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I have been trying to get readmitted into a nursing school right now, and I have found it is so much harder to get into nursing school then it used to be (I was as nursing major right out of high school but changed majors). I am still trying to get in. People are turned away left and right from being able to enter into a nursing program across the US. I was talking to my father in the last week and he said he'd read in the newspaper or seen on the news where the government is going to start bringing in nurses from other countries (with lower pay expectations I am sure) to help with the nursing shortage. IF THERE IS SUCH A NURSING SHORTAGE, WHY WON'T THEY MAKE IT EASIER TO GET INTO NURSING SCHOOLS???!!!!!!!! I am frustrated and really angry about that. Do you know what's going to happen to nurses pay when that happens? I am a medical transcriptionist and of course as most of you know now days because of the Internet a lot of work gets sent overseas to India, Pakistan, etc, where they are paid peanuts, and thus effecting American MT pay in a negative sense by lowering our wages. Something needs to change. They need to open more nursing schools, focus on nursing education funding, etc. I don't see this as a good thing and I am sure will effect American nurses pay if that becomes the answer to the nursing shortage.
I don't mind if the immigrant nurses come here and work for what an American nurse makes. But we have some "international nurses" at my work place, and they pay them through the nose. 1) Housing is paid for 2) the IN in my dept doesn't drive, so she gets a cab voucher EVERY night to take her back to her apartment. 3) she has about 2 years experience but gets about 30.00 an hour-more than some of our nurses that have been there close to 10 years. Her friend who came over here with her husband was a new grad and was given 30.00 an hour because that was what her husband was going to be making..Nothing personal against her though-I'm more PO'd at the hospitals that refuse to treat their "native nurses" well and then wonder why more and more of us are going the traveler or agency route.Many hospitals like these nurses because they are grateful for the oppourtunities so they won't back talk or say something when they see stuff going on.
This is sad. Free housing.....that is a super incentive if you ask me.
On another note, many of these international nurses are leaving their countries where they are desperately needed as well. Obviously the US doesn't care
I don't think ther will be huge influx of foriegn nurses anytime soon. You only have to read the posts on the International Boards here to see how hard it is for nurses to immigrate.
I came over to Boston in 1989. The shortage must have been worse then. individul hospitals employed foriegn nurse recruters and there were US job fairs in London monthly. Visas were expadited for nurses due to the shortage. I took CGFNS in September and started work in Boston on Feb 14th. it seems to be taking years for nurses to complete the process now. i was employed as a GN until I took N-CLEX in April/May. The hospital paid for revision classes for all the British/Irish nurses.
I really don't see the influx of foriegns now like it was then. Most of the night shift were either British or Irish and there were quite a few of us on days too. Since most of us joined the MNA I don't think we forced wages down either.
I've read that last year 42,000 qualified applicants were not accepted to nursing school last year. Unfortunately nursing school isn't an easy route to take. Most of those who get in are those that work their butts off. They retake classes for higher grades and spend phenominal amounts of time on studying.It maybe worth to applying to multiple schools.
I agree. And as someone posted before, there is NEVER a nursing class that graduates EVERY person who began in that class at the same time. Some drop, some GET dropped, some fall behind and graduate a semester or two later.
If this is the career you want, you're going to have to work for it. If that means taking a class here and there, whether to complete prereqs or ancillary courses (English, History, etc), or to try and bring grades up, at least taking those few classes consistently helps you to feel a sense of moving forward toward your goal. I'm doing that now as I buy time to enter a Masters program -- I missed the dates, and now due to additional circumstances have to wait another year to apply. But I'm getting everything else that I can out of the way, one/two courses at a time.
Also, applying to other schools is a GREAT idea. One school may be easier to get into than another, even if you have to drive a little farther. Again, if Nursing School is your goal, you've got to know what you're willing to do to achieve that. I had one lady in my class (married, four kids, mid-30s -- pretty par for the group) who drove 50 miles to our school one way because THAT's the one she got into (there are three in this 50-mile radius, and others that distance or closer to her in the opposite direction)
If you believe in Karma, or Fate, or Luck... maybe the time just isn't right right now -- sometimes it's just a timing thing. Right place, right time. Though if you submit more applications, you increase your odds of 'winning.'
