What is the draw to nursing these days

[Libby1987]

I've been isolated in an apparently small corner of the nursing world and it wasn't until I started hanging out here that I've caught up on the current state of nursing*. I've read that it's usually the discontented and disgruntled that post or comment on venting threads but I think there is still a unanimous acknowledgement that nurses are understaffed, overworked, and often under paid. As well as the near universal glutted job market.

Which is then countered by pre nursing students clamoring for acceptance into a program.

It's puzzling to me. Is it denial on the part of those wanting to enter nursing? Or exaggeration on the part of working nurses? The middle is usually where the reality falls but it's hard to ignore that people are intentionally trying jump into what is often described as a pit.

*This actually concerns me as to what I will find when I relocate and try to secure a new position.

[happyinmyheart]

To be honest, I have almost made a thread asking this same exact question. I have been wandering around on these threads since I was a sophomore in high school (didn't make an account until later) and now I'm a freshman in college.

So what is my major? Nursing.

After reading these threads for years, I believe I made a careful choice to become a nurse. I know that I'm no different than anyone else. I'm praying that I'll be smart enough to make it through school, that I'll be able to find a job, and that I made the right choice.

However, I have many old high school friends who are also Pre-Nursing students. Many of them went into nursing because the want to be nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetist, ect. My other Pre-Nursing friends, have claim to have a passion for serving others, and they want to make money while they do it.

In high school we were constantly told about a "nation wide nursing shortage" LOL

I don't think I have the rose colored glasses on anymore.... But I definitely see why many people do.

[ontheway2crna]

Job security. As long as tobacco companies keep pumping out cigarettes and Americans keep smoking them as they drive up to Mcdonald's fast food windows in their big expensive SUVs we will always have a job.

[SWM2009]

For me it was the opportunity to double my non-nursing wages in just 18 months of part time schooling (LPN). At almost a year in, I am doing alright, in fact, I like my job most of the time.

[WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Well what do you expect when you go stepping all over their dddddrrrreeeeeeeeeaaaaaammmmmm ya big old meanies!

I never expected to develop such a bad attitude toward such an innocuous word, but after reading these boards for a while, I've learned that almost all with the word "dream" are best avoided, especially in the student sections and if letters are repeated as in my example above.

Yes, 1000x yes!

Any thread where the posters mentions that nursing, being a nurse, or working in a specific specialty (always seems to be Ob/gyn for some reason...) is their dreaaaaaaaaaaam I immediately roll my eyes and exit out of the thread. There will be no dose of reality for those people without them calling you "mean" or "negative." It almost beats the people who demand that only positive responses be posted when they are asking for advice for something stupid they've done.

[ImLovingIt]

I went into it thinking (a) good wages; (b) job security; and © relatively little cost (time and money) to entry. I list my job, which I hated, and "fell into" nursing because I just wanted something better.

Unfortunately, I think I equated "different" with "better." Now that I'm 2 years in, with one more to go, I'm fearful that this new career will be worse than my last. I've already talked to some of the nursing faculty about dropping out. I ended up finishing last semester...and I start again in 2 weeks. I doubt I'll finish.

At least I didn't go anywhere super expensive for this 2 year debacle. Hopefully, I can get a job in my old field.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

What's the draw? Well, for me, I'm working as a CNA, and my employer is one of the few still offering decent educational benefits. I figure if I'm going to work full time and stay up all night anyway, I may as well move up and make more money doing it. I start a one year fast track LPN program next week, and because of those educational benefits, it will be at almost no cost to me. My employer hires LPNs and using the benes obligates me to work for them for one year after I finish. For my personal situation, it seems to be a win all around. I'll finish prereqs and bridge to RN while working as a LPN and getting help to pay for it. It would be stupid for me not to move up in my situation, and frankly, I don't want to be a CNA for the rest of my life. I wouldn't be averse to eventually working my way into a day shift job with more regular hours either. I'm good at the night shift thing but I'm turning 40 this year, and I can't do it forever.

Wow! Good for you! It sounds like you have a decent employer, not many are offering tuition assistance to that degree anymore, and with the current job market being obligated to them for at least a year is a plus in my eyes as it means you already know you have a job when school is done. It sounds like you have a great plan in place.

Transitioning off nights may also be easier when you decide to. I thought I'd never want any other shift, but about 2 years ago my body decided enough of straight nights. I know everybody is different but for me I hit that wall at 47 yo.

[IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN]

Well what do you expect when you go stepping all over their dddddrrrreeeeeeeeeaaaaaammmmmm ya big old meanies!

I never expected to develop such a bad attitude toward such an innocuous word, but after reading these boards for a while, I've learned that almost all with the word "dream" are best avoided, especially in the student sections and if letters are repeated as in my example above.

In my case, my "dddddrrrreeeeeeeeeaaaaaammmmmm" is to give Media to patients.

