Need advice/thoughts from Experienced Nurses..HELP!

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I just spent the last 2 weeks filling out applications, financial aid forms, etc..with such excitement only to be completely discouraged after reading in many of the threads on here how very hard its become for New Grads with a Associates RN Degree to find a job in NY! It goes against all of the research that I did prior to deciding on pursuing Nursing as a career. I have read countless articles that Nursing is the 'golden ticket' career, that jobs are plentiful, that NY is the place to be, that they are practically tripping over themselves to recruit nurses - paying off loans, bonuses, etc.. I am SO bummed after learning the 'fine print', and that is, that it seems those things are true IF you have a Bachelors Degree in Nursing and IF you have nursing experience under your belt.

I was completely convinced up until the last couple days reading over posts that Nursing was the perfect fit for me but maybe this isnt the best thing for me to do and since I have to decide this week bc Im preparing to attend WCC Spring 09 to complete my pre-reqs, Ive decided to come on here and ask some questions of the experienced nurses that will help me decide if this is what i should do?

I am a single mother. Its just me and my child, there is no father in the picture or family really to babysit while Im working sooo I can only work when my child is in school. Ideally, I would like to be there to take her to school and be there when she gets home. I could never work weekends or holidays. Flexibility is top priority for me. I am also expecting (more like needing though) to make at least $60K to start. I would like to know if Im being reasonable or unreasonable.

Thanks in advance for your help!

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

You're not being neither--but perhaps unrealistic.

If you plan on working in a hospital/acute care setting to get experience under your belt. You will be asked to do weekends, holidays, and probably nightshift (to start) unless you get days (possible).

If you want to work for a doctor, be a school nurse...(doubt you will get that $60 K but I may be wrong) schedules may be more flexible.

Good luck...

it is harder to get your foot in the door with all of those stipulations =(

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Specializes in ED.

First, I would like to congratulate you on your choice of careers. That being said, you should choose your career for a good reason. There is no such thing as a "golden ticket" field. Although the nursing field has good job prospects and is recession-resistant, nothing is certain. In the 90's, the people in computers and financial markets thought they were golden. Things change, and markets change. It is impossible to predict what will happen to any field in 2 years. We have some ideas and projections, but no one knows for sure.

There is a lot of debate about whether to get a 2 or 4 year degree. Almost everywhere I know of still highers 2 year nurses, but most ask them to work towards their BSN. You might be at a slight disadvantage, but not a huge one. As for experience, employers always want someone to have experience. Of course, that doesn't mean that you must have experience for every job, but it always helps. Don't be discouraged so easily, you haven't even started yet. If you are really interested in nursing, it's still a good investment.

The market in NY isn't the greatest right now. You might be able to make that 60K working in NY or NJ, but don't count on getting weekends and holidays off unless you work for a clinic or doctor's office, in which case you won't make the 60K.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

60K to start may be a little lofty of a goal if you are expecting a m-f job. In a hospital on a unit - not totally out of reach - but you will have to work weekends, holidays, maybe even evenings or nights. Working as a school nurse will get you the schedule you want - but with only 10 months of work, you sacrifice a bit of starting salary. In time it gets there - but you also need more schooling than an ADN. A doctors office will also give you a m-f schedule, but pay is usually less than a hospital.

Trust me, I am not trying to discourage you by any means. I am just being honest. Overall, nursing is a stable career choice where you can earn a decent salary. The work is hard, but rewarding and there are a lot of career paths to choose from, but you have to be willing to put the time in. I understand your thoughts about hearing about the difficulty in finding jobs - but face it - the entire economy is rough right now. This too shall pass.

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thanks for the replies:) Ideally, I would like to work nights in the hospital since it will allow me the max time with my child but thats contigent on finding quality childcare during the nights. I wasnt aware that I would be required to work weekends as well as holidays in the hospital. How does that work? how many weekends are typically required? wow, thats going to make finding childcare even that much harder. And how do they determine what holidays you have to work?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.
And how do they determine what holidays you have to work?

That all depends on the facility. Some give you a schedule of your holidays for the year, and some let the seniority persons take the holidays off that they want, and let low-man-on-the-totem-pole get stuck working the others-sometimes meaning all. Weekends also kind of vary by facility/department-some are every other weekend, some are every third, once a month, etc. Plan on working many weekends and holidays, and generally you will probably start out on nights, which you said you want. Hope your decision works out for you.

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wow, i wonder what single parents do when their kids are off from school on the holidays and for weekends when their not in school???

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