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.
Specializes in Ambulatory Care, LTC, OB, CCU, Occ Hth.
I learned early on in school that a straight med surg job was not for me for the sheer fact that I saw how overworked the nurses were and just how much those floors drained them. And I see now what it does to the people I went to nursing school with. Everyone of them hates their job. They are chronically tired and all around unpleasant to encounter because they're always complaining. Though who can blame them? I'm terrified of becoming a bitter nursing burn out
I do not understand why all of these issues do not get media attention. There is so much truth on these boards about what it is really like. Yet the profession keeps winning awards for being the most trusted. If only the public really knew the truth. Ive never seen anything like it. Do the nursing associations filter the Web or something? How can all this scandal, cliche's and corruption go unnoticed?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I do not understand why all of these issues do not get media attention. There is so much truth on these boards about what it is really like. Yet the profession keeps winning awards for being the most trusted. If only the public really knew the truth. Ive never seen anything like it. Do the nursing associations filter the Web or something? How can all this scandal, cliche's and corruption go unnoticed?
Scandal, cliches and corruption? Oh my. As far as I know, nursing isn't involved in scandal or corruption, although I'll grant you cliches are there.
I have not read all of the comments to this. I am quite irritated with this point of view. Why is it anyone's business why I am going into nursing? I am not a second career person, I'm not in this to make the "big money", I'm doing something that I have always wanted to do. My path is just a little different.
I have noticed that many nurses are resenting nursing students. They don't like us and think we are there to push them out and make things hard for them. They blame nursing students for what they deem low pay and crappy benefits. If you are not happy with your job, then go find another. It is not my fault. I am not some little self-entitled person here to destroy your work environment. I want to learn, then become a nurse and take care of people. It's my nature, something I want to do with my life.
Several people in my program have already flunked out because they didn't realize what it entailed and didn't have the drive or knowledge to do it. Many of the people who say they are in nursing school don't make it. And some of those who do won't pass the NCLEX. But don't resent those of us who will be coming into the workforce soon. I have an excellent work ethic and have the drive to get where I need to be. This post made you sound like the self-entitled on to be honest. Like you think you are owed everything, and everyone else is owed nothing.
I enjoy nursing school and have loved every aspect of my clinical rotations so far. I like the people side and the science side of it. There is nothing wrong with what I am doing. I'm sorry if you seem to think that by so many people going to nursing school, your career now stinks. The only person who can make a change is you.
Dont resent you..just feel you are unprepared for the reality of the profession. You are who will be OUR nurses in the future. I just read an article of a Texas high school/hospital who will grant an associates in nursing out of high school on a pilot program. This is to address the nursing shortage in south Texas, really? High school graduates graduating with an associates in nursing...is this where the profession is headed? There are many areas of the US there are more nurse grads then can be employed.. Nursing isnt the golden goose ... Its hard, physical and mental labor, continuous education, but can be rewarding. Just know what you are getting into.
Specializes in Tele/Interventional/Non-Invasive Cardiology.
I have not read all of the comments to this. I am quite irritated with this point of view. Why is it anyone's business why I am going into nursing? I am not a second career person, I'm not in this to make the "big money", I'm doing something that I have always wanted to do. My path is just a little different.
I have noticed that many nurses are resenting nursing students. They don't like us and think we are there to push them out and make things hard for them. They blame nursing students for what they deem low pay and crappy benefits. If you are not happy with your job, then go find another. It is not my fault. I am not some little self-entitled person here to destroy your work environment. I want to learn, then become a nurse and take care of people. It's my nature, something I want to do with my life.
Several people in my program have already flunked out because they didn't realize what it entailed and didn't have the drive or knowledge to do it. Many of the people who say they are in nursing school don't make it. And some of those who do won't pass the NCLEX. But don't resent those of us who will be coming into the workforce soon. I have an excellent work ethic and have the drive to get where I need to be. This post made you sound like the self-entitled on to be honest. Like you think you are owed everything, and everyone else is owed nothing.
I enjoy nursing school and have loved every aspect of my clinical rotations so far. I like the people side and the science side of it. There is nothing wrong with what I am doing. I'm sorry if you seem to think that by so many people going to nursing school, your career now stinks. The only person who can make a change is you.
Thank you! And just because we are disillusioned doesn't mean we don't want to work hard. There is working hard and there is taking advantage of people. Maybe once upon a time, nursing school truly did prepare nurses how to be ready right from the start. But that's not OUR fault. Hospitals are scared of liability and nursing school is so sanitized (at least mine was) and we didn't fully experience what nurses do. Also you can never fully understand the gravity of the responsibility of being a nurse unless you are fully responsible for your patients. In today's RN school environment that does not happen because hospitals and schools are scared of lawsuits.
Also where I trained (in the Northeast and a union state) is MUCH different here in the South and the non-union environment. RNs here are paid less, expected to do more and have less ancillary support. The nurses at my old hospital up north would NEVER deal with this crap. Nursing is so different everywhere, yet it is all the same.
