WSJ Career Article...Please WSJ, you certainly can do better!

SharonH, RN · Mar 23, 2006

Could you clarify? I read the article and I didn't find anything wrong with it and believe me, I am usually very critical of these types of articles.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 23, 2006

Sorry, but it is just written as a statement of fact, nothing more. I do not find anything wrong with it. Is there something in particilar that you find incorrect?

And the information comes from a career journal. Look at the source for it.

HARRN2b · Mar 23, 2006

Just another article. Nothing new in it or newsworthy really. I did not see anything derogatory in it. Talked about the huge demand for PA's. Nothing noted about NP's.

bladensburg,OHrn · Mar 23, 2006

Yeah, I agree with the other respondents - I read the article, and found nothing wrong with it either. I found it to be stated factually, and very informative to the future needs of the health care industry. I think it offers a clear guideline for those interested in entering healthcare as to where the jobs are going to be, and what type of education they should plan on obtaining.

shodobe · Mar 23, 2006

Pretty straight forward article. Nothing new same old stuff. To someone who knws very little of the healthcare arena this article was full of good, informative facts.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Mar 23, 2006

Nothing noted about NP's.

i found this about NP's

Nursing offers a wide range of subspecialties for those willing to put in the time and effort, including nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.

weetziebat · Mar 23, 2006

NO1_2NV,

I read the article and, although just stating facts, I definately got the feeling you mentioned. Just an undercurrent that as long as you are barely literate, you too can get into the fastest growing industry. I expected to find an ad at the bottom of the article for mail order courses lasting a couple of weeks.

Maybe its just us Orygun folks.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 23, 2006

Hmm - I read the article also and didn't come away with anything more than "same old stuff." My understanding was that you don't need a master's degree to get into health care - there are many different levels and skill types. I think this would give some encouragement to people who have a high school diploma or GED that they too can advance.

NO1_2NV · Mar 24, 2006

i finally got some much needed sleep and can better clarify my thoughts on this article.

i found this article to be factual yes, somewhat, however impractical. it would seem to suggest that if you start as a nurses aide or a medical assistant it can lead to advancement "but entry-level positions such as a nurse's aid or medical assistant can take as little as six months of class work and lead to advancement opportunities." unless i am absolutely crazy, i have never heard of either of these positions leading to "advancement" in the medical profession. then again, what did the interviewee mean by "advancement." secondly, the class work or training associated with these occupations is not transferable to an actual college program. true, some adn programs are requiring cna certification but that can be obtained in about 2 weeks and they don't necessarily require you to work as a cna. to me, it is irresponsible to suggest that both of these careers might lead to advancement opportunities without actually stating what those advancements are. and the fact that if you should decided to go on, the 6 months worth of training you have encounter along with the financial cost won't get you any further as far as college course work goes.

i also found the statement that "employers love associate-degree nurses, "fulcher said. "they can't get enough of them" a bit odd. why associate-degree nurses and not all nurses?

anyway, i just feel that articles such as this one may quote industry facts but it really doesn't give people who are hoping to enter this wonderfully opportunistic world of health care much direction as to the realities of how hard or difficult it can really be.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

NO1_2NV,
I read the article and, although just stating facts, I definately got the feeling you mentioned. Just an undercurrent that as long as you are barely literate, you too can get into the fastest growing industry. I expected to find an ad at the bottom of the article for mail order courses lasting a couple of weeks.
Maybe its just us Orygun folks.

Yeppers, just us Orygun folks..LOL!!!!! (I cracked up so hard!).

Yeah, didn't like that whole "just need to be literate" deal...but sadly I worked in an ALF where they did indeed hire caregivers off the street, trained them in a day or two, and had them even passing MEDS as well as all ADL's, feeding (not tube), small dressing changes, vital signs, and NOT CPR TRAINED because that cost too much! One of the main reasons I left!!!! There was ONE nurse on duty for the entire 140 patients 24/7 who was responsible for over 20 caregivers for all this..and frankly when they changed to caregivers vs CNA's...I left quick! Not putting my license on the line thank you very much!

SO even though that phrase bugged me...it was irony...because it is happening and a growing trend that is moving fast!

(Heck...I had one caregiver that could read print but not cursive!!!!!!!!!!!!! So all of us had to change to print on our charting for her! Ummmm...NO! Docs aren't going to, nurses aren't going to, other healthcare professionals aren't going to do that...heck with that!!!!!).