Junior in high school, interested in becoming a nurse but confused!

Merlyn · Mar 31, 2012

I want to be in a traditional 4 year program, preferably in Stony Brook. I don't think they have a specific "nursing program" (maybe they do, extremely confused) so I don't know I am to start my path to becoming a nurse Any help is appreciated, thank you!

My advise. Don't be a nurse. The market is flooded with nurses already. Take up business administration, computer science, law first. Read these boards. See how the graduate nurses are not getting the jobs. It has gotten so bad that an old nurse has to die, before a position opens. In the fields I have talked about they will be a plus if you want to go into nursing later. Why pay all that money for a BSN if you don't have a job to come out to. It hurts me to say this but I, that have given most of his life to this profession, have to tell a young person not to go into nursing. But rethink your decision.

havehope · Mar 31, 2012

I say if your high school has a nursing program (usually a CNA program) take that and see if you even like nursing. Don't be a nurse if your heart isn't into it. However, if you love it go for it. Your thread is a bit confusing. If Stony Brook is a university and not community college chances are they have a nursing program. You have to look around the website and look for "programs of study" and see if nursing is one. Good luck to you.

Merlyn may be right that finding a job is hard depending on where you live. However, in my community I have four hospitals within a mile of me and they are always looking for nurses. One of the hospitals is hiring nine CNA's! And that same hospital is looking for five to ten RN's and you don't have to have any experience.

So if your heart is in it go for it. If not save your money and go into something you love.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2012

Well, since you asked how to go about entering a nursing program and not whether you should be a nurse, or how to find a job once you are, I'll bite.

I'd contact the admission department of the school you're interested in, and ask for an appointment to discuss admission requirements, and what kind of program they have. Then inquire around as to who among people you know are familiar with that program. Look around the internet to see what people have to say about it as well.

I'd have to agree that for the most part, there is no need for more new nurses, and you might in fact be better served by looking into a different career path. But if you really are intent on this, try taking some of my suggestions.

MRN717 · Apr 1, 2012

They still hire new grads in eastern PA with BSN's rather quickly.(I believe Stony Brook U in PA is where OP is referring to)

When the current bill gets voted down and as the economy slowly picks up, while the mean age keeps rising, their will again be a need for nurses like there always has in the past. This need will grow over the next ~10 years.

-jmo

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2012

I assumed that the OP was talking about Stony Brook University (AKA: SUNY Stony Brook) on Long Island. Didn't know there was another!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2012

...and I can't find a Pennsylvania Stony Brook at all when I Google...? Although there's a PA program there, they aren't referring to Pennsylvania

cally527, RN · Apr 1, 2012

My advise. Don't be a nurse. The market is flooded with nurses already. Take up business administration, computer science, law first. Read these boards. See how the graduate nurses are not getting the jobs. It has gotten so bad that an old nurse has to die, before a position opens. In the fields I have talked about they will be a plus if you want to go into nursing later. Why pay all that money for a BSN if you don't have a job to come out to. It hurts me to say this but I, that have given most of his life to this profession, have to tell a young person not to go into nursing. But rethink your decision.

HORRIBLE ADVICE! The OP is a high school student. The economy and job market will not be the same in 5 years so you should be ashamed to be discouraging a high school student from pursuing a nursing career.

lwang - your first step in figuring this out is having a discussion with your guidance counselor at school. He/She can help you figure out any detail you need to know in order to get into a BSN program.

Your second step would be to contact Stony Brook. I am pretty sure that they have a School of Nursing. You can look online and see how to contact someone there to go over any questions you have. Good luck to you and do not let people like Merlyn discourage you from Nursing.

Merlyn · Apr 1, 2012

HORRIBLE ADVICE! The OP is a high school student. The economy and job market will not be the same in 5 years so you should be ashamed to be discouraging a high school student from pursuing a nursing career.
lwang - your first step in figuring this out is having a discussion with your guidance counselor at school. He/She can help you figure out any detail you need to know in order to get into a BSN program.
Your second step would be to contact Stony Brook. I am pretty sure that they have a School of Nursing. You can look online and see how to contact someone there to go over any questions you have. Good luck to you and do not let people like Merlyn discourage you from Nursing.

Ashamed? The economy and the job market will not be the same, if will be worst. We are already in hock to China and Japan. Hospitals will continue to cut back on staff. Hospitals of yesterdays non-profit are today's big business. How many nursing schools in this country turning out how many graduates. There is no nursing shortage. There is a nursing surplus. I told the OP to try and get a degree in business and computers. Then is she still wants to be a nurse go. She will be in much greater demand if she has some business along with nursing.

These are the hard facts. So OP follow your dream but keep in mind some reality about the business.

MRN717 · Apr 1, 2012

Ashamed? The economy and the job market will not be the same, if will be worst. We are already in hock to China and Japan. Hospitals will continue to cut back on staff. Hospitals of yesterdays non-profit are today's big business. How many nursing schools in this country turning out how many graduates. There is no nursing shortage. There is a nursing surplus. I told the OP to try and get a degree in business and computers. Then is she still wants to be a nurse go. She will be in much greater demand if she has some business along with nursing.
These are the hard facts. So OP follow your dream but keep in mind some reality about the business.

I have seen you post thoughtful comments before in my reading on here, but I am sorry if you think it will be worse...you should provide some "reasoning" behind your statement other than there being a "current" surplus in your geogrphic area.

On top of that, let me tell you from personal experiece what a degree in BA gets you....a foot in the door of a $34k job that actually helps no one, woohoo.

-jmo

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2012

I want to be in a traditional 4 year program, preferably in Stony Brook. I don't think they have a specific "nursing program" (maybe they do, extremely confused) so I don't know I am to start my path to becoming a nurse Any help is appreciated, thank you!

