Oh you're a Nursing student?

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Oh you're a Nursing student? That's wonderful. You'll never have to worry about unemployment or a low salary.

*Sigh*

Sometimes it just isn't worth it to explain that there is no Nursing shortage and salaries tend to not be so great.

Do you just smile and nod? Or do you take the time to explain? :)

Specializes in Maternal-Newborn.

I think some of you ought to read the IOM report on the "Future of Nursing". Dismissing the very real looming shortage (already present in many rural areas) is extremely short-sighted.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

agree with smokingkills. Depends on where you are. We have NO shortage here, but we have 5 nursing schools within 50 miles churning them out every few months.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

lol... i always tell them how great it is to make such insane money and only have to do it for 3 days a week! As an RN now, in 72 hours I make (without overtime) what I used to make in 96 hours as an LPN receiving overtime and critical need pay. Lol. I always focus on how important I feel when I do the right thing and achieve a respectful nod from the physician or a family member feels confident in my ability to express a deep concern or fear to me. The patients, while very tiring at times, can give us the best high that lasts for days and even weeks!

Also, did I mention how much money we make!? zomg... my last paycheck after taxes and insurance and just 69 hours was $1,550!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAA!!! My buddy has a masters in social work and doesnt even come close to that!!

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I think some of you ought to read the IOM report on the "Future of Nursing". Dismissing the very real looming shortage (already present in many rural areas) is extremely short-sighted.

The IOM report is a biased report whose conclusions were made before they started. There are some good points in it, but the point of it is basically to promote BSN entry-to-practice and advance-practice degrees.

The point they make about care delivery moving out of acute-care inpatient hospitals into outpatient facilities and that the trend of the future will be the management of chronic diseases may be true, but if so they don't work in their favor as the argument you often hear is that "lesser-educated" people should handle chronic conditions such as you'd see in outpatient or long-term care.

Not one shortage prediction made by the AACN-ANA-IOM has been accurate. As of now, those trusted academics who study this issue have broken with the "huge looming shortage" talking point.

They assured us that baby-boomer nurses would be retiring en masse once their 401Ks were replenished after taking a hit in the 2008 Meltdown. Not happening.

They assured us that passage of the Affordable Care Act would mean a massive influx of newly insured people and demand for nurses would skyrocket. If anything, anecdotal evidence tells you the opposite is occurring.

They completely ignore the trend toward hiring UAP staff and fewer RNs as well.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

This is why I am framing my first nursing paycheck. $8.24. Rolling in the dough! LOL That job paid minimum wage for training, then $20 per hour for hours worked (in the SF Bay Area). Well below acute care wages in the area.

Definitely no shortage in the area, but I do agree that when the time comes and the Baby Boomers either finally CAN or are forced to retire, there will be a big shift in nursing. I will look forward to having my 1-2 years of ACUTE CARE experience *somehow* by then.

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Here is my perspective on the matter.

IF you know how to market yourself correctly, you won't have trouble finding a job. Not only have i secured long lasting friendships with different high standing individuals in various companies, i work in marketing. When i graduate nursing school I already know i have one position i can get 100%. With all that said, CONFIDENCE!

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
Meh - it's all relative. Compared to people with degrees in Medieval Spanish Literature, Fashion Merchandising or Criminal Justice (contrary to the claims of daytime TV ads) -- we have a much greater likelihood of a decent job and income.

Thank heavens one of my offspring is a software engineer... to support me in my dotage - :sarcastic:

THIS!

There may not be a nursing shortage, but the career stability of nursing and income potential in nursing is much greater than a plethora of other positions. Hence why I am going into nursing as a career changer. When you MAX out your earning potential around $40-45k and are dependent on grant funds life can be difficult. After I was offered "competitive" salaries in the $40k range with a masters degree and several years of experience and after realizing that the number of research positions available are very few and often in less than desirable areas I decided to make the change.

So while there may not be a nursing shortage there is certainly more potential than in my current field.

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Specializes in LTC.

I tend to cringe when I hear about kids headed to nursing school.....thinking to myself 'good luck with that' while saying "That's nice" to the proud parents.

When I got married one of the grooms men told my husband that he was lucky...'nurses make so much money....you wont have to work a bit'. Yeah right:whistling:

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.
This is why I am framing my first nursing paycheck. $8.24. Rolling in the dough! LOL That job paid minimum wage for training, then $20 per hour for hours worked (in the SF Bay Area). Well below acute care wages in the area.

Definitely no shortage in the area, but I do agree that when the time comes and the Baby Boomers either finally CAN or are forced to retire, there will be a big shift in nursing. I will look forward to having my 1-2 years of ACUTE CARE experience *somehow* by then.

LOL! $8.24 was the exact amount I made per hour when I first graduated nursing school over 20 years ago.

Times have changed.

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$8 AN HOUR? Is that some kind of horrible joke? How long does training last?

I've never thought of that. I just kind of assumed I would at least make it in the double digits when I started out. I know pay wouldn't be fabulous, especially as a new grad, but really?! Minimum wage?

What a rude awakening I'm in for. :(

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
$8 AN HOUR? Is that some kind of horrible joke? How long does training last?

I've never thought of that. I just kind of assumed I would at least make it in the double digits when I started out. I know pay wouldn't be fabulous, especially as a new grad, but really?! Minimum wage?

What a rude awakening I'm in for. :(

She said 20 years ago....as a new grad 35 years ago I made $3.25/hr. We went up to $4.75 when we passed bards.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
This is why I am framing my first nursing paycheck. $8.24. Rolling in the dough! LOL That job paid minimum wage for training, then $20 per hour for hours worked (in the SF Bay Area). Well below acute care wages in the area.

Definitely no shortage in the area, but I do agree that when the time comes and the Baby Boomers either finally CAN or are forced to retire, there will be a big shift in nursing. I will look forward to having my 1-2 years of ACUTE CARE experience *somehow* by then.

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