OK Here A Kicker For Ya

[KarmaWiseRaven]

Hi,

I live in the Midwest and I'm watching the news. And my state Missouri and Kansas has a deal going. If you are unemployed. The states will send you to school for the health care field for get this free. Yeap it's true and they said if you want to be a Nurse or a PT, OT, RT, or anything in the health field they will send you to school to learn a trade. And i guess the hospitals are jumping on board with this.

That's all fine but what about the New Grads that can't get jobs now. There is really no health care jobs in Missouri or KS. The medical field in general is really getting hit hard everywhere. Nurse's and Doctors along with other people in different health care fields are filling bankruptcy because they can't find jobs. I understand trying to get people employed but how can they send people to school knowing there's no jobs and might not be jobs after they are done. Please your thoughts on this matter and thank for responding in advance

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

Yeah I just heard from my friend on unemployment that they encouraging her and others to go to NS. She said to me, "Didn't you say the job market is terrible for nurses?" Grrr.

[Portland123]

This is so frustrating. I am a new graduate as of August and can not find a job anywhere. They need to be telling everyone who is going into nursing what the job market is really like out there.

[kayern]

Come to the big apple!

[lilypad2424]

I think it's great. The job market will not always be this way, and I believe that we need reinforcements in our field....Anytime you get people educated, it's a wonderful thing. Look at it from a different perspective.

[sevensonnets]

I haven't heard about states sending unemployed people to "trade school" to get into the medical field, but I'm sick to death of all the XYZ school ads that run on TV all day long. "In as little as 6 months you too can be caring for patients."

[MtBpsy9609]

Yeah that's a kicker. They need to start telling the public the truth about how competitive the job market for nurses really it. In my area last Sunday's paper only had two RN job opening listed. Both were for seasoned RN's able to run an ambulatory care center. Not easy jobs for newbies to get. I don't see the RM job market improving because all hospitals will have to continue to make financial cutbacks to stay afloat. Medicine in America has just gotten too expensive.

[caliotter3]

Maybe the states will give these people money to leave the state when they graduate and can't find work.

[GilaRRT]

Pretty hard to make any sort of objective comment based on one post without refrences. I would look at the particulars of this plan prior to condemnation. It may be a disaster; however, I do not know at this point...

[KaringOne]

Well, I know that the state of MO (& many other states) have programs where they will send u to school for free. They have been doing it for years. It's just that not many people knew about them or looked for them. I'm a former recipient of one of these programs that you're talking about. I've lived in MO most of my life. Before I obtained my LPN license, I was a CNA for 5 years. During that time, I can remember wanting to progress in nursing, but not having the financing to do so. Being an unwed single mom, I was given the funding to do so. A certain program paid my entire tuition fee (& fixed my car when it needed a major repair while I was in school). If not for that program, I couldn't have went to nursing school. And I really appreciate those programs even more now as I go forward with getting my RN through an online program. As for the "nursing shortage" in MO, I can't really agree to knowing about that. Since I obtained my LPN license in 2002, I haven't had any problems getting nursing jobs. I think many employers are a bit leery when hiring new grads. That's not to say that they won't hire you. It just may be in a specialty area that you don't like. I've worked in long term care as a night shift supervisor, I've worked rehabilitation, I've worked hospitals, I've worked Dr.'s offices, I did a stint in correctional nursing, and I was even hired as nursing director in an assisted living facility. I now work for a Temp agency PRN and work full time with individuals who are physically & mentally handicapped in the state of TN. I also worked hospice in a well known TN hospital. Now, many of those said jobs I was not very fond of. But, it enhanced my education & added to my experience & that looks good on your resume. I feel that in almost every field here in the US, economically u r probably going 2 struggle a bit. In nursing if u r having job trouble, just take the job u can get, even if u don't like it, & trust that God will send u something better. And when he does, just place all that u learned from that other job n your Experience-o-meter & move on 2 the next. Sorry, 4 the long reply.

[RN9742]

I live in the St. Louis area, and there are tons of medical jobs available in this area. At least two hospitals are adding on, which will create even more jobs. I think it all just depends on where you live exactly. :)

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Way back when, I was sent to NS for free. State paid my books, tuition, fees, uniforms, daycare and gave me a $225 monthly stipend. Even my stethoscope was free. Hubby was a law student and on paper we looked poor. Never mind our parents were paying his tuition, gave us a beautiful house, two nice cars and a generous living allowance. It was awesome, and I don't think I've lived that well since, lol. Yeah, those were the days. No expenses, no responsibilities to speak of. (sigh) Whenever I've been frustrated with my job, I console myself with the thought that at least it has only ever paid me, I've never spent a dime on my education. ;-)

In any event, there may or may not be jobs for all of these nurses in the future, but the states are wise to invest in health care personnel. Many, like me, will use it as a stepping stone to higher education, advanced practice, research, etc.