States with Real Nursing Shortages?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, does anyone know where I can find a list of states ranked by nursing shortages? I saw this question on another post, but the information was outdated. Thanks for any replies.

Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

If there are several schools in town, then there will be no nursing shortage in that area.

Would like to hear where there really are shortages though because I'm curious. :)

Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

The market in South Texas is still good, although I do notice it's not quite as good as it was a few years ago. LVNs are slowly being squeezed out of acute care hospital jobs and RNs may have to apply at a couple places instead of just their first choice (of hospital and of specialty).

The pay is lower here, but after the cost of living is factored in, it's actually very good.

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
It's a complicated question... I've read that Florida is one of the best states to be a nurse since they have such a large population of elderly people but I've also heard stories from nurses in FL that are having a hard time finding work.

Very true, at least in South east Fl, and especialy for new grads. They have opened many more schools in the past ten years and are turning them out by the dozens..at the same time, the hospitals are cutting back..etc same old story...

This topic is so disheartening. I am currently in an ADN program in Delaware just finished my first two semester in rotations. It seems that some of our graduates are getting positions but most are not. Those that have either already worked in the hospital and know someone are getting the nurse externships. When we the students ask what is the job prospects, the instructors are always assuring us that we will get a job. But on every nursing board out here the word seems so different. I am confused and wonder should I just pull out and change my degree plan. After all the books, time and effort may be better spent elsewhere.:confused:

Yes, efforts would be better spent somewhere else. My friends and I have not been offered jobs. Not a single person.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Frankly, nursing jobs are not any harder to get for new grads than ANY jobs are for new grads in ANY line of work right now. Nobody is falling easily into positions after graduation right now, regardless of career path.

If nursing is what you want to do, then do it, but do it smart. Plan financially for it to take six months or more to find your first position. Get your head around working as a nurse in a capacity other than acute care/hospital at first. Take out as few loans as possible. And network network network while in school. Treat every encounter with any person associated with healthcare as a potential or working job interview.

Smaller central TX towns were recruiting from Canada for ages. They also used a lot of travelers, just hoping to get someone to move there.....cost of living is great- lots to do (San Antonio and Austin 1-2 hours away). And it's beautiful :) The pay sounds low (or it did compared to what was being paid when I moved back to the MW), but the cost of living more than makes up for it. :) I've been packed to go back 3 times, but health issues have put that on hold....

If you can relocate, it's not a bad place at all :) I stayed 17 years.

See if this page from BLS helps you:

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes311012.htm#st

If you ask me, i would definitely say North Dakota is what you are looking for.

Whatever R2B

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