[NRSKarenRN]

Report: Severe shortage of nurses, doctors by 2020

The U.S. will see a shortfall of 24,000 doctors and nearly 1 million nurses by 2020, according to a report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute. Two key reasons cited were the retirement of many baby boomer health care personnel and a lack of new graduates from nursing and medical schools. MSNBC/Financial Times

[Diary/Dairy]

The nursing shortage extends to the classroom too!!! I have been thinking that for as long as I have been a nurse. Thanks for posting all the interesting news items Karen. I like seeing what else is going on out there.
The shortage is good in that I will have a lot of job security, but I hate to think of what things are like when the shortage gets as bad as it is projected to get!!

[nurse2bKY]

As long as there is a lack of nursing instructors to teach the students, then there will be these ridiculous long waits and lottery systems to go to nursing school. There are plenty of students ready to help out, but until there is a system in place to train the students, the problem isn't going to get fixed. The industry should step up and give huge incentives for good nurses who have good teaching skills to join the academic force. If the pay for these nursing instructors were to go up significantly, you would probably see many more nurses go into teaching. Unfortunatley, schools just don't want to pay them enough.

[fgoff]

With adds like the one below there are probably not many of us that can take the pay cut. I laughed when I saw the 30hr/wk line, this most likely the actual number of contact hours you have with the students and does not include any prep time & may not include manitory office hours. Nurse educators must be very savy when it come to negotiating salary contracts.

One other problem that I see from my role in staff development is the lack of clinical site to train student nurses. Schools try to sign up for more popular patient units more than a year in advance to insure that they have a training site.

To accommodate an increase student enrolement with instuctor coverage there must be some where to practice. Hospitals already complain that GN are not ready for practice, and require to much orientation.

Whoever finds the solution to this puzzle should get the Pulizer Prize.

Company: Wayne Community College


Description
Wayne Community
College
NURSING INSTRUCTOR
[{12 mo, perm 3/4 position
(30 hours per week)
$42,000 plus benefits
[MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE POSITION:
1.Current unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in North Carolina. 2.Master's Degree in Nursing or Baccalaureate in Nursing with a Master's Degree in related field. Baccalaureate in Nursing and actively seeking Master's Degree in Nursing will be considered. 3.Two calendar year's prior full-time employment or the equivalent in clinical nursing practice as an R.N. 4.Preparation in teaching and learning principles including curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation or willingness to seek continuing education as required by the NC Board of Nursing upon employment. 5.Community college or post-secondary teaching experience preferred. [APPLICATIONS: Submit an original Wayne Community College employment application and all support materials, including official transcripts of all post secondary studies to: Joy Ginn, Personnel Coordinator, Wayne Community College, P. O. Box 8002, Goldsboro, NC 27533-8002. Applications may be downloaded from our website at [www.waynecc.edu. Applications will be screened and the most qualified applicants interviewed. All applicants will be notified when the position selection has been made.

Source - News & Observer

[elkpark]

fgoff is right -- it's not as simple as "more nursing instructors" (although that is certainly one of the issues). I teach in a baccalaureate program in a medium-sized city that has many nursing programs of all types in the area, and there is huge competition among all the schools for clinical sites. I teach a specialty, and arranging the clinicals each year is a nightmare.

Another issue in the "shortage" that I always try to work into the discussion is the large number of licensed (or previously licensed) nurses in this country who aren't working as nurses -- discussions of what to do about the "shortage" always revolve around how to turn out more new grads every year, but, if large numbers of experienced nurses are "voting with their feet" and refusing to put up with current working conditions, and leaving the occupation every year, we're just bailing out a leaking boat without first fixing the leak. How much good will it do to increase the number of new grad/novice nurses we crank out every year if a good percentage of those people are going to get fed up/burned out and leave after a few years (along with the continued "brain drain" of experienced nurses)? And do we really want the nursing population in the this country to consist of primarily novice nurses (because everyone leaves after a few years)?

