Answers from 100 nurses needed: Which state has the most nursing shortage?

Nurses Job Hunt

Published

Everyday, Newspaper talk about nursing shortage. But some nurses in the certain areas can't even get a job quickly or under paid. I wonder where is the shortage at? I want get a good summary to help those nurses who are have troubles to land a job. Thank you John:redbeathe

My answer:

I know Tucson Arizona needs nurses really bad. You can get a job on the day you go out.

Anyone from Utah,NC, NM, Seattle?

I'm in NC, and, according to the NC Center for Nursing, the state-funded agency that tracks nursing workforce issues in the state, there is officially no nursing shortage in NC, and there hasn't been for several years.

The degree of shortage or if there is even a shortage would depend on who answers... nursing or the hosptial. Unless there is a state mandated ratio, I would venture to say most nurses would say they work short. Hospitals that have to follow staffing ratios would have to admit to shortages if they are below the mandated numbers. However if no mandated ratios, then the hospitals will want to work with the least amount of overhead (nurses in their eyes) and not staff adequately and feel there is no shortage since to them it means more money in their pockets. The bottom line is money not the true patient care issues.

The new medicare billing in October will make it very interesting to see if hospitals will begin to care about actual patient care or just sacrifice what is left of nursing. Nurses and adequate staffing will either be held in higher esteem and valued or they will be blammed and then there will indeed be a shortage. There is a storm brewing.

Toq

Specializes in Cardiac Tele, MICU RN.

I live in Detroit,MI and I got a job as soon as I graduated. There are many hospitals in michigan that are hiring nurses with and without bonuses. The payscale is pretty competitve, but fair in most hospitals here. I don't think I will ever have a problem getting a job here, if I wanted to switch hospitals.

Iowa is another state that seems oversaturated with nurses. 8 years ago when I was going for my first nursing job, it was so easy, so many options. However, shortly after I graduated, several more nursing programs opened up which quadrupled the number of nurses graduating each semester. So every three to four months, finding employment becomes more and more difficult. Even in the bigger cities, which I have lived in all of them! So I would really like to know where, other than Arizona, this "nursing shortage" is. I'm having a hard time even finding weekend work!

Anyone from Utah,NC, NM, Seattle?

I'm finishing up RN program in 2 months. From what I'm seeing in all of the hospitals, is Utah is over flooded with RNs. There are a ton of hiring freezes within hospitals and very few actual postings on openings with hundreds to sometimes thousands of qualified RNs applying for each position. This is not a good state to move to if you're planning on relocating for a RN job. I'm planning on relocating out of this state as soon as I graduate.:nurse:

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
Our teachers tell us that Florids and the southwest has alot of opportunities for new nurses.

NOT true...South east Florida the job market is very tight. I don't know about the north part of the state or the west coast...the nursing schools are turning out new grads faster than ever and way too many for the number of available positions. You see positions posted but that's b/c the hospitals have to keep a certain number of ads..it doesn't mean they are hiring. Again that is the game the hospitals play.

BTW....these small for profit nursing schools have to stop fueling this "nursing shortage" propagana and continue to lure in these unsuspecting souls and turn them out in record numbers..after charging them an arm and a leg for school...and telling them that the hospitals will be lining up for them at graduation and begging them to work for them..meanwhile...months later...no job.

For example, 10 years ago, in the county I live in, there were 2 nursing schools...now there are 8..... Gee Whiz...do the math...with the economy so poor and fewer nurses retiring and all of these new nurses entering into the equasion....this equals NO NURSING SHORTAGE in South Florida

Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

Don't know about Tucson, but the Phoenix-area does not have many job openings.

Specializes in Utilization management, psychiatric-mental health.

I am so curious, the responses that I read were from 2008 except the last two to three responses. I am curius about the job market for all states. I am open to relocation. Will be graduating next year. I am NY and I believe the "nursing shrotage" is BS. Excuse my attitude, but like everyone stated, the hsopitals have to show that they are recruiting but they usually are not hiring or they hire internally. It didn't take my HR experiece to notice this but ti definitely shined a "light" on why hospitals place unecessary hiring ads...

Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
nevermind.

there's still a shortage.

the few articles i skimmed, indicated NOT a shortage of nurses, but a shortage of nurses willing to work in current conditions.

leslie

I think it is the same here in Michigan.

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

No one here has mentioned the DC metro area. I have found it to be one of the areas in the Eastern coast with a decent amount of nursing openings. Many of the hospitals around here are unionized which drives the salaries up.

Vegas is the same way, masses of new nurses spilling out into a dead economy.

I would search "RN new grad" at indeed.com or similar site but don't put in a specific city...I did this and it seems TX and midwest cities have new grad hiring.

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

I think the proper question on this thread should be: which state has the least number of nurses flooded in their market...?

As you can see from the majority of the answers so far on this thread (and if you search the dozens of other similar posts in related threads) it becomes clear that there is no longer a national nursing shortage.

There is thread after thread about new grads that can't get hired...again...the question is..not where is the shortage...but where is the smallest overload, or the greatest chance of getting a job.

+ Add a Comment