Nobody told me that after graduation...

[smclean27]

...It would be THIS difficult to find a nursing position.

My story..

I decided to pursue nursing about 5 years ago when I felt a great tug on my heart that this is the field where I belong. I'm pretty sure its what I was born to do...I feel it in my bones.

So I did something "courageous" or stupid rather - I quit my fairly good job with the city to attend nursing school.

Ok backing up a bit. At the time I was shopping around for schools, there were great debates about ASN vs BSN and top (name brand) schools vs regular not-so-name-brand schools. So in my pride and my ignorance, I decided that I wanted to go to a reputable institution. One whose name is recognized throughout the country, thinking that this would give me some kind of advantage. WRONG.

So upon acceptance, they recommended that the students should not work during the program. I worked during my first semester because I needed to eat and pay my rent...had no choice. I struggled. So during my second semester and beyond, I didn't work which mean't taking out extra loan money in order to survive.

I graduated! Hallelujah! But nobody told me that:

- the fact that I did not have an externship during school was going to tremendously hurt me and make me undesirable to employers

- male nurses were favored over female nurses (the male students in my class had jobs BEFORE they graduated. I know some of them through school, and I must say that I will not feel comfortable letting them take care of my family members. So the fact that they get hired faster simply because they are male, something is wrong with that picture)

- I would have $100k in student debt - for a Bachelor's degree that means nothing if you have NO EXPERIENCE.

- I would possibly have to move to another state - leaving my life behind - in order to get experience

- The name brand school means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and does more harm $$$ than good.

- There is abolutely NO nursing shortage in my city. If there is, its not that serious or detrimental since the competition for nursing positions are pretty fierce.

- I would be paying $1038.00 per month for 10 years in student debt (unless I find a job that's willing to pay for a portion of it)

To add insult to injury, I failed the NCLEX for the first time (after doing fairly well in school) due to the stress of being unemployed and having every other door shut in my face. I'm now preparing to take classes to take it a second time...it can't get any worse than this.

I don't mean to sound whiny or bitter, but I should have taken the "cheap" route and go for my ASN then work on my BSN while working. However, they're cutting back on the ASN programs in my city (Philadelphia) for several reasons, but this is causing nursing education to be a lot more expensive (that was sort of a side note). I'm not sure what to do at this point. I'm unemployed and it is such a dark place to be in. I'm either over qualified or under qualified for jobs. I'm looking for Tech positions while studying for the NCLEX but I'm even having a hard time with that because of "no experience." Its absolutely ridiculous.

Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated. Yes I've already considered moving to another state as hard as that will be for me...I'm prepared to make that sacrifice. But boy oh boy...a huge part of me regret the last 4 years of my life when it comes to my choices with my education...so whoever's out there reading this, learn from my mistakes.

[SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN]

In the OP's defense, the whole "shortage! shortage!" thing is still being trumpeted everywhere you look. Schools, the media, Dept. of Labor, etc. You really have to dig hard and/or go to a hospital and talk to real Nurses to learn that it's been bullsh|t for over a decade now.

I can see why so many people have this starry-eyed impression that they do. I did once also.

I see ads on television daily where these 2 universities advertise the need for nurses due to shortage....even when they know it is not true, they still advertise it. Even Johnson & Johnson has an ad like it.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I see ads on television daily where these 2 universities advertise the need for nurses due to shortage....even when they know it is not true, they still advertise it. Even Johnson & Johnson has an ad like it.

And lawyers' ads troll on tv looking to scare up business ("if you've been injured, or THINK you've been injured, or KNOW SOMEONE who MAY have been injured---CALL US!!").

Schools are going to make a buck however they can, and if someone is willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars on a degree that may never pay itself off, what's that to them?

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I dunno about male nurses getting a leg up. I, in fact know of a few places who will not consider a male nurse - ever.

I do agree though that if your research - every state/fed prediction, as well as every college counselor, and every nursing instructor - all comes up roses for nursing, well you were screwed and lied to. It continues. Look peeps, the OP probably did her research. It's just that everybody lies like it's what is expected. Even on this board, guess what?! Lots of educators post "go for your dream" crap and you know why? Because it's their job to keep bringing in more students - otherwise they don't have a job.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I suggest that now you've gotten that off your chest you print it out and put it away somewhere you won't find it for about five years. I'll bet you'll pull it out then and read it and laugh.

I also agree with the attitude check. It shows when you interview and even whenyou write or call. Seriously work to change this. Then you will start to see some things-- they may be small things, but don't get crabby about that-- fall your way.

Time will pass.

Note: to get full impact of this message, it should display in Comic Sans, green. Thank you.

No disrespect to the mods, but I agree. I want my purple Comic Sans back!

[OCNRN63, RN]

Oh my. You can't have done any research on AN.com. You would have learned immediately that the nursing shortage is a myth perpetuated by the media.

For goodness sakes...not everyone knows about this site, particularly people who are thinking about nursing.

[Stephalump]

Even if you do research, the messages aren't always very clear. Take this article that was posted in my city's business journal last year It admits there isn't a shortage in our area, but seems to think that we're some sort of rarity and proceeds to quote someone about continuing expansion. So I'm not needed today, but maybe I'll be needed in a few years? How am I supposed to plan my life around THAT?

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2011/06/10/nursing-grads-face-stiff-competition.html?page=all

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Ha ha. I remember that as soon as this site was mentioned by someone in one of my nursing classes as a good source for learning, the instructors all (with spit forming on the sides of their mouths, LOL) had "the talk" with all the class sections, that allnurses was a ridiculous website full of untruths by nurses who had problems... (we were to assume all kinds of things).

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

HMmmm I was familiar vaguely with the philly job market in 08-10 and my recommendation is pass the nclex and apply elsewhere. It is brutal for new grads and experienced nurses there unless you were an extern, have a connection in hr or a md department head or nurse manager, forget it! nursing homes in that area had "no new grads " in the want ads! rural pa, and rural ny are your best chances and still semi close to philly. deleware and nj are too close to philly and or nyc and just as saturated.dont waste time hoping for a big city hospital that area does prefer bsns and there are many ben schools in the locale

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Ha ha. I remember that as soon as this site was mentioned by someone in one of my nursing classes as a good source for learning, the instructors all (with spit forming on the sides of their mouths, LOL) had "the talk" with all the class sections, that allnurses was a ridiculous website full of untruths by nurses who had problems... (we were to assume all kinds of things).

This doesn't surprise me. I'd imagine nursing schools would have a vested interest in shielding students from the real world of nursing. God forbid reality infringe upon the little fantasy world they've built.

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

Ha ha. I remember that as soon as this site was mentioned by someone in one of my nursing classes as a good source for learning, the instructors all (with spit forming on the sides of their mouths, LOL) had "the talk" with all the class sections, that allnurses was a ridiculous website full of untruths by nurses who had problems... (we were to assume all kinds of things).

I have problems so I guess I fit in here

[mofomeat]

I have problems so I guess I fit in here

I feel the same way.

It was certainly deflating to come across this site and discover the 'truth'. However, it is best to know.

I know this is the Internet and one should take it with a kilobyte of salt, but it is also very useful, at least to me, to read conversations about nursing from real nurses in the trenches. I feel that it is invaluable to follow discussions about the real thing, and (most importantly) to see how real nurses respond and handle it. I'm just a pre-req student at the moment. I'm not even in nursing school yet, but I feel that I have a much improved perspective on the reality of the job and the sort of attitude I need to have to be successful, versus all the smoke and mirrors I get from any recruiter. I still have yet to do all the work and gain the experience like everyone else, but submersion in this forum will certainly help with the transition, IMHO.