Hi, name is Jack. I got a Bcomm at UofT, worked for a year, decided to change to nursing. Notice that nursing, even with the HFO new grad program, still sucks in getting a job. Notice also hospitals replacing RN with RPN to save money. Notice also more people getting into nursing.
So I will try to get in to UofT 2nd entry program. My strategy is thus in order to get a job after I graduate 3 years from now. So please comment on this strategy.
1. Volunteer from now and til I finish the 2 year program, where I start next fall, at a hospital and network.
2. Volunteer at the speciality I want or in a speciality.
2. Get a placement at the hospital where I have volunteered and try to match the speciality in which I volunteered for.
3. Get a HFO job at the hospital where I did my placement that's related to my speciality during placement and volunteer.
4. Take offer I am given after the HFO, hopefully the economy is better in 3 years, or take any offer despite a unit I hate, location or time.
The 4 steps will give me when I graduate:
- 3 years of volunteer experience at a hospital hopefully getting to know the managers
- 6 months of HFO new grad experience
Any comments? From all the experienced RN, if you had done this before you graduated, do you think you may have landed a job sooner?
I will be taking my prereq this fall and winter. I'll apply to a few university. My mentality after coming from working in finance is that you get paid $12/hr for doing sales and customer service. Relocation is not an option since finance jobs only hire local. Why would they import you if there is a much larger supply?
So I don't mind relocation for nursing, don't my doing crappy work, don't mind part time or casual, because I rather get paid $25/hr rather than $12/hr for doing the same type of crummy work. Plus in nursing, you have that pay scale per year of experience whereas in finance, 10 years down the road, you have no guarantee and have no idea where you can go. In addition you get to climb a corporate ladder that has another 10,000 more senior people than you waiting for that promotion and long overdue since the market crash.
In finance, you get MBA, CFA, CGA, CMA and CA designation competing for that same job. Even getting a MBA, you still face a lot of competition much much more than nursing, for that $24/hr job. So I feel that it makes economic sense to get into healthcare, though nursing isn't immune to economic downturns, at least it is better than finance. So why would I spend another 5 year plus getting that CFA and CMA designation with no better odds.
I will be applying to UHN for those listed programs to volunteer. At least get a reference letter out of it to apply for school. York ask for philosophy is kind of ridiculous so my main university is UofT/Mcmaster.
I'm going to come out and say it. You need an attitude adjustment fast, if you are considering nursing.
You don't "mind doing crappy work"? How would you like to be cared for by a nurse with this attitude? Or have your family members cared for by a person with attitude?
You haven't once mentioned having an interest in people. I'm not saying you have to be a saint or see yourself as a "mary martyr" but you haven't said one word about people. I know that by many on this board I'm viewed as a crusty old bat but in the "real" world my patients like me. I can joke when I feel the need, hold the hands of the scared poopless pre-op, can be there when your loved one has died and help you put it back together afte the grief has hit you, I can manage drunks because security is slow and they've just climbed over the counter at the nursing station.
Nursing doesn't really have to import and in many provinces the preference is to hire locally educated nurses. I moved provinces a few years back and it took me over six months to find a job as an experienced nurse because the preferred to hire locally educated new grads.
The nursing world also has a "corporate ladder". I have 12 years experience and still can't interviewed for my "dream job" because I don't have enough seniority.
Your attitude is that of many who think nursing is a fast way to a huge paycheque and a boundless future. It isn't. It's hard physical work, in often difficult surroundings, with demands placed on you that you never imagined.
I'm off to bed now, I just spent the weekend wresting with a drunk that was detoxing and wanted to wrestle most of the night.
But do you really want to care for people? You are approaching this in a businesslike manner but about the people side? Are you prepared to be on your aching feet for hours on end, dealing with less than compliant patients and demanding families and up to your elbows in poop? It's not "crappy work".It's providing care to your patient.You can't go in with that attitude. So if you could choose, you wouldn't have to care for patients?
Wanting or not wanting to care for people is an issue.We may seem harsh but you need to go into this with your eyes open.
