Some seem to thinking nursing shortage means not needing to pay dues?

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I notice some students or others seem to think that because they've heard about a nursing shortage, that means that they will get a day position in their dream unit, and be welcomed with open arms as if they are the reserve troops come to save the day.

I don't think that's really the case. You still have to take the less desirable shifts, prove yourself, be accepted by your co-workers, and earn respect. Yes, there are toxic units, and those ones are probably more in need of extra help, so you might be more likely to get a job there.

If you are a newbie, you still have to 'pay your dues' in some way, that's usually the way life works in many arenas.

Specializes in Cardiac Nursing, ICU.

:D

my parents used to tell me that they "worked hard so i wouldn't have to." imagine my shock and anger when all of a sudden they expected me to work hard.

it took me a long time to figure out how to be responsible on my own. that is 100% their fault. what parents don't realize is that this sets you way behind.

were i am at in life now should have been reached at about 24. bad parents handicap their children.

shame on you bad parents. you know who you are!!!!!! :smokin:

you're soooooo funny!!! :yeah: is this truly the majority???

Specializes in psych.

I really hate to admit it, but i am rather fearful of the "up coming generation" of nurses, if what I see going into the local programs (two colleges and one nursing school) is any indicator of what we can expect in the near future. i have heard several comment on "doing this until (they) something better comes along". I have heard the line, I'm going all the way thru and be a supervisor".

I'm sure I wasn't what my instructors thought of as the image of a nurse, male, long hair, slightly irreverant, but I had respect for them as teachers and the hospitals where i got my clinicals, and the staff who took the extra time to show me thinks I needed for school and survival. Many of these neophytes look at this as a "Nine to Five" job, when the clock strikes, turn out the lights and leave.

I have been a nurse for close to thirty years (wow), an evening shift supervisor in a psychiatric facility for 18 years, with second jobs (mostly per diem) in Psych ER, or psych IP units, so it is not like I'm unaware. I have had students assigned to all of the locations I have worked, and must say the attitude has really changed in the last three to four years.

:twocents:

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I work with lots of hardworking, younger nurses.

Specializes in med/surg, TELE,CM, clinica[ documentation.

Lets face it folks. The nurse that you become is innate in you, whether you are 20 or 50. Some 50 year olds will never mature and some 20 year olds are mature beyond their years. I am an older , fairly new nurse( a little over 3 years at the bedside-and I still love it)and I have seen both sides of the coin. I have seen superb young nurses that worked rings around the older "seasoned" staff. I have also seen new young nurses that think their #### doesn't stink and that the world owes them a living and more. But, I have also seen some of the meanest, nastiest ,eat your young, older experienced nurses that you could ever meet, let alone have as a preceptor, manager etc. What we need to do is make a united effort to get along with one another, respect one another, appreciate one another and put the patients first.

Thanks just my 2 cents worth.:twocents::bow:

I have been an RN for a year and two months. I am probably one of those New RN's that some of you probably would hate. I got my dream shift in my dream unit with the most wonderful peers you could possibly imagine and now I have my dream schedule When I requested to be trained also in ICU, Wallah!! I got it. I have been accepted to a BSN program starting in the spring!!! What is my secret? I am not a bitter RN that feels that the world and other RN's owe me. When someone one wants a day off with their family and it gets denied, I tried to pick up their shift as much as possible. I go out of my way to help CNA's, and my peers with anything they need. When I show up at the hospital doors, I walk in like it is the best day of my entire life. When I leave the hospital, tomorrow will be another day. When I show up at home, and if by any chance doo doo has happened at the hospital, I keep in mind that my husband, my cats and myself are the best thing I have in my entire life... And if tomorrow I lost my job, there is one consolation, there is a shortage of RN's!!!

Wow. I may be incorrect but I feel like there is some territorial issue here as the real issue. If, in fact, new nurses only "believe" they can get the day shifts at the best hospital with the highest pay, and that is not true...then what is the issue? If what they think is going to happen, doesn't, then what is the problem? I sense the line about "paying their dues" is really at the heart of the writers issue with new grads.

There seems to be an unfortunate need by staff for new employees in any field to be submissive towards the employees who have been there already and "paid their dues".

I am extremely fortunate that, as a new nurse, I have an awesome job, day shift and work with nurses who have welcomed me with open arms. They are awesome, patient, teachers to this 49 year old new grad.

