I graduated from nursing school 13 years ago and now I'm wondering, sheesh, can anyone can get into nursing? Can anyone get a license to work? Is the NCLEX failing anyone?
Pretty good pay attracts many and schools seem to be passing anyone through to fill the job openings. It is not an academic group so far in my experience which I think is so weird because I think medical issues are very complicated and difficult-- pathophysiology and understanding multiple organ system function/failure-- heavy stuff.
I am sadly disappointed by the caliber of some of the nurses. I've been working over 10 years in the hospital setting and I still feel I don't understand so much and someone with 1 year experience acts like they know it all. So what is in their head? I think taking care of sick people is a huge responsibility. So much to be on top off. Just being aware of what changes to be concerned about-- you know, when someone is going bad. Much responsibility. This is a serious business, nursing and most go to work to socialize. It makes me so angry.
Second issue, but not less important is that the majority don't want to take care of patients- they whine and complain -- so much negativity. Yes, if it wasn't for the money, they'd be out of there. They don't appreciate having a job and not being unemployed-- come on, have they looked at the unemployment rate? Too many have gone into nursing for the pay. The "caring" factor is down at the bottom of their list or just gone. I feel sorry for the patients. I have very hard shifts- up to 10 med/surg patients sometimes and it is so stressful. But really you gotta try to treat the patients like you'd want your family to be treated. Bring back the :heartbeat to nursing!
Specializes in peds critical care, peds GI, peds ED.
There are many professions in the world where people feel they are 'called' , but they are also compensated for their work. Social workers, ministers, priests, artists mostly sense a unique gifting to do a job, especially one that serves humanity at it's most vulnerable and disabled state.
Being respected and compensated appropriately does not negate calling- it only reinforced the value of the work we do
Being a nurse is a calling; at least a good one. Not everybody is cut out to be a nurse. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be paid for a job well done, but at the same time for those whom enter the profession "for just the money"are wrong. No amount of money can help you sleep at night if you make a mistake that causes a patient their life. Thats how i stay humble knowing that these are not babydolls we're treating, but human beings. Money is'nt evertthing.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I must be honest, when I was divorced I lived in the country....I looked in the local newspaper and saw ads for two occupations: truckdriver and nurses.....well, need I say more, I couldn't be on the road driving with a young child so there you go....I had worked as a CNA years before and knew what I was getting in to...it was always in the back of my mind to be a nurse but the opportunity didn't come until later....
No, I didn't think the money was so great and still don't....
I think we are overworked and underpaid.....I do like my job and know that it pays better than some, but it is also very stressful and hard work.....
Nursing compensates at a living wage in most places. The work isn't always back breaking and it isn't always a cake walk, either. However, it is DEPENDABLE and TRANSFERABLE. You can always find a job as a nurse whether you move or stay in the same town for the rest of your life. If you can't find a job in your town then go one town over, and there you go. STABILITY. It's a much treasured thing in this economy. It's sad but people are always going to be sick, have children, fight disease, need preventative care...we will always be in high demand. Having that reassurance, whether we chose to remain active in the nursing community or whether we choose to explore other careers or stay home, is priceless. I think many go into nursing, not because of some pseudo-calling and not particularly for money, but for stability.
Why must a person's motives be questioned? Personally, I would much rather have a single mother with four children caring for me who is in nursing for money than a wealthy housewife who is working "just for something to do" since she feels she "has a calling". Why? Because the former will be very careful to safeguard her license because that is how she provides for her children. She will take her job seriously and she will be thorough with my care. That is not to say the the latter wouldn't too, but really, who has more to lose?
I can tell you that where I work all of our new grads passed the NCLEX. I have a hard time believing it's 'harder' than the 2 full days of testing that was the norm in years past. (OK, dark ages!). What I am seeing though, is nurses that can't start IVs, can't mix IV meds, mix up drugs, hook up a simple 3 lead EKG monitor wrong, have no idea about foley care, etc. etc. etc. Even worse, some of them don't ask, but 'pretend' to know- and this can be a very dangerous situation. We have had to let several new grads go due to what management called "incompetence"- passing the boards does not a nurse make. Good preceptor programs are a must, but if the basics aren't learned in school new grads are at a disadvantage w/out that solid foundation. I would advise any new grad to take an EKG class, IV cert. class, and whatever else your hospital offers- this is far more useful than the socialization I'm seeing around the nurses station lately!! There seems to be a lack of seriousness about the profession - too much joking/levity- - this is the time to learn- ask questions- research, school may be over, but working is where the real learning begins!!
Hey ano i do agree with you about how SOME new grads don't take nursing seriously, but in defense of new grads i aldso think that more experinced nurses need to step up and say okay "let me help you". During my nursing school days, i often experinced what was called nurses who eat their young. Don't know if you are familiar with that saying but it entails older, more experinced nurses giving newer nurses a hard time.During my clinicals in school i encountered some very hateful nurses. One such nurse was in the E.D. Upon reporting for my E.D. rotation, we were assigned to a nurse to follw around for the day.When approached about taking a student the nurse proceeded to tell the charge nurse that she wasn't taking a student and that we needed to stay out of her way! I thought to myself does this nurse remember what it's like to be a student? That was her opportunity to make a difference in how a nursing student thought about nursing. Speaking as a new nurse myself, i Must say that we need to listen, because we don't know everything and have alot to learn, but at the same time some experienced nurses need to remember what it was to be the "newbie" themselves and there are ways to talk to people.
