Is this worth doing?

Published

I am considering applying to nursing school but I have some concerns.

1. First, it seems like everyone is trying to do this. Yes, I know many will not get in, and perhaps many will not make it through the program, but considering those who do get in and do get through, are there too many new grad RN's?

2. Given the increase in people trying to do nursing school, what are you seeing on wages? I know the days of five figure signing bonuses are gone but have you seen decreases in wages? For example, if you saw hospital x paying $y/hour when you started nursing school, and now that you've graduated it's less than y.

3. Is the situation for new grads getting better? I don't live in the northeast or California, which seem to be two awful areas, but what about the rest of the country? I'm reading that some folks are saying move to rural TX but I don't think I could do that. Is it true that rural, BFE areas are the only places in which one could get hired?

Thanks!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Be realistic in your expectations. If your area is not a good one for employment after graduation, are you willing to relocate for a job? What will you do if you decide not to go into nursing? You need an alternative if you decide against it. You might want to see a guidance counselor in the nursing department of the school you would attend. They can help you with some of your concerns. Good luck with your decision.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Honestly, there is no way to predict what salaries or the employment situation will be like when you graduate NS. It may remain unchanged or it may get better and/or worse. I know that for many places bonues have dropped drastically, if they're not entirely gone all together; meanwhile a lot of places have lowered their starting salary and/or differentials. So if nursing is what you want to do, that's a chance that you are going to have to be willing to take.

As far as "everyone trying to do it," yes, there are still increased numbers of students enrolling in school. But between the higher grading standards and tough classroom/clinical workload, a lot of those are weeded out during nursing school--not everyone who starts school graduates.

Right now there ARE a lot of new grad RNs out there...the problem is that there are not a lot of new grad RN jobs, and as more students graduate every couple of months, the competition for the new grad jobs gets tighter. And who knows if there will be more in the future? There may or may not be--see the first paragraph.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I am glad you are giving some serious thought to this decision. It appears you have a very realistic approach.

Hiring bonuses and relocation are gone for staff nurses. These percs still exist for hard-to-fill management and specialty positions but are much rarer than they used to be. The majority of nurses still work in hospitals, and these organizations have taken a major hit since the economy headed south in 2008. According to people I know who have a much better understanding of the implications of Health Care Reform - hospitals will continue to be under economic siege for the next 4 to 5 years as all the changes shake out. It will be difficult for independent hospitals to survive as reimbursement continues to drop and service requirements increase. We may have up to 25% fewer hospitals in 2015 than we do today - and they probably won't look the same since there will be enormous pressure to keep patients out of the acute care setting.

That being said - there will be increasing opportunities for nurses outside of acute care facilities as the US moves more into a capitated, preventative model. For instance, can you envision nurses staffing a CHF van - making rounds and administering IV lasix to home-bound cardiac patients in order to keep them out of the hospital??? That could very well happen.

As for wages - our (nursing) wages have actually decreased over the last 4 years since raises have not kept up with cost of living increases. Nursing wages are very compressed, with only ~ a 35% increase from year 1 to year 15 of experience.

States with population growth will continue to have increased nursing jobs available. Texas is one of the states with the highest projected growth since our economy remains pretty healthy. Here in Houston, I know of 4 new suburban facilities opening within the next 12 months. But I definitely take exception to any insults to rural Texas - that's God's country!!! LOL.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with what you wrote. Sometimes I ask myself, though, if you knew that there was going to be a surplus of labor in a field (even accounting for attrition in nursing school and thereafter, which I think there will be), would you be so gung-ho on doing it? I agree that the economy is getting marginally better but personally, I have yet to see too many new grad spots open. The few that are open probably have a terrible ratio of applicants. I dunno. I'd love to do it but I have to admit that on paper, it looks like a terrible option right now. I suspect that the optimal time to have entered the field was 5-6 years ago when you at least could have got a job. Because, it seems now that if you have a job (and the experience that goes with having one), you can still do what you want, at least to an extent.

I am glad you are giving some serious thought to this decision. It appears you have a very realistic approach.