I was pleasantly surprised at the welcome since I hear so many nurses talk of how the "old dog nurses eat their young."

And no, I do not work at a facility that is sub-standard or has a revolving door of staff. Truth be known, they have very few nursing positions that open up as eveyone is so happy there. Most have 20+ years in.

I will concede that if a new employee comes in and acts like they know everything and have a lousy attitude, that can be a real turn-off to other employees, but to criticize those who are looking to get the best job they can does nothing more than make you look envious and angry.

Maybe a better approach would be to help them to the steps they need to take in order to get what they desire.

I have been an employer for many years as well as an employee and I always remember those who were kind and helpful to me along the way, even when I may have embarrassed myself by being a naive "newbie".:specs:

During my final rotation in nursing school I was shadowing the nurse manager of an OB unit. She was putting out fires everywhere and at one point became frustrated with some of her employees who were unhappy with night shift. They were apparently relatively new. She said, "Where do these new grads get the idea they can get hired for a day shift?" I was thinking about that later and realized that we would often see advertisements looking for nurses d/t the "shortage" that read something like this: "Make your own hours, work as much or as little as you want, super-flexible schedule, yada yada yada." I dawned on me that ads such as these made new nurses think they could just waltz onto a day shift position. We know that that doesn't happen in the real world of nursing.

Tell it! I like to read positive responses like this one. I was referring to pollyyrx's response. Thanks.

Specializes in cardiac, psychiatric emergency, rehab.

And then there are those of us that are willing to put in the time, effort, lousy shifts, etc., who just want someone to give them a chance and not ridicule, embarrass , or criticize in front of doctors, patients, other nurses and ancillary staff. I will work my buns off to no end; just treat me with respect even when I screw up!!:yeah:

Oh...your going to pay your dues alright! No one walks out of nursing school without working brutal shifts, treated like crap and wiping butt. When you get your Masters degree you can move forward and laugh at the rest of us who couldn't afford it. Until then, roll up your sleeves and dive in...your one of us...and you should be proud. Real nursing is what creates administrative jobs!

Specializes in cardiac, psychiatric emergency, rehab.

Humiliation is not a teaching technique. !! (teacher, rehab practitioner prior to nursing). Sorry but I think we could do without it.

Specializes in Medical Surgical.

As one of the newer nurses (RN 2006) I would like to point out that as an older student (early 40's) I have always taken my profession whatever it may be very seriously.

One of the things that I think that older, more experienced nurses need to keep in mind is that their attitude and willingness to help make all the difference in the world to the new nurse starting on their unit. Also respect is earned not given.

When I worked night shift on the floor (I alternated day/night) and because administration was trying to figure out what template to use for nursing notes I had to type freehand all my notes into the computer system. It was not unusual to have 12 patients and have to do this so you can imagine the amount of typing that I did. It really irked me that I would get critized by my boss, in the mornings when he came in if I was still putting my notes in when they (the older nurses) never were. The reason these older more experienced nurses were not is because they never took their stethoscope into the room except for one instance for one patient. They also never went into detail about the patient but would say resting quietly. All the day RN's would always want to find out what patients I had the night before so they could use my notes as a guide.

When our department announced that we could do 12 hour shifts if we found a partner I asked everyone and found a partner. Because another RN who was younger than me and who had more time as an RN complained my partner was given to her. As a single mom who had a child being taken care of by an elderly mom I really needed the 12 hour shifts. I was working on a Medical Floor (like they tell you to do after nursing school) and working three weekends a month with one day and part of another day off per week (I worked nights on the second day so it was never a full two days off). After this I felt that to stay in Nursing I needed to find a job which was more compatible with my life as a single mom. Nursing is not a family friendly job hence the reason most nurses have no kids or very few. I applied for my dream job and got it in Ambulatory Care. That is not to say that I don't face challenges every day they are just different and I am off on the weekends with my child. I am also happy to report that all of the older more experienced nurses that I work with now are so sweet and more than willing to help you with anything they can. I have grown so much as a nurse and learned so much since I came to the Ambulatory Care arena. Those older nurses and the hours enable me to be the nurse I always wanted to be. I think that it all comes down to a simple rule "Treat others the way that you want to be treated". I strive to do this everyday. Best of all my patients really appreciate and know that I will go the extra mile for them.

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