"When you are a nurse you will always have a job."

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So people say "When you are a nurse you will always have a job." I feel very discouraged because sometimes it doesn't matter who you are, what your qualifications are, how bad you want something, how hard you have worked for your grades, or how good you are at what you do; hospitals just can"t give EVERY person a chance, and programs can't accept everyone. When I get rejected I don't take it personally because I can only imagine how many other people applied that are qualified too.

I recently read this article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017720619_nurses11.html

It made me realize how saught (or is it sought?)after nursing is. Those of us that even got in to the classes we need should be thankful, those of us that get in to programs should be thankful, those of us that are offered jobs should take it seriously, and those of us that atleast volunteer should be thankful for being given a shoe in. After reading countless posts about people cheating in pre-reqs to get good grades, posts about people applying HUNDREDS of times to get a job, people waiting several semesters to get into one class, and people being waitlisted for several years, I realized how much people want to be nurses nowadays. The things people do and sacrifice to look good on a resume!! I myself should be thankful because I am going into my third semester of college and haven't had any trouble getting the classes I need. It is crazy to me to sit back and think just how many people would do anything to be where I am, or where you are if you are in a nursing program or have the job you want. Just imagine how many people want to be right where you are!!!!

Another thing that I think about a lot is when people always tell me: "Oh you want to be a nurse? You will make good money." That's true, but because that is true, I feel like the industry is flooded with people that want just that: MONEY!! Some start college only wanting that money, then they realize how much work it takes to become a nurse and they don't want to put in the work. But then again, I don't blame people for just wanting to make money, I mean who doesn't want that? In the end, this is still what I want and everything will work out if it is supposed to, you know?

Any other thoughts on these things? (Btw, is this post in the right section? lol)

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AMEN!

I feel you on everything you are talking about! You stole the words right out of my mind!

I always feel bad because when I hear one of my friends got into their programs (one got into nursing and the other into radiology) I always feel a tinge of jealousy. Although I know that these friends deserve it and will succeed at it, I still feel like that. I hope I am not the only one like that.

As for the "cheating for good grades" - I am happy I have never seen any cheating. I don't even know if I would be able to hold my tongue to a cheater. I, and countless of other students, have worked BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS to get our grades and move forward just to have a CHEATER take the lead. I would be IRRATE! My blood would boil!

I am waiting on my acceptance letter, which should be here October/November. If I get in I start in January. I have been working on my education since 2007 (5 years!!!!) to get to where I am at. I will be the MOST grateful person if I open that letter and it says "congratulations!"

Good luck to you Buttons93! You are well spoken and very intelligent! You will do wonderfully as a nursing student and nurse!

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

To paraphrase James Carville "It's the economy stupid." It doesn't mean your stupid for becoming a nurse it's just when adjusted unemployment rates are about 15% in some areas. I know in my area its 11% UNadjusted. So that means a lot of people are out of a job including nurses but nurses are faring better than others overall. However when unemployment is high in any field the first subset to suffer are the new and inexperienced.

I think you'll find over your lifetime nursing will turn out to be a good bet providing you like it. If you dont well....

I'm not going to give you a spiel about how you could get a job tomorrow if you tried because that would only make you feel crappy and besides tomorrow is saturday.

I'm not sure when nursing became so saught after but I don't remember hearing such fierce competion for nursing school 10 years ago when I was studying some thing else and I think the same thing will happen again.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I'm not sure when nursing became so saught after but I don't remember hearing such fierce competion for nursing school 10 years ago when I was studying some thing else and I think the same thing will happen again.

I've been wondering that myself! When my mon went to nursing school in 2000, she basically walked right into the program and walked out with a job offer at any hospital she wanted in any speciality she wanted. I never heard more than a few people talk about lifelong dreams of nursedome. I went to college for something else, then decided to pursue nursing and all of sudden EVERYONE and their mother-in-law wants to be a nurse. I'm not necessarily knocking it, I'm just wondering when everyone suddenly decided they've wanted to be a nurse their entire lives.

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One thing I'd say about the money, as someone who is in a job that pays a lot more than nursing, there are better jobs out there for people if they are only in it for the money.

I'm not sure about the 'nursing boom', but it seems in general to be fueled by a poor economy and propaganda that there is a shortage in nursing jobs. As we can see from allnurses and maybe nurses we know, getting a job in nursing, especially as a new nurse, is tough.

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it seems in general to be fueled by a poor economy and propaganda that there is a shortage in nursing jobs.

My thoughts exactly. Also, for women it is one of the only careers you can start in 2-3 years and make a decent salary, unlike men who can get high paying jobs with little to no education. Women don't have as many options as far as trades we can learn and make a good living. I also believe the ones that are in it just for the money will probably not make it out of school, and if so probably won't make it that far in their nursing career before getting burnt out and doing something else.

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I've been wondering that myself! When my mon went to nursing school in 2000, she basically walked right into the program and walked out with a job offer at any hospital she wanted in any speciality she wanted. I never heard more than a few people talk about lifelong dreams of nursedome. I went to college for something else, then decided to pursue nursing and all of sudden EVERYONE and their mother-in-law wants to be a nurse. I'm not necessarily knocking it, I'm just wondering when everyone suddenly decided they've wanted to be a nurse their entire lives.

The last thing you said is soooo truuuue! When did everyone suddenly decide that they wanted to be a nurse their entire lives?? Please!

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Lol! What kind of maniacs are going into nursing for the money!?!! Maybe give them a wake up call? I made more waitressing.

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