To RNs: Would you encourage students to get into nursing from a practical standpoint?

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Hi guys! Im a 22 year old MALE student who just applied to nursing school (BSN program) and I'm from the NYC/Long Island area. I have no doubts about getting in however, i do have some doubts about the future of nursing. Call it a last minute freak out or whatever but I'm seriously worried that i will get out of nursing school with loans, and not be able to find a good job. My mom is a nurse, and so are both my uncles all of which have been very successful and entourage me to enter the field. Getting into nursing was indeed my own decision and i do feel it would be a satisfying and rewarding job for me. However, i know that if I'm struggling finically i will regret the decision. At my moms job alone there were large cuts and many people were laid off (thankfully she was not one of them). Apparently, from what I've heard there are cut backs everywhere. So to all the nurses out there would you encourage me to still go into this field or back out now while and do something else?

I graduated in may of 09. I didnt get a hospital RN job for 17 months. I put in anywhere from 5 applications on my day off to 5 a week during that time. I dont know how much has changed. I recently precepted a new grad in va (as a travel nurse bc they didnt have anyone qualified to do it and no established orientation program) who told me it took her 8 months. She was given 8 weeks of orientation and left to her vices with 5-7 patients. Your first student loan will be due 6 months after your graduation date. I would start applying for new grad jobs now if you are planning on working. I would also find out what your student loan payments are going to look like and what kind of deferment options you have in case you cant pay. Im sorry that the profession i chose is dissed in private bc EVERYONE will think it is so great that you are a nurse. Its not that great. Id rather be a farmer.

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I completely agree with how nurses are treated. I also have seen this ruin nurses lives. Were not talking about a bad day. The hospital will never support you. I wouldnt say be a PA because that puts you in direct relationship with the dr who will still take you out.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

I'm a 48 year old male. I was an LPN for 8 years. I have been an RN for 3 years. I have done quite well in this field. Prior to nursing I was a property and casualty insurance agent. I sold my agency and went to nursing school in 2003. I make more money now than I ever did as an insurance agent. I currently work in home health care and while I do sometimes have difficulty acquiring new clients, as many of them do not want a male nurse, however, eventually something always comes my way. I find that if you have the right personality and are competent, most will overcome their fears of having a male nurse. The trick is to be able to get your foot in the door. Some clients will even request you to fill in any shifts that become available. So my answer to this question of whether or not a male nurse is a good career choice? It depends upon where you take it. Find your niche and go for it.

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As it sits right now, I would have to say ,"No !" . Here is where it gets better . Like most , I wanted the dream job and since becoming an RN in "93" and the cost was probably something from the "Dollar Menu " and my BSN was paid for by the hospital - I have worked my way to a dream job full of Netflix and good pay. However, I would not suggest it now . Heck, I work in a wealthy, teaching, Magnet hospital and they have sort of a hiring freeze . My message to my kids ," Put money in your pocket -the days of college degrees for the most part is over -some grads are in their parent's basements with huge student loans -go for the money . Fight another day " . Have to be smart -these colleges and universities will promise the world ( they have the PR folks that can do it ) and in the end -it's all about the money. The student loan folks and bill collectors don't care how much you love nursing.

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Specializes in Surgery.

If you are willing to move, there are plenty of jobs out there. Travel nursing services are always looking for nurses and it provides a great experience and a chance to learn different styles of patient care around the country and if desired, the world. DO NOT settle for an LPN certification, I did that and it delayed me a few years in my progress. Get the professional degree and never stop learning. The world is there for the picking, you just have to grab it.

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I would say that vocation plays a fundamental role here, if you feel that nursing is the job you feel comfortable and enjoy your work, go ahead; but this advice I would tell someone in my context, because I have read some comments about you will have to refund the loan (in US), and then the point of view is different if you have to pay a loan and you earn enough for it.

I am Spaniard, trained in Spain and the government payed for me the BSN (with good marks) and here in UK I realized that the NHS pay for nurse students, therefore you will not have to worry about wether you can refund or not, just think if nursing fits with you.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.

In the immortal and unfaltering words of Gandalf the Grey: "Fly, you fools!"

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Wow.

I have been around this profession in one way or another all my life. Military and civilian alike. I'm 50.

I have relatives and friends who also have the same background.

It's what YOU make it.

For the naysayers....maybe it's time for you to move on. Please I mean no disrespect in any way. However, bad experiences happen to everyone in every field.

Do what you feel.

RNs today on the whole act like the world owes them something. None of us is perfect. But how are we going to change things if all anyone does anymore is complain.

Even Gandalf knew to stand and fight after he said " fly you fools".

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Specializes in RN.
If your heart is in it and you truly want to be a nurse then yes. I on other hand discourage my own children from nursing. I told them do anything else OT, PT, pharmacy, MD, PA, or respiratory. Nurses are treated like dog poo on society's shoe. We are worked to death with expectations that are unrealistic. Often working in understaffed and possibly unsafe situations.

Ditto. But, do remember, there are more options in the nursing profession than any other.

On the overall premise you mention, this whole Country is going down, pay scales are being leveled off...go for a profession that will make your life worth living. And prepare for the inevitable collapse of American Society. The Greatest Generation Era is long over. Post Modern America is a whole new ball game.

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What they are saying is - Don't go too far into debt for this (or any profession). I went to a community college and got an ADN for about $2,000 with some support from my hospital and a scholarship. I know what you're thinking, but I can get one, anyone can! I'm hoping to get hired by a local university hospital to help pay for a BSN. BTW, student IS the next credit bubble. It's more dangerous than other debt, since it has no consumer protection and banks get paid quicker if you default.

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Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.

Very solid question there OP.

From a practical standpoint yes nursing is a good place to go. Living in the West Coast, our compensation packages are excellent.

Now lets talk about budget cuts and staff reduction. what I have seen from personal experience is that management wants to cut back on its older RNs. This is because they simply cost too much. It is not strange to see an RN with 20 years of experience getting paid $65 an hour, with matching and other very expensive perks regarding retirement contribution.

My hospital is actively hiring new grads because they are cheaper. The problem is they are not experienced. So how do they fix that problem? The answer is training and ratios. We train our new grads for a minimum of 16 weeks, longer if you are in ICU or other specialty. In 4 months, new grads are generally able to take on 4 pts by themselves with no problem. Yes, we do have mandatory ratios out here. As for the older RNs, they become un-encumbered charge nurses. Which means they get no pts, all they do is manage staff on shift, and they are a pool of knowledge that can be accessed when the new grad has a question regarding policy and care.

You cut down the number of expensive nurses and increase the number of less expensive nurses. It sounds cold, but let us not forget that most hospitals are businesses.

The other thing you can do is think outside the box. Some of our RNs moved away from the hospital completely. They became Electronic Health Record Consultants. A group of them started their own business and consult hospitals on how to best transition over. Like form an RNs perspective, what would be the most efficient way of charting. There are non-traditional options out there. Don't believe the hype when people tell you the hospital is the only place to be.

Btw, 4 months is all you really need for working on a telemetry or med-surge floor. I mean if they code or turn to crap you are gonna call Rapid Response Team or the Code team anyway. I have always felt that med-surge and telemetry was a lot of baby sitting. THE BIGGEST THING TO LEARN THERE IS TIME MANAGEMENT.

Hope this helps you out.

One more word of advice, WORK IN A UNION HOSPITAL. Getting you fired becomes more difficult when you are a union member. Also the compensation packages are generally better in union hospitals.

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