Everyone is eager to talk about how to increase enrollment in nursing programs, but no one ever wants to talk about what improvements in working conditions in healthcare settings would be necessary in order for nurses to be willing to stay in those jobs (esp. acute inpatient bedside nursing!) and put in a full career ...

[WitchyRN]

Originally Posted by elkpark

fgoff is right -- it's not as simple as "more nursing instructors" (although that is certainly one of the issues). I teach in a baccalaureate program in a medium-sized city that has many nursing programs of all types in the area, and there is huge competition among all the schools for clinical sites. I teach a specialty, and arranging the clinicals each year is a nightmare.

Another issue in the "shortage" that I always try to work into the discussion is the large number of licensed (or previously licensed) nurses in this country who aren't working as nurses -- discussions of what to do about the "shortage" always revolve around how to turn out more new grads every year, but, if large numbers of experienced nurses are "voting with their feet" and refusing to put up with current working conditions, and leaving the occupation every year, we're just bailing out a leaking boat without first fixing the leak. How much good will it do to increase the number of new grad/novice nurses we crank out every year if a good percentage of those people are going to get fed up/burned out and leave after a few years (along with the continued "brain drain" of experienced nurses)? And do we really want the nursing population in the this country to consist of primarily novice nurses (because everyone leaves after a few years)?

Everyone is eager to talk about how to increase enrollment in nursing programs, but no one ever wants to talk about what improvements in working conditions in healthcare settings would be necessary in order for nurses to be willing to stay in those jobs (esp. acute inpatient bedside nursing!) and put in a full career ...

You're absolutely right-IMO, the shortage is primarily due to crappy situations,and hospital administrators who just don't get it. I've been a nurse a year and already the rose colored glasses are starting to come off. I'm still proud to be a nurse but am looking into traveling, going back to school to be an APN or working a non hospital job.

[lindarn]

Originally Posted by elkpark

fgoff is right -- it's not as simple as "more nursing instructors" (although that is certainly one of the issues). I teach in a baccalaureate program in a medium-sized city that has many nursing programs of all types in the area, and there is huge competition among all the schools for clinical sites. I teach a specialty, and arranging the clinicals each year is a nightmare.

Another issue in the "shortage" that I always try to work into the discussion is the large number of licensed (or previously licensed) nurses in this country who aren't working as nurses -- discussions of what to do about the "shortage" always revolve around how to turn out more new grads every year, but, if large numbers of experienced nurses are "voting with their feet" and refusing to put up with current working conditions, and leaving the occupation every year, we're just bailing out a leaking boat without first fixing the leak. How much good will it do to increase the number of new grad/novice nurses we crank out every year if a good percentage of those people are going to get fed up/burned out and leave after a few years (along with the continued "brain drain" of experienced nurses)? And do we really want the nursing population in the this country to consist of primarily novice nurses (because everyone leaves after a few years)?

Everyone is eager to talk about how to increase enrollment in nursing programs, but no one ever wants to talk about what improvements in working conditions in healthcare settings would be necessary in order for nurses to be willing to stay in those jobs (esp. acute inpatient bedside nursing!) and put in a full career ...

I would like to discuss my experience with trying to return to nursing. I attended the National Teaching Institute for Critical Care Nurses in May. The exhibition hall was packed with recruiters, and hospital representatives "looking" for nurses.

After I got back home, I was inundated with calls from travel agencies. I also received a newsletter from University of Washington, and Harborview in Seattle. I called the number on the flyer, and spoke to someone in Human Resources.

I told her that I had not worked in 5 years, but my license and certifications were current. I also told her how I attend the Critcal Care Symposium every year, and earn 30- 40 CEUs at each convention. I asked what day shift jobs were availabe, including the resource pool.

This was the response I received:
WELL, you already have TWO STRIKES AGAINST YOU!
I said, "really. And what would those be"?

WELL, you haven't worked in five years. I responded, " and"? Then she said, "and you don't want to work nights"!

I asked her if she really thought it would be harder to orient me, with 25 years of ICU experience, as opposed to a new grad, right out of school, with no experience?". She said, "it is usually easier that way". I then stated, "you have an entire older, experienced, group of nurses, who would like to come back to work, but do not want to, or have the stamina, to work 12 hour nights shifts". She then said, "well, that is the way it is".

