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.
You would think so but not. Management can manipulate the contract language, chamge the job posting language to eliminate nurses who wish to change specialties, require certain certifications, use interview scoring systems which are subjective to weigh the "desired" candidate and hire outside nurses for less money. Unions are great but management has gotton very slick in working loopholes and pay less money to newwr nurses. Its sad nurse experience is no longer valuable to hospitals but its all about the cheaper labor. Unionized hospitals are the way to go...IF you can get hired!
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
You would think so but not. Management can manipulate the contract language, chamge the job posting language to eliminate nurses who wish to change specialties, require certain certifications, use interview scoring systems which are subjective to weigh the "desired" candidate and hire outside nurses for less money. Unions are great but management has gotton very slick in working loopholes and pay less money to newwr nurses. Its sad nurse experience is no longer valuable to hospitals but its all about the cheaper labor. Unionized hospitals are the way to go...IF you can get hired!
Amazingly, great numbers of very vocal nurses are anti-union. It's amazing home many will vote against their own self-interest.
You would think so but not. Management can manipulate the contract language, chamge the job posting language to eliminate nurses who wish to change specialties, require certain certifications, use interview scoring systems which are subjective to weigh the "desired" candidate and hire outside nurses for less money. Unions are great but management has gotton very slick in working loopholes and pay less money to newwr nurses. Its sad nurse experience is no longer valuable to hospitals but its all about the cheaper labor. Unionized hospitals are the way to go...IF you can get hired!
Doesn't this go against the issue of new nurses not being able to find employment because of the increasing work experience qualifications?
Specializes in Ambulatory Care, LTC, OB, CCU, Occ Hth.
I'm naive I guess.
I chose nursing because I needed to help people and make an impact on the world; not to imply any judgement toward nurses who chose the profession for reasons different than my own. We're all fighting the same fight.
chicagotoots it breaks my heart that you have had experiences that cause you to say things like you"re done. I'm sorry this has been your take away in this career. It shouldn't be like this. I feel like nursing is one of those higher callings of the most noble type, but it also has its costs to us as individuals. We witness the pain, suffering, and despair that is in the world. We walk with the ones too weak to walk on their own. We are here to see to everyone's best interests and we are affected when our patients fight our best efforts to keep them healthy. It's a taxing career for sure.
Speaking as a new-ish nurse personally, I am not out to take anyone's job or replace anyone. Experienced nurses are such valuable resources and bring a wealth of knowledge to the table. I can only speak for myself when I say I have my own my mind and can think for myself. I seek out opportunities to learn from more experienced colleagues who are willing to share their knowledge. My most important priority is to provide safe, affordable, high quality health care at the most basic level to every individual who may require it. I will use any resource and sit at the feet of any educator that I can if it aids me in that mission. I think and reason for myself. I do what's in the best interest of the patient, not what is profitable nor do I "go along with anything the administration says." I think and reason and look at evidence and make my own judgements.
Granted, my values and my healthcare organization's values may not always align completely. But you can be sure that if the HCO and I differ in values, I try to take action to change the HCO's culture and values or I go align myself with others that hold similar values to my own.
I'll be honest, it would be easier to be the kind of new nurse you describe chicagotoots because what you describe has no effort or risk; just company "yes men/women". And there's no reward on that road. There's only burnout and bitterness.
You have to consider the generation who are entering in this profession. The-it-is-all-about me generation!!! Not realizing you have to pay your dues like everyone else. I can understand the frustration among experienced nurses who have been in the trenches and are still standing proud. I think it will only get worse before improvement will occur. Nursing has its moments, but for the most part it is a dynamic area in which you can choose where you want to go, the resources to build upon your knowledge is plentiful. My sister who is 46 years old graduated from nursing school a couple of years ago realized the short coming on her unit and is already enrolled in a BSN to get off the floor. She did not whine or complain she simply decided more education and seek other options.
I do agree with you however, in defense of the younger generations I must say
1. We are graduating with a lot more debt.
2.We are also being told that we need a BSN and when its time to get a job, we are then told we don't have any experience.
3. We are sold pipe dreams by overzealous schools claiming big pay days upon graduation. And not to mention the "nursing shortage" propaganda.
4. We are graduating less prepared (skill wise) than the older generations.
I think the profession needs to cut back on the number of nursing programs and re-vamp current programs to focus more on clinical education. There is no way you should be able to graduate nursing school barely knowing how to take vitals.
