is pursuing a degree in nursing still worth it in this depressed economy?

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Hi everyone. I subscribed to this so I can get a feel for what it's like out there before I sacrifice everything and go through with nursing school. I have 3 small children that I care for full time. I am scheduled to go back to work in Jan 2011, but have been seriously thinking about going back to school for RN and just holding out on work. I know how much time , money and heart/body/mind you have to put into it so I just wanted to know if it will all be worth it with this depressed economy. Are hospitals still hiring new grads? Should I go through with it or not? Mixed emotions & I need advice. Thanks!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Kind of irrelevant how the job market looks now considering it'll take 2 years or more to obtain a RN. Furthermore the economy isn't going to be in the ******* forever.

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To tell you the truth,the economy has been so bad in St. Louis, that I haven't been able to find job in 1.5 yrs. From what I heard, the economy may not recover for another 1-2 yrs. :confused:I thought being a nursing student would help getting on at one of the hospitals but it has not and I am very discouraged and I am not sure if I am going to finish program. The hospitals have to get at least hundreds of applications per day, so competition is horrible. I think I would reconsider nursing as a career. Sorry to sound negative.

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thank you...i guess i didn't think about that. but there were a few bitter new grads out there that have been saying that it's been more than a yr or 2 and still they aren't hired. just wanted to know the real deal. tnx

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

depends on your area...I would take a look at areas around you where you would want to work..or where you would want to move to. based on those positions, you could go back to school part-time, you could get your CNA and work while in NS(which I HIGHLY recommend!) if people get to know you as a CNA and know you're in NS, you get to see interesting procedures, and also gives you a leg up if a position becomes open around the time that you are graduating! good luck!

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to carla....ya, that's real negative, but i guess you're just telling the truth. hehe. so sorry to hear how you feel. I'm barely looking around for programs where I'm at....and it seems that it will take more than 2 years anyway. so who knows. my real problem...how I can juggle everything with a family. hope things get better for you. you should just stick with the program. I'm sure you've invested so much already.

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Look at the demographics and think about all the baby boomers aging needing more and more medical care not to mention the fact that a alot of those nurses will be retiring in the near future. The market may me terrible right now, but it won't be forever.

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I am currently working on my pre-requisites for nursing school. Right now is a horrible time to be a new grad, but I think once I get my RN (~2015) then the economy will be much better. Nurses will start retiring again, there will be more money in the hospital's budget for more nurses (hopefully, with health care "reform", as more people are seeking health care). I think it will be worth it to start working on your pre-reqs now. Also, (and this is my PERSONAL hypothesis) I work for a major health insurance company, and I think after 2014 there is going to be a "pedigree" of certain types of health care. You see, personal and group health insurance premiums are going to get REALLY expensive... and since the reimbursement rates of Obamacare and Medicaid will be ridiculously low, I think we are going to see a LOT more private practices and facilities opening up to those only with private health insurance... which means more jobs for nurses!

I used to really beat myself up about not going to nursing school when I first had realized I wanted to in 2006 (got stuck in this corportate place, kept pushing it off, not doing my research on what it takes). Now, with the economy the way it is, and all these new grads unable to find jobs, I am glad I waited. I have faith that by the time we are ready to break into the field then things will look a lot better.

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I'm in the same boat as you, 3 small children (7, 3 and 5 months!) and currently home with them full time. My husband has a flexible schedule so I am able to go and get my CNA and pursue a nursing career. It will be hard, but I will find the motivation!

My personal thoughts on nursing...at least a nurses' job can't be outsourced or automated...or wait..can it?? :)

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A few points:

One, nobody knows the exact numbers of RNs who will be retiring within the coming years. All the best estimates are simply looking at the average age of current nurses and "predicting" based upon coming years how many will leave simply because they have reached "retirement age".

Age is nothing but a number, and considering the economic chaos caused to many households by the current economic meltdown, many workers, including nurses plan or working long after they reach the magic *65* or whatever is needed to collect benefits. Lots of persons, again including nurses simply cannot afford to retire as they have seen the value of their investments, homes and even pay checks shrink. Low census counts and financial problems at hospitals have caused layoffs of nurses and or reduced work, which translates into lower pay. Add to this the large number of nurses who are the sole bread winner for their familes. For those whom are married, many of their husbands may be hard pressed to find employment that paid anywhere near their previous earnings, thus nurses in that situation also may find themselves working longer than planned. While there may be a good or even large number of nurses leaving within the coming years, I shouldn't plan on it being written in stone.

Baby Boomers Needing Care In Future:

Yes, that is true, but just who will be delivering that care is an open question. You will see a huge push for AP nurses to step in where physicans are lacking. However bedside nursing may take another turn all together. Hospitals know they require nurses, however as costs of the service rise they are looking at ways to better utilize staff. To this add the huge amount of consolidation going on in many areas with hospitals closing and or merging, atrend that is likely to continue. This wringing out of "excess capacity" could mean few hospital jobs for nurses. Here in NYC we have lost about ten hospitals within the past three years, yet we still have the same amount of local nursing programs churning out grads once or twice yearly.

Another growing trend is for less and less care being done in hospitals/facilities, and moving to home care and or ambulatory services. Hospitals are moving to become places where one goes for acute or sub-acute care. Nursing homes are changing their models to incorporate more LTC and our seniors choose to age in place, something expected to increase with "boomers". All this means while there will be a strong need for nurses, where they will be working is another question. Should the above trends continue there will be less hospital and more community nursing employment. This may require nursing skill sets quite different than what we have today.

For the OP:

If you truly want to become a nurse, then go for it. However as a wife and mother you cannot make this decision without thinking everything out in terms of how it will affect your family.

Nursing school is no picnic. You are going to have all your ducks in a row to juggle the demands of classroom, clincial and other school work, along with that of your family. Some programs cut students more leeway than others, but by and large showing up repeatedly unprepared and or falling behind in your work/grades because of "family issues" will usually not get you tons of sympathy. Majority of nursing instructors are still women who may have been through the same and feel if they (and others in the same boat) could sort themselves out, so should you.

What hospitals will or wont' be doing in terms of hiring several years from now is anyone's guess. There are many students,graduate nurses and newly licensed RNs who entered programs a few years ago when the "nursing shortage" was being shouted from the house-tops, only to find themselves cooling their jets unable to find work.

Many nursing programs have open houses during the Spring as applications for Fall open up, this would be a great time to stop in and ask questions of any particular school you are interested in. Many nursing schools have evening or weekend classes designed for those who are working and or have a family to take care of. It may seem like allot on your plate; working, going to school and taking care of your family, but at least you wouldn't have to give up the income from your current job (the one you will be returning to) in order to attend classes full time.

Best of luck!:D

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Specializes in IMC.

DoGoodThenGo's post should be a sticky, or at least on the "nursing articles" forum.

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Specializes in Emergency, Psych.

Yeah the economy sucks but it all depends on how driven you are and how bad you want it. I had no prior experience other than working as a mental health counselor and now have 2 jobs as a new grad 1 in the emergency room and 1 at a psych facility. My girlfriend also got right into the emergency room as a new grad and now with differentials we are both making 30+ dollars an hour and I only have $14,000 in debt so I would say its worth it if you are determined enough there are always jobs out there I got exactly what I wanted because I pushed hard for it applied to every ER within an hour of my house, showed up in person sent out copies of my resume made phone calls its all what you put into it

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