What would you do?

5 hours ago, JKL33 said:

Excellent post. Thank you

I feel it isn't an isolated thing like wage, hours, customers/patients or any of the rest of that, etc., etc. I was raised below the poverty line (though never lacking for love and support) and worked plenty hard before I was even old enough to become a nurse so I feel I have at least some perspective to not complain about things like hard work or whether I should make as much as so-and-so. Rather, the overall problem with nursing is the ethical conflict; the idea of reconciling ethical practice (our Code of Ethics is a published multi-page document which declares our ethical responsibility for just about everything despite what others choose to do) + legalities + high individual responsibility + low individual autonomy, and currently we're riding a big business-driven train that has gone off the tracks. Practically every other major nursing problem someone might commonly bring up (wages, N:P ratios, toxic behaviors, workload, time constraints, resource constraints, customer service, poor treatment of nurses, significant problems with nursing education, etc.) has these underlying conflicts and/or issues as an underpinning.

For this reason I think anyone who can satisfy their desire to do genuine good separately from earning their paycheck should keep it that way and not primarily try to combine altruism with earning a paycheck (arguably that latter combo isn't even technically possible).

Nice to see I have at least a little company in the aforementioned survey results: I am glad I became a nurse but pretty sure I wouldn't do it again.

If you already have a Bachelors level degree--consider a fast track nursing program, as others of mentioned. It's never wrong to change careers if that's what is in your heart. I know someone who was a trained chef for many years. He decided to go to nursing school and worked his way up to a CRNA degree. Investigate, shadow if you can, and go for it.

If you're all about saving money, complete the ADN so you can start working as a RN (I too had a previous bachelor's degree). Have your employer pay for the online BSN. I'm doing the same job as some of my coworkers who went to expensive universities and are still in debt (In my area, having a BSN does not = higher pay). Personally, I'd rather go to school a little longer to end up debt free.

It would be helpful to know what part of the country you're in. If you live in California you very well could see an increase in pay.

I am a new grad but I suggest you wait until you retired. Also shadow a nurse for a day. There are so many other ways to give back. You have a plan in mind and starting nursing now can steer you in a different way that may hinder your goal/plan.