If all the nursing school suddenly open the door and let more people in, there will be a overflowed. Think about all those software programmers back in the days, lawyers, MBAs. We used to think lawyers and MBAs can make a pretty good living but now there are too many out on the streets.
I'm sure you guys don't want to see the same thing happen in nursing, don't you? DO NOT increase enrollments of nursing schools please. Otherwise, we will all suffer. Graduate 10,000 new nurses each year across the nation would be enough.
If you are in nursing education, tell the dean DO NOT increase the enrollments therwise, we will all be screwed.
I'd like to add that I'm not trying to deter anyone from entering the nursing field. It has many opportunities and areas where a nurse can work. If you think that what I am saying about the nursing shortage is false, refer to the second post of this thread.
Last year it was me in class, being all idealistic and puppy dog excited; the difference is now I have real world experience.
Nursing school generates a falsely idealistic picture of what life on the floor is going to be like. That's why, in my opinion, so many nurses quit in the first year. We've had 8 brand new nurses, LPNs and RNs, who quit in the middle of orientation, just since January. Their complaint? "It's not supposed to be like this." "The pt tried to hit me." "The family cussed me out and nobody did anything." Those folks, who will probably never work as a floor nurse, are now counted in the numbers of "nursing surplus" that some people cite.
I think the best possible solution to the nursing students is to make working as a CNA for 6 months a requirement for being an LPN, and make being an LPN a requirement for being an RN. That way there's no surprises, and you'd probably not have the huge first year drop rate.
Last year it was me in class, being all idealistic and puppy dog excited; the difference is now I have real world experience.
Nursing school generates a falsely idealistic picture of what life on the floor is going to be like. That's why, in my opinion, so many nurses quit in the first year. We've had 8 brand new nurses, LPNs and RNs, who quit in the middle of orientation, just since January. Their complaint? "It's not supposed to be like this." "The pt tried to hit me." "The family cussed me out and nobody did anything." Those folks, who will probably never work as a floor nurse, are now counted in the numbers of "nursing surplus" that some people cite.
I think the best possible solution to the nursing students is to make working as a CNA for 6 months a requirement for being an LPN, and make being an LPN a requirement for being an RN. That way there's no surprises, and you'd probably not have the huge first year drop rate.
This may be a very good idea, when I told some people I know I was going the LPN ot RN route they all told me it was a bad idea and I began to doubt my plans. I think I'll take it into consideration again. (The final decision will be which program I can get into fastest of course).
Generations ago, nurses were treated with much respect. Back then, no one would dare verbally or physically abuse a nurse like we are today. Society was different generations ago. Technology is a wonderful advancement in any field but it doesn't mean squat when it comes to making things "easier" for a nurse. Mantra of protecting their own interests? Do you know how many nurses left the bedside because of the B.S. we put up with today? Hundreds of thousands. They either left the bedside for another area of nursing or left nursing all together. It's a sad fact that's very true.
You say that nurses were treated with MUCH respect back in a day.Can you please post some reliable data about this?Not to offend but were you there to see how the "sisters" were treated by patients,doctors,managment?Books,movies are one thing but private incidences,real-life situations are another.Nurses were always looked down upon by the doctors and society.Nursing field was never considered prestigious.Right now the field is getting more wispread and popular.You can see the TV commercial or newspaper ad where the nurse stand side by side with the doctors and other medical team giving a false impression that everyone is treated with the same volume of respect.
Michigan, you say you love your job, yet you seem so bitter. So intent on painting such a gloomy picture of the nursing field. What does that accomplish? One thing that I know that it would accomplish is scaring off potential workers. That IS job security!
Yes, patients today do demand more for their money. There are a number of reasons for this. It costs so much more today to "see a doctor" than it used to. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but in the olden days you didn't pay anything to see a doctor. And, back then being attended to by a nurse was often a much more serious matter. Colds could easily kill you. A small cut could cause you to lose your leg.
