My reality of becoming an RN

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Well there you have it, becoming an RN was officially the biggest mistake I have made thus far in my life. I am throwing in the towel and going back to my former career if they will have me. I had a good paying job, plenty in my retirement savings, my own home and a decent car. I saved up to pay for nursing school, saved enough to cover my mortgage and bills and a decent emergency fund. What I didn't plan for was the economy to tank and the nursing industry in my area to shun new graduates.

Throughout school I worked as a CNA, got my hospital experience and upon graduation there were no jobs to be had in my area. I flew to interviews in several parts of the country and got 2 job offers, that was a huge expense. I could have kept on working as a CNA, but well, most of my classmates over a year later still are doing just that. Less than 50% have gotten jobs working as an RN. I took a job out of state thinking it would just be for a year or so. Again the move was expensive. But here is my reality. I cannot sell my home, it is worth 70K less than I paid for it. I am not making much as an RN, and about half hourly I was making in my former career and it is not enough to cover rent here and my mortgage at home. I now have my magic year experience and now all the listings at home are asking for 2-5 years. The nursing homes are asking for 2+ years. Home health is asking for 2+ years. I have been filling out apps for months and regardless of my experience and references I get rejection notices. I have spent all my savings and am now at the point where I can drain my retirement account to keep afloat, or just go home. I can let my house forclose, but for what? To continue in an industry that uses you up and then throws you away? My hospital thinks of me as a number to fill a spot. They don't care that we work short every night and that we have 10 patients with no aids or secretary on nights to help out with call lights.

I miss my friends, I miss my family. I miss having a reliable car. I love my job, but well, all I have now is my job it has become my life. It is lonely and exhausting. I give up!!! Uncle!!! I get it I made a bad decision. It is going to take me years to get back to a place financially where I was 10 years ago.

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

I'm so sorry to hear that, I wish you all the best. I can only imagine the courage it takes to go through what you have and decide to "throw in the towel"... People say that giving up is easy and staying is hard... I think the opposite- it's easy to stay on the track we're on, it's hard to change direction. Again, I wish you all the best in the future.

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Can I ask what school you went to? I'm a prospective nursing major..

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Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

Well, that sounds rough. If you want to continue in nursing for the finances, then I would suggest working for an agency if you have a year of acute care experience. The pay is usually top notch no matter what area you're in. And yes, we don't nearly get paid enough for the work that we do. If you wish to continue being a nurse in your area, you may have to sell your home or move back home and do what you have to do until you get another nursing job or go back to your old job. I wish you the best of luck. Hang in there.

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Specializes in Ortho and Tele med/surg.

I know how you feel. I don't even know what to say except hang in there. May the Lord be with you.

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"The pay is usually top notch no matter what area you're in".....maybe for a new grad but as a many years experienced I took a 5 dollar an hour pay cut to do agency (very long story)....

To the OP, I am so very sorry you have had so much trouble and wish you peace in your decision.

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I totally hear and "get" you Betty, what an odd feeling am I right? Here it has been staring you down, you are a smart woman, a high achiever willing to toss caution to the wind, and now, you know and have the sight to understand that a dead horse is a dead horse. I believe nursing is on one heck of a spiraling down turn, and maybe, just maybe it's those who find a way out of nursing first, before the crowd leaves, these just might, just might find other jobs. Thank God you and I have other degrees, have had other careers, as a bsn is not worth nothin by itself for any other job but being a nurse.

Congratulations for making another bold move, back to being a sane person!

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Sorry to hear how things have turned out, Betty. The last couple of years have been a brutal time to enter any new profession and large numbers of people are finding themselves in just your position.

One thing to consider, bitter pill though it is: If you really do love your job as you say and you want to continue on in nursing until you do get the required experience, you *can* sell your house and eat the loss (or just walk away from the mortgage). The reality is that the value is not likely to recover within the next 10 years or so so the house may not be the wisest reason to make a career decision.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.

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One add'l option you have is to rent your house - you may not be able to sell it now, but why not consider keeping it as an investment? Let somebody else pay off your mortgage while you're out of the area.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

What did you do before becoming a nurse? Why did you want to leave that job to become a nurse?

Do you have any friends or family members working in a hospital in your home town that could help give you an in. What about teachers or clinical instructors from nursing school, could they help you get an edge for a job.

Have you done any nursing certifications that might help or even ACLS?

Have you looked at the LinkedIn website to see if any alumni or associates are there that you could get in touch with to help you find a job.

Where did you live? Is it a big city or small town?

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One add'l option you have is to rent your house - you may not be able to sell it now, but why not consider keeping it as an investment? Let somebody else pay off your mortgage while you're out of the area.

Tried that, it didnt work out. I ended up with renters (chosen with a "thorough screening" from the property management company I paid) who didnt pay and a lot of damage I ended up footing the bill for. It took 6 months of nonpayment to get them out. Now I have the option of suing them knowing they will never pay even if I win, while racking up more expenses flying back and forth to go to court. No thanks. They ruined the hardwood floors and several appliances.

I cannot sell, I don't have the 70K to make up the difference in the mortgage. Being a nurse isn't worth ruining my credit over with a forclosure or short sale. I feel like I really did everything in my power to make it work and it just was not meant to be. Oh and no pension. Most expensive crappy health insurance I have ever had, too.

I also feel I should mention that I love that house. It is my home. I don't care if its worth less, I want to live in it. It will break my heart to sell it. It just is not worth it to me. I have an interview in May for my old job. Wish me luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care (ICU and ER).

I'm sorry to hear that. I recall applying to 18 facilities to receive just 3 offers. I still see all these openings posted here at my faciity and wonder why we can't fill them despite all these new grads needing jobs. Our Med-surg/tele floor lost 6 RNs over the past 3 mos and we only posted 3 jobs so I uderstand the cutback but still. We've got nurses traveling from Landsdale, PA (1hr45min) and Quakertown (1hr30min+) to work a low-paying med-surg position. Times are tough but keep your head up, nursing is both my most and least favorite job I've ever held.

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