Guest 1152923

I did; Seattle-WA.

Wait...what? 'IntelyCare', a "healthcare scheduling and staffing platform" authoring an article on nurse burnout?? Am I missing something here?

If you have only 16 credit hours and you want to work in a non-clinical setting, I would say go for it. My opinion is that the BSN (I have one from a top rated University BTW) is a useless, fluff degree that will not expand your clinical skills or knowledge base one iota IMO. Yes, it may give you a few more opportunities and a slight bump in pay (sometimes). However, for nurses older than 50, not desiring a managerial role or to eventually transition to CRNA/NP, I say "no way". The associated costs and commitment is huge for a BSN (lots and lots of BS) and the ROI (Return On Investment) for older nurses is really not there.

My experience was gleaned from working multiple hospitals in multiple states, but granted, NYC/Philadelphia are two parts of the country I've not worked. That said, after the COVID mass exodus, it's been my experience that in just about every other part of the US, any Carbon-based life form RN with an unencumbered license, (BSN/no BSN), can line up multiple employment opportunities. Unlike pre-COVID, 'BSNs' are preferred (not required) by employers who are now tripping over themselves to keep the unit doors open and you know what they say about 'beggars'!

^^^Not sure where this is (BSN for bedside)?? As permanent and travel staff, I've worked over much of the country (Midwest, East, South, Southwest, West Coast; no one asks, cares, or even knows that I have my BSN. Personally, I can't recommend in good conscience, nurses, not aspiring to managerial roles or NP/CRNA, returning for their BSNs. I'm a thirty year career RN who was threatened by my hospital system (no BSN/BSN completion within three years=employment terminated). After spending $25,000 (even with tuition reimbursement), and countless hours of study, frustration, and BS, I finally graduated in 2017 and returned to the same job I've done for many years. A small bump in pay was my only advantage but it definitely was not a favorable return on my investment after age fifty. Also the BSN is a total FLUFF degree, it will not enhance your clinical skills or knowledge base.

Warning, rant ahead! I was previously a travel nurse but came off the road for a few years. Recently however, I got itchy feet and decided to take a travel assignment in a neighboring state. I am an experienced traveler, have held numerous state licenses, both state and compact and just want to say what a senseless, ridiculous, money-grabbing, dog-and-pony show state licensure really is!! I have been fingerprinted more times that most felons. I have been fingerprinted at police stations, jails, municipal buildings, UPS stores....mailed fingerprint cards, scanned my fingerprints...all at $50-60 a pop. Seriously, is there NOT a national fingerprint repository in the FBI?? My fingerprints don't change. Then, what's with all of these add on mandatory BS CEUs. The worst was Idaho's required 'Cultural Diversity'. TOTAL fluff-I paid $90, immediately clicked to the end and scored 100%! Also, why, why, why, do I have to complete an Employment Verification Form (I've been actively working as an RN for 30 years)? Other states don't require this mess. Idaho's BON wants me to complete this form and give it to my current Nurse Manager, who may or may not complete, but will almost certainly create some awkward weeks until I do finally leave. Thanks BONs! Could we not have national professional licensure? SMH

Raindrop, kudos to you. It sounds as if you shut down this ignorant nurse recruiter and I'm betting she wasn't at all expecting this response. She had obviously figured that you'd sit quietly why she carried on her interrogation and browbeating. Obviously, since competent, dependable nurses are much in demand, the last laugh was on her!

Career OR RN here. Over the years, I've worked with many mediocre surgeons, a few exceptional ones, and a few, mostly incompetent surgeons. From my perspective, I don't see a whole lot of oversight from the medical community (other surgeons) or any regulatory agencies..."you're 74 years' old, your hands tremble like a leaf and your surgical outcomes are terrible, but you do have an active MD license and hospital privileges so you're good to go!" As others have suggested, I would network and get the straight scoop from perioperative nurses or nurses that have cared for many of their patients. Lastly, I have worked in the ORs of large, teaching hospitals and though I'll likely get flamed, I personally wouldn't have any surgery that actively involved physician residents or medical students...Ay yi yi, I have some doozy stories, but I'll digress.

