*Long story short: I'm an above average student able to get into a top ranked school for my BSN. Will being a top student at a top university affect me making more than $21 an hour during my first five years, as the nurses I've shadowed have warned me?
I'm a male high school junior about to start applying to colleges. I really want to do nursing, but after lurking on this board for months, I'm worried that I might expect it to be a bit 'better' financially and job-market wise than it actually is. I know that for the average person the posts here apply, but so far I haven't really considered myself an average applicant. For background information, I have a 2100 SAT and will retake it again this Summer, likely for a better score. I have a very high GPA and have worked a part time job for minimum wage since I was a freshman, so I'm definitely not against hard work. Also, I've been enrolled in college (similar to dual enrollment) at a high ranked public university since freshmen year, full time for 2 years now (so I'm essentially a high-school kid in name only). In my college classes I've been with reg. students and professors and have a 3.8 GPA. Essentially, I'm fairly confident that I can get into a top-ranked program such as UNC-Chapel Hill and I'm positive I will be able to handle getting a BSN. Will having all of these things 'going for me' make any impact at all in not starting out making $40,000 a year?
I'm under the impression that if I go to a top 10 school and graduate near the top of my class, I'll be able to get a nice job making a little less than what is reported as an average salary for a nurse, and get a job in a hospital fairly easily. After job-shadowing a nurse at the local hospital (reassuring me that nursing is my career choice), I got told that all of the extra credentials (top of class, great program, relative minority) I'll be lucky to get a sucky hospital job working night shift for a couple years at $20 an hour. Are my expectations high?
If you are staying in the Chapel-Hill/Durham area your pay will be the same as any other new grad. Some of the hospitals here don't even pay more for a BSN. However, at least from what I have noticed UNC seems to have a decent job placement rate. I know the ones I have spoken with have been happy with where they landed their first position. Several of Duke's ABSNs have been able to land positions in the ER, my guess is that UNC could help you network so you can achieve the same.
UNC is a respected program and very reasonable tuition.
I do know one particular new grad in this area who has struggled to land a job even with a BSN and 4.0 GPA. I get the impression she does not interview well. Personality does matter.
When you get to nursing school (especially a top ranked one like you said), it will be different than high school or general college. Most of these students are very bright, type A and used to a 4.0 GPA. You may not stand out like you do now.
In regards to one of your posts about internships, definitely try to score one. I am doing a student nursing residency with a top hospital that is known to offer a RN position to new grads who participated in the residency. These experiences set you apart because they are created for nursing students, have an educational aspect to them (attending seminars) and one on one pairing with a RN mentor.
I think you may want to rethink your career choice. It does not matter what career path you choose you will start at the bottom of the ladder. It's called paying your dues and that is a fact of adult life. A "sucky hospital job", really???? I love my wonderful hospital job working in Hemoc-oncology at at top rated hospital in NC! Everyday I get to make a difference in someone elses life, which is what nursing is. I'm working as a CNA II while attending nursing school, don't make "doodley squat" for money, yet I value everyday at work. If you are only after a big paycheck you will be disappointed no matter what your career path is. Your current attitude is a great dis-service to yourself.
He posted it...so people will respond. When someone is already complaining about "sucky hospital job" when he hasn't even been to nursing school it is a little telling. Ofcourse we all want to have a certain job. When I graduated in '06 I was in Virginia near DC. There are multiple great schools there and no one makes more money for going to Catholic Univ over Georgetown over George Mason over Marymount over GWU. Who even knows what he means when he posts "sucky hospital job"...I don't even know what that means? No one is more valuable than anyone else. The janitorial staff is as important as is the CNAs as is the nurses as is everyone else. Good CNAs were invaluable to me when I first started as a nurse. Being humble would be the first thing I would tell this kid. And I am sorry but life is hard.
He posted it...so people will respond. When someone is already complaining about "sucky hospital job" when he hasn't even been to nursing school it is a little telling. Ofcourse we all want to have a certain job. When I graduated in '06 I was in Virginia near DC. There are multiple great schools there and no one makes more money for going to Catholic Univ over Georgetown over George Mason over Marymount over GWU. Who even knows what he means when he posts "sucky hospital job"...I don't even know what that means? No one is more valuable than anyone else. The janitorial staff is as important as is the CNAs as is the nurses as is everyone else. Good CNAs were invaluable to me when I first started as a nurse. Being humble would be the first thing I would tell this kid. And I am sorry but life is hard.
I believed it was already addressed numerous times that the OP was quoting the nurse he was shadowing.. And the OP is a junior in HIGH SCHOOL no need to jump down his throat
Yes your attitude about "sucky hospital job" and an undesirable job such as home health makes me think that you think you are better than your peers. We don't need any more "heroes" in nursing. We need kind compassionate people who are team players and want was is best for the patient we are caring for. I have 20 years experience as an ER nurse and currently work in a nursing home. Because of my ER background I have been able to assess and intervene for a patient before they "crashed". The patient and the family members were thankful for my acute observation skills. Nursing homes are consistently admitting people for rehab to strengthen them up before they go home to live on their own. As far as home health, I would not hire a new grad. What happens when you cannot get that wound vac to work or have trouble starting an IV or drawing blood? What if you can not get the colostomy to function without leaking or have difficulty accessing that port? No one down the hall for you to call on. Let alone the complexity of putting it all together on the OASIS. I think you need to start out on a medical surgical floor and learn the basics of nursing. And maybe a little humility.
I think it's good he's questioning the realities of the workplace. There is a lot of hype out there that nurses make gobs of money, that there is a shortage, that you MUST get your BSN, that your choice in college makes a huge difference etc and a lot of that really isn't true. I know I was fed the same garbage as a high school senior.
If anything, the affordable state programs tend to be more competitive and more respected. When it comes to nursing, private schools are usually a bad idea- not as many people apply, it's less competitive, and going there can raise an alarm and make it look like you couldn't hack the competitiveness. You sound smart and driven so don't let that happen to you!
Grades and a good school may give you some edge in landing a job. It will not increase your pay, at least not right off the bat.
Pay is very much regional. I know new grads get hired up here for not a whole lot, but the cost of living here is not high either. $30k isn't a huge salary but considering I've been living pretty well on $18k, I'll be just fine. Nurses in big cities on the east coast may sound like they make a killing in comparison, but they also pay a ridiculous amount to live in a shoebox. It's all relative. Here a decent house costs around $150k; elsewhere a fixer-upper can be half a million dollars. Salaries reflect those differences.
OP is a junior in high school and has been enrolled full time in college for 2 years with a high GPA and a 2100 SAT score. He has already stated he wants to make more than RNs in his area. I don't think asking him if he's ever considered medical school to be an outlandish question. He's very very young and trying to figure it all out.
It's like no one in this thread knows how to read. He clearly stated the "sucky hospital job" comment was something said to him by a nurse, and not an attitude he possesses.
All excellent advice given to you and if you are smart, and I believe you are or else you would not be seeking counselors, you will save your money and go to any accredited nursing school that is convenient for you. Hope this helps.
guest699183
106 Posts
If you are staying in the Chapel-Hill/Durham area your pay will be the same as any other new grad. Some of the hospitals here don't even pay more for a BSN. However, at least from what I have noticed UNC seems to have a decent job placement rate. I know the ones I have spoken with have been happy with where they landed their first position. Several of Duke's ABSNs have been able to land positions in the ER, my guess is that UNC could help you network so you can achieve the same.
UNC is a respected program and very reasonable tuition.
I do know one particular new grad in this area who has struggled to land a job even with a BSN and 4.0 GPA. I get the impression she does not interview well. Personality does matter.