If the profession wants to push a BSN program (which is ultimately more debt) it needs to also push to establish ready to work nursing programs. Where we graduate not as theory bots...... but, as beginning nurses with a strong clinical foundation.
I used to wonder why the PT's went from a BS to PHD in what seems like overnight. They did this to protect themselves. To protect their livelihood, income and job prospects...and it now takes about 7yrs to enter their profession.
I do agree with you however, in defense of the younger generations I must say
1. We are graduating with a lot more debt.
2.We are also being told that we need a BSN and when its time to get a job, we are then told we don't have any experience.
3. We are sold pipe dreams by overzealous schools claiming big pay days upon graduation. And not to mention the "nursing shortage" propaganda.
4. We are graduating less prepared (skill wise) than the older generations.
I think the profession needs to cut back on the number of nursing programs and re-vamp current programs to focus more on clinical education. There is no way you should be able to graduate nursing school barely knowing how to take vitals.
If the profession wants to push a BSN program (which is ultimately more debt) it needs to also push to establish ready to work nursing programs. Where we graduate not as theory bots...... but, as beginning nurses with a strong clinical foundation.
I think you make excellent points and I would urge everyone to do their due diligence before deciding on a career or school program. For example the point you made about having a BSN, do you really need a BSN? There has been talk of doing away with LPNs for 30+ years and yet they are still working, likewise over the years I have wored with newly hired nurses with their ADN at a magnet hospital. There is some responsibility for those who blindly accept the offered pipe dreams. Like you noted new grads now are less well prepared to do actual nursing skills which makes me sad because they sure know how to delegate and have had more nursing management courses than needed for any entry level nurse.
The other thing that continues to bewilder me is the subject of student debt. Maybe its just me but back in the day if you weren't lucky enough to have a full scholarship or wealthy parents who paid for your education you freaking worked! Yup, while in school! And that often required starting at a community college and slowly climbing the ranks, while you guessed: working. That we, as a society, embrace the ridiculous amount of student debt as a necessary evil is ridiculous, imo, especially for second degree students. At that point there has to be some personal responsibility in making better plans for advancing or changing to another career before ditching a first career and embarking on a second.
Don't collective bargaining agreements prevent those willing to "work for peanuts" from "stealing jobs"?
Many of us live and practice in parts of the US where collective bargaining is not an option. Large parts of the US have no union presence to speak of.
If the profession wants to push a BSN program (which is ultimately more debt) it needs to also push to establish ready to work nursing programs. Where we graduate not as theory bots...... but, as beginning nurses with a strong clinical foundation.
We had those for generations -- hospital-based diploma programs. I graduated from one -- I got an excellent nursing education, and graduated well-prepared to enter practice and function from Day ONE. TPTB in nursing have done everything they could to eliminate them and push nursing education into college/university settings.
TPTB in nursing have done everything they could to eliminate them and push nursing education into college/university settings.
Away from the bedside and into the book case. I had the unfortunate experience of attempting to orient a Clinical Nurse Leader new grad who had not even given an IM injection and couldn't figure out how to accurately fill the syringe. However she could blabber on about how superior her Masters Degree education was compared to my community college one. She was "asked to leave" two floor RN positions and then went on to get her NP.
When I was in my BSN program 30 yrs ago they were talking about my program being all about theory and the ADN (called ASN there) being stronger clinically, I still graduated with many skills. I don't recall how much of it I obtained in clincials and how much I picked up in my student Extern job but other than getting IV certified, which was 3 successful sticks done right away and no problem, there wasn't a lot of "I don't know how to do that" happening.
And my recent experience with training new ADN nurses is that there is a lot they havn't done, I would say not commensurate for what I graduated knowing at the time. So the whole BSN's aren't prepared wasn't my experience.
Something to think about re debt, if you're planning on having kids, live within driving distances of schools. I was able to live at home and drive to my university. I worked during nursing school but working for spending money is a whole lot less pressure than rent and food. My parents couldn't afford me a college education but they made it very doable for me otherwise by providing roof, food, and an insured modest car. Your kid may have higher aspirations but if they don't, schools within driving distance of home is a great back up plan.
Annnd, I love nursing and I love being a nurse, but I didn't go into it because I had a *calling*. I went into it because it was a sensible thing to do. I did like people at the time but I was an egocentric 19 yr old when I entered the program and I evolved with life experience and maturity.
golson
96 Posts
Don't collective bargaining agreements prevent those willing to "work for peanuts" from "stealing jobs"?