Was nursing a good choice?

[LWMG]

I had a strong dose of reality last night (sitting in my first Human Dev class). We went around introducing ourselves and stating our majors. There are a good 30 students in my class, all but three are nursing majors. We did the same thing in Intro to Psych last semester... Again, all but a few were nursing majors.

I've done my research on the nursing career outlook and how to get into a good BSN program. I've realized all along that with the massive influx of people going into nursing, the reality is that spaces are limited in nursing schools. Additionally, jobs for new grads are becoming more and more limited and not as high paying. At the risk of people telling me "...you don't go into nursing for the money!", let me just ask, is taking out thousands of dollars worth of student loans, spending thousands on tuition/books, and devoting several years of your life to studying really going to be worth making (+/-) $35,000 per year, for several years, till you can establish your career and climb the ladder? Seasoned nurses will say yes, but they probably got into the field while it was still in high demand. I've been doing a lot research, and I'm realizing that this ladder is getting harder to climb, as not only schools, but jobs are highly competitive. I understand that this career is a calling, and I've definitely felt that I've been called to it. What makes me exceptional though? What makes me more deserving than anybody else going into this? A very good friend of mine has been a BSN for 10 years in intensive care, and doesn't make over 50k per year. In today's world, that is barely enough to pay your bills and feed your family. She's gotten one or two offers elsewhere, but they're in the same pay range. She loves her job, and sadly, is considering changing careers.

I'm doing all the "right" things in terms of getting into a nursing program, because having this career has meant the world to me. I've made a 4.0 in all of my undergrad courses thus far. I'm working as a CNA to build up experience. I've established relationships with my adviser, instructors, and work colleagues to get references. I'm doing community service and volunteer work, and studying very hard so I'll get a good ACT score. So, despite the very selective nursing schools, I think I do have a good shot at getting in... But what happens when I get out? I don't feel like I'm out of line for feeling a little discouraged about the future. I have a family and I just don't know if all of this work and effort will end up being worth all of this time away from them. I do believe my concerns are justified, as I'm not a fan of risk taking. Anybody in a similar predicament have suggestions? I want this career so badly, but is this really a gamble worth taking... or do I get out of the game while I can?

[Susie2310]

I think I may have partly answered your question with my replies to a poster on another thread - further down this forum there is a current thread "Is it worth it to go into nursing?"

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

IMO, despite the fact that you're only beginning the journey, you're already far ahead of other wanna-be nurses because you have a realistic view of the current employment situation. In many parts of the country, entry-level salaries are higher than the amount you posted. In addition, there are always career growth opportunities for smart & motivated nurses who are willing to take responsibility for their own learning & development.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I understand that this career is a calling, and I've definitely felt that I've been called to it.

To be totally honest, I was not called to nursing. My entrance in nursing was based on a calculated business decision to train for a stable, middle income career.

After almost a decade in nursing, it has proved to be the stable middle-income career that I had been seeking.

[LWMG]

Interesting answers. Thanks!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I strongly agree with the previous posts. For me, nursing was more of a practical career choice than a passionate one. I think that has helped me tolerate some of the disappointments I have experienced in my career. I wasn't overly idealistic to begin with. In my experience, the people who get the most discouraged/burned-out are the people whose career decisions were based on overly optimistic expectations/fantasies. Such people often crash when they see that the real world is not the same as their romantic fantasies -- and/or that "heroic service to others in hard times" is actually not as fun as it looks in the movies.

I also believe that the truly "best" new nurses are still finding ways to thrive, even in these harsh conditions. I see it every day where I work. Those with the best attitudes and work ethics are finding interesting opportunities out there -- maybe not the ones they expected when they started school, but interesting and rewarding just the same.

Finally, I believe that the nursing world is going to look a lot different in the next 5-10 years. All of the statistics and social trends indicate that we Baby Boomers will begin retiring in large numbers soon -- or at least cutting back our hours. Sure, there are people who will say that they expect to "work until they drop" or "never retire," etc. But reality is that very few nurses actually work full time beyond age 65 (though we all know a few exceptions). No one knows for sure exactly how that will play out, but there will have to be a lot of "shifting things around" when that happens. Enterprising nurses will be able to use those shifts as opportunities -- if they play their cards right.

You have a couple of years left before you will have to face some of the issues you are thinking about now. It's good that you are thinking, but remember that you have time on your side. You won't be ready to "move up the ladder" for another 4-5 years (at least) -- and by then, a lot is expected to change. Keep paying attention to the trends and remain flexible so that you can take advantage of the opportunities that will appear and I think you will be OK.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Just a few short years ago, I came to this site with some of the same realizations about my choice to go into nursing. This site has been a valuable tool throughout the entire process, so if you decide to stay the course, welcome to AN, and enjoy the ride!

Having said that, one of the things I told myself when I discovered that jobs would be limited upon graduation,was that this could change in the matter of the 2-4 years it's going to take to finish school. It did take me a few months to land my first job (just a few months ago) and I've recently been offered my third job in as many months... ALL paying better than your friend in ICU. I think pay is highly dependent on where you live. In Houston, nurses are making a pretty decent dollar right out of the gate.

I think ALL career choices are a gamble these days, so I say go with what you think will make you happy, and what is practical. Good luck to you.

[ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA]

I think that whether or not its worth it depends on where you live. How's the job market for nurses? Are there nurse to patient ratios? How is pay relative to cost of living? I live in an area of southern california with a lower cost of living than most other areas (still higher than the US average). However, I made 102k last year by doing an extra shift mostly every other week (sometimes every week). We also have patient ratios, which makes nursing doable. I'm not sure how nurses function in areas without ratios.

With that being said, a lot of the people who say they want to do nursing end up either not doing it, or end up not getting accepted into any program. Some people who get into programs also fail out. I'm not saying that the nursing market will be BOOMING, but what I am saying is that if you can actually jump through all of the hoops it takes to be a nurse, and land a job in acute care as a new grad, you will be able to make a solid middle (in some states upper middle) class living. Although, there are definitely more efficient ways to make money. I have one full-time job, a registry job, a home health job (which i barely work), and I just got hired for a per diem position @ 50/hr. I also just got hired in an ER at a different hospital (been doing progressive care for the last three years). There are not a lot of other fields with job opportunities like that. The burnout rate can be high, so not everyone can tolerate working at the bedside forever. Jobs away from the bedside pay less, and a lot harder to come by. There will always be jobs at the bedside, you just have to get your foot in the door first. It is a field that cannot be outsourced.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

It is a field that cannot be outsourced.

Sadly, this is not entirely true. Many hospitals/markets pay to sponsor people to come here from other countries (e.g. Philippians) and work as RNs.