State of nursing career in america?

[philanurse2b]

What is the state of the nursing profession in america right now? Would you advice a new high school graduate to major in nursing? I'm contemplating a career in nursing, but am turned off by it; because I read messages on here constantly of RN's complaining about there working conditions. The only reason I really want to become a nurse is because of the salary. I want to help people that's why I'm also considering becoming a paralegal. Would you advise young poeple today to go into nursing?

[Luvelyone]

i am still a student but i would just say this; if the only reason you are considering nursing is for the salary, don't. you have to love helping people. there are other professionals where you can make more money. jmho

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with Luvelyone: if you are only interested in nursing for the money, then please choose another career. Choose a career that will include work that you find interesting and intrinsically rewarding. If you don't, you'll end up being part of the problem and not part of the solution. You'll end up being burned out and bitter and miserable in your job. That's not good for nursing and it certainly will not be good for you in the long run.

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

well take advice from me, i graduated h.s a year ago this month to be exact, my h.s had a nrsg program, so i became a nurse, when i was in the program i had no idea what i was gettin myself into, but now that i've been thru clinicals and in an out of hospitals while in the program i grew an affection for the profession. now i'm a new nurse and i here about and have always heard about the stress of nursing. it did scare me alittle, but i refuse to let others peoples bad experiences cloud my own experience and perception of nursing. like you i am too drawn to the salary of nursing, but..... nursing is one of those type of fields that you have to be ''called '' doing, that means you must be able to work with people co-workers and patients alike, you have to be patient and on and on. anyway, my advice to you is try it out, try it, don't be scared to try nursing, heck when i went into nursing, i didn't wanna be a nurse, but look where i am. so give it a try, if you still feel u don't like it, then consider whatever you like more. please don't go into it for the $, i know plenty of nurses who are in it for the $, and they are horrible nurses, as with any other profession, nursing can stress you out,so if you do not like the profession it is best to do something you will love. anyway, sorry for the long story, good luck, whatever you do!!!!!!!!!!!!! from one h.s graduate to another, oh congrats on graduating.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Wondered how someone could graduate HS and become a nurse by the age of 18...... I guess if you got your LPN it's possible. My first thought was didn't you mean nurse's aide? Reread post...

[anonymurse]

Wondered how someone could graduate HS and become a nurse by the age of 18...... I guess if you got your LPN it's possible. My first thought was didn't you mean nurse's aide? Reread post...

Yeah we have a program around here where you take your LPN training during your high school years. Very cool deal. Another program puts kids out of school as MCSEs. These school systems have a clue about real vocational training!

[MelodyRNurse]

Seriously consider why nurses make the kind of money they make. It is not easy money, and a lot of nurses are underpaid.

Do some research. Goodluck.

[rngreenhorn]

I went into nursing without being "called." Whatever that means. In any event, I never heard voices from Florence Nightingale telling me to "go forth and 'make a difference.'" The level of altrumism in a nurse is not at all related to his/her competency. I am a good nurse and like my job. As far as job satification: to me it seems the nurses who are most dissatisfied are those who went into the profession thinking they were going to "make a difference." Whatever that means.

I went into nursing because of the money and job opportunities. After doing research on professions, I discovered that nursing offers decent pay and a good opportunity for employment directly after graduating. It requires relatively little education for the pay and benefits. It also offers the opportunity to find employment in every state in the country. As well, within nursing, there are thousands of different jobs.

I graduated from nursing school three years ago, and have not regreted my choice. And it has offered all the things listed above. I expect to retire as a nurse, unless something happens that decreases the pay and opportunites.

Good luck with your choice.