So I pretty much always have nursing students with me. I have senior BSN students who are doing a critical care class (six 12 hours shifts), ADN students from 2 different programs doing their preceptorships (eight 12 hour shifts), ABSN students doing clinical (six 12 hour shifts), and direct entry MSN students who shadow me for a shift. In addition I come into contact with a variety of other students who are being taught by my RN co-workers. My hospital also has a "student nurse technician" program where they hire nursing students to do CNA type work. So I regularly talk to 5-10 nursing students a week and nearly always have a student with me each shift.
What I am so shocked about is the level of education of these students who are in nursing school. I can't even remember the last time I had a ADN student who didn't already have a bachelors degree with me. Of course the MSN and ABSN students already have bachelors degrees, but what is surprising to me is that so many are already professionals in others areas. I had a student who already has a bachelors and masters in architecture and worked for a well known local firm, I have had lawyers, police officers, scads of teachers, and a few engineers among others. Even a guy who is an MD in Russia.
Why do all of these people want to be nurses? Have any of you experienced this?
Back when I was in nursing school there were plenty of 2nd career types in my class but they tended to be factory workers, truck drivers, farmers, military vets who were moving up to become RNs. A few had bachelors degrees but not like now.
I actually find it frightening and a little sad. Frightening cause I suspect this is a symptom of a very bad economy and terrible job market. Sad cause I know so many of the will struggle to find work after making huge sacrifices to get through nursing school.
Some of them are SHOCKED when I tell them it's a tough job market out there for RNs and they will have to work hard and keep on their toes to find any job. Some simply refuse to believe me (nearly all the direct entry MSN students, ironic since they will struggle in our local market more than the others). Others already have this figured out and are already bitter about it.
Ok, I got it with the tech stuff. Sorry. I have a very honest, not trying to ruffle feathers, question. All the older, second career nursing students, if this was your dream job as a child, why did you not do nursing as a first career? To me, in my opinion (again my perception), I think it is a little beauty pagaentesque to say you wanted to be a nurse since you were a kid and you love helping people, etc. and this is a second career...I do not think there is anything wrong to say you got it wrong first career go around and then taking care of a sick relative or other situation made you realize you like nursing. But, to say it was a childhood dream is not believe able, to me. Again just my opinion.
Can I ask why it is such a horrible thing for a person to choose a career for the money and security? Not everyone has a dream career to chase. Some people try several different careers before they find one that suits them, and I don't see what's wrong with that. I don't believe you have to go into nursing with the dream to be a nurse to be a good one. Those people seem to be the ones who end up shell-shocked by what it really is. Why is it such a crime to make a choice based on what will feed your family? There are the unicorn chasers, but most of the multi-career folks I have encountered are as realistic about what they are getting into as you can be. To each their own...what's with the negativity surrounding other peoples' career choices?
I think it is a little beauty pagaentesque to say you wanted to be a nurse since you were a kid and you love helping people, But, to say it was a childhood dream is not believe able, to me. Again just my opinion.
Hi Wish,
I would urge you to proceed with caution.. that is a very strong statement.
Guess what? It WAS my childhood dream, and I graduated when I was 38 yo. Don't believe me?
Things happen to us in life that we cannot control.. ie) trauma, violence, etc.
I'm happy for your that you seem to have your "stuff" together and you are in your 20s. Good for you!
But DO NOT criticize those of us that didn't.
To say that my childhood dream was "beauty pageantesque" is so offensive to me, that I don't have any words to describe it.
I usually enjoy reading your posts. This one, however, raises my hackles.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
So why didn't I apply to a second-degree accelerated BSN program instead of an ADN program since I already have several college degrees? The answer is the numbers. The two-year ADN program tuition at the local community college will cost less than $10,000 for the four semesters. Since graduate registered nurses with ADNs usually start at $21.00 an hour in northern Virginia, I can earn and recoup the $10,000 (after taxes) after having worked not more than 720 hours in the first year after graduation. However, a second-degree accelerated BSN program costs between $40,000 to $60,000 in northern Virginia.
*** Very valid reasons. A couple things. First I consider it terrible that so many wish to remove the option you are pursuing (the BSN as entry to practice crowd).
Second, I am just wondering if you realize how very unusual it is that there is such a huge pay difference between ADN and BSN? Despite working as staff RN in 4 states, and several more as a traveler, I have never actually worked anywhere were a nurse gets paid more depending on what degree they have. I have only heard of very small differenced here on AN but never anything that dramatic.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I'm happy for your that you seem to have your "stuff" together and you are in your 20s. Good for you!
