[brian]

A task force led by Lt. Gov. Patty Judge pushed Monday for the state to address its worsening shortage of nurses.

"Reports and studies over the years have shown time and time again the problems Iowa has in attracting and retaining qualified nurses," she said. "Chief among those, of course, is low pay and not nearly enough new nurses being educated to replace those leaving the profession."

Judge noted that she is a former nurse who left the profession partly because of low pay and long hours.

Nurse salaries in Iowa are among the lowest in the country. The task force's report said Iowa's registered nurses were paid an average of $47,030 in 2006, compared with the national average of $57,280.

Enrollment in Iowa nursing colleges has grown, but many schools have waiting lists because of a shortage of qualified instructors. The report said the state currently has 101 vacancies for such instructors.

more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/app...WS10/803040378

[nici1978]

still more pay than in lovely new mexico

[Quickbeam]

Iowa has some great schools of nursing but I understand the stampede to leave Iowa post-graduation is pretty intense. I love Iowa and have worked there as a nurse. There was just zero work there for my husband.

I do think that people from "everything is a wait list" states are seeking out states where getting into a nursing program is less time consuming. That could certainly be happening to Iowa. Maybe if the state schools offered a tuition cut for a few years of service?

[scottrho]

I am from Iowa, but am a nursing student in WA state. According to my mom, who desperately wants me to move back to Iowa, they do have a tuition reimbursment program. You do have to sign a contract and stay in the state for a number of years to qualify. I don't know the details.

[Tanzanite]

Because of the long hours & being asked to be on call for my days 0ff, this Iowa nurse is going PRN starting May 1st......

I think most Ia nursing facilities/hospitals are feeling the crunch of not enough staff...

[banditrn]

I worked in Iowa my whole career - I never had a complaint about the money I made. What finally drove me away from the hospital was a change in management that no longer seemed to value experience and competence - but wanted perky, grinning robots who kept with the program, sucked it up, and didn't complain.

When you have people who have NO idea what they're talking about, making policy and running things - it takes the heart out of the institution.

[subee]

Originally Posted by banditrn

I worked in Iowa my whole career - I never had a complaint about the money I made. What finally drove me away from the hospital was a change in management that no longer seemed to value experience and competence - but wanted perky, grinning robots who kept with the program, sucked it up, and didn't complain.

When you have people who have NO idea what they're talking about, making policy and running things - it takes the heart out of the institution.

Man, I feel your pain. We just have to educate the public about the insanity of treating health care as someone investment option instead of a public safety priority.

[Duflinkka]

I am an Iowa nurse but I am in an area where saturation is actually an issue... we have two hospitals and 4 schools with nursing programs. A lot of people leave, but in this area most people want to stay.

Personally, I plan on leaving as soon as I can get out!

Here is some infomration about the Iowa Student Loan reimbursement program.

http://www.studentloan.org/Quick-Lin...rgiveness.aspx

[pepperann35]

Originally Posted by Quickbeam

Iowa has some great schools of nursing but I understand the stampede to leave Iowa post-graduation is pretty intense. I love Iowa and have worked there as a nurse. There was just zero work there for my husband.

I do think that people from "everything is a wait list" states are seeking out states where getting into a nursing program is less time consuming. That could certainly be happening to Iowa. Maybe if the state schools offered a tuition cut for a few years of service?

Good idea.....if a state would pay for me to get my RN (I am currently a LPN) I would certainly go to work for them.

[purple_rose_3]

You will have to pay for school initially, but then you get reimbursed according to the number of years you work in Iowa.