I'm so sick of being accused of trying to discourage potential nursing students when I tell them the job market is tight or that many new grads are having a hard time getting jobs.
They usually say to me, "well, I'm different and its really my dream and I have always wanted to be a nurse". Then I say, "Well,what about the others who thought the same as you and are unemployed?" Then I add, "You may end up working in a nursing home or home health, will you be okay with that? "They then respond, "No,I want to work in the area I choose, and it will happen because it's my dream."
I am in no way trying to discourage them, but I also don't want to lie to them and say there are plenty of jobs in any specialty you want.
Then when they graduate they end up asking why no one told them the truth. I even tell them to read Allnurses and the troubles new grads are having. They then respond "well it has always been my dream and nothing is going to stop me. Some people are trying to discourage me because they don't want others to take their jobs and make as much money as they do."
Is there any other way that I could bring up the subject with statistics and without it making it seem I'm trying to discourage others?
To the person who comes from military family. Regardless of the purpose or reason for people joining the military, the fact which you have refused/failed to realise, is that people are still joining the military regardless, whether it be for money or whatever.They are still joining. Your husband is/was not the only military recruiter in the country, so i wouldn't go off of that. Sometimes people write and don't even know what they are writing. A lot of people say stuff and can't even back it up.
It is not anyones business to try to persuade people or persons into changing career. It is very wrong and a terrible thing to do. I am going for BSN, and i start in August and i am expected to graduate may 2014. Just as people said the wait list is 2-3yrs or whatever and tried to discourage others, i only waited for 1yr 6 months or less maybe. How? Cos i switched plans instead of going for ADN, it helped me get in before people that have been waiting years or months before me. People will always figure things out themselves or not, but don't put it upon yourself to make sure that people shouldn't go into nursing. Just as someone who has been in the professions for 33 years, stated earlier that "We don't need nurses".
I just read another topic on this site " 1 year out, no job, Throw in the towel? ". Stated, graduated in 2011 April, applied for jobs, left town to visit family(Didn't state how long she was gone for), cos she hadn't seen them in a long while, and came back, just recently applied for jobs few weeks ago. Now she is asking if she could quit. Lol. When you read things like this, it makes me realise that i can't believe everything i read on here. Human beings are very funny.
Here's how I see it, I have an eleven year old daughter and was a sahm for years. I work part time and have been in school under the liberal studies program. I've been accepted to nursing school for fall 2012. I want to work in LTC. I took a course in human services as part of my liberal studies program. The need for nurses will be in part due to the fact that most of the population will be 85+ in the next 20 years.
Undesirable, you say, perhaps it is. It's a lot of work but so is being a single mother or parent at all. Why would you think your opinion is going to matter to someone whose heart is set on nursing? I have a heart for the elderly in this country. I think we discard and undervalue them. Maybe I'm crazy for wanting to work as a nurse in LTC. Maybe the poor couple who want a baby are crazy for having one. You know how expensive it is to raise kids these days. But you know what? It's none of my business or yours for that matter. So live and let live...you'll probably be happier for it and maybe you'll be part of the elderly population too one day.
I am not into bashing others, but looking into learning more about the field that I have chosen to get into. @peterbrasco, I agree that there are some people that are truly discouraging when someone is trying to do something positive. I had an instructor that was very discouraging as to why I did not pursue nursing 6 years ago. I procrastinated and prayed about it, but I realized my goal and destiny in life when my mom was very sick last year and passed away before Christmas. I realize that I may not be able to help everyone in the world, but the people that I will be able to help will be an honor. I have a pretty good job that has no flexibility now, but I am going to put in a notice in order to go to school full time and work part time at my other job. Sometimes life events happen in a negative manner in order to bring a positive cause. I am glad that there is a forum here to help current and prospective people who are or looking to go into the nursing field.
That's the point I'm trying to make.It isn't a pancea of employment. For one,I never tell the people don't finish school,because I did say POTENTIAL nursing students.They aren't even in nursing school yet.
I understand exactly what you are saying. How long have you been in nursing? However, it is certainly up to the individual if they want to pursue or not. I have an IT degree and graduated in 2010, but still have not landed an IT job yet. The job market is rough everywhere and it can get tougher, but sometime a person will have to crawl before they are able to walk. I know in my case, it is going to be a sacrifice in order for me to go to Nursing school, but I feel that it will be worth it, especially when my children get older and will need money to get into a great college.
Its the same with people telling someone they look nice in a certain dress when they don't,but the friend will sugarcoat the truth.As I said,I feel I wasted a lot of time getting an Lpn license and an associates when I could have went straight for the Bsn. I had people sugarcoat things and say to me "employers don't care about the degree,all they care about is the Rn license." Yes,wwe now know that isn't true.Employers in my area are even looking at transcripts. Anything less than a B average won't get you hire
I had people sugarcoat things and say to me "employers don't care about the degree,all they care about is the Rn license." Yes,wwe now know that isn't true.Employers in my area are even looking at transcripts. Anything less than a B average won't get you hire
Yep exactly. I wonder if a large percentage of the "I can't find a job" nurses are ADN or LPN rather than BSN. I am not ashamed to say that I am going to work every angle in school this year, kiss every butt, answer questions, get all As if I can. I want my teachers to like me, and my preceptors to love me so that I can get a placement directly out of school. One of the reasons I am choosing to pay for $$$ private school is that it's owned by a health care system here and they hire about 50% of new grads. Although I'm sure they aren't extending many offers to the B and C students.