But DO NOT criticize those of us that didn't
*** Why not? Indecision and choosing to goof off in your 20's seems a perfectly valid reason to criticize one about. I was a goof off in my 20's and criticize myself all the time.
*** Why not? Indecision and choosing to goof off in your 20's seems a perfectly valid reason to criticize one about. I was a goof off in my 20's and criticize myself all the time.
Thank you for the feedback.
I didn't goof off in the 20s, in fact, I wish that were the case... Traumatic events occur at all ages.
I would urge you to proceed with caution.. that is a very strong statement.
Guess what? It WAS my childhood dream, and I graduated when I was 38 yo. Don't believe me?
Things happen to us in life that we cannot control.. ie) trauma, violence, etc.
I'm happy for your that you seem to have your "stuff" together and you are in your 20s. Good for you!
But DO NOT criticize those of us that didn't.
To say that my childhood dream was "beauty pageantesque" is so offensive to me, that I don't have any words to describe it.
I usually enjoy reading your posts. This one, however, raises my hackles.
He didn't say he didn't believe you, just that it sounds somewhat unbelievable. There's a difference. I think saying "it was a childhood dream" or "I do it because I love helping people" does sound a little bit like some vapid Miss America speech.
Fair or not, when hearing people say something like this, most will dismiss it as insincere or as schmaltz.
Nurse_Diane, that's not what I am referring to. What I am talking about are the people that had a career, a career, in a different field such as business manager or lawyer or whatever....something that is a career in itself and then went back to school and did nursing and said that nursing was their childhood dream....not someone who for abuse reasons or homelessness or whatever circumstantial reason they couldn't do it.
I am referring to the people who went to college for a four year degree in a different field and then when the economy tanks, they just happen to chase their dream in nursing....I don't buy it. It's okay to admit the economy tanked and you needed to support your family. I just don't buy the fakeness of chasing one's dream as a second career nurse during what just happens to be a bad economy. I think it is okay to say you hated your first career choice and there was a situation that made you think of nursing.
So, no, Nurse_Diane, I am not referring to people who were in bad circumstances and didn't get a chance until later in life. Those people...hats off to them.
PMFB (original poster): I am essentially asking the "why" to your observation (the point of your thread).
Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.
I agree w/ the above poster. I like helping people but it's part of my job. I wanted to become a nurse because I saw it as an opportunity for steady, year round, full time employment, which was not available to me in my first career. I did ADN because it was cheaper and a shorter program. The reality is that not everyone can afford the money or time to go for their BSN, MSN, NP, etc etc.
Also, I apologize for perpetuating the "older folks are technologically incompetent" stereotype.
And, I forget which post it was, but honestly, AN is the only place where it's ever discussed whether you have ADN, BSN, etc. I don't go to work every day and think about who is bachelor-prepared and diploma-prepared. People are not comparing their degrees/nursing schools/certifications at the nursing station.
So, no, Nurse_Diane, I am not referring to people who were in bad circumstances and didn't get a chance until later in life. Those people...hats off to them.
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Wish, I looked at your blog earlier. Hats off to you as well, as you have conquered A LOT and should be very very proud of your accomplishments!!
Agreed, Weeping. I have a great deal of respect for LPNs, as well. I have actually only come across one circumstance that a person with an ADN (prior this person was an LPN) felt anger and hostility towards me or any other nurse with a BSN. I don't flaunt around having a BSN. I just went to a four year school, that's the degree I came out with. I was lucky enough that I didn't have to take the stair step route (LPN, ADN, BSN). But, I have hardly ever come across the which is better in real life.
To LPNs...I love ya'll and respect ya'll. The Boards of Nursing, however, say RNs have a wider scope of practice; therefore, they are over LPNs in a clinical setting. It does not matter whether they are a new grad or not. It's the license that holds a wider scope of practice.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Had a new ABSN student shadow last night. A chiropractor. The 3rd or 4th chiropractor I have know of going to nursing school. Another nurse had a pilot. An actual captain for a regional airlines (I was shocked how little she made as a captain).
wish_me_luck, BSN, RN
1,110 Posts
Ok, I got it with the tech stuff. Sorry. I have a very honest, not trying to ruffle feathers, question. All the older, second career nursing students, if this was your dream job as a child, why did you not do nursing as a first career? To me, in my opinion (again my perception), I think it is a little beauty pagaentesque to say you wanted to be a nurse since you were a kid and you love helping people, etc. and this is a second career...I do not think there is anything wrong to say you got it wrong first career go around and then taking care of a sick relative or other situation made you realize you like nursing. But, to say it was a childhood dream is not believe able, to me. Again just my opinion.