This is why older nurses do not want to come back to work. Hospitals do not want to give any accomadations to older nurses. Period. And of course, they can pay new grads $10 and hour less, than the older nurses.

So much for this Nursing Shortage!

Lindarn RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

[oramar]

Originally Posted by elkpark

fgoff is right -- it's not as simple as "more nursing instructors" (although that is certainly one of the issues). I teach in a baccalaureate program in a medium-sized city that has many nursing programs of all types in the area, and there is huge competition among all the schools for clinical sites. I teach a specialty, and arranging the clinicals each year is a nightmare.

Another issue in the "shortage" that I always try to work into the discussion is the large number of licensed (or previously licensed) nurses in this country who aren't working as nurses -- discussions of what to do about the "shortage" always revolve around how to turn out more new grads every year, but, if large numbers of experienced nurses are "voting with their feet" and refusing to put up with current working conditions, and leaving the occupation every year, we're just bailing out a leaking boat without first fixing the leak. How much good will it do to increase the number of new grad/novice nurses we crank out every year if a good percentage of those people are going to get fed up/burned out and leave after a few years (along with the continued "brain drain" of experienced nurses)? And do we really want the nursing population in the this country to consist of primarily novice nurses (because everyone leaves after a few years)?

Everyone is eager to talk about how to increase enrollment in nursing programs, but no one ever wants to talk about what improvements in working conditions in healthcare settings would be necessary in order for nurses to be willing to stay in those jobs (esp. acute inpatient bedside nursing!) and put in a full career ...

Great post, an academic that really knows what is going on. Personally I think that a unit staffed by newbies is just fine with managment. They are on the low end of the pay scale and it keeps cost down.

[SimpleGal]

On another note, it is always about money. I found out George Mason University was paid 1.1 Million dollars in grant money from Saudi Arabia to let 12 male students come over and take spots in their nursing program. On top of it all they were proud of it. Not to mention GMU is one of the hardest nursing schools to get into. If we all had money like that, getting in nursing school would be easy. Here is the article if you are interested...

http://gmu.edu/news/gazette/saudi.html

[SharonH, RN]

Originally Posted by lindarn

I would like to discuss my experience with trying to return to nursing. I attended the National Teaching Institute for Critical Care Nurses in May. The exhibition hall was packed with recruiters, and hospital representatives "looking" for nurses.

After I got back home, I was inundated with calls from travel agencies. I also received a newsletter from University of Washington, and Harborview in Seattle. I called the number on the flyer, and spoke to someone in Human Resources.

I told her that I had not worked in 5 years, but my license and certifications were current. I also told her how I attend the Critcal Care Symposium every year, and earn 30- 40 CEUs at each convention. I asked what day shift jobs were availabe, including the resource pool.

This was the response I received:
WELL, you already have TWO STRIKES AGAINST YOU!
I said, "really. And what would those be"?

WELL, you haven't worked in five years. I responded, " and"? Then she said, "and you don't want to work nights"!

I asked her if she really thought it would be harder to orient me, with 25 years of ICU experience, as opposed to a new grad, right out of school, with no experience?". She said, "it is usually easier that way". I then stated, "you have an entire older, experienced, group of nurses, who would like to come back to work, but do not want to, or have the stamina, to work 12 hour nights shifts". She then said, "well, that is the way it is".

This is why older nurses do not want to come back to work. Hospitals do not want to give any accomadations to older nurses. Period. And of course, they can pay new grads $10 and hour less, than the older nurses.

So much for this Nursing Shortage!

Lindarn RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

Geesh, they just don't get it! A huge part of the problem is that administrators and managers hold on to convention and are so vested in "that is the way it is". The old school line of thinking which holds that nurses are chattel who go where they are told and do what they are told just doesn't hold water any more. Instead of negotiating with you, she wanted you to bend to her needs! That's ridiculous! It cost her an experienced nurse but the last thing they want is a nurse who is not malleable. I would have simply said well good luck to you!