Hiring bonuses and relocation are gone for staff nurses. These percs still exist for hard-to-fill management and specialty positions but are much rarer than they used to be. The majority of nurses still work in hospitals, and these organizations have taken a major hit since the economy headed south in 2008. According to people I know who have a much better understanding of the implications of Health Care Reform - hospitals will continue to be under economic siege for the next 4 to 5 years as all the changes shake out. It will be difficult for independent hospitals to survive as reimbursement continues to drop and service requirements increase. We may have up to 25% fewer hospitals in 2015 than we do today - and they probably won't look the same since there will be enormous pressure to keep patients out of the acute care setting.

That being said - there will be increasing opportunities for nurses outside of acute care facilities as the US moves more into a capitated, preventative model. For instance, can you envision nurses staffing a CHF van - making rounds and administering IV lasix to home-bound cardiac patients in order to keep them out of the hospital??? That could very well happen.

As for wages - our (nursing) wages have actually decreased over the last 4 years since raises have not kept up with cost of living increases. Nursing wages are very compressed, with only ~ a 35% increase from year 1 to year 15 of experience.

States with population growth will continue to have increased nursing jobs available. Texas is one of the states with the highest projected growth since our economy remains pretty healthy. Here in Houston, I know of 4 new suburban facilities opening within the next 12 months. But I definitely take exception to any insults to rural Texas - that's God's country!!! LOL.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU.

You are wise to contemplate these decisions beforehand. I know now that I have just graduated, there's no longer a nursing shortage and the economy probably has alot to do with that. I think it's the employers market right now and I cannot say how it will be in the future. I just got a job offer but it wasnt my ideal job but I'm taking it b/c of the loads of new grads applying. I havent seen a decrease in pay but rather a very slow increase in pay if at all. I know grads of 2008 and the hospitals are paying the same starting pay.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think your comments are a case study why folks should not pay inflated tuition to go to nursing school. I had to bow out of an expensive nursing school (before I started) because I could not get a loan to go. It was very frustrating at the time but in hindsight, it may have been a good thing. There's only a handful of jobs left that are seeing any increases at all and in the medical field, they usually come with the initials M.D.

As much as I'd like to do it, I am very wary right now.

You are wise to contemplate these decisions beforehand. I know now that I have just graduated, there's no longer a nursing shortage and the economy probably has alot to do with that. I think it's the employers market right now and I cannot say how it will be in the future. I just got a job offer but it wasnt my ideal job but I'm taking it b/c of the loads of new grads applying. I havent seen a decrease in pay but rather a very slow increase in pay if at all. I know grads of 2008 and the hospitals are paying the same starting pay.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I think your comments are a case study why folks should not pay inflated tuition to go to nursing school. I had to bow out of an expensive nursing school (before I started) because I could not get a loan to go. It was very frustrating at the time but in hindsight, it may have been a good thing. There's only a handful of jobs left that are seeing any increases at all and in the medical field, they usually come with the initials M.D.

As much as I'd like to do it, I am very wary right now.

Well, if you feel that nursing is something that you really want to do--and want to do for more than just the financial reasons--then don't automatically rule nursing school out. But as we've said, no one knows what the future job situation will be like so it's a chance you'd have to take.

And I also agree with not putting yourself in major debt if you decide to do this. The RN licensing exam is the same whether you go to the cost-effective community college or the expensive private university.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well... if you don't go to nursing school... are you still going to go to school in another field? Because nursing is not the only field experiencing this. I think you take a risk no matter what. If you are currently working... and you stay where you're at and don't go to school you could be taking a risk. We don't know what the future holds. But I will say, that even with the current conditions, and the uncertainty ahead... I would do it all over again. Coz nursing is something I enjoy. And there are ways you can put yourself ahead of the other graduating nurses... since you know now that it could be difficult finding a job later. While you're in school, do your best to get a job as a tech, cna, or even unit secretary. And if you can't get a job, volunteer... meet lots of people, then eventually you will get something. Then when you are in nursing school, meet as many people as you can at your clinicals... and make an impression. Network yourself. Don't be like some of your classmates and stand around in the hallway chit-chatting... go the extra mile. One of my clinical instructors loved me and she got me an interview at the hospital she worked at part time... and I've used her as a reference for another position, which helped me land the job. There are grad nursing jobs out there right now... but the ones that are getting them are mostly those with connections and/or those that are already working at the hospital/facility in another position. You just have to decide how bad you really want to be a nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion