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| No. 20 | 
Jul 22, 2007, 08:30 PM
 Re: ??Is there a shortage: Nursing Supply and Demand
ANA: Facts on the Nursing Shortage (February 2006) The nation is facing an impending shortage of nurses, which is expected to peak by 2020; here are some of the prime indicators:
According to projections released in February 2004 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs top the list of the 10 occupations with the largest projected job growth in the years 2002-2012. Although RNs have listed among the top 10 growth occupations in the past, this is the first time in recent history that RNs have ranked first. These 10-year projections are widely used in career guidance, in planning education and training programs and in studying long-range employment trends. According to the BLS report, more than 2.9 million RNs will be employed in the year 2012, up 623,000 from the nearly 2.3 million RNs employed in 2002. However, the total job openings, which include both job growth and the net replacement of nurses, will be more than 1.1 million. This growth, coupled with current trends of nurses retiring or leaving the profession and fewer new nurses, could lead to a shortage of more than one million nurses by the end of this decade. (For details, see www.bls.gov/emp/#outlook.)
A 21 percent increase in the need for nurses is projected nationwide from 1998 to 2008, compared with a 14 percent increase for other occupations. (U.S. Department of Labor) - The nursing population is aging rapidly.
Nursing Shortage Contributing Factors: - Nurses increasingly are facing deteriorating working conditions at the facilities in which they work. This problem is reflected in the decline in nurse staffing nationwide.
- Nurses also are reporting increasing burnout and widespread job dissatisfaction.
- Nursing school enrollments are increasing but applicants are also being turned away: The cause is a continuing critical shortage of nursing school faculty
Nursing Shortage Legislation and Strategies:
Congress has introduced bills and other initiatives to alleviate the shortage, including: - The Nurse Reinvestment Act –
- The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2005 (S. 71) and Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005 (H.R. 1372) reintroduced last week by Sen. Clinton Hillary Clinton Draws Attention To Shortage Of Nurses Karen
- Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005 (S. 351 and H.R. 791) – companion legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that would strictly limit the practice of forcing nurses to work overtime.
- Formation of the Congressional Nursing Caucus – a bi-partisan initiative, co-chaired by U.S. Reps. Lois Capps (D-CA) and Steven LaTourette (R-OH). The purpose of the caucus is to educate Congress on all aspects of the nursing profession and how nursing issues impact the delivery of safe, quality care. The caucus was formed after consultation between congressional leaders and ANA.
Strategies to Reverse the New Nursing Shortage:
Extensive info including links and supportive articles at website.
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 21 |
Jul 24, 2007, 11:14 AM
Re: ??Is there a shortage: Nursing Supply and Demand
Lordy, I do love this website. I searched for "nursing shortage" and all kinds of posts came up, many answering my questions.
But here's my essential nagging worry. I am doing my prereqs and then will apply to nursing school, probably in Fall 2008 for Fall 2009 start. I already have a BA, but I'm probably not going to do an accelerated program, just a regular 2-year upper-level BSN. (All plans subject to change, LOL)
I know that the nursing schools around here (Philly area) have long waiting lists and have gotten really picky about who they let in. I know there's a chance I won't even be accepted. I know that that situation is due *in part* to a shortage of nurse educators, but from what I've read, applications to nursing schools have gone way up in the last few years, especially in the accelerated programs. It seems lots of people have heard about the "nursing shortage", took a look at the decent salary a nurse can make, and decided to become a nurse.
Since I'm looking 4 years down the road to my BSN, this makes me kind of nervous. Will there be a flood of nursing graduates by then? I wonder if my age (49 now) will lock me out of a market filled with younger grads hungry for their first nursing job.
I hear distinct echoes of the so-called "teacher shortage" of 10 years ago. That's all we heard about, how there weren't enough teachers, blah, blah. Enrollment soared at teacher colleges and guess what? In these parts, there are now 200 to 300 applicants for every teaching job! I guess lots of those with teaching degrees are now thinking about nursing. 
