[RNb440]

"Wanted: Nurses, physicians assistants, pharmacists and lab technicians. In Maryland, the nursing shortage has reached almost 10 percent, 2,603 full-time nurses..."

Read on:
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=598&sid=1468180

[PurpleMyst]

So, why the shortage? The article doesn't go into that. Is it too expensive to live there and they don't pay enough?

[TerpGal02]

Originally Posted by PurpleMyst

So, why the shortage? The article doesn't go into that. Is it too expensive to live there and they don't pay enough?

Yup, I'm quite sure that has A LOT to do with it. Montgomery County in Maryland is one of the wealthiest counties in the country with also one of the highest living expenses. I grew up in Montgomery County. It's almost impossible to find a decent house in a nice neighborhood for under $350,000, and thats a really, really low estimate. I think most new grad positions pay around $25-$30/hr for night shift. Dont know there, Im just guessing. I do know at Frederick Memorial Hospital, which is in Frederick County (little less in terms of living expenses, but A LOT on gas if you are trying to go further towards DC to work) they pay about $28/hr for a new grad on night shift. And even here in Frederick County, you're lucky to get a townhouse in a decent neighborhood for under $230,000

[RNb440]

Originally Posted by PurpleMyst

So, why the shortage? The article doesn't go into that. Is it too expensive to live there and they don't pay enough?

It can be really expensive to live in MD especially if you live in and around the Washington/Baltimore area. I can't really comment on nursing salaries because I'm still in school but based on the discussions on this site, the nursing salaries, you would think salaries would be a little more commensurate with the Cost of Living here.

Another HUGE factor is that there simply aren't enough nurses here to fill the vacancies. MD is not unique with it's nursing shortage crisis but what compounds the problem is that folks like me that want to pursue a nursing career also have to face the issue of being waitlisted because of nursing faculty shortages. I'm applying to nursing school in Jan. for Fall'09 but most likely I will not be able to attend until Fall'10. There aren't enough slots or nursing instructors at my school.

[anggelgal]

I live in Maryland but go to nursing school in DC and work at a hospital in DC. Its true that hospitals in DC pay better than hospitals in Maryland. There is still a shortage in DC so one is better off working in DC and living in Maryland. The commute isn't too fun, though.

[Vito Andolini]

How are working conditions? Too heavy assignments? Disrespect? Bullying? Lack of professionalism? Etc.?

[k_r_ah]

I used to live in Maryland and I believe one of the reasons there is such a shortage is lack of nursing instructors and seats in nursing school. Two of the local community colleges admitted approxoimately 50 RN students a YEAR!

[starbok]

hire foreign nurses in the Philppines like us... we have the experience & the skills to do the job..

[Jules A]

If I had to pick the single biggest factor my guess is the large number of facilities we have in the Balto/DC/VA area. The nursing jobs are virtually unlimited. A lot of the pay rate is what you are willing to accept also. As a new grad I negotiated a base of $38 an hour at the hospital where I had been working as a LPN but a lot of my classmates did take the $25 an hour jobs in MD often because they wanted the pedigree of a big name hospital. Like others have said though if I was in Montgomery County or Alexandria my pay wouldn't be enough for me to purchase a home.

[Suesquatch]

They also don't allow Excelsior grads.