What a coincidence. . .every single student nurse who shadows me. . .

15 wants to ONLY work NICU or be a trauma flight nurse, but only for two years because then they want to get either their CRNA or FNP before 2015 because there is no way they are getting a doctorate!!

EVERY. SINGLE. STUDENT.


Sigh. . .
In the area where I live, all of the students want to work in the ER, ICU, or L&D. No other specialties will do.However, there's not enough room in all of the emergency departments and critical care units for everybody and their mama, so I suspect that the majority of these students are in for a rude awakening.

I may be flamed for asking, but why do we not see advertising and attitudes like "what's the fastest way to become a doctor?" "Does anyone know a really easy medical program?" Get your MD in only (fill-in-the-blank absurdly short amount of time). It's kind of embarrassing, really.

I'm a student and I don't want to work in any of those areas. But I must admit, I get annoyed hearing all my classmates talk like that (and a good percentage of them do).

I also completely support a bachelor's degree as the minimum entry point (grandfathering for those already in the profession, of course). I support a minimum standard of english grammar, and possibly a good psych screen. Lol

What's 2015 got to do with it, is there some sort of deadline I have missed out on hearing about?

Quote from IndyWhat's 2015 got to do with it, is there some sort of deadline I have missed out on hearing about?

Well, these students know what they want.

Quote from TheCommuterIn the area where I live, all of the students want to work in the ER, ICU, or L&D. No other specialties will do.However, there's not enough room in all of the emergency departments and critical care units for everybody and their mama, so I suspect that the majority of these students are in for a rude awakening.

Quote from caliotter3Well, these students know what they want.

I've seen more than a few new grad RNs come into LTC to push a med cart with their wings clipped and their dreams dashed....

Having only worked ICU, ED I probably should not talk. Most students have a lot of ideas, garnered from TV, their friend's Mom who tells exaggerated stories (and works in an ED), the media. Once they start to go through clinicals, they get a dose of reality. And are encouraged strongly to go on in nursing, not just be a bedside nurse. Thats the way of Academia. Once they get out there...a lot of them tell me, "I used to want to do ICU, but I'm comfortable here, I don't want to move to another unit, my kid starts school this year and I dont need extra stress" or "I planned to be a CRNA, but well, I just never got back to school." Given these statements, I just smile and nod at the students...Plans change almost as often as they are made!

As a nursing student, I too would LOVE to work in the NICU. I was born at 24 weeks and I think I could be a great support system for the families and I feel that the NICU is where I am supposed to be.That being said, I am willing to work anywhere and I understand that the likelihood of starting out in the NICU is pretty slim. Who knows, maybe in clinicals I will fall in love with a different unit or I might get to try NICU and not like it at all. I am keeping an open mind about it and I think that other nursing students should too. If you go in only wanting to do a certain job in a certain specialty that is just setting yourself up for disappointment in my opinion.