So here's my question:
Is there really a "nursing shortage" NOW? If so, is it geographically confined to say, the West? Is it institutionally confined to hospitals because nurses don't want to work under frustrating hospital conditions? Do you think there will still be a "nursing shortage" in 5 years, or will hospitals have turned over more and more direct patient care to lower-paid LPNs, CNAs, and other aides, hiring just enough RNs to do what is required by law.
Also, has anyone seen projections for the number of nursing school graduates, based on enrollment now or in the past 2 years?
Gut feelings are fine here. I'm just looking for opinions/ideas from those of who you have been in the field.
| | No. 22 |
Jul 24, 2007, 12:05 PM
Re: ??Is there a shortage: Nursing Supply and Demand
I don't have answers for you LoriS but you do seem to have a good grasp of the nuances of "shortage" as well as some of the major issues facing nursing.
If you want to be a nurse, you will find a way to make it work. If you're the type who sets their mind to something and makes it happen regardless of the obstacles, you'll be fine. If you're looking for satisfying work with a decent wage but aren't committed to clinical nursing, you may find yourself looking elsewhere depending on the local job market, your other skills and your pay requirements.
May I ask what you're currently working in and what differences you hope to find in nursing? Have you been able to shadow a few nurses? Interview working nurses? Volunteer on a hospital unit? Such actions might give you more clarity in whether or not you want to be a nurse regardless of what exactly the job market will be in the future.
| | No. 23 |
Jul 30, 2007, 11:30 PM
Re: ??Is there a shortage: Nursing Supply and Demand
Thank you very much for your response, jjjoy.
I am currently a mental health therapist working inside a doctor's office where there are many chronic pain patients. I love working with these patients, but I have been attracted to the medical side of chronic pain/chronic illness for a long time. I have intense curiosity about medical issues, and I'm one of those nuts who photocopy medical journal articles and put them "FYI" in the doctor's and the NPs' mailboxes. Luckily, they appreciate me and don't think of me as a pest! LOL I find myself always wishing I were more directly involved in the patients' medical care, because I think I could be of even more help to them there than I am on the mental health side.
My view of nurses is a little skewed, because I observe 3 NPs close-up, on a daily basis. (I also work with an RN there, so I do see an RN working, but not in a hospital setting.) I admire the NPs so much; they are a smart, ultra-caring bunch of people. And yes, they do have a lot of autonomy that I realize RNs don't have.
I have not shadowed a nurse otherwise -- where does one get the opportunity to do that? Do hospitals allow that?
I happened to go out after work today with the 3 NPs, and I told them what I've been thinking about. Each of them told me I would be crazy *not* to go to nursing school, and they all felt I have many important skills for nursing: curiosity about and interest in medicine and science, attention to detail, really good people skills (you develop them working in the mental health field, LOL), a genuine desire to help people, etc. So I felt good about that. They also told me that regardless of "shortage" or not, if I want to make this thing work, it will work. They also told me that they felt nursing offers enormous flexibility in career paths, in choosing when/where to work, etc.
So while I am still worried about the possibility of a surplus of nurses, I feel a lot better about the whole decision.
| | No. 24 |
Jul 31, 2007, 01:58 AM
Re: ??Is there a shortage: Nursing Supply and Demand
I truly do not believe there is a nursing shortage as described in the literature. The simple premise of supply and demand would indicate if there was a 'perceived' need for more nurses: Low supply + high demand= higher wages. We do not see that in the hospital setting. Salaries are usually fixed based on years experience and (for the most part) non-negotiable. Furthermore, current salaries do not indicate that nursing is an 'in demand' profession. Put that together with management constantly using the 'nursing shortage' excuse to justify high patient loads to their current staff; but, when you have someone interested in a position in your unit, the response is that the "budget doesn't allow me to hire addtional staff" (I have heard this at more than one hospital). There may be a mild shortage because of those not willing to work under the current conditions, not the massive one being exploited.
