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.
Exactly. Unless your a CEO or Banker you're screwed. It is not just Nursing that isfacing these issues. Look at teachers. They make jack, they have tobuy supplies for their classes, their raises are based on studentperformance (regardless of the student's capabilities), ever risingstudent to teacher ratios, lower pay, worse benefits etc. Soundfamiliar???
At least most teachers can retire at age 55 with a pension and full medical benefits, not to mention having summers off.
Interesting and although I would imagine a majority agree with you I'm not so sure I do. If I had to choose I think I would forgo a pleasant bedside manner for a hot shot surgeon attitude with the balls to back it up over someone singing kumbaya and mopping my brow who might not quickly recognize the subtle signs of a change in status.
If you re-read my post you'll see that I referred to "competence AND caring." Perhaps it is difficult for you to understand that "caring" means more than just a pleasant bedside manner. Also, I didn't say that being caring is enough by itself; I did refer to competence.
If you re-read my post you'll see that I referred to "competence AND caring." Perhaps it is difficult for you to understand that "caring" means more than just a pleasant bedside manner. Also, I didn't say that being caring is enough by itself; I did refer to competence.
Hope this helps!
Absolutely competent and caring wins the prize and I have actually known a few who are both however if I had to pick I'm going for the big balls.
It doesn't seem to matter re older nurses retiring, employers still want to hire experienced nurses. And if they only have a pool of grad nurses to choose from it'll either be based on the lowest wages accepted or the most marketable, either way at this production rate new nurses will be climbing over each other (crabs in a bucket?) for those jobs. Or the most marketable at the lowest wage accepted?
I wonder when a school will have a program extension that increases work readiness. For a fee of course.
Also, hiring back retired nurses at $300/day, what is the incentive? Delayed pension benefits? No wait, Fiona said they were receiving both pension and wages. That sure is a contrast to eliminating senior nurses to bring in less expensive nurses.
Interesting and although I would imagine a majority agree with you I'm not so sure I do. If I had to choose I think I would forgo a pleasant bedside manner for a hot shot surgeon attitude with the balls to back it up over someone singing kumbaya and mopping my brow who might not quickly recognize the subtle signs of a change in status.
Seriously? I must have missed that lecture. Only nursing. :)
I'm not sure I understand you but I think you're disagreeing.
But I think when you're in the hospital at the current average acuities, what patients need is competence. If someone has a charasmatic personality on top then bonus, but not required. (Of course don't be a cold hearted *****) Knowing your **** is the best thing one can offer, I don't care what the providers motivations are after that.
And anyone who ensures they're competent definitely cares.
I'm not sure I understand you but I think you're disagreeing.
But I think when you're in the hospital at the current average acuities, what patients need is competence. If someone has a charasmatic personality on top then bonus, but not required. (Of course don't be a cold hearted *****) Knowing your **** is the best thing one can offer, I don't care what the providers motivations are after that.
And anyone who ensures they're competent definitely cares.
Some people have a very superficial understanding of caring. It is quite possible to be clinically competent while not being caring.
Some people have a very superficial understanding of caring. It is quite possible to be clinically competent while not being caring.
Quite right, some people do have a superficial understanding of caring. Those who do not realize competence and caring are inseparable, for example.
As Libby1987 pointed out, anyone who truly did not care would not care enough to be competent.
Caring is 100% demonstrated through one's actions. Simply saying "I love my patients and helping people and sitting on the edge of the bed holding their hand etc." does not automatically make you a caring nurse. What determines if you're a caring nurse is being good at your job and advocating for your patient. Whether your motivation for becoming a nurse was altruistic or financial is completely irrelevant.
Some people have a very superficial understanding of caring. It is quite possible to be clinically competent while not being caring.
Given the climate often expressed here, understaffed and overworked, what percentage do you think are functioning in a competent capacity?
I know a lot about caring and so far have been able to practice while both caring and performing with competence but I am witnessing caring with less competency due to increasing acuity with the same or higher workload.
I agree.
David13, MSN, RN
137 Posts
At least most teachers can retire at age 55 with a pension and full medical benefits, not to mention having summers off.