What is the point of becoming a nurse?!

NursinginProgress · Aug 5, 2012

Ok, I will be honest. When you are a new grad nurse, it will be difficult to find employment in large populated cities. For example, I live in West Palm Beach, fl. Sunny, beautiful and it would appear as though everybody and their mother is a nurse. It took me 6 months to find a job, 30 minutes away. With a little bit of patience and alot of flexibility, you'll get what you want. But, to answer your question regarding, is it worth it? Yes. Is it easy? No.

ProudStudent · Aug 5, 2012

I suppose I'm lucky enough to be in Florida, AKA home of the retired. It may be a little more of a challenge to get into the hospital setting, but if you're into LTC/ALF facilities or home health -this is the place for you. The biggest problem I'm going to face is not being able to be picky about where I want to work, when I take on that first position. You have to get experience somewhere, right?

Susie2310 · Aug 5, 2012

That is not true. It was true, which is partially why I'm a nurse instead of a graphic artist. If both jobs involved months of arduous legwork I might have made a different choice.
Despite the talk about the dream, the truth is that demand for a particular job is an important part of the choice for many people. It was for me. If you want to do something so badly you are willing to and can afford to pound the pavement, network, volunteer, pull strings or whatever it takes for months on end, that's fine - it is not fine for many people who believed the propaganda PMFB referred to.
The nurse lobby is playing you. It is about money, though.
Actually, the most of cited authority on the nursing workforce states that nursing is countercyclical, or actually gains jobs in a recession. If there really is a hiring freeze obviously hospitals can function by expanding the UAP scope or simply working with just enough bare bones nurses will put up with. They don't have to worry if the nurse quits, despite regional reports of the IOM bestowing thousands of dollars in grant money on nursing schools.
I find it puzzling how often people use statistics from people who've gotten it wrong 10/10 in the past.

nurse156, I was thinking about your point about the hospitals being able to function by expanding UAP scope of practice. I understand you mean expanding the UAP role to take on (more) licensed nurse functions. That could not easily be done legally, surely. I am thinking of opposition from licensed nurses, unions that represent nurses, other nursing organizations, and the State Boards of Nursing. If you know more about what is happening in this regard, please will you tell us.

allnurses Guide · Aug 6, 2012

nurse156, I was thinking about your point about the hospitals being able to function by expanding UAP scope of practice. I understand you mean expanding the UAP role to take on (more) licensed nurse functions. That could not easily be done legally, surely. I am thinking of opposition from licensed nurses, unions that represent nurses, other nursing organizations, and the State Boards of Nursing. If you know more about what is happening in this regard, please will you tell us.

I'm thinking of jobs like Patient Care Technician, Medication Aide, and Telemetry Tech. None of those jobs existed when I started in nursing. "Scope of practice" is not the best way to describe it though, because they are unlicensed, they don't have a scope of practice as part of their state law as nurses do.

There are no uniform guidelines that cover all of the states, so it's hard to give a hard and fast list of what these people can do and where - between acute care, LTC, ambulatory care or as home care providers. Some states require certifications, some do not.

As long as they work "under the direction of an RN or a physician" there are quite a few traditional nursing tasks they can do. Passing meds, catheterizations, dressing changes, phlebotomy, EKG, tele monitoring are just a few. The delivery of healthcare that would require several days of hospitalization in the past is increasingly done at outpatient centers as well now, where a Medical Assistant works under a doctor with essentially no oversight. Again, we've had people post here who report being asked to do things like cauterizing polyps, administering drugs via IVP, and the doctor referring to the MA as "the nurse". In my state the word "nurse" is protected by law, but in reality enforcement is next to impossible.

Nurses and nurses unions are not happy about that, but they don't have the legal authority to prevent it. I've read many posts from CNAs, for example, who report their hospital is going for an "expanded role" CNA that have various titles depending on the facility they work in.

I think it's safe to say that in the interest of financial gain, facilities will hire just enough RNs or LPNs to do those tasks that still are nurse only as defined by each state, for example - admission assessment, telephone triage, and formulation of the care plan with nursing diagnoses.

I hope that answers the questions you had.

Susie2310 · Aug 6, 2012

nurse156, thank you for your thoughtful, informative reply. You did answer my questions. I know that the Nurse Practice Act in my state addresses the role of UAP's, and the RN's responsibilities in regard to their practice. Thinking about the whole issue is very sobering. I am afraid of where things are heading.

TDean08 · Aug 6, 2012

I am starting to see from threads and other sites that cities are being flooded with new grads and their are barely any jobs in the market. What is the point of going through nursing school and spending all that money to graduate and not get a job. I live in Houston, TX and every place I call says that they are only hiring nurses with experience.

