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.
I have also worked with some young nurses who were forgetful and could not [or would not] do the physical work and more than one that made frequent med errors. These are the exceptions but it does happen.
Indeed! My point wasn't that its only older people just that I don't think Charming_Kitty was all that off base with the quote that was mentioned.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I have also worked with some young nurses who were forgetful and could not [or would not] do the physical work and more than one that made frequent med errors. These are the exceptions but it does happen.
And then there are those younger nurses who cheerfully excuse every (enormous) error by saying "Pregnancy brain!" and want to precept "so someone else will do all the physical work."
There are those in every age group. Focusing on "old nurses" is ageist.
Right on! I totally agree! Now here's one for you. I have been a licensed AD RN since 1992. My last job in rehab I earned $32.91 per hour in 2011. Now in 2015 after taking some time away from nursing for personal reasons, facilities (rehab, LTC,) (my background) want to start you at $25.00 per hour. Not bad, but I now have tried to find ANY job! Petco, Trader Joe's, Target, etc. and I can NOT GET A JOB! Have no other job experience except nursing! Any advice? I desperately want out of nursing
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Right on! I totally agree! Now here's one for you. I have been a licensed AD RN since 1992. My last job in rehab I earned $32.91 per hour in 2011. Now in 2015 after taking some time away from nursing for personal reasons, facilities (rehab, LTC,) (my background) want to start you at $25.00 per hour. Not bad, but I now have tried to find ANY job! Petco, Trader Joe's, Target, etc. and I can NOT GET A JOB! Have no other job experience except nursing! Any advice? I desperately want out of nursing
Yes, once or twice when I wanted out of nursing, I had applications turned down because I was "over-qualified" and "too well-educated."
Are they saying they want someone who isn't too bright and therefore won't cause them as much trouble as someone who can think?
As with personal relationships, if some place tells you they aren't good enough for you, BELIEVE THEM!
I'm not sure where you should turn next. If you are desperate you could always get out the phone book and "let your fingers do the walking through the yellow pages" Start calling in the A's and don't finish until you get to the Z's. Short of that, have you tried the Unemployment Office?
I have always thought if nursing school had shown us what it was really like to be RNs nobody would have finished school. What no school is explaining is how under-staffed everything is in health care system. This week is perfect example: the last week our hospital was actually staffed correctly (2 pts each for ICU RN, with 2 aids on floor and secretary). The reason for this is JCAHO is coming to town this week and hospital wants to present things in favorable light. This frustrates me to no end because it tells me the hospital is aware of shortages in staffing and makes conscientious decision to short-change the patients, rn and nursing aids with bare min. staffing once JCAHO leaves. It's not right.
I have always thought if nursing school had shown us what it was really like to be RNs nobody would have finished school. What no school is explaining is how under-staffed everything is in health care system. This week is perfect example: the last week our hospital was actually staffed correctly (2 pts each for ICU RN, with 2 aids on floor and secretary). The reason for this is JCAHO is coming to town this week and hospital wants to present things in favorable light. This frustrates me to no end because it tells me the hospital is aware of shortages in staffing and makes conscientious decision to short-change the patients, rn and nursing aids with bare min. staffing once JCAHO leaves. It's not right.
And this, dear friends, is not only the crux of the matter, but worthy of a thread all its own.
I have always thought if nursing school had shown us what it was really like to be RNs nobody would have finished school. What no school is explaining is how under-staffed everything is in health care system. This week is perfect example: the last week our hospital was actually staffed correctly (2 pts each for ICU RN, with 2 aids on floor and secretary). The reason for this is JCAHO is coming to town this week and hospital wants to present things in favorable light. This frustrates me to no end because it tells me the hospital is aware of shortages in staffing and makes conscientious decision to short-change the patients, rn and nursing aids with bare min. staffing once JCAHO leaves. It's not right.
See the student teaching thread, you should be able to take on a student and be GD happy about fulfilling your obligations to the nursing gods.
I've only read about half the comments here, but holy crap, is it really that bad everywhere? Is there a regional aspect to this? I look at the job openings for CNAs around here in the twin cities (hoping to find a test date that works with my school schedule) and check the RN openings at the same time. I see tons of openings at area hospitals. I know a few nurses (a mix of RNs and LPNs) and haven't heard of any such surplus of nurses around here. I fully expect that I might have to commute to the other side of town for my first job, but hell if I'm moving anywhere.
I live in the twin cities, graduated from school here, been herr for 20 yrs.
I graduated in 2010, which was a terrible time for any job, including nursing.
I applied to area hospitals for four years, had friends on the inside pulling for me, etc, nada.
I was not able to get an acute care job until my family and I moved to Maryland for 18 months ( long story, please don't ask)
Only then, after working in tele for that period was I able to get a hospital job here when we moved back home.
Your best bet is to get a CNA, HUC, or whatever you can @ an area hospital NOW.Do not be picky about which floor. Take it and hold on with both hands.
There may be lots of job postings, and they may not require experience, but you are competing with all of us left over from the recession who do have experience now in something, even if it's not acute care
I live in the twin cities, graduated from school here, been herr for 20 yrs.
I graduated in 2010, which was a terrible time for any job, including nursing.
I applied to area hospitals for four years, had friends on the inside pulling for me, etc, nada.
I was not able to get an acute care job until my family and I moved to Maryland for 18 months ( long story, please don't ask)
Only then, after working in tele for that period was I able to get a hospital job here when we moved back home.
Your best bet is to get a CNA, HUC, or whatever you can @ an area hospital NOW.Do not be picky about which floor. Take it and hold on with both hands.
There may be lots of job postings, and they may not require experience, but you are competing with all of us left over from the recession who do have experience now in something, even if it's not acute care
Hell, I've been looking at CNA openings here in the twin cities and most look like they require 6-12 months in LTC before you can hope to land anything in a hospital. Granted, this has mostly been looking at Allina hospitals. Regions doesn't seem to say one way or another on their site.
My sister is going to become a nurse after she lost her job. I do think that there are too many schools and schools are fighting to have simulated patients for clinicals. Meaning less fighting for clinic spots so more students can be admitted (and maybe the complicated and critical thinking that may be required when a patient tanks in a controlled enviroent is a plus when compared to getting the stable patient).
I have always thought if nursing school had shown us what it was really like to be RNs nobody would have finished school. What no school is explaining is how under-staffed everything is in health care system.
This, IMO, was another advantage of the hospital-based diploma schools -- we actually did graduate with an realistic view of what nursing practice was like in the real world; people who really had a problem with what they were getting into didn't hang around and graduate. The individuals who finished school and got licensed were not only competent to enter practice and function, but they understood how nursing in hospitals and other settings works, "warts and all."
This, IMO, was another advantage of the hospital-based diploma schools -- we actually did graduate with an realistic view of what nursing practice was like in the real world; people who really had a problem with what they were getting into didn't hang around and graduate. The individuals who finished school and got licensed were not only competent to enter practice and function, but they understood how nursing in hospitals and other settings works, "warts and all."
Yes but although you were actually competent to perform as a nurse and safely care for patients you probably didn't receive all the crucial, fancy courses on how self-important APRNs are or the additional letters behind your name that no one can interpret, lol.
Jules A, MSN
8,864 Posts
Indeed! My point wasn't that its only older people just that I don't think Charming_Kitty was all that off base with the quote that was mentioned.