With the new healthcare reform, even though the aging population is getting bigger, services are going to be dramatically cut. I think I remember see that the goal is to cut hospitalizations by something like 30%. Families and caregivers are going to take a major role of caring for their loved ones at home. Also, money for hospitals and other health services to use is also going to be cut dramatically due to changes in the way insurance companies and Medicare/Medicaide reimburse for treatments. Less money means less staff. The focus is now on efficiency, reducing cost, and reducing utilization of healthcare by patients through a variety of means. So even with an aging population, retiring workforce, and soon to be universal insurance coverage, if the new healthcare reform does it's job, we will have less patients, less money, and less available jobs. Not saying that the reform is bad, but it will probably lead to a reduction in the number of medical staff needed.
Very true. I wonder why people think beucase we have the new healthcare bill nursing jobs aare going to see growth.Sure,we will probably need more nursing staff,but the money will come from somewhere. Specifically in the form of reduced pay.
I think the attitude the OP is describing is not limited to nursing students only- it's sort of the mindset that the younger generation has gotten spoon-fed since they were babies. I just actually read an article about "Generation Y" and the subsequent generations being raised to be helpless, and to have this inflated notion of being entitled to everything they want, when they want it, which is usually NOW. Going back to the comment by the student who thinks she is going to get a job in the area she chooses- really? I suppose she feels she's entitled to it. After all...everyone is a winner. Hey, know what? You get a cookie just for being you! Yay.
I'm not saying we should tell future nurses to quit while they're ahead- especially if they didn't ask. But if they DO ask, and they have, then you know something? I'm not going to to BS(N) them. I'm going to tell them, I hope it's different for you, but it took me a year to get a job. Every day I filled out applications, tweaked my resume, tried to make follow up calls, got my booty chewed out and handed back to me in a nice little gift wrapped satchel by a recruiter because I hand delivered a resume to a nursing manager who was about to give me the job by the end of the spontaneous interview that she insisted on.
I'm sorry if we're crushing your dreeeeee eyeayeayeaaaaaaaammmm. I'm SURE you're a caring person who loves children and the elderly, and guess what? So are the other 500 thousand nursing students, pre-nursing students, new grads, and seasoned nurses. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.
I think the attitude the OP is describing is not limited to nursing students only- it's sort of the mindset that the younger generation has gotten spoon-fed since they were babies. I just actually read an article about "Generation Y" and the subsequent generations being raised to be helpless, and to have this inflated notion of being entitled to everything they want, when they want it, which is usually NOW. Going back to the comment by the student who thinks she is going to get a job in the area she chooses- really? I suppose she feels she's entitled to it. After all...everyone is a winner. Hey, know what? You get a cookie just for being you! Yay.I'm not saying we should tell future nurses to quit while they're ahead- especially if they didn't ask. But if they DO ask, and they have, then you know something? I'm not going to to BS(N) them. I'm going to tell them, I hope it's different for you, but it took me a year to get a job. Every day I filled out applications, tweaked my resume, tried to make follow up calls, got my booty chewed out and handed back to me in a nice little gift wrapped satchel by a recruiter because I hand delivered a resume to a nursing manager who was about to give me the job by the end of the spontaneous interview that she insisted on. I'm sorry if we're crushing your dreeeeee eyeayeayeaaaaaaaammmm. I'm SURE you're a caring person who loves children and the elderly, and guess what? So are the other 500 thousand nursing students, pre-nursing students, new grads, and seasoned nurses. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Thank you. This is what I'm saying.What makes the people I give advice to any different from all the other jobless grads? Or even myself(I got stuck in homecare)?Some on here are making it sound like the unemployed nurses didn't work hard enough for that dream job. I know differently.
peterbrasco
57 Posts
To the person who comes from military family. Regardless of the purpose or reason for people joining the military, the fact which you have refused/failed to realise, is that people are still joining the military regardless, whether it be for money or whatever.They are still joining. Your husband is/was not the only military recruiter in the country, so i wouldn't go off of that. Sometimes people write and don't even know what they are writing. A lot of people say stuff and can't even back it up.
It is not anyones business to try to persuade people or persons into changing career. It is very wrong and a terrible thing to do. I am going for BSN, and i start in August and i am expected to graduate may 2014. Just as people said the wait list is 2-3yrs or whatever and tried to discourage others, i only waited for 1yr 6 months or less maybe. How? Cos i switched plans instead of going for ADN, it helped me get in before people that have been waiting years or months before me. People will always figure things out themselves or not, but don't put it upon yourself to make sure that people shouldn't go into nursing. Just as someone who has been in the professions for 33 years, stated earlier that "We don't need nurses".
Where do all these people come from? lol.