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.
Nursing News