Whatever happened to going to school to be a nurse?

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The other day as I sat at work listening to coworkers talking about career paths and what degrees they should pursue I couldn't help but think back to when I was a new nurse 32 years ago. I went to school to be a nurse, as everyone in my class did. The discussions were where do you want to work, not what is your career goal. It seems no one wants to just be a nurse anymore. This is all pushed with the magnet statuses, national push for more and more education and I wonder what is so bad about being a nurse caring for patients year after year. Most young nurses I hear talking are appalled at the thought of your entire nursing career caring for people. I am sure there are some new nurses who just want to take care of patients, but I haven't talked to many. I find this sad.

I am a new grad with a BSN, just passed my NCLEX. I live in a big city saturated with new grads, and if you don't have a BSN, your only choice is to only work in LTAC or SNFs. Even if it says BSN preferred, according to HR, you probably won't even get an interview without a BSN. I'm glad I chose to go the BSN route instead of ADN. I felt like leadership and research class would have been more beneficial had I taken those classes AFTER getting RN experience. In my head i was thinking, I'm learning how to be a nurse manager without ever having been a nurse?

In nursing school, I learned how much CUSTOMER SERVICE and PATIENT SATISFACTION means. Sure, it's important, but it's become much more important than patient care. And that sucks. There's a place for everyone in nursing, and med surg is just not for me, for a lifelong career bc I don't like the pressure patient families give. I am an introvert, and I like the work OR nurses do. I am one of the few in my cohort who do not desire to become a NP or CRNA. Maybe CRNA, but now that they're pushing for doctoral degrees, and that they're saturated in the big city where I live, perhaps not. I am one of the few in my cohort who may choose to pursue a MPH or master's in nursing education.

And yes I agree, we are taught to have big career aspirations, such as having a leadership or management position. I see nothing wrong with wanting to be a RN and not wanting to be involved in management.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Yeah, it's weird. But it isn't like people can tell the truth. Interviewers feel obligated to ask about career plans, but no one is going to answer, "As soon as I can rack up a week of vacation time, I am going to get married. Then, I'm going to launch a string of pregnancies and hopefully retire about the time the last one leaves college."

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I have been a staff nurse nearly 25 years and will likely finish out my career within an acute care hospital setting. For all the reasons articulated, I have no difficulty understanding why young nurses do not want to be 'just a nurse' any longer. Looking back, I realize that with the same amount of educational preparedness, I could have become an engineer, CPA, web designer... All, likely, would have translated into better working conditions, much greater earning potential/respect, less weekends, holidays, crazy hours. I understand wanting to help others and 'make a difference'-nursing is ​a noble profession, however, institutional health care today is badly broken and age discrimination is rampant and very real. This means that after years of service, though being a seasoned, competent, and productive employee, management, is ever at the ready to put us out to pasture and hire in a new wave of graduate nurses to fill the void for $7.00 less/hour-I can just hear the MBAs secret squeals of delight!. Sad, but very true!

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...This means that after years of service, though being a seasoned, competent, and productive employee, management, is ever at the ready to put us out to pasture and hire in a new wave of graduate nurses to fill the void for $7.00 less/hour-I can just hear the MBAs secret squeals of delight!. Sad, but very true!

CASE in POINT! Another G-D reason why Nurses should not limit their continuing educations/training/experiences to bedside care only... WAKE THE EFF UP PEOPLE! Do what you love (ex. work at the bedside) but always ensure you have backup plans (incld. training/certs/etc) to ensure your employ-ability in other areas... even if that means, perhaps... freelancing! Your license is your's to use once you earn it... you do NOT have to wait for a job offer to start working... FYI ;). FOR EXAMPLE: SO... you say it has been six months since you graduated/obtained your license and you can't find a job? Stop relying on "the system" !!! Especially a system that doesn't give a rats @$$ about you. If you're sharp and know your stuff, go out there and help people... FREELANCE! Contact your professional association(s) and regulatory college for assistance into doing this and get your beautiful, brilliant career started! You could, for instance, do post-grad training/cert in diabetes management and do private consults, set your own rate/fees, etc...

We (Nurses) work in a system that does NOT value us, does NOT support us, considers our highly specialized life-saving/life-sustaining skills and us as disposable "peons", and will get rid of any one (even in spite of decades of exemplary service) in a heartbeat to save a freakin' measley, sleazy buck or two. My parting words are simply this... I advocate for nurses to EMPOWER themselves, and relegating (exclusively) to the bedside (these days) is a certain death sentence to your career. If you get injured, if for some reason (always a reason that serves management btw) you cannot "suitably-by their non-medical education...but they 'crunched' the numbers" perform your duties... you will be cleverly dismissed and swiftly replaced. Do not allow yourselves to be victimized, you all worked BLOODY hard to earn the legal privilege to call yourself a NURSE... Don't EVER let anyone (unjustly) take that away from you, or force you out of a job! Empower yourself to be continually invaluable!

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I'm glad someone brought this topic up. I am a new grad and older new nurse....50 years old. Yes, I want to be a nurse and look forward to being a great bedside nurse. I don't want more schooling, management, etc, etc. Yet, as some of you are suggesting, it is as if the goal of being a great bedside nurse is looked down upon. During my clinicals I met several nurses who did bedside for 30 years and were truly inspiring. Their excellent and thoughtful care made all the difference to those patients and their families.

That's the nurse I want to be!

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