How Do You Feel About Nursing Schools Still Milking the "Nursing Shortage" Lie?

Nurses New Nurse

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You see them everywhere, especially here--sponsoring this site. The other day I read in the paper of a university offering an open house to entice (perhaps the better word is "lure") candidates to come on down to learn about all the opportunities available to them because of "the critical nursing shortage we're experiencing in this country."

It made me so mad I almost wanted to go down there to enlighten the sorry saps who would buy into that garbagio that they were being taken for a ride. I understand these predators need to keep their enrollments up, but this seems like out-and-out fraud of the first degree.

Thoughts?

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Specializes in med-surg.

Although you make a valid point, I don't think they are lying to students. Yes, some nurses are having a hard time finding jobs...but most of them are new graduate nurses and/or inexperienced nurses. New nurses are more expensive to hire than experienced nurses, because they need extra training, classes, etc. Hospitals are also "in the rough" financually, and they do not want to fork out the money and hire a ton of new grads. And to top it off, with the economy the way it is, nurses don't really want to leave the jobs they do have...everyone wants to be financually secure while we are in this recession. Since people aren't leaving their jobs, there aren't as many options available for nurses who are looking to change jobs. and where I work, hospital census is pretty low...that isn't helping anything right now.

So in conclusion, I believe there is still a nursing shortage...there just isn't any money to hire and train new nurses.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Depend on where you live. I live in NC and there are areas that are in need of nurses. I am a new grad and applied to 3 different hospitals and was offered a job at each. One hospital is stil calling be. Actually two different managers from the same hospital called me and told me if I decided to leave the other place to give them a call back. The shortage may not be in your direct area.Maybe your frustrated that you live in a saturated area but thats not the case in some places especially rural areas. When you get your degree, you may have to pick up and move to an area where there is a shortage.

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Well the fact that I am applying around he country (Texas, NC, SC, Florida, and other states) other than my home state of NY has me wondering how people such as yourselves are getting multiple job offers.

My GPA is 3.3 despite working full-time, taking care of my son, and separating/going through preliminary divorce proceedings while in school. I won top awards in my class for both Therapeutic Communication and Clinical Calculations (having been through third-semester calculus when I was a chemistry major).

I'm personable, not bad-looking, and have a great sense of humor and get along fine as a team player or when working independently. However, when dealing with potential employers, I may as well have leprosy...

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Well the fact that I am applying around he country (Texas, NC, SC, Florida, and other states) other than my home state of NY has me wondering how people such as yourselves are getting multiple job offers.

My GPA is 3.3 despite working full-time, taking care of my son, and separating/going through preliminary divorce proceedings while in school. I won top awards in my class for both Therapeutic Communication and Clinical Calculations (having been through third-semester calculus when I was a chemistry major).

I'm personable, not bad-looking, and have a great sense of humor and get along fine as a team player or when working independently. However, when dealing with potential employers, I may as well have leprosy...

Is there any area you simply won't work in? e.g. a SNF?

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I will admit that I'm adamant about a med-surg, high-pressure environment--because I KNOW that when it comes time to search for career advancement after working an LTC job, the first thing the next employer-elites will say is, "we're not looking for that kind of experience."

The point is: I'm willing to relocate anywhere, but just not to work a job that will be looked at condescendingly by these uppity human resource entities. So yes, that may work against me, but if I get the med-surg shot in three, six, nine months--then I'll still be ahead of the game as opposed to if I spent a year cleaning up poop (which I don't consider myself above doing, mind you--I just don't want it to be the ONLY thing I'm doing :)).

And if no job comes in the next nine months or so, then scr*w it, I'll be a pizza man with an RN license the rest of my life. :D

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

There is nothing wrong with working in LTC until you find a medsurg job. You are still using your skills. Its better than sitting at home not doing anything. I think working in LTC helped me get my first RN job as a new grad. All you have to do is explain to your future employer how you had to work in LTC because there were no new grad RN jobs in the hospitals. My hospital gave me $2 more than the new grads because of my LTC expereince as a LPN. Its did not hurt me a bit.

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.
Depend on where you live. I live in NC and there are areas that are in need of nurses. I am a new grad and applied to 3 different hospitals and was offered a job at each. One hospital is stil calling be. Actually two different managers from the same hospital called me and told me if I decided to leave the other place to give them a call back. The shortage may not be in your direct area.Maybe your frustrated that you live in a saturated area but thats not the case in some places especially rural areas. When you get your degree, you may have to pick up and move to an area where there is a shortage.

That is great to hear that NC has jobs. Which area? Do they have new-grad program like Versant?

Hawaii is saturated. There are 9 hospitals here, but only 2 companies have formal new-grad programs. The rest are direct-hire postions in which you compete with experience nurses.

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.
I will admit that I'm adamant about a med-surg, high-pressure environment--because I KNOW that when it comes time to search for career advancement after working an LTC job, the first thing the next employer-elites will say is, "we're not looking for that kind of experience."

The point is: I'm willing to relocate anywhere, but just not to work a job that will be looked at condescendingly by these uppity human resource entities. So yes, that may work against me, but if I get the med-surg shot in three, six, nine months--then I'll still be ahead of the game as opposed to if I spent a year cleaning up poop (which I don't consider myself above doing, mind you--I just don't want it to be the ONLY thing I'm doing :)).

And if no job comes in the next nine months or so, then scr*w it, I'll be a pizza man with an RN license the rest of my life. :D

Hawaii is saturated with new-grad RN but there are a lot of students that still trying to pursue nursing. Who doesnt want to be a nurse? It is a good paying job if you can find one right!

On Oahu, there are 9 hospitals. Only 2 companies have formal new grad, the rest is direct hure. Hospitals would rather pick an experience nurse over a new-grad, less training and less money spent. Plus older nurses do not want to retire. Even LTC, home care, and nurse agency are being picky with their applicants. The situation in Hawaii has resulted to new grad RN working as ward clerk, aide, volunteers while waiting for a RN job to open.

I heard the best place for new grads after grad is heading for the middle of United States.

You seem like a tough women. Even with the problems in your life, you suceeded in nursing school. You will will find a nursing job soon!

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I can't believe that anyone would rather work at pizza hut rather than work LTC!!! I think the attitude expressed by the OP needs a major adjustment.

I started out in LTC back in '93 because there was a similar situation as there is now, with hospitals cutting back, few jobs for new grads, layoffs...

LTC gave me a great start that I value to this day! Don't look down your nose on LTC or think that HR departments will consider you unhirable because you started out there.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
That is great to hear that NC has jobs. Which area? Do they have new-grad program like Versant?

Hawaii is saturated. There are 9 hospitals here, but only 2 companies have formal new-grad programs. The rest are direct-hire postions in which you compete with experience nurses.

We have jobs in the Raleigh/Durham area. Also it smaller rual towns in the area. Most don't have new grad programs but they will hire a new grad and train them for 2 months. Some of the names are:

Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford NC

Johnston Health in Smithfield NC.

I work at a big hospital in Raleigh NC and IMO the new grad program is not all that intense. We meet about 2 times and talk about leadership, critical thinking stuff but pretty much its just you and the preceptor. At the hopsital mentioned about I got a call from HR about my application that clearly states that they want at least 1 yrs of experience in Medsurg. I didn't have it but it didn't stop 2 managers on different floors from calling me. I hope you get a job soon!

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The bottom line is that schools are businesses and in many respects are run like businesses. Just because there may not be employment readily available to graduates does not mean that the school did not accomplish its goal to educate the student.

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