@Heathermaizey . Thanks for your post. As I head towards nursing school, reading all about the surplus has made me scared, especially because I live in a very saturated state. There's a perception out there that some older nurses get bitter, resentful, and complain. Very negative vibe. It is not the younger generation's fault. While I respect the experience and knowledge older nurses teach us, older nurses should retire at some point. Do we want someone taking care of us who is forgetful and can't do physical work as much as younger nurses? Perhaps there should be a balance of older experienced nurses passing on knowledge to younger new grads.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I have not read all of the comments to this. I am quite irritated with this point of view. Why is it anyone's business why I am going into nursing? I am not a second career person, I'm not in this to make the "big money", I'm doing something that I have always wanted to do. My path is just a little different.
I have noticed that many nurses are resenting nursing students. They don't like us and think we are there to push them out and make things hard for them. They blame nursing students for what they deem low pay and crappy benefits. If you are not happy with your job, then go find another. It is not my fault. I am not some little self-entitled person here to destroy your work environment. I want to learn, then become a nurse and take care of people. It's my nature, something I want to do with my life.
Several people in my program have already flunked out because they didn't realize what it entailed and didn't have the drive or knowledge to do it. Many of the people who say they are in nursing school don't make it. And some of those who do won't pass the NCLEX. But don't resent those of us who will be coming into the workforce soon. I have an excellent work ethic and have the drive to get where I need to be. This post made you sound like the self-entitled on to be honest. Like you think you are owed everything, and everyone else is owed nothing.
I enjoy nursing school and have loved every aspect of my clinical rotations so far. I like the people side and the science side of it. There is nothing wrong with what I am doing. I'm sorry if you seem to think that by so many people going to nursing school, your career now stinks. The only person who can make a change is you.
If you're replying to a specific post, please quote it.
I haven't seen any posts resentful of students or thinking that "so many people going to nursing school" makes their career "stink."
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
@Heathermaizey . Thanks for your post. As I head towards nursing school, reading all about the surplus has made me scared, especially because I live in a very saturated state. There's a perception out there that some older nurses get bitter, resentful, and complain. Very negative vibe. It is not the younger generation's fault. While I respect the experience and knowledge older nurses teach us, older nurses should retire at some point. Do we want someone taking care of us who is forgetful and can't do physical work as much as younger nurses? Perhaps there should be a balance of older experienced nurses passing on knowledge to younger new grads.
This post is downright offensive.
The perception that older nurses are as a rule bitter, resentful, complaining and negative is an inaccurate one. It appears as though you subscribe to the perception, though, because your post is not particularly respectful of the experience and knowledge that older nurses possess and is very DISRESPECTFUL in indicating that you think we should retire. What makes you think that older practicing nurses are any more forgetful than the brand new nurse who keeps forgetting things because she hasn't mastered time management or critical thinking? And can't do the physical work? Most older nurses who are still on the job CAN do the physical work, and when the time comes that they cannot, they seek less physical positions.
There should be a balance of older and younger nurses, but my function on the job is to take care of patients, not just to pass on knowledge to new grads.
".......and the other nurses are just old and jealous and mean so they make me call out all the time and why not i deserve to."
My mother told me that nursing used to be like the army; people told you to do your job and they didn't ask nicely. You were yelled at and you did for fear of getting booted or getting screamed at worse. You got whipped into being a good nurse. If the nurse said jump, you said "how high?" But these days people are like "She yelled at me," or "He hurt my feelings" when you tell someone to do their job. This touchy feely trend seems to be hitting every industry in America. It's like the newer generations can't handle it or something. Even the army gives you "time-out" cards now if you get yelled at for screwing up in basic training. What happened to people?
My mother told me that nursing used to be like the army; people told you to do your job and they didn't ask nicely. You were yelled at and you did for fear of getting booted or getting screamed at worse. You got whipped into being a good nurse.
This sounds horrible and if nursing were like this today, I would have never joined. Being disrespected does not translate into good learning experiences, and going on power trips doesn't make one a better nurse than a newbie. While I do feel like some new nurses are overly sensitive, the behavior you described is NOT okay. If a senior nurse 'yelled' at me or tried to 'whip' me into being a good nurse, I'd laugh in their face and find someone else to guide me. I don't care how long you've been a nurse; you don't get to treat newer nurses like they're subhuman.
@ Ruby Vee . Heathermaizey is right. In your previous post you sound resentful, but do not blame us. I am not surprised that Older nurses would feel defensive. In no way do I mean to offend old nurses and I apologize if I did. I did not say all old nurses should retire, but I am referring to the ones who should retire but do not retire.
There have been older nurses who have been my mentors, but there are also bitter, complaining ones who make up false information about me and report it to the nurse manager just to get me in trouble. I learn from my mentors' experience ; I believe you misunderstood my statement.
JimmyDurham9
67 Posts
I learned early on in school that a straight med surg job was not for me for the sheer fact that I saw how overworked the nurses were and just how much those floors drained them. And I see now what it does to the people I went to nursing school with. Everyone of them hates their job. They are chronically tired and all around unpleasant to encounter because they're always complaining. Though who can blame them? I'm terrified of becoming a bitter nursing burn out