Specializes in Obstetrics, maternal/child/newborn.
Well I must say, this topic has been very interesting. As a nurse who has been helping mothers deliver their babies for almost 20 years I have seen a change in the dedication to the profession of nursing in new grads over the years. It is hard to put a finger on exactly what those changes are but it disturbs me to no end when I devote 16 weeks of my time to orienting/precepting a new grad into a field that is demanding, stressful, exhausting, and incredibly rewarding, only to find out that she has decided it isn't for her and leaves for a job that doesn't require weekend or holiday work. So let me ask all of you, is it the job requirements or is it the nurse who needs to change? We all go into nursing for our own reasons- the love of caring for others, money, job security, portability, etc. No matter what the reason there will always be good nurses and those with a lot to be desired. Personally, I would rather work with a nurse I can depend on to get the job done who is less than perfect personality wise than some social butterfly who prefers to sit at the desk documenting every tiny little thing she does to her patients, than getting their hands dirty (with gloves on of course!!) and actually being there for them.
After having precepted a respectable amount of new grads I have developed a sharp nose for those who won't stick around long enough to find out what an L&D nurse really does and I feel sorry for them. They have no idea what they're missing.
Money is definitely part of the equation- we should be paid handsomely for what we do, but it's not the main reason...or at least it shouldn't be why we decided to become a nurse.
Why are people so territorial over the nursing field? You don't own the healthcare industry, whatever reason someone chooses to go into nursing is really their business. It's their life and their own decision. I certainly don't want someone dictating my life and telling me that I am wrong because I didn't choose nursing for the same reasons they did. That is bieng incredibly judgemental and not your place. Sometimes I think a few of the older nurses are just jealous and don't like that the field is attracting so many different people
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
Well I must say, this topic has been very interesting. As a nurse who has been helping mothers deliver their babies for almost 20 years I have seen a change in the dedication to the profession of nursing in new grads over the years. It is hard to put a finger on exactly what those changes are but it disturbs me to no end when I devote 16 weeks of my time to orienting/precepting a new grad into a field that is demanding, stressful, exhausting, and incredibly rewarding, only to find out that she has decided it isn't for her and leaves for a job that doesn't require weekend or holiday work. So let me ask all of you, is it the job requirements or is it the nurse who needs to change? We all go into nursing for our own reasons- the love of caring for others, money, job security, portability, etc. No matter what the reason there will always be good nurses and those with a lot to be desired. Personally, I would rather work with a nurse I can depend on to get the job done who is less than perfect personality wise than some social butterfly who prefers to sit at the desk documenting every tiny little thing she does to her patients, than getting their hands dirty (with gloves on of course!!) and actually being there for them.
After having precepted a respectable amount of new grads I have developed a sharp nose for those who won't stick around long enough to find out what an L&D nurse really does and I feel sorry for them. They have no idea what they're missing.
Money is definitely part of the equation- we should be paid handsomely for what we do, but it's not the main reason...or at least it shouldn't be why we decided to become a nurse.
I have noticed new grad "attitudes" changing over the years....now they seem to already know it all....
maybe the schools are teaching them more......?????
Specializes in Managed Care, Onc/Neph, Home Health.
@ racing mom-4,
regarding your statement about "Hey suzy-you ever see a thoracentesis? Dr Bhaja is getting ready to do one in 485, go watch" My thought is Suzy has to be WANTING to be searching out procedures and the likes, IV's to start, to sharpen up her skills on the floor. Dressings to change. Face her "demons" so to speak, things she is not comfortable with. I did. This made for a good team player on the unit, as well as getting the knowledge I didn't get in nursing school.....
I did not go into nursing for the money, or really for particularly wanting to be a nurse. I have always wanted to be a genetic counselor and so everything I did from 16 yrs old through undergrad prepared me for grad school. I went a year and hated it for a bunch of reasons (program changed to a more research focus vs clinical, my husband couldn't get a job there, it was a toxic environment, etc.) so I dropped out after a year and went where my husband had a job he enjoyed. It's a smaller city and there are a few nursing programs and only one is a BS. I wanted to get my BSN incase I want to try grad school again (and oh God not anytime soon haha) Nursing is the closest thing to genetic counseling and it turns out I like it so far, though I am sure school vs a career is way different Money has never been a factor (foolishly, maybe with my amount of school loans haha) in choosing my career. I want to do something I will enjoy (or not completely hate because really, it's work. haha) for the next 40 years. I want to help people. I like interacting with people. And I really like biology/genetics/babies :) That is what inspires me.
Money has never been a factor (foolishly, maybe with my amount of school loans haha) in choosing my career. I want to do something I will enjoy (or not completely hate because really, it's work. haha) for the next 40 years. I want to help people. I like interacting with people. And I really like biology/genetics/babies :) That is what inspires me.
gal220RN, BSN, RN
79 Posts
There are many professions in the world where people feel they are 'called' , but they are also compensated for their work. Social workers, ministers, priests, artists mostly sense a unique gifting to do a job, especially one that serves humanity at it's most vulnerable and disabled state.
Being respected and compensated appropriately does not negate calling- it only reinforced the value of the work we do