My personal thoughts on this is that this supposed nursing shortage is being used as excuse to try and create a glut of nurses. Once there are too many, wages can go down, higher paid older staff will be laid off and many will be fighting for the few available jobs. I don't think that actual staff numbers, per hospital, will increase-just the number of available nurses seeking a job and be willing to be overworked and underpaid (while feeling grateful they have a job, in the first place). This has happened in many professions over the past 30 (or so) years. History is the best teacher. It about time we learn from the lessons history can teach us!
| | No. 25 |
Jul 31, 2007, 12:48 PM
Re: ??Is there a shortage: Nursing Supply and Demand
In my opinion, bedside nursing and NP roles are so vastly different in nature that I sometimes have hard time grasping the relationship between the two!
Bedside nursing is where the worst "shortage" is, including long term care. But as others have noted, many places that are short also aren't hiring or don't change the work conditions enough to recruit and retain staff.
So there's a half-hearted campaign to train more nurses. Interestingly, though, many of the new nursing programs are these accelerated programs that appeal to those interested in going directly to advanced practice, essentially bypassing bedside nursing. It almost seems contradictory.
But, NPs (and PAs) are more in demand because they are more cost effective than doctors and so there's a push for the quicker training up of NPs. I'd be curious to see the economics behind schools' decisions to offer accel programs and direct-entry advanced practice options versus opening more RN/BSN slots.
Just thoughts about the current trends!
| | No. 26 |
Aug 01, 2007, 11:13 AM
Updated
Aug 01, 2007 at 11:15 AM by lindarn
Re: ??Is there a shortage: Nursing Supply and Demand Originally Posted by loricatus  I truly do not believe there is a nursing shortage as described in the literature. The simple premise of supply and demand would indicate if there was a 'perceived' need for more nurses: Low supply + high demand= higher wages. We do not see that in the hospital setting. Salaries are usually fixed based on years experience and (for the most part) non-negotiable. Furthermore, current salaries do not indicate that nursing is an 'in demand' profession. Put that together with management constantly using the 'nursing shortage' excuse to justify high patient loads to their current staff; but, when you have someone interested in a position in your unit, the response is that the "budget doesn't allow me to hire addtional staff" (I have heard this at more than one hospital). There may be a mild shortage because of those not willing to work under the current conditions, not the massive one being exploited.
My personal thoughts on this is that this supposed nursing shortage is being used as excuse to try and create a glut of nurses. Once there are too many, wages can go down, higher paid older staff will be laid off and many will be fighting for the few available jobs. I don't think that actual staff numbers, per hospital, will increase-just the number of available nurses seeking a job and be willing to be overworked and underpaid (while feeling grateful they have a job, in the first place). This has happened in many professions over the past 30 (or so) years. History is the best teacher. It about time we learn from the lessons history can teach us!
Well folks, I have figured out what professions have a shortage. PT and OT. Why do I say that? In this weeks paper, hospitals here in Eastern Washington are offering $10,000 bonuses to each of these EXPERIENCED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS!!
Why is that? Because there is no glut of PTs and OTs. And why is that? Because their professional organizations work at keeping the number of therapists low with high educational standards. That's why.
When was the last time you heard of an experienced nurse being offered ANY BONUS, let alone a $10,000 bonus. Usually, we are shown the door.
There was also an ad for nurses. But there was no mention of any bonus. Why? Because they know that in six months another crop of new grads from ABC Community College will be graduating and looking for jobs. Do the math.
There are new grads that will be graduating from the BSN program in four years, but that is too long to wait. Hospitals need nurses NOW. Nevermind that there are hundreds of unemployed, experienced, nurses in the area who have left the bedside that could fill their empty slots. But they would want too much money. New grads are paid ten dollars and hour less, and have not injured their back and necks yet. And are not too interested in retirement plans.
Can someone connect the dots?
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
| | No. 27 |
Aug 01, 2007, 01:12 PM
Re: ??Is there a shortage: Nursing Supply and Demand Originally Posted by lindarn In this weeks paper, hospitals here in Eastern Washington are offering $10,000 bonuses to each of these EXPERIENCED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS!!
Why is that? Because there is no glut of PTs and OTs. And why is that? Because their professional organizations work at keeping the number of therapists low with high educational standards. That's why.
