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Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage



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No. 30
from Ruby Vee
Old Mar 14, 2009, 05:09 AM

Default Re: Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage
Originally Posted by firstyearstudent View Post
I know the economy has crashed, but have things gone downhill in healthcare that fast? I know that my own hospital, which is union and has a good reputation as a nurse friendly facility, always has multiple job listings, some of those for new graduates.
There is and has been a shortage. Now, however, with the economy in freefall, jobs aren't opening up at the rate they used to, and nursing managers are no longer allowed to overhire in anticipation of turnover.

Sally's husband lost his job. Now Sally, who has been working here for 15 years doing her 12 hours per week just to have a day away from her four unruly children is the sole support of her family. Now she wants to work 48 hours/week instead of 12. Mildred has been talking about retiring for the past four years, counting off the MINUTES until retirement at the start of each shift. But her investments tanked and now she's contemplating her future as a nurse -- for 12 more years. Betsey worked in our unit for years while her husband made millions churning people's investment funds. Then she left to "stay home with the kids." Hubby's out looking for work as a gardener now, the mansion has been foreclosed, the millions are gone. Betsey's coming back to work next week -- good thing one new grad got fired, or there wouldn't be a place for her. Tootie got accepted into CRNA school, but her partner of 12 years lost her job, and now Tootie, who was counting on LindaLou to support her while she was in school, cannot afford to quit her job and go to school. She's supporting LindaLou on about half of what LindaLou used to make.

The economy will turn around, and there will be jobs again. Eventually.
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No. 31
from Tweety
Old Mar 14, 2009, 07:30 AM
Updated Mar 14, 2009 at 07:40 AM by Tweety

Default Re: Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage
I agree with Ruby that a lot of it is about the economy. When the downturn started a few years ago and people got laid off in other professions, they lined up to become nurses. Or as younger people looked at things they realize nursing is perhaps a good field with good job aspects and they got in line too. Schools are cranking out new grads like never before.

Also it's true that nurses are upping their hours, or are coming out of sabbatical to supplement their income or to be the sole provider. I work with at least two people whose husbands have lost their jobs and they are the sole providers and went from part time to full time/overtime.

People also due to lack of confidence in the economy aren't job hopping like they used to. Turnover in my facility is the best it's ever been. Gone are the days when people would just up and quit knowing a new job was only a phone call away. We're thankful for jobs when so many people are unemployed and we're holding on to them.

I think the long-term prospects are still good for nurses. However, right now people are going to have to be flexible and take jobs they might not really want, work hours they might not really want, and even relocate to areas they might not want to move to just to get their foot in the door. Gone are the days when a new grad could ask for and get whatever they want, but the futures still bright and the demand for healthcare workers is going to stay high.
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No. 32
from meluhn
Old Mar 14, 2009, 07:55 AM

Default Re: Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage
Originally Posted by stepcmpb View Post
First, let me say that I am so frustrated because I keep hearing the same old stuff about how there is a nursing shortage and I'm starting to believe that there is no shortage. I live on the east coast and I'm graduating in a few months. Right now my classmates and myself are in a panic because the jobs out here are so competitive and hospitals are closing left and right in NJ. Also, New York is another story. There are so many people who wants to work in the city. Also, hospitals want experienced nurses. It's so frustrating. People need to know that THERE IS NO NURSING shortage in certain parts of the country. I got into this profession thinking that finding a job would be fairly easy and now I'm thinking that I might have made a mistake.

I feel your pain. I have been a nurse for 16 years with a spotless record and I am having trouble getting in at a med/surg floor, nevermind ICU. Yet I keep hearing how short everyone says they are working. I think that hospitals know what they are doing. They can run the floors with a skeleton crew so why bother training anyone new who might quit anyway. They would rather take an experienced traveler or Philipino nurse(no offense intended) than higher a new grad or someone who hasn't worked in that specialty area. It doesn't make sense.
PS I live in NJ too
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No. 33
from Pfiesty
Old Mar 14, 2009, 08:16 AM

Default Re: Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage
I am in the midst of brilliant colleages. There are very smart comments on here.
There has never been a shortage of licensed nurses - anywhere. There has been varying degrees of actively working licensed nurses.
I left hospital nursing. Now with the economy, and the subsequent downsizing of the program where I worked, I am back into hospital nursing. We're (non-active nurses) are returning in large numbers.
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No. 34
from VivaRN
Old Mar 14, 2009, 10:22 AM

Default Re: Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage
Something that hasn't been mentioned is that APN jobs have decreased also, and some of my classmates who weren't able to find APN jobs are hanging on to their RN jobs until something comes open. Some are also working both APN and RN jobs to supplement income. Not sure how much this may be contributing, but it's another spot closed to a new grad.
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No. 35
from JBudd
Old Mar 14, 2009, 07:18 PM

Default Re: Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage
There are jobs if you are willing to go to where the jobs are. True in any industry/trade/profession. Many ads I see in nursing magazines offer relocation bonuses.

Be open to trying something new! Go rural! Go to a school district! Go somewhere you've never been before and see what's out here!
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No. 36
from ToxicShock
Old Mar 14, 2009, 09:51 PM

Default Re: Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage
Originally Posted by SoCaliGirl View Post
If someone is interested in a wide variety of careers, job availability can be a deciding factor to break a tie. I think that's actually an important thing to think about.
I agree, but I don't think the OP said anything about deciding between two careers.

I got the impression that she went to nursing school because getting a job would be easy. I'm glad she came back to clarify. Going to college and getting into a profession - any profession - JUST for the money or just for job security is stupid. Agree to disagree if you wish.
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No. 37
Old Mar 15, 2009, 09:41 PM
Updated Mar 15, 2009 at 09:50 PM by multicollinearity

Default Re: Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage
Originally Posted by JBudd View Post
While there may not be a shortage in your local area, there certainly is in other parts of the country. I am consistently working shifts with not only sick calls not covered, but not enough people scheduled in the first place. By contract and necessity, at 1900 there should be 13 nurses in the ER. We are usually at 11, and often down to 9 or 10. If the floors are short, I can't send out the admissions, which backs up the ER even more.

My ER accepts new grads! Come on out to New Mexico!
This is such excellent advice. When the hospitals in my area went on hiring freezes and stopped hiring new grads, I really *wigged* out. I got so upset for a few weeks. Ok, so I was almost sick with worry.

Then I decided to stop fighting it and see it as an adventure. Instead of worry, I think to myself: what state will I live in come January, when I'm a new grad with RN after my name? I actually have moments now where I look forward to a new start somewhere. It's exciting!
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