You know there is a little saying we have in the South " You catch more flies with honey than vinegar" You seem to have a chip on your shoulder about not being able to find a job and I'm wondering if the attitude you protray here is flowing over into your interviews? I have a girlfriend that just graduated from a school in Georgia and moved to Houston over the summer and was offered 3 jobs at 3 different hospitals. She is currently working on a Med-Surg unit at a hospital in Houston. She loves it. Keep applying and look for hospitals that have new grad programs like a GEMS or Nursing Fellows.

Good Luck!!!

newRN121 · Aug 6, 2012

You know there is a little saying we have in the South " You catch more flies with honey than vinegar" You seem to have a chip on your shoulder about not being able to find a job and I'm wondering if the attitude you protray here is flowing over into your interviews? I have a girlfriend that just graduated from a school in Georgia and moved to Houston over the summer and was offered 3 jobs at 3 different hospitals. She is currently working on a Med-Surg unit at a hospital in Houston. She loves it. Keep applying and look for hospitals that have new grad programs like a GEMS or Nursing Fellows.
Good Luck!!!

What was her starting pay?

LAU2078660 · Aug 6, 2012

If you can volunteer at a hospital or other facility, network, network, network. Get in good with the volunteer coordinators and HR. You will meet so many people that way and people will hire people they know and work with.

I will be keeping my eye on the traveling nursing companies. You basically bank all your paychecks as they pay for your living and food expenses. Long and short-terms assignments are available. They seem to want a minimum of one year experience.

jeo684 · Aug 7, 2012

I live in Wisconsin and all I see are postings for nurses... entry level and non entry level? Maybe its time to move :-)

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Aug 7, 2012

As with any profession, I think employers like to know that you are comfortable in the environment where you will be working. As others said, the best way to get that experience is to volunteer, work as a CNA/PCT, etc. If you have already graduated, I know there are at least a few nursing internships out there, although they may be a little harder to find sometimes.

I think in any career field, persistence and patience in job-hunting is key. The reason that nursing is known as such a great career is that, no matter what, quality healthcare is vital, and nurses are perpetually needed to provide it. It's not easy to break into, as you can clearly see, but if you make the cut with your hard work, knowledge, and (something most of us are already good at!) a little stubbornness, you will find that first job and acquire the experience to move on up.

Story time: Where I work, we have a CNA who has worked with us all through her nursing program. She just passed the NCLEX, and all of the current RNs wrote to the clinical manager promising to mentor and train her if she was hired as an RN. Because of that, she's got the job. She started early in gaining experience in patient care, worked her butt off in school, and had great working relationships with the staff RNs and manager. To me, that's a great example of why taking the opportunity to start at the very bottom is a great choice in the long run.

Igunbor, I wish you luck in your decision about whether to pursue a nursing career.

luv_o_so_much · Aug 7, 2012

I may open up a can of worms here .... there are places that have a "shortage" but that shortage is of experienced nurses. There have been many RNs (of varying degrees) that have graduated over the last decade, changing the cycle (as others have mentioned) and other factors. I know where I work LVNs(LPNs) perform my job function. I am NOT a CNA nor LVN/LPN but we are all limited in our scope as outlined by the state. The state says what MUST be done by registered nurses which is influenced by the unions .... yadda yadda yadda

I get that you are frustrated. I do remember the times of $10k sign on bonuses etc. They were real! I was working at a facility that offered them! They also paid for the ADNs to get their BSN. I was accepted into school without a blink! I did not go at the time and now I am back fighting tooth and nail to just get accepted into a school.

It can be frustrating especially if you have a family, or are a single parent, have a sick parent, sick spouse, or in my case a disabled sister and no other family - just the two of us. Money problems, loans, mortgages ... the list is endless. I am willing however to jump through whatever hoops I need to. I know how important my decision to go to nursing school was. I even had to look at my finances to determine if I could afford the pay cut to take classes. I worked a full time Mon-Friday position and worked per diem at a hospital nights and weekends - and I'm not a spring chicken anymore. I also am volunteering and taking a second foreign language to earn points.

My point is (like many have said) it wouldn't matter what it was you wanted to accomplish there would indeed be obstacles. I’m actually glad it’s tougher to get in and get hired. I have worked with too many TOO MANY nurses that view it as only a paycheck and treat patients badly. If I have to prove I’m not like them to get my dream job..... So be it

PirateArrrNnnn · Aug 7, 2012

NPR will have a report of nursing and doctor shortages to come in the future. It is on Tuesday August 7. They might have it online in the archives after.