NursingZen - Latest Comments in 75% luck and 25% hard-headed determination

Re: 75% luck and 25% hard-headed determination

nurseSF — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:48:15 -0000

@ Buzz, former MEPN & Sitaro: Thanks for all your kind words and perspectives. Yeah, I didn't try very hard to get the percentages exactly right. I agree with you that Connections, Persistence and Optimism are all in the mix, although in my case there were no Connections, unless you count the UCSF brand name. It's safe to say that the job hunt will be different for everyone...the best we can do is to embrace every situation, with or without a job!

Re: 75% luck and 25% hard-headed determination

Sitaro — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:09:32 -0000

This an interesting blog entry. Thanks for your insight. It affirms not only my life philosophy of take advantage of every opportunity no matter how small and try to be the best version of you in every relationship no matter who it's with. But, it also affirms my gut feeling about choosing UCSF (I'm waiting to hear if I am accepted to the MEPN). In these hard economic times, connections do matter as does the quality/name of the school you graduate from. I do, however, disagree with your theory about luck - which is how you explained calling "the right person at the right time". I think these kinds of opportunities are swimming around us all the time and they will remain invisible unless you have the ambition and persistence to see it. Many people just decide (too early) that opportunities they don't even see are not worth the time or effort. I re-read your stories and it seems to me that you both had the drive to spot/create these opportunities and the stuff to back it up (social skills, good history as a student, good relationships, intelligence, etc.).

Thanks again for the affirmation that if I find myself in a similar situation with job hunting as a nurse, I will do my best to remain optimistic and maintain my persistence.

Cheers!

Re: 75% luck and 25% hard-headed determination

former MEPN — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:56:43 -0000

Interesting POV, nurseSF. I'm in your cohort and STILL looking for a job. A huge percentage should also be attributed to the "who you know" syndrome ... so much so that it's 60% connections/20% determination/20% luck. I don't know of any working nurses from our class who were able to secure work without their "connections." Echoing your friend's words, it is indeed unfair for those of us who are trying to get a position - what I affectionately call - "the honest way." Of all the professions, nursing should not be about preferential treatment; yet sadly and unfortunately, it is. Thank you for this post.

Re: 75% luck and 25% hard-headed determination

Buzz — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:56:47 -0000

Sure luck... but let's not discount charm & pure intelligence mixed with the determination here. Both nurses in this post have charm in droves, both smart as hell, and not just on paper, but in person. I think the 90/10 ratio is off. I'd say more of a 25/25/25/25 ratio maybe. Sure it seemed lucky in one instance or another but it was bound to happen, no doubt of that.