None of you will like what I have to say. But let me kick the hard truth to you. Honestly about 50% of people I talk to are in nursing school or are taking pre-reqs for nursing school. This is a major red flag for several reasons. If you have not noticed, nursing wages/benefits have been on the down trend.
Pension?? goodbye.
Crud 401k 403b plans hello. Raise? LOL "sorry hospital is working out financial issues, maybe next year".
Nevermind if you work for a community/SNF agency. Yet insurance companies, medicare derived/gov agencies, and anyone else from the top 1% will continue to blast the RN as "shortage" in order to drive drones of students into nursing schools pulling each others hair out on the way to land a seat. Proof of this is, let's see (ABSN ***** ADN, BSN, diploma, LPN/LVN bridge to RN programs, RN to BSN) Why do these different routes exist? To flood the RN market as fast as possible to drive the wage, need, and profession into the ground.
Let's look at our oh so loyal CNA's. If you can find one that isn't in nursing school to be a nurse, ask them how much they make?
Look at LPN's 20-30 years ago and look at them today??
Surely the ANA and other organizations treated them with respect. The RN is next, so make sure to support your local nursing agency so they can do nothing for you. So they can be paid off by organizations so powerful that no one can say no and "not have the power to stop a bill". So they can continue to cry nursing shortage when this is not true.
RNs today are treated like children and are required to demonstrate fundamental task and other skills in inservices which were designed for nothing else but cut throat. To place blame of UTI's and poor patient satisfaction on the nurse.
If you are an RN today, your only safety net is to become an APRN if you want to live comfortably but in several decades the APRN will be under attack just like the LPN had been an RNs currently are. "OH the aging population is going to need nurses" You really think so?
Nursing homes are shutting down and now elderly people live at home with "24 hour care takers" that get paid **** wages and do things only an RN should be doing. You don't think so? Wake up.
None of this is to say that I hate nursing. I love helping people who are mentally ill, suffering from dementia, sick, or on their death beds. It is when we do great things for them that my love for nursing shines. There aren't other people standing around to reward you for your great deeds.
When the family comes in the next day complaining about everything, they never had a chance to see how well their dying loved one was cared for. Your good deeds will never be rewarded, but in a safe place in your heart.
I am just here to open the eyes of people who are intelligent and looking for a new career. I think you may find better job security else where. Invest your time in classes and money else where. Nursing is honestly under great attack right now and the future is black.
Volunteering?? I hope not!! A requirement for entry? My goodness. I had 2 kids and two jobs as a CNA prior to entering the nursing field. There would of been no way I could've fit all that in. Maybe if I was 18 and still living at home.
The shortage is based on patient acuity and assignments. The problem is 10 years ago you had 1 nurse taking care of 2 or 3 high acuity pts. These days hospitals are abusing the nurse and have doubled the pt load, thereby slashing the staffing need in half. We work like concentration camp survivors. No breaks no water allowed at med carts... rule after rule. Work harder give more!!!
I already volunteer my time by not getting a lunch break and all the other CE's that I have to do to keep my job.
The problem with greedy CEO's running hospitals... Gotta find the money to fund their 6 figure bonuses.
There would be a shortage if they staffed the hospitals appropriately.
I think the volunteer idea would only apply to those not in the field. CNA is better for nursing applicants bc it is interrelated. Good job though :) kudos to you!
firstinfamily: re LTC's. . . ."the boomers do not want to be housed this way."
Alright-alright-alright, and a big fat ​AMEN!
Then I really hope they save the money they are making by working well into what should have been retirement. :)
I'd love if insurance and home health advances to the point where this is possible but at least at this point I don't think it is practical in many cases at least not without large amounts of money or family support. The Boomers might have to adjust their expectations.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I couldn't disagree more. Professionals with 4-year degrees shouldn't have to live with roommates. We should be paid a living wage, at the least. 30 years ago, people could get a decent job straight out of high school. Now we have to live like slobs for years after our 4 year degree? At what point have we paid enough dues to be paid well?
Thirty years ago, some people could get decent jobs straight out of high school -- most of those jobs, though had little potential for growth. Forty years ago, professionals with four year degrees had to live with roommates. Or Mom and Dad. Unless they were married and living on two incomes or in a small apartment in the hometown (where no one wants to live anymore and the hospitals and nursing homes are advertising for help.)
Specializes in Tele/Interventional/Non-Invasive Cardiology.
Thirty years ago, some people could get decent jobs straight out of high school -- most of those jobs, though had little potential for growth. Forty years ago, professionals with four year degrees had to live with roommates. Or Mom and Dad. Unless they were married and living on two incomes or in a small apartment in the hometown (where no one wants to live anymore and the hospitals and nursing homes are advertising for help.)
It seems like you come from the school of thought that everyone should just subject themselves to whatever and be grateful because that is what nursing is. Maybe for you and other experienced nurses that is the case. However, also in that era, as many of my professors and older nurse friends told me, nurses were NOT seen as professionals. Nurses were seen as being inferior to MDs, even expected to get MDs coffee (not my stories, but from what I was told). Because today's nurses want to be seen as professionals and respected doesn't mean we are all spoiled. Also many of us are not in our early 20s. We had jobs, careers, lived alone and what not. I already sacrificed enough for nursing. I gave up my friends, my home, my social life, etc for nursing school and for a nursing job. When is enough, enough! Expecting to get an adequate wage, safer (not 100% safe I know), adequate training and treated as a professional is not asking too much.