Good Luck!
Imagine you are in charge of a college. You have, oh, 20 or so departments. Each department has been promised so many spots for students. Let's say the nursing department says "we would like to add another hundred spots to our department." Next thing you know all the other departments want to add spots in their departments too. Then you have to figure out the budget, staffing, space, additional parking, etc., etc., etc. So that leaves you with telling the nursing department they can't have that many spots, but maybe 10 or 20. So it's not just that they can't find enough instructors, they just don't have the resources to open up more spots.
So it's a very complex issue. Hospitals and sick people don't get to make decisions about how many openings a college will have.
EXCELLENT point! I had never even considered that side of the issue, but on reflection it makes perfect sense. There's so much that goes into each and every Nursing program (or college/university program) that we don't know about.
Well, I am going to have to end up driving if I get selected into the schools I am applying to, but that is okay, because I am eager and willing to do it. I have applied to a private college Accelerated BSN which seems to be promising, and then now there is a new ADN program opening up a little closer, but will only select 20 students out of it's applicant pool (only 20!).
My whole grievance with the situation, is there is an OBVIOUS lack of nursing educators, schools, etc, whatever, to meet the demand for those seeking a nursing education who are qualified and will make good nurses. The problem doesn't need to be solved by even MORE Americans jobs being taken away by more overseas workers, and this time being shipped over here. There shouldn't be such a bottleneck situation at the nursing education level, there needs to be more doors opened for those seeking to go to nursing school obviously, I mean goodness just reading on here, look at the numbers being turned away!
Well, I am going to have to end up driving if I get selected into the schools I am applying to, but that is okay, because I am eager and willing to do it. I have applied to a private college accelerated BSN which seems to be promising, and then now there is a new ADN program opening up a little closer, but will only select 20 students out of it's applicant pool (only 20!).
Accelerated programs are very intense. Just be prepared to do nothing but eat,breath, and sleep nursing...
Oh yes, I already know about the accelerated programs and how tough it is, this nursing school seems to be very flexible, though. Like if I am admitted I will be in a more fast track type of program, instead of a traditional accelerated program per se, although those who have all the prereq's are in the accelerated. Apparently they are really helpful and flexible with each student's personal situation in terms of what classes they have completed. For my situation because of all the prereq's I have had under my belt I am more qualified for their "fast track" program instead of the accelerated program, but apparently later I can switch to the accelerated program.
I am a very focused person, always had no problem with studying and doing coursework, when I have my mind made up about something I am very determined to do it :). I am ready to be a nurse!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
I mean hey if they can't ship out our jobs out fast enough, why not just bring them here to take our jobs too?
Uh, they are. Foreign nurses (Filipinos, for instance) come by the hundreds and probably thousands.
Watch - if illegal immigrants are legalized, you will see nurses from south of the border begin to flood into America.
My whole grievance with the situation, is there is an OBVIOUS lack of nursing educators, schools, etc, whatever, to meet the demand for those seeking a nursing education who are qualified and will make good nurses. The problem doesn't need to be solved by even MORE Americans jobs being taken away by more overseas workers, and this time being shipped over here. There shouldn't be such a bottleneck situation at the nursing education level, there needs to be more doors opened for those seeking to go to nursing school obviously, I mean goodness just reading on here, look at the numbers being turned away!
Cajjj, this very day, I want you to write to your senators and representatives on both the state and federal level. You must begin to bug them. Go see them in person, if possible.
mauxtav8r
365 Posts
Excellent points. Also, just take a look around at any major university. The sociology department's facilities are deplorable, nursing is barely adequate, but the business school is luxurious. The reason for this, as the op put so well, is all about the money, honey. Large donors make colleges (even public ones) run. Believe it, if you donate a "chair", there will be students admitted to listen to that professor.