One of the things that I have observed when meeting nurses today is that nurses so often do not COMMUNICATE. They don't explain to me what they are doing, and when they do see me (sorry for the generalizations) they treat me like I'm a number or an object. Yeah, back then we were just "patients", but back then people in general were more polite, caring, compassionate. Not so today.
BTW, I don't think there is a nursing shortage at all. I maintain that at least *some* of it is hype generated by nursing programs.
Hugs,
Aeron
Heck,if I (a patient) am being charged in Emergency Room 2000 dollars they better bring me some water and I demand crackers:devil:
You're probably right. How can I say that nurses were treated with respect? But I'm sure there are nurses on this site that worked many years ago who can give us a better glimpse into the past. But I've heard from many older nurses that I have worked with who say that families never acted the way they do now back then.
And your crackers can wait while I'm intubating my patient.
Floor nurses have it tough-I would be fired the first week, because I will not tolerate families and patients being abusive..This is one of the reasons I went right to OR nursing after school. You have some cranky surgeons here and there, but no families to deal with. I get my dinner and a break every day and most of our surgeons value our opinion. It's more teamwork oriented. And most of our patients don't cop an attitude either-you're seeing them at their most vulnerable, so it feels good to know I can put them at ease and gain their trust.
Like I said, I have no problem with new nurses or students. We all started out somewhere. But, the new nurses and students have to realize what they're in for. I love being a nurse and am proud to be one, but it can be very hard. With all due respect, I feel like calling someone "bitter" when you're not in the field yet or not in the field at all is kind of ridiculous. :banghead:Put your time in and then come back and talk to us about being bitter.
Oh, and I knew a doctor that used to work in a rural area back in the day. He didn't work for free. If the family didn't have money, he'd take something else instead, like a few dozen eggs, or a chicken etc.
With all due respect, I feel like calling someone "bitter" when you're not in the field yet or not in the field at all is kind of ridiculous. :banghead:Put your time in and then come back and talk to us about being bitter.
Oh, and I knew a doctor that used to work in a rural area back in the day. He didn't work for free. If the family didn't have money, he'd take something else instead, like a few dozen eggs, or a chicken etc.
You're probably right. How can I say that nurses were treated with respect? But I'm sure there are nurses on this site that worked many years ago who can give us a better glimpse into the past. But I've heard from many older nurses that I have worked with who say that families never acted the way they do now back then.
And your crackers can wait while I'm intubating my patient.
I dont see them speaking up.I agree there is more B.S nurses have to deal with in these days but there are also some improvements in other aspect of nursing like technology,nurses right to speak up to the doctor.Now the nurses arent afraid to be advocate for their patients rights.Back in a day the doctor was the authority and the nurses were terrified to go againt his will.
And talking from experience when I was a in Emergency room I didnt see all those nurses being so busy that they couldnt pass patient water.Again Tv shows are far-fetched.
I dont see them speaking up.I agree there is more B.S nurses have to deal with in these days but there are also some improvements in other aspect of nursing like technology,nurses right to speak up to the doctor.Now the nurses arent afraid to be advocate for their patients rights.Back in a day the doctor was the authority and the nurses were terrified to go againt his will.
And talking from experience when I was a in Emergency room I didnt see all those nurses being so busy that they couldnt pass patient water.Again Tv shows are far-fetched.
Are you seriious? You can't possibly think that all the nurses that worked "back in the day" are online and are going to gravitate towards this thread. Just for your information, I don't watch any of those T.V. shows. They aren't realistic. You will never know what a nurse deals with unless you've been on the same receiving end as the nurse. Until you've had some experience on the floor and realize how hard it is, come back and let me know how you feel about everything then.
RN1982
3,362 Posts
I'd like to add that I'm not trying to deter anyone from entering the nursing field. It has many opportunities and areas where a nurse can work. If you think that what I am saying about the nursing shortage is false, refer to the second post of this thread.