There has been such an exodus in the wake of Covid from permanent staff, that most HR departments and hiring managers would now look seriously at any carbon based lifeform with an active, unencumbered RN license.

East Seattle here!

Haha, I think I worked for the same hospital system! I was a long time employee and had a small outstanding balance because I was waiting for additional insurance reimbursement on a medical claim. Even though it was for a few months only and I communicated this information promptly, the Accounts Receivable Department still quickly moved to submit my claim to collections. Wow

This has been a pet peeve of mine for a long time. While pay for nurses has gradually increased over the years, the medical/dental plans that many healthcare employers offer to employees, have been gutted to the point that they are almost of no value. We've all had our eye on the money (nurse salaries) while this bait and switch was quietly taking place. Why did this change occur you ask? Corporate healthcare has to funnel more money to the top to pay their executive managers' obscene and decadent salaries. Also, you can bet that the stuffed shirts in their plush offices don't have the same crap PPO plans that you and I have.

Haha! What...personal responsibility for your actions? "Would you care to supersize that"?

I've walked in your shoes and totally get it! Working full-time consumes so much of our life, time, and energy (physical and emotional) to the point that if you're miserable at work, you're also miserable at home. I've had periods in my life of significant career dissatisfaction and understand your feelings of being stuck. Perhaps you can't leave the profession altogether due to your particular life circumstances, but could you reduce debt, cut back, do with less, downsize...so that you can cut back on your hours? If you're really miserable in life and super unhappy, why not move? A change of scenery and a new start might be just what you need.

The vaccine debate aside, I knew from day one of my first job many years ago, that I, and everyone else, is replaceable from an employer's perspective. I feel that to think otherwise is somewhat delusional or stems from an inflated sense of self-importance-sorry! It's sad, but in reality, we're all cogs in the machinations of corporate health care that knows no loyalty and in which money will always reign supreme.

Haha of course Emergent! Very much looking forward to it.

Davy Do, hands down!

H.E...'double hockey sticks' NO! The nano second that I am financially able to retire, I plan to do so. I'm a career RN with 30 years already invested and there is no conceivable way that I am going to give another 10-12 years working full time in bedside nursing. Nursing was never my dream and retirement is the time I plan to pursue my true passions full time for once in my life. No shame for me in wanting to get off the hamster wheel ASAP, I've earned it.

Actually, that's not true. When I travelled, I received travel reimbursements, contributed to a 401K, had a few vacation days, and was offered medical/dental. Honestly, I just don't really see any disincentives to not travel.

When I board an airplane, I don't question the pilots' or flight crew's motivation. They could be doing it for the money or the love of flying, it matters little to me. My only hope is they are all highly competent, skilled, experienced, dedicated, mentally balanced, and sober!

Somehow, these reports especially, alway seem to mysteriously disappear. This is even more true when the doctor is an absolute tyrant, mean SOB but a high revenue generator for the hospital..."incident report, what incident report?'

For the money all day, every day and I have absolutely no shame about it. Does this make me an incompetent or uncaring nurse, you be the judge. I do enjoy using my clinical skills and knowledge to help people when I can, but that warm, fuzzy feeling doesn't pay my bills! Like many nurses, I work nights, weekends, and holidays. I care for patients that have communicable diseases that I, or a loved one, may contract. I have enormous responsibility placed on my shoulders and can be held financially liable for an error or lapse in judgment resulting in patient harm. Forget the personal growth, spirituality, or altruism and show me the $$

I've said this for a very long time also. With the advent of corporate health care, hospitals are now patterned on the business model and the business model always serves the dollar first. This is an extension of our capitalist system which values productivity and money over all else; morality, ethics, respect, integrity, honor...the environment.

Borrowing from Star Trek, a hand held phaser with adjustable pulsed energy capable of stunning a human or complete vaporization could have come in real handy over the years. Kidding, not kidding!

This is me! My parents were career nurses and my father worked at the same hospital 44 years. I just can't imagine and if this were me, I would have fallen on my sword a long time ago! Some people like myself are just inherently restless or unsettled and though I've had a lot of jobs, I still consider myself a highly competent nurse and a quality employee for the time I'm there, haha. Like they say, "Different strokes for different folks"