I could certainly have picked my words a bit better - I was thinking more perhaps of nursing as an entry into a career rather than just as starting at the botto

I could certainly have picked my words a bit better - I was thinking more perhaps of nursing as an entry into a career rather than just as starting at the bottom of the medical food chain. I'm certainly aware that there are wage-slave jobs there too - orderlies, phlebotomists, CNAs, etc... My perception is also that 2 year degree nurses are seen as less than 4 year degreed nurses (and I mean fair enough, 2 more years of school ain't nothing). I'd also note that my perspective is from talking to nurses who left that specific job and moved on to other cushier, but related jobs; I wouldn't really construe that as a ringing endorsement.