The one thing I can relate to you is that before I pursued nursing I was in business and completed a BBA. Worked a few years and I didn't like the work partially because nursing was my first choice in high school but I received no support or encouragement to pursue it so I pursued my next choice. When I was in high school I volunteered in the emergency department at my local hospital so I got a pretty good idea on the realities of nursing. Nursing school is way different than business school. The way you study and the way you complete your assignments is different so to be honest I don't think second entry nursing would benefit you. My faculty advisor worked for the second entry program at UofT and does not recommend it partially due to the lack of clinical hours. I have a colleague who completed the second entry program at York and he had a diverse experience which includes maternity, rehab, general medicine, Sick Kids and CAMH so there is some positives of second entry program. I don't think York's requirement of having a philosophy course is ridiculous because in nursing you have to do a lot of writing.
If your interest in nursing hovers around the pay your chances of success are lowered because you will not enjoy the work and you may end up switching careers again. I know second entry programs are a faster route into getting a BScN but I don't think you will benefit from it. Nursing is a hugh investment from tuition, books, uniforms, supplies, First Aid/CPR, police checks and most importantly "time," etc... so do your research thoroughly before enrolling. Being a male has its challenges as well for the nursing field and I think you will find out once you start.
The OP does seem more interested in the pay than the prospect of working with people. Does he realize the pay scale has a top rung and it doesn't just keep going up every year forever?
I think he will be in for a shock the first time he is faced with a patient hugely incontinent of stool.
I am actually prepared for all that. I do want to work with kids though. But all the more funny is the only thing I keep reading about new grads is to take what you can get and here I am being so criticize for asking about the money. I do know that there is a topping limit to nurses. That is why I will further pursue a Master in Nursing or a MD.
There is nothing wrong having an strong emphasis on money. Would you crucify my friend for her to go into nursing for the money because she is a single mother of 3?
Any ways thanks for input. I will definitely go into nursing, but will always be for the money first, and care of others second.
You will not be an effective nurse with that attitude.Nursing needs to be your calling, a desire to help and care for others.Your attitude will be readily apparent to others and you will not find the success you seek.It will be very clear you are putting the patient second.
When we say take what you can get we mean you will not get a job in the speciality you want, just like magic.
I am actually prepared for all that. I do want to work with kids though. But all the more funny is the only thing I keep reading about new grads is to take what you can get and here I am being so criticize for asking about the money. I do know that there is a topping limit to nurses. That is why I will further pursue a Master in Nursing or a MD.
There is nothing wrong having an strong emphasis on money. Would you crucify my friend for her to go into nursing for the money because she is a single mother of 3?
Any ways thanks for input. I will definitely go into nursing, but will always be for the money first, and care of others second.
Masters educated nurses usually wind up as CNE's or over-educated floor nurses. I've never met a unit manager with a Masters. This is usually because floor nurses can make more than managers due to over time. Managers are salaried and excluded from unions.
If you ar thinking of becoming an MD go straight to med school. A nursing background won't help you.
Money first and care of others second? You should just go to med school then. I'm also a second degree nurse, but I've always had a genuine interest in nursing and helping others FIRST. The money is decent, but keep in mind that many times, nurses miss their breaks, and put in extra minutes for report, charting, etc, that add up, unpaid. If money is your primary motivation, you won't be content.
Fiona59
8,343 Posts
I'm going to come out and say it. You need an attitude adjustment fast, if you are considering nursing.
You don't "mind doing crappy work"? How would you like to be cared for by a nurse with this attitude? Or have your family members cared for by a person with attitude?
You haven't once mentioned having an interest in people. I'm not saying you have to be a saint or see yourself as a "mary martyr" but you haven't said one word about people. I know that by many on this board I'm viewed as a crusty old bat but in the "real" world my patients like me. I can joke when I feel the need, hold the hands of the scared poopless pre-op, can be there when your loved one has died and help you put it back together afte the grief has hit you, I can manage drunks because security is slow and they've just climbed over the counter at the nursing station.
Nursing doesn't really have to import and in many provinces the preference is to hire locally educated nurses. I moved provinces a few years back and it took me over six months to find a job as an experienced nurse because the preferred to hire locally educated new grads.
The nursing world also has a "corporate ladder". I have 12 years experience and still can't interviewed for my "dream job" because I don't have enough seniority.
Your attitude is that of many who think nursing is a fast way to a huge paycheque and a boundless future. It isn't. It's hard physical work, in often difficult surroundings, with demands placed on you that you never imagined.
I'm off to bed now, I just spent the weekend wresting with a drunk that was detoxing and wanted to wrestle most of the night.