"But nurses are in demand, how can it be hard to get into nursing school"?

psalm, RN · Mar 5, 2007

A friendly reminder that not everyone is cut out to be a nurse, that the programs are all-consuming, demanding physically, mentally, emotionally. Add to that the fact of needing nurses who are willing to teach at a low-for-their-education pay and you have part of an answer. Use this time to educate them that it's the knowledge behind the skills and techniques, how the body reacts to meds and what is causing the low or high BP, fever, etc.

RNfromMN, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

It is my understanding that part of the reason for the nursing shortage is because there aren't enough nursing instructors/programs/schools to crank out new nurses. Tell people not to forget that nursing instructors are nurses, too. It's so hard to get into school because of the shortage! Everybody wants to be a nurse because they're basically guaranteed a job once they graduate, flooding the nursing school programs & there just aren't that many instructors/programs/schools to go around.

Believe me - I feel your pain. I moved away from my hometown & shortly afterwards I decided to go to school for nursing. Every holiday I came back into town, people would say to me, "You're still going to nursing school?!? I thought it was just a 2 year program!" Yeah, it's a 2 year program with a 2 year waiting list. Let's not forget all the prereqs I have to take. Oh, & I thought it might be nice to pay my rent this month, as well as have somewhere to live for the rest of the year, so no, I can't take all my prereqs at a time. :icon_roll Ugh. I had one guy actually roll his eyes at me, like he didn't believe me. :lol2: - I remember now - this guy was a bartender that had known me for a few years & he said something to me like, "It just seems a little strange that you say you've been taking these nursing classes for, like, 3 years now & you still haven't graduated. I remember when I was an orderly at the hospital..." I stopped him right there & asked him, "So, do you have a college degree?" He stopped & slowly said, "No...I graduated from the school of hard knox."

The school of hard knox?!?:smackingf Give me a break! You're a 60 yr old man that works in a dive bar, that obviously hasn't worked in the health care field in quite awhile, since I think the last time I heard the word "orderly" was when I was watching One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest...

Sorry - I kinda went off there:chair:

shippoRN · Mar 5, 2007

well on a sort of positive side, ive had my nurses say the same thing to me. One of my favorate nurses, she's always like when are you starting school?? I'd tell her i was waiting for my interview phone call, she and all the nurses are like "i don't understand why they making it sooo hard for you guys, with the nursing shortage, (to which she quotes the number of job openings in the us) they should be banging down your door to let you in"

I guess its their way of trying to make me feel better.

starbabyfive · Mar 5, 2007

Jessica--your post made my day!!!:roll

GottaGetIn · Mar 5, 2007

I know!

What gets me is that some people don't understand what a feat it actually is to get into these programs! It's like a miracle to get an acceptance letter!

RNfromMN, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

Jessica--your post made my day!!!:roll

:thankya:...I keeps it real...that's how I roll;)

starbabyfive · Mar 5, 2007

Jessica-- I love it!!! Maybe you should do stand up comedy in addition to nursing. hehe

catzy5 · Mar 5, 2007

I know!
What gets me is that some people don't understand what a feat it actually is to get into these programs! It's like a miracle to get an acceptance letter!

Oh yes this is so one of my pet peeves! add to that the "family, friends" who tell me I am adding the pressure to myself because I "feel" I have to get A's . I repeatedly explain over and over that I don't "Feel" I have to get A's I HAVE to get A's for the program I am applying too, I am not some over achieving psycho killing myself for A's I just want to get into the program and its how they choose, and there are 300+ other people trying to do the samething for 12 spots so ya I am giving myself too much pressure.

oh don't even get me started hehehee.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

I believe part of the problem is that nursing is a traditionally female profession, and society at large unconsciously devalues female-associated professions.

Let's switch this around and compare our situation to a traditionally male degree program. Imagine we were all pre-architecture students. If we shared with friends and family (or whomever) the odds and challenge of getting into the degree program, because of the unconscious respect associated with a "male" profession, I'm sure the response would be quite different.

I'm certainly not saying any of this in intentional. I am saying that this is partly because our culture and society does not value womens' professions as much as mens'.

Freedom42 · Mar 5, 2007

The next time someone questions how tough it can be to get into nursing school, how about gently replying that, gosh, it wouldn't be so tough if the questioner were willing to pay more taxes. That way public universities could get the funding they need to pay nursing professors competitive salaries and to educate more students. That should end the conversation quickly -- or give you a chance to help someone see what's really happening.

Most people don't understand that there is no shortage of nurses, only a shortage of good nursing jobs due to bad working conditions. And they don't understand that there's a terrible shortage of nursing instructors that is driving down educational opportunities for those who are willing to work under those conditions. All they know is the superficial story the media tell them: Nurses (supposedly) make big bucks and can get a job anywhere they want.

Personally, I think if nursing organizations were to embark on a major image campaign to educate the public about what nurses really do -- instead of what they do on "Grey's Anatomy" -- we'd have a better chance at getting adequate funding to get more people into nursing programs.

Of course, it'll take a major crisis for people to realize what's really happening.

roxxy3773, RN, APRN · Mar 5, 2007

Jessica you are too funny- and I love your kermit picture!