The death of nursing

[massrn116]

I have been an ICU nurse the majority of my 30 years in nursing. I started out and am still a diploma RN. I learned "old school" but have kept up with technology and have always felt that at the bedside one did not know if I had a degree or not.

My employer has been actively at war with nursing for the past few years. Making cuts in the name of lack of medicare reimbursement. I have watched the nursing numbers dwindle, have seen ancillary staff done away with. We are now facing cuts in our hours to save the hospital on having to pay benefits. I am sad, very sad that nursing is dying.

I have always been the type of nurse that has frequently, on an almost daily basis been sincerely thanked by my patients or their families, have frequently had a patient say "you have taken such good care of me." Have frequently gotten a smile out of the sickest or most nervous patients with my "humor."

But now I am afraid. I am afraid that nursing is dying and I am afraid I will lose my job and won't get another because I lack a BSN and I am in my 50's. I am sad that I devoted so many years to a heartless hospital system that does not appreciate my years of service and the fact that I am not a bump on a log.

I am mainly sad because nursing is dying and all those "nurses" with advanced degrees are not acting as nurses and being proactive in trying to save nursing. Instead they are siding with management big wigs, ceo's with big salaries and allowing nursing to die. You are the ones that never stayed too long at the bedside and realizes there was a real, live person who was depending on you to give excellent patient care, to be an ear, to give hope to the hopeless, to crack a whip on those that were giving up, to hold the hand of the dying. I would have to think if you had stayed just a little while at the bedside you would realize the value of a nurse, the value of me and would not contribute to the death of nursing.

[MatrixRn]

I've been amazed at what some people in here get paid for their first jobs, as a RN. While back, I saw $28. Then, I saw $25. Then on posted $22. Then, yesterday? $18.50 in MO, as a BSN (yes, also $3 for nights- big deal). Think about that $18.50 this way- it's less than twice the upcoming federal minimum wage.

What's worse are the responses from some indignant new grads (that have no idea how far the race to the bottom has gone, so far), that have said 'why do nurses feel entitled?', or the hot and lively debate that went on about nurses being paid less than the starting wage to be on orientation, because 'we aren't really working, anyway'??

This is just an example of where we are going as a profession. As newer grads enter the work force, they will be taking a lower wage just to get that first job. But the difference is they will stay on the low end. The economy bites and many professions, not just nursing, are not getting raises. Period.

At my facility, 3 out of the last 5 years we did not get any raise.

[mmaibaue]

Dear massrn, I am 49 years old and originally got my ASN. I am now back for my RN to BSN. It is not too late. I am in no hurry to complete my degree as are many of my younger ASN friends. I am taking one class at a time and learning so much, and enjoying it too. Consider, we are at an age when the house is quieter, no kids, and a spouse (maybe) that will gladly leave you alone to study while he watches the game. You may have no desire for your BSN, but I know as a nurse you continually seek knowledge. So don't be afraid, dive in and enjoy. Don't expect a higher wage or greater respect from management just more responsibility. If you love your patients go for the knowledge you will acquire and all the new information and resources you will be able to share with your patients.

[crs1965]

I live in a rural area. There is a small hospital 20 mi away, a trauma center 40mi away, and the big city is 100mi from my home. I have been an LPN for 20+ years, and slowly being phased out. I am able to work for HH, nursing homes, agency,prison/jail, or if I'm lucky an office, but those are hard to come by. I decided to go for my ADN only to learn that none of the hospitals accept it. They are looking for BSNs ONLY. I too am tired and the thought of going to school for 4 yrs, well... To all the new grads I wish you well in your careers. To the older nurses, I applaude you for your years of service and dedication. It is a sad situation for all nurses...

[Eru Ilúvatar]

I find myself perpetually amazed at the number of comments on various threads like this one which show not even the slightest interest in broad statistics and instead act like individual circumstances must reflect some sort of national trend. Its like saying "I have cancer, therefore the whole world must be dying." Dis anyone here look up the numbers about RN job outlook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics? Or the historical numbers on employment from the ANA here: http://nursingworld.org/NursingbytheNumbersFactSheet

My dear Sir, I must articulate very respectfully that you may be a "moron". I hope the school you are attending teaches you critical thinking skills, and that once you apply them you come to realize like others have said that those numbers are biased and meaningless. Before the Big Recession the economists were predicting more grow and etc, etc... Then the worst happened, thats the reason I never take any economic prediction too literally and I research them and compare it with other dat, just to make sure it is not a wishful prediction of whoever plays with those numbers.

The numbers say one thing, but the reality is another, as many nurses have already expressed in here, there are not that many jobs vacant, the pay has been reduced, etc. A nursing shortage is as real as unicorns or pots of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I am going for a nursing degree but i am not being delusional about it. I know I will have to fight hard to get that first job, that it wont be handed to me, and that I may make less money that I make now ( once you factor student loans for the nursing degree) , but it is a choice I and many others are making informed and not based on some economist prediction.

[Eru Ilúvatar]

I can understand what you are saying and experience should count for something but I have to respectfully disagree that nursing is dying. I see the kind of thing that you are talking about happening in absolutely every profession out there. This is not exclusive to nursing. The fact of the matter is the older and more experienced you are the more you cost to employ. In this day and age, hospitals area business. They are about making money. A new grad will not cost as much to employ. My mom will be 60 later on this year. She has been at her job for over 20 years. They have been trying to force her out of her job for several years now. The people at her job make her miserable because she costs too much to employ. They want someone fresh out of college with no experience. No experience or very little means, cheap. No one can trade your vast knowledge for money. But this happens in every profession. Also medicare reimburses very little. My sister is a physical therapist. She sees mostly medicare patients. They don't even reimburse enough right now to meet her hourly rate, much less the physical therapist assistant. So the hospital is losing money on every medicare patient she sees. And guess what? They are going to be getting even less this year because of obamacare. Once the government dictates how much everyone will be reimbursed it's going to dwindle to nothing. Then guess what? Probably when I graduate, I will get a job making close to min. wage. No joke. They will be getting rid of nurses the way it is now and hiring new ones willing to work for measly pay because that is the only way they will stay in business. Is nursing going to die? No. Nurses will always be here, just the whole way of nursing is going to go away. Guess who we have to thank? Obama. All of the people that proclaimed he was the next Kennedy had no idea what they were talking about and have sunk the health care system in America as we know it.[/quote']

Why you making this into a political post? The president is not the sole person responsible for an specific law. It takes more than one person to make a piece of legislation like the ACA.