I am not expecting to get rich being a nurse or went into it for the money. Yes, I thought I could have a good career, but I genuinely wanted to help people.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
It seems like you come from the school of thought that everyone should just subject themselves to whatever and be grateful because that is what nursing is. Maybe for you and other experienced nurses that is the case. However, also in that era, as many of my professors and older nurse friends told me, nurses were NOT seen as professionals. Nurses were seen as being inferior to MDs, even expected to get MDs coffee (not my stories, but from what I was told). Because today's nurses want to be seen as professionals and respected doesn't mean we are all spoiled. Also many of us are not in our early 20s. We had jobs, careers, lived alone and what not. I already sacrificed enough for nursing. I gave up my friends, my home, my social life, etc for nursing school and for a nursing job. When is enough, enough! Expecting to get an adequate wage, safer (not 100% safe I know), adequate training and treated as a professional is not asking too much.
I am not expecting to get rich being a nurse or went into it for the money. Yes, I thought I could have a good career, but I genuinely wanted to help people.
I'm not seeing where you're getting all of this from my post about people needing to live with roommates 30 years ago when they were fresh out of college. Because thirty years ago, it did take two (or more) incomes to maintain a nice apartment when you were fresh out of college. Just as it seems to now.
I don't care whether you went into nursing for the money or not. It's none of my business, and as long as you're competent and do your job, I don't care. As far as nurses being seen as professionals or not -- that's a different topic.
I didn't feel tossed to the wolves though. My colleagues were super helpful. I recall feeling overwhelmed because I had more than 5 patients, but I had all my charting done, meds passed and rapport built with patients and families by the end of my shift :)
And I am proud of that because many seasoned and new nurses at the hospital stay long after their shifts due to unfinished charting.
Having all your charting done and meds passed by the end of your shift says nothing about the quality of care you have provided. I would venture it is very likely that the seasoned nurses who stay long after their shifts are really assessing, monitoring and intervening with their patients, and are not just performing at the "task"level.
Having all your charting done and meds passed by the end of your shift says nothing about the quality of care you have provided. I would venture it is very likely that the seasoned nurses who stay long after their shifts are really assessing, monitoring and intervening with their patients, and are not just performing at the "task"level.
nope not on my unit. Many just aren't used to Epic yet and they freely admit that. :) It is possible to get all your charting done during your shift without simply being "task-oriented." But all I've ever known is the EMR, which probably makes it easier for me, or so I'm told.
nope not on my unit. Many just aren't used to Epic yet and they freely admit that. :) It is possible to get all your charting done during your shift without simply being "task-oriented." But all I've ever known is the EMR, which probably makes it easier for me, or so I'm told.
It is also possible to get all your charting done during your shift at the expense of providing quality patient care. Newer nurses (which you identified yourself as) are task oriented because they haven't had time to develop the knowledge and experience that experienced nurses have.
It is also possible to get all your charting done during your shift at the expense of providing quality patient care. Newer nurses (which you identified yourself as) are task oriented because they haven't had time to develop the knowledge and experience that experienced nurses have.
I'm aware of that. And I'm stating what has been expressed to me by other seasoned nurses on the unit. You, however, are theorizing about something that I'm not willing to debate as I didn't state my opinion.... I stated a fact. They have even asked me to help them with their charting because Epic is so different than what was used before I guess. And I am in no mood debate. I said in my original post that the seasoned nurses on my unit help me an awful lot, this just happens to be an area where I bring something to the table.
One reason I think I get along so well with the seasoned nurses at my job is that neither of us makes assumptions about the other, and we both respect each other, same way I live my life outside of the workplace. I don't assume they think less of me, and I work diligently; they treat me like a competent nurse and don't mind answering questions if need be. We all help each other out, and the few sour apples there that are always whining, feel the consequences of their attitude when our supervisor rounds on the patients each shift, and they are the main ones with complaints from patients and their families.
I'm aware of that. And I'm stating what has been expressed to me by other seasoned nurses on the unit. You, however, are theorizing about something that I'm not willing to debate as I didn't state my opinion.... I stated a fact. They have even asked me to help them with their charting because Epic is so different than what was used before I guess. And I am in no mood debate. I said in my original post that the seasoned nurses on my unit help me an awful lot, this just happens to be an area where I bring something to the table.
Your comments gave your attitude away.
You said that seasoned nurses help you an awful lot, but then you stated:
"I had all my charting done, meds passed and rapport built with patients and families by the end of my shift :)
"And I am proud of that because many seasoned and new nurses at the hospital stay long after their shifts due to unfinished charting."
Regardless of how you intended the remark, this does not read as a very charitable comment towards those seasoned nurses who are helping you.
You said that seasoned nurses help you an awful lot, but then you stated:
"I had all my charting done, meds passed and rapport built with patients and families by the end of my shift :)
"And I am proud of that because many seasoned and new nurses at the hospital stay long after their shifts due to unfinished charting."
Regardless of how you intended the remark, this does not read as a very charitable comment towards those seasoned nurses who are helping you.
It's interesting that you conveniently left out the new nurses that also didn't have their's done. I'm not going to feel bad for being proud of myself. It was no diss or malintent toward anyone. You read it how you wanted and that's on you. I come to work with a positive attitude and treat my coworkers of ALL experience levels with respect. Hope you do the same. Have a nice night, I'm not interested in your negative energy and I'm sorry if you took my post as negative. Was far from it.
NeoNatMom
1 Article; 676 Posts
I think the volunteer idea would only apply to those not in the field. CNA is better for nursing applicants bc it is interrelated. Good job though :) kudos to you!