When was the last time you heard of an experienced nurse being offered ANY BONUS, let alone a $10,000 bonus. Usually, we are shown the door.
Can someone connect the dots?
Or maybe it's that there aren't that many experienced OTs and PTs willing to work at those hospitals due to the conditions or pay. Perhaps experienced OTs and PTs have better options - such as working with a private practice. That's an option for PTs in some places; I don't know about OTs.
I imagine that PTs are hired to more supervisory roles than direct patient care as PT techs would be more cost effective. Thus, an inexperienced new grad wouldn't be nearly as valuable to a hospital as an experienced PT. However, notice that they use a bonus to recruit... wouldn't higher salary be more effective? But on paper that's more expensive in the long run. And with a bonus, they usually demand at contract to work a certain number of year or to forfeit the bonus. A place that's good to it's employees won't need to lock their employees into contracts to get them to stay.
And yes, I've seen plenty of hospitals offering bonuses to nurses. And to nurses who recommend someone who is then hired to the facility. More so in the last few years than just this last year. Often those offers haven't specified experienced or new grad. In some places, the new grads hire on for a salary that matches experienced nurses (which doesn't endear those newbies to the experienced nurses). And new hires are also expensive in that they require longer orientations and may be more likely to leave within a year than an experienced nurse (I'm guessing here - I don't have numbers one way or another on that ).
In general, having bonuses offered doesn't necessarily mean good things for a profession. As in nursing, it could mean that working conditions are such that even those qualified for such positions are choosing to avoid them and the facilities are resorting to bonuses to try to lure more staff back - as opposed to spending the much greater amounts of money to create a better work environment (eg hiring two people instead of giving a bonus to one to do the work of two people).
| | No. 28 |
Aug 10, 2007, 06:42 AM
Re: ??Is there a shortage: Nursing Supply and Demand
About the 'supply and demand' of nursing.....i have an example.
I worked in a LTC right after graduating nsg school. When I left this job, I worked night shift Thu-Sun. I chose these hours since I had a baby....they were the most family friendly since they were my DH's day's off.
This place had horrible management, like many of them do. For other reasons, I was on the DON's 'sh1t list. She was constantly nitpicking, bullying people if they went into overtime, ect. i made $23/hr. She absolutely HATED agency nurses. We often times worked short of CNA's b/c we couldnt call agency....she was definately most interested in making $ for the corporation than for pt. care or safety.
Anyway, my ex-coworkers told me that when I quit, they did not fill my shifts for several weeks - they had to hire agency nurses. (Who wants to work weekend/NOCS?? - even the agency RN's are at a premium for these shifts) When they did fill the position, it was with a nurse who came in and named her price at $32/hr-stating she wouldn't work for anything less and they gave it to her.
The way I see it, I was pretty valuable in that I was working (what many nurses consider) the most undesirable shifts at a significantly lower wage. If the DON would have been smart, she would have realized this....instead she had threatened to fire me upon occasion. The only way my replacement got the wage that she wanted was b/c she was filling a position that no one else wanted.....low supply and high demand.
One up for the staff nurses+
and slap across the face to mgmt.  | | No. 29 |
Aug 28, 2007, 04:44 PM
Re: ??Is there a shortage: Nursing Supply and Demand
I won't speak for everywhere in the U.S., but in my area of California, there is NO shortage... other than a few areas that are typically hard to staff for, i.e., telemetry, per diem E.R., etc. While the HYPE of "shortage" is prominent, just look at the want adds/recruitment sites in the Sacramento area. Two years ago, the listings were long and varied. Today, they are few.
Hospitals in this area have even started to eliminate "full time" positions and are near doubling the cost of health care benefits yearly. This, I believe, is in direct responce to "ratios" (vindictive business plan).
Re-entry programs are becoming HARD to find/utilize as a working adult (I know, I've been looking...).
Physicians' offices staff few, if any, RN's, opting for "Med techs." An urgent care I recently utilized, infrequently staffed an RN.
Times they are a changin' in this part of California; it will be interesting, and probably frightening, to see what will unfold in the next few years.
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