Since I have a daughter that will be a junior next fall....I think I am qualified to answer this for you.

If it is the Stony Brook University the reason you are confused is that is says "Closed" by the different programs "2012" what this means is that the schools programs are full and no longer accepting applications for that school year.

School of Nursing Stony Brook

It appears that the program you would be looking at is the basic Baccalaureate Nursing program. It requires 2 years of schooling before applying to the school of nursing. You must maintain a GPA of 2.8 (minimum) but like Merlyn said.....the nursing field and nursing schools are flooded with applications for those wishing to enter the nursing field. The field is highly competitive right now not only to get accepted into a school, but in obtaining gainful employment....so you need to try very hard to be at the top of your class.

Basic Baccalaureate Program | School of Nursing Stony Brook

There is some false advertisement about a nursing shortage. Nursing is NOT recession proof like everyone has been lead to believe. There is a plethora (abundance) of nurses and nursing grads that cannot find work and some who have been looking for over a year. It does really depend on where you live and if you are willing to move to find a job. Many It appears that Stony Brook (if that is the school you are looking at) has a residency program (post graduation on the job training that you pay for, usually, or you receive a small salary while you learn.) which will make you a highly desirable candidate when you begin looking for a job.

"Has the Nursing Shortage Disappeared?

It's that time of year again. Graduating nursing students are preparing to take the NCLEX and are looking for their first jobs. This year, many are finding those first jobs in short supply.

Reports are rampant of new graduates being unable to find open positions in their specialty of choice, and even more shockingly, many are finding it tough to find any openings at all.

These new RNs entered school with the promise that nursing is a recession-proof career. They were told the nursing shortage would guarantee them employment whenever and wherever they wanted.

So what happened? Has the nursing shortage--that we've heard about incessantly for years--suddenly gone away?

The short term answer is clearly yes, although in the long term, unfortunately, the shortage will still be there.

The recession has brought a temporary reprieve to the shortage. Nurses who were close to retirement have seen their 401(k) portfolios plummet and their potential retirement income decline. They are postponing retirement a few more years until the economy--and their portfolios--pick up.

Many nurses have seen their spouses and partners lose their jobs and have increased their hours to make ends meet for their families. Some who left the profession to care for children or for other reasons have rejoined the workforce for similar reasons.

In addition, many hospitals are not hiring. The recession brought hiring freezes to healthcare facilities across the country, and many are still in effect. Help wanted ads for healthcare professionals dropped by 18,400 listings in July, 2010."

Has the Nursing Shortage Disappeared?##

If you really want to be a nurse then be one. Nursing is a hard job. It takes dedication and hard work. You will work holidays and weekends as well as working in the evening and overnight. Hospitals run 24/7 365 days a year. You will work Christmas and New Years as well as any other holiday you may want to have off, you will have to work at one time or another. You will miss family dinners or the dinners will have to be postponed to another day so you can attend on your day off. You will have to get some bedside experience before you move on to other positions away from the bedside as they are based on having bedside knowledge.

If you really want to be a nurse read another AN member's blog for some real facts and advice.

For Those Considering A Career In Nursing

https://allnurses.com/nursing-career-advice/those-considering-career-653061.html

and also read

The Big Lie?

Without a doubt, the main source of frustration experienced by recently graduated and licensed but still unemployed nurses is what could be called "the big lie."In other words, the television commercials that encourage young people to become nurses -- and then abandon them for months (or years) without employment; and the educators who tell them that the associate's degree is perfectly adequate to guarantee employment, that they will have their pick of jobs when they graduate, and that there is plenty of time to get a BSN later on. Who knows whether it is greed, ignorance, or wishful thinking that underlies the fairy tales told to nursing students about their future job prospects? Whatever the motivation, the disillusionment of our new grads is palpable. The jobs they expected after all of their hard work just haven't materialized, and some grads are getting pretty desperate.

Medscape: Medscape Access you will have to register, but it is free (no strings attached) and has excellent information for you so I strongly encourage you to register and read the article.

The Stony Brook school of nursing said it best.......

The applicant/nursing student must have the emotional health to fully use her or his intellectual ability, exercise good judgment, and complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients.

The practice of nursing requires applicants/nursing students to be able to develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and colleagues.

To provide safe patient care applicants/nursing students must possess characteristics of adaptability, flexibility, and be able to function in the face of uncertainty.

The health care environment requires applicants/nursing students to be able tolerate physical and emotional stress and continue to function effectively and efficiently.

She/he must have a high level of compassion for others, motivation to serve, integrity and a consciousness of social values.

Candidates and students must possess sufficient interpersonal skills to interact positively with people from all levels of society, all ethnic backgrounds and all belief systems.

Nursing is a competitive profession. If you really want to be a nurse...... then you go an be a good one. Just go into the profession for the right reasons It is much harder than any one can imagine. YOur focus right now is to get all your college rep done, heavy on the sciences, and get good grades. The higher GPA the better off you are, go to your counsler/advisor and ask them for advice, or, find the school of your choice and ask them....if it is Stony Brook it's

Karen Allard

Email address: [email protected], if not any school you are looking at will have pretty much the same requirements.

I hope this helped.....Good Luck!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2012

a favourite poem of mine about nursing.......

being a nurse means...

you will never be bored.

you will always be frustrated.

you will be surrounded by challenges.

so much to do and so little time.

you will carry immense responsibility

and very little authority.

you will step into people's lives

and you will make a difference.

some will bless you.

some will curse you.

you will see people at their worst...

and at their best.

you will never cease to be amazed

at people's capacity for

love, courage, and endurance.

you will see life begin...and end.

you will experience resounding triumphs

and devastating failures.

you will cry a lot.

you will laugh a lot.

you will know what it is to be human

and to be humane.

good luck! :heartbeat :paw: