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 CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
@ 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.
I didn't misunderstand; apparently you do, though. If there are "bitter, complaining ones who make up false information and report it to the nurse manager just to get you in trouble," you've experiencing a failure to get along with your colleagues. And small wonder when you're so disrespectful of a whole class of nurses.
Tell me, what qualifies YOU to know when someone "should" retire?
In no way do I not get along with them. I showed nothing but kindness and teamwork.
When should one retire? Depends on individual. Every person's energy is different. When you feel like you can't keep up with the young. My parents are older than most so I know what old is like. So I know better, save as much as I can when I'm Young to prepare for retirement
In no way do I not get along with them. I showed nothing but kindness and teamwork.
When should one retire? Depends on individual. Every person's energy is different. When you feel like you can't keep up with the young. My parents are older than most so I know what old is like. So I know better, save as much as I can when I'm Young to prepare for retirement
I think that sentence just gave me eyeball cancer.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
In no way do I not get along with them. I showed nothing but kindness and teamwork.
When should one retire? Depends on individual. Every person's energy is different. When you feel like you can't keep up with the young. My parents are older than most so I know what old is like. So I know better, save as much as I can when I'm Young to prepare for retirement
I wonder how THEY perceive your "kindness and teamwork." And by the way, the fact that your parents are "older than most" does NOT mean you know anything at all about what old is like. I agree with Brandon -- that sentence just gave me eyeball cancer.
And you still haven't explained how you're qualified to know when someone ELSE should retire.
I'm no Obama fan, but he isn't pushing a free 2year college bill. That was pandering. There is no bill and probably never will be. Any bill would have to go through Congress first, then the Senate. It ain't happening.
Spent the majority of my career in the midwest, major metro area and agree 100% there is a HUGE difference in nursing in the southern states. It is well known that northern nurses often quit positions in the south due to the working conditions, no support from coworkers. At present, the area i live in (very popular wintering spot for snowbirds) cannot find seasonal nurses who will stay and t I feel sorry for the nurses who have to work in the south..they are overworked, underpaid and stressed out. I live in a very popular wintering spot for snowbirds and the hospitals cannot get or retain seasonal nurses and are relying on travelers who are contractually stuck unless they go through a big hassel to get out of their contract. No more Florida nursing for this nurse.
Nursing was never a calling for me, I potentially had a good aptitude for it, I went into it because it was a sensible career choice. Turned out to be one of my best decisions I've ever made but I sure can't claim any altruistic motives at the time.
I understand what you mean. That is really similar to the way I started as well. I wanted to help people in some way. Nursing was practical and hands-on. As I have been going to school, however, I could say that the calling is 'growing' on me.
To clarify my statement earlier, people cannot just have a calling, but they must also have the knowledge and aptitude to succeed. Sorry for not being clear on that! I totally understand where you are coming from. For me, when deciding majors, I figured that drama would only benefit me, and not others, so I decided to go with the most practical major.
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
chicagotoots!
Nobody I know considers Florida to be "Southern" in the traditional sense of the word.
They are a strange land of their very own, unlike other southern states.
Well, except Texas; if you ask a person from Texas if they are from the south, they will tell you right-quick they are "TEXANS"!
Last time I was in Florida I saw more license plates from Michigan, NY and NJ than from Fla.
Anyway, that's neither here nor there.Much of what you've said about nursing in the south is true, I'm not arguing that at all. Just sayin' that Florida is not a true measure of the south.
Spent the majority of my career in the midwest, major metro area and agree 100% there is a HUGE difference in nursing in the southern states. It is well known that northern nurses often quit positions in the south due to the working conditions, no support from coworkers. At present, the area i live in (very popular wintering spot for snowbirds) cannot find seasonal nurses who will stay and t I feel sorry for the nurses who have to work in the south..they are overworked, underpaid and stressed out. I live in a very popular wintering spot for snowbirds and the hospitals cannot get or retain seasonal nurses and are relying on travelers who are contractually stuck unless they go through a big hassel to get out of their contract. No more Florida nursing for this nurse.
Where are you living? It would be more helpful if you were a little bit more specif of location.
Nobody I know considers Florida to be "Southern" in the traditional sense of the word.
They are a strange land of their very own, unlike other southern states.
Well, except Texas; if you ask a person from Texas if they are from the south, they will tell you right-quick they are "TEXANS"!
Last time I was in Florida I saw more license plates from Michigan, NY and NJ than from Fla.
Anyway, that's neither here nor there.Much of what you've said about nursing in the south is true, I'm not arguing that at all. Just sayin' that Florida is not a true measure of the south.
(BTW, I'm originally from North of Boston, Mass.)
Florida is usually worse, lol. Is not southern in the same sense that kansas or georgia would be, but is uniquely bad. High patient ratios, subpar pay vs cost of living, etc.
The exalted acute care hospital isn't the only viable workplace for nurses, although many new entrants in the nursing profession have their hearts set on acute care.
I know it's wise to never say "never," but I've never been without work because I'm willing to accept the 'undesirable' jobs to which many others turn their noses up.
Maybe more people would work in non-acute settings if the nurse/patient ratios and pay was similar.
My starting pay in an inpatient psych unit in a hospital is $26 with $4.00 diff for nights. Max 10 pts per nurse. I hear the ratios in LTC are horrendous ... 20 or more per nurse for patients with a lot more physical symptoms then my average psych patient which would require a lot more treatments and meds. No thanks.
I would consider working in a medical clinic that was basically 9 to 6 M-F but they seem not to hire new grads.
So basically, the hospital setting seems to be the best setting for a new nurse these days.
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
I didn't misunderstand; apparently you do, though. If there are "bitter, complaining ones who make up false information and report it to the nurse manager just to get you in trouble," you've experiencing a failure to get along with your colleagues. And small wonder when you're so disrespectful of a whole class of nurses.
Tell me, what qualifies YOU to know when someone "should" retire?