. These posters are so far ahead of themselves that it is unrealistic at this time!!! I mean, we're talking about pre-reqs not even being met yet!

And I'm saddened by the sheer number of newbies who are looking for their FIRST positions in highly specialized technological fields of critical care, OR/PACU/ER, high risk OB/PEDS, etc. They are so crushed and devastated when the job prospects don't come through (as employers so wisely freq want experience). Those who don't "luck into" those 'dream' positions then post here on AN that they've "settled for LTC or HH" because there was nothing else and they needed the money. Or else they commiserate about no jobs at all. (Just FYI, those of us in LTC, HH etc don't like to be considered as second-class!) And like OP noted, non-traditional specialties count in here too.

Those that DO get into those highly specialized fields then soon find themselves struggling because of their limited skills and peer support, and then they doubt themselves. It is so sad! Same for those who have taken the second or third choice positions. I see quick resignations and job hoppings. Sad!

How ethical and professional is this trend for nursing? And what about the employer??? Is it any wonder that they don't want to hire any newbies? Afterall, they'll only just be quitting soon r/t their unrealistic expectations and frustrations. And after the cost of time and money for the employer to provide orientation is significant. So, do you blame them?!?

Newbies complain about the oldsters and the oldsters complain about the newbies. Where does it end and where did it start? I don't totally blame the newbies. It seems to be nation-wide. I think they're getting whacked by the short end of the educational stick. Healthcare's bottom-line is the bottom-line and now it's those surveys impacting that bottom-line. Toss in the medical profession, federal regs, the insurance and phamaceutical industries and NOBODY is happy. I don't see it getting better.

Sorry for the length of this dissertation wannabe. I've only been on AN a few months but this is what I've been seeing. Thanks for the vent.

[PennyWise]

I was a little shocked when I found out, in my RN to BSN courses, there were many new grads (some had not even passed boards yet) who had not found their first job. I felt so bad for them, I asked around and found out what units at my hospital were hiring new grads. Went back to class the next week and told them to apply. The responses were:

1. I'm not working by choice. I'm getting my BSN first so I don't have to worry about being floated (her thought process was, since BSNs are put in charge more often, and when you are scheduled to be charge nurse you don't have to float, its better to have your BSN so you float less often). This was someone who worked as an aid at a nursing home during her school years.

2. I don't want to work at a hospital because they use IVs. Are there any units that don't accept patients with IVs? Only the really sick people get IVs and I'm not dealing with that. I work at a group home now and I'll keep doing that until I find a position where I don't have IVs to deal with.

3. I'm going to do mostly outpatient/clinic setting jobs until I have enough experience to become management. They get holidays off, don't do weekends and only work day shift. I'm planning on doing a few imunization clinics and stuff like that, and that'll count as my experience to get me in the door for management at a hospital.

Go ahead..........reread them if you must. I couldn't make stuff this good up. One person was interested, but afraid to leave his current position. Apparently, he worked at a group home with mentally challenged patients. They were so paranoid about people leaving, if they so much as gotr a phone call asking for a reference on you.........they'd replace you. So, even though he was interested, he never applied. He was too afraid he'd end up not getting hired and be left out to dry.

I don't think this is unique to nursing. I hear a friend of mine in Social Work complain that a lot of the new hires (young and old) simply are not "invested" in their work. Thats how he described it too..............."not invested." I think thats the perfect word for the behavior.

But, I don't frown on them for being that way. Employers/corporations have been showing how they are not concerned with us for decades now, hence people no longer are willing to invest themselves into a career. Too often, it is a one way street.

Before, the culture of nursing was that you had to earn your place, do your time at the bedside. People aren't willing to invest that kind of time and energy into a career. They come in, seek the most ideal situation for themselves, and if they don't get it, they move on...........quickly. Loyalty is a thing of the past. I honestly don't see why it should be any different. They are out to scam us, we don't fall for it anymore and................that's that.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I have looked at every job I have got as a means to the next part. I did 1 year of medical so I could do ER. Im doing ER so I can get into ICU. Im doing that so I can do flight nurse. Every job is a step to another job. Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and grind through it.

[brainkandy87]

Well, everyone has goals. I do think a lot of new grads are focused on becoming an NP or CRNA simply for monetary reasons, not thinking about if it's what they want to do. I saw a lot of nurses I graduated with voice that during nursing school and after. If you're only in this for the money, you really need to get a new career, because you can go make more money doing something a lot easier that takes a lot less time to obtain than NP or CRNA.

[NurseAnnie123]

This is one reason why new grads are having a hard time finding jobs. Managers are tired of hiring them, training them for a year, and then watching them walk out the door.. I am all for advancement and education, but in nursing patient care experience is critical!

[RNperdiem, RN]

I wonder if there is a change in the demographics of people entering nursing.

Maybe the opening of the nursing field to jobs involving advanced degrees such as NP and highly paid advanced specialities such as CRNA has attracted more people from upper-middle class professional backgrounds.

The majority of the nurses I work with come from this group.

Degrees and higher education are very much valued. Maybe there is a sense of entitlement that comes from living in this world, but people are willing to put in the work required.

Five nurses left this summer for CRNA school, a couple more are working on their NP and I know several that are planning to start on Masters degrees.