Seriously - in my case I found that "nurses eating their young" (a) has nothing to do with chronological age (been chewed on by junior staff members plenty of times, both in and out of nursing), and (b) isn't unique to nursing by a long shot. BTDTGTTS. And, as far as "misinformation" AN isn't exactly immune to that either - really have to bite my tongue on the "43% of California new grad nurses can't find work after 18 mos. out of school..." posts. If this is the case, why is it that in the cohort of LVN's that I just saw off into the world a couple of weeks ago, almost all of them had work lined up before graduation?

Anyway; during the aforementioned pinning ceremony I had to smile when the class prez was so proud of herself for taking care of 4 whole patients by herself. I'd really like to see how she does with a run of 30 residents all to herself, plus 2 disgruntled CNA's. OTOH, maybe it's better that I don't know...

As for me - frankly, after a quarter-century of IT work I've found that CNA work is dirty, smelly, abusive...but you sure can't argue that it isn't needed. And, I'm a big enough boy to "set boundaries" with my peeps, both the ones that are bedbound, and the ones that aren't.

-----Dave

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

And, as far as "misinformation" AN isn't exactly immune to that either - really have to bite my tongue on the "43% of California new grad nurses can't find work after 18 mos. out of school..." posts. If this is the case, why is it that in the cohort of LVN's that I just saw off into the world a couple of weeks ago, almost all of them had work lined up before graduation?

The 43% statistic, although nearly three years old by now as the survey was conducted in 2012, specifically refers to newly licensed RNs, not LVNs. And to be fair, the data was gathered by an impartial third party, the California Institute for Nursing & Health Care, so that number was not magically conjured up by AN members maliciously seeking to spread misinformation.

As for the experiences of the cohort you just saw, be cognizant that anecdotal information is not exactly synonymous with evidence. Furthermore, location is everything. You are in the Inland Empire, which is one of southern California's armpits. Jobs tend to be available in undesirable places.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I can say that as a current student nurse, I am tired of every experienced nurse saying that we all have rose-colored glasses on and we are here to "save the world". I get very irritated with that and I'm one who will most certainly give people a reality check when they need it.

Yes, in certain areas of the country, nursing jobs are few and far between. It is not like that everywhere. And yes, I like to take care of people. I like the science behind it. I like the medical field. Oh my gosh, could I just be picking the correct career field for me? I think I am doing what is right for me and my family.

Part of the problem is these for profit, terrible schools popping up everywhere. They are giving the whole thing a bad name. Marketing that nursing jobs are plentiful and nurses make so much money it's going to fix your life. Because we all know money will fix everything. Hey, your going to owe these places more than you will ever make in a lifetime as a nurse, provided you can pass the NCLEX, qualify for your license, and then secure a job.

The short answer is, it's complicated. There are many factors that go into it. I started my journey into nursing a very long time ago. Back before this all came to the forefront. But I can say, many of us have researched and do know what we are doing. I know what I am getting into, and I am ok with it. I wish people would realize we all have our own lives to live and experienced nurses judging people trying to get in the field is not helpful. I'm not screaming nurses eat their young. Never even heard that phrase until I got on here. I find several of the experienced nurses on here extremely helpful. Esme and Grn Tea come to mind. There are several others as well. Yes, there are some people who I honestly just wake up one morning and think I will become a nurse today? But not all.

[fawnmarie, ASN]

I don't see anything wrong with having a "dream." I was once a starry-eyed CNA with big dreams of my own. I remember watching the nurses and thinking "One day that will be me." Sure, I have had my share of exhaustion and disgust since becoming a licensed nurse, but I still love what I do. If someone is dreaming of becoming a nurse, well, that is great! I had a dream once, now I have a dependable job, financial security, and I can write "RN" behind my name.

[Libby1987]

I don't see anything wrong with having a "dream." I was once a starry-eyed CNA with big dreams of my own. I remember watching the nurses and thinking "One day that will be me." Sure, I have had my share of exhaustion and disgust since becoming a licensed nurse, but I still love what I do. If someone is dreaming of becoming a nurse, well, that is great! I had a dream once, now I have a dependable job, financial security, and I can write "RN" behind my name.

I can't speak for others but I don't think it's the having a dream in itself but the lack of really checking out the state of nursing before embarking nursing school followed by shock at the lack of good opportunities and devastated by the working conditions encountered.

[fawnmarie, ASN]

This is a very interesting thread and there have been some excellent points raised. I do believe that location is everything when it comes to the availability of nursing positions. I grew up in the Detroit metropolitan area, considered by many to be an extremely undesirable place. Childhood friends whom have become nurses in Detroit have found employment quickly and easily. I am in the South now, and in hindsight, I believe I would choose nursing as a career if I had to do it all over again. My current city has a high demand for nurses, as do the outlying rural communities. There are only 3 RN programs and 1 LPN program graduating new nurses in this county with a population of over 200,000. So nursing jobs are available, although it may mean having to relocate. One more thing... A friend of mine is a teacher and obtained her master's degree in interdisciplinary studies. Her salary is the same as mine, and I have an associate's in nursing.