People really need to stop coming into nursing

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 12, 2015

Whoops - sorry, but the US Constitution is what gives states the right to regulate their licensed professionals. Nursing is moving as quickly as possible to a Quasi-standard by virtue of the Compact (for basic nursing license) and Consensus Model (for APRNs), but the authority will still reside at the state level unless the US Constitution is changed to modify state's rights.

I don't know about all states, but according to the annual financial disclosures in mine, the BON is not amassing a fortune. The cost of regulatory services they provide frequently outstrips the revenues generated by fees. They are trying to develop new revenue streams to supplement this, but since the # staff they can employ is determined by state legislature, it is pretty slow going.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 12, 2015

To some degree, the crappiest pop-up nursing schools tend to not impact the profession too greatly, IMHO, simply by virtue of the fact that so many of their graduates cannot pass the NCLEX to save their lives. And the ones that do manage to snag a license aren't likely to stay in the profession long, based on the reading I do on this very website ....

While I agree with your general point-of-view ... I believe these nurses DO impact our profession greatly. They are draining our resources and bringing down the reputation of the profession. Because they can't command a top salary and there are so many of them, administrators think of nurses as "cheap labor" and think that they can use them to replace the better educated and more experienced nurses. Why improve working conditions when there is all this cheap nursing labor around?

The create turn-over -- one of our biggest enemies. Turn-over sucks the life out of our experienced preceptors and unit-level leaders.

They lower the level of practice and promote a culture that is unprofessional. That hurts in a lot of ways.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

I do feel bad for the multitudes of students that are taken in by the "nursing shortage" song and dance. Some schools are lousy, pushing under educated grads out of an overpriced program, but some schools are excellent even if not truthful about the projected job availability after graduation.

I also don't really think it's fair to blame the sad state of nursing on new grads that are entitled and "all about me." Some new grads are lousy, but so are some experienced nurses still in the workforce.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

While I agree with your general point-of-view ... I believe these nurses DO impact our profession greatly. They are draining our resources and bringing down the reputation of the profession. Because they can't command a top salary and there are so many of them, administrators think of nurses as "cheap labor" and think that they can use them to replace the better educated and more experienced nurses. Why improve working conditions when there is all this cheap nursing labor around?
The create turn-over -- one of our biggest enemies. Turn-over sucks the life out of our experienced preceptors and unit-level leaders.
They lower the level of practice and promote a culture that is unprofessional. That hurts in a lot of ways.

Yes, excellent points. And you're right. I guess I was thinking mostly in terms of these kinds of nurses being short-lived, therefore not making a longlasting impact.....but you are right in that the impact they make NOW is what is going to follow us for a very long time indeed.

After a generation of semi-qualified nurses being in the forefront, I wonder how the general public will view the profession then: "Most Trusted" or "Most Feared"?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

I do feel bad for the multitudes of students that are taken in by the "nursing shortage" song and dance. Some schools are lousy, pushing under educated grads out of an overpriced program, but some schools are excellent even if not truthful about the projected job availability after graduation.
I also don't really think it's fair to blame the sad state of nursing on new grads that are entitled and "all about me." Some new grads are lousy, but so are some experienced nurses still in the workforce.

True, but I think a bigger impression is made by those who tend to spout and sputter about why they aren't getting what they deserve (worked for/earned/have a right to). There will always be subpar nurses of every experience level but because there is such a plethora now of newbies, their sheer numbers make their impression....greater. And unfortunately for those new grads who really ARE terrific team players, terrific nurses.....they can be overshadowed by those leaving the negative impressions.

it isn't fair, but it is what's visible.

crr1987 · Feb 12, 2015

As a newer nurse I can say that I didn't have any expectations regarding my first job. I was willing to go anywhere or do anything to land that first job. I live in Dallas-Fort Worth where there are at least a dozen nursing programs and the market is saturated with new grads. But I applied everywhere and actually got a great ICU position at one of the best paying hospitals.

The trend that I've seen in my first couple of years at the bedside is that nurses are leaving the bedside for advanced practice sooner rather than later. A lot of them do not have realistic expectations about bedside nursing or what it actually entails.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

As a newer nurse I can say that I didn't have any expectations regarding my first job. I was willing to go anywhere or do anything to land that first job. I live in Dallas-Fort Worth where there are at least a dozen nursing programs and the market is saturated with new grads. But I applied everywhere and actually got a great ICU position at one of the best paying hospitals.
The trend that I've seen in my first couple of years at the bedside is that nurses are leaving the bedside for advanced practice sooner rather than later. A lot of them do not have realistic expectations about bedside nursing or what it actually entails.

Kudos to you! :)

I find, along with the trend toward APRN, are those who enter nursing with the intention of never actually touching a patient. Weird way to approach nursing if you ask me, but that's what I'm noticing more and more.

Prospective students who ask about the fastest way to get to become a NP (not asking which program is better, which school is best, but what the FASTEST way is). Pre-nursing students who want to know if they really have to do any bedside nursing before becoming a CRNA. Sigh.

Libby1987 · Feb 12, 2015

It is kinda weird to think of a NP without hospital experience. I would never expect my physician to not have acute care experience, outside of mental health or podiatry or some such field.

crr1987 · Feb 12, 2015

I completed agree. Ummmm yes you actually need to know how to manage a vent and drips before you learn how to manage anesthesia and intubate someone!!

There's an NP in our unit who had 1 year of ICU experience and then did a 15 month NP program and has been an NP for a few years now. That's really fast! But, that was the minimum experience requirement. I've got mixed feelings on it but she's very smart and competent.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Feb 12, 2015

The overabundance of nursing schools pumping out new grads is not confined to nursing school. The universities as a whole have been campaigning for decdes that if you don't get a college degree, then you can't be successful while the trades have been hurting for workers. A big trucking company last year had to sell many of their semi trucks, not because of lack of business but because they had too many trucks sitting unused because of the lack of drivers. Then you have Obama pushing a bill for free 2 yrs of college. How about funneling the money towards encouraging high school grads into trade schools? There are too many highly educated college graduates working at Wal-Mart and Starbucks. I am sorry to say that Billy, who barely graduated high school, doesn't want to want to work and just wants to party, should not be getting grants and student loans to go to college for a year to party just so the universities can collect more tuition money.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

5. Nursing is one of the few professions that produces large numbers of graduates who feel entitled to employment in their hometowns. Meanwhile, graduates who enter other professions keenly expect to relocate to land their first jobs.

I agreed with everything else that you wrote but find this to be an odd statement. I would say that none of my friends who graduated with teaching degrees, or went into law enforcement, or any of those other dwindling middle class jobs expected to have to relocate. Why should I expect to uproot my life for a job making around 50k a year? Most of the ARNPs and CRNAs that I know graduate with the expectation that they may have to move, and that makes sense. But as a bedside nurse?

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

I agreed with everything else that you wrote but find this to be an odd statement. I would say that none of my friends who graduated with teaching degrees, or went into law enforcement, or any of those other dwindling middle class jobs expected to have to relocate. Why should I expect to uproot my life for a job making around 50k a year? Most of the ARNPs and CRNAs that I know graduate with the expectation that they may have to move, and that makes sense. But as a bedside nurse?

I agree that the expectation to move to find employment is a little much. It may be a good option for those with no family, but a lot of nurses are 2nd career people. Most of us in that boat have kids, a significant other that works, maybe already own their home. It's not realistic to expect people to uproot their whole lives just to find a job.