Nursing shortage???

flyersfan88 · May 19, 2015

While I appreciate what you are saying, it just isn't true for me. I haven't even started nursing school yet, and already two of my current students (who are each higher ups in 2 different visiting nurse agencies) have told me they have a job for me when I'm done if I want it. I probably won't want it, but if I need it, it's mine.
So, yeah, I'm not going to have a hard time finding a job, even by your standards. By my standards, and from what I've seen in other professions and fields, it *is* a walk in the park.
The way to get a job is by making connections and networking. I'm not kidding myself into thinking that even half the jobs I see online are available to me, they aren't because I don't have the connections to them. But it does give a good picture of what type of work is generally needed, and where that work is.

Hmm! Well you seem to have it all figured out! Good luck....not that you need it!

Editorial Team / Admin · May 19, 2015

While I appreciate what you are saying, it just isn't true for me. I haven't even started nursing school yet, and already two of my current students (who are each higher ups in 2 different visiting nurse agencies) have told me they have a job for me when I'm done if I want it. I probably won't want it, but if I need it, it's mine.
So, yeah, I'm not going to have a hard time finding a job, even by your standards. By my standards, and from what I've seen in other professions and fields, it *is* a walk in the park.
The way to get a job is by making connections and networking. I'm not kidding myself into thinking that even half the jobs I see online are available to me, they aren't because I don't have the connections to them. But it does give a good picture of what type of work is generally needed, and where that work is.

You haven't even started nursing school and you're already depending on what these other people are saying? A lot can change in the time you are in school, and I would definitely not rely on what these other people are saying to still be true at graduation time. You should still be out there doing things that can help you in the future: working somewhere in healthcare as a CNA, unit secretary, etc and networking.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · May 19, 2015

Both of the people I referred to are trusted friends who work in management for visiting nurse agencies. I will be out of school in January 2017, so it's not likely to be that different. Like I said before, I am not depending on these friends for a job, I would rather not start out as a visiting nurse, but I will use those resources if I need to. And yes, I know my own life pretty well.

There was a time when everybody with a license walked into a good job. That is not the case right now, but nursing is still a good field to get into. It isn't one of the many, many college majors that truly have no opportunity.

Finding a job isn't easy, but if you are a nurse, it will happen for you. You won't have to leave the profession, like my husband had to leave carpentry after the collapse of the housing market, like so many others who lost their jobs and never got them back. It isn't a disappearing field, it isn't becoming obsolete, it isn't truly a saturated field, it's flexible enough that you will find something to make a living as a nurse, even if it's not precisely what you wanted to do.

Unless you are an NP. Then you might be able to walk into a job, without knowing anyone, straight out of school. Especially PMHNP. I work in mental health right now and the lack of prescribers is really, really out of hand.

That's my perspective, as a non-nurse whose husband spent years out of work after the housing market crash. There are other factors that affect my perspective too. I never used my college degree for anything. I think it helped me be more well rounded but it wasn't worth what I paid for it. I started a business as a yoga teacher for special populations and did much better than the 14.00 per hour I could have gotten with my English Degree. My work in mental health programs is what helped me discover that I wanted to proceed to nursing. I have many, many business relationships which I will later use to get a job. That is my strength, and I will use it. I have weaknesses too. I can't relocate. If you are young and not well networked yet, you should start making connections in places where you could eventually get hired or want to get hired, and you should also consider relocating, and I think it's fair to say that you will be fine. You will be okay as a nurse. You will have marketable skills. It isn't a dead end, and there are many, many dead ends to education.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · May 20, 2015

A lot can change in 2 years. Your trusted friends' higher-ups may have friends who need jobs.

MatrixRn · May 21, 2015

Indeed, at present there is not a nursing shortage, but maybe, just maybe these schools are seeing something coming up on the horizon.

smartnurse1982 · May 21, 2015

Okay, 6 months to get a job does not seem like a long time to me, so I think we just have some different definitions of "can't get a job".
My husband was laid off from carpentry and was out of work for years and never even got back into the field, he does tree work now. That is my definition of "can't get a job" and being a former English major, I know all about not being able to get a job.

I live in the same area as you.

I am a working Adn Rn(without a Bsn).

If all goes well,i should have the Bsn by 2017.

This market is so saturated i made a post about going back to school for the Rn Bsn.

Oh,and you might be working as a nurse,but you might have to say goodbye to healthcare benefits,vacation time, sick days,even PTO.

My nursing wages look good on paper,but I lose in the benefits dept big time.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 22, 2015

Oh,and you might be working as a nurse,but you might have to say goodbye to healthcare benefits,vacation time, sick days,even PTO.
My nursing wages look good on paper,but I lose in the benefits dept big time.

Your point is salient. I have worked several nursing jobs that offered no benefits. The majority of my previous jobs offered mediocre benefits that were prohibitively expensive. It's sad when a supermarket clerk or fast food manager has benefits that are superior to those of nurses.

unknownjulie · Dec 26, 2017

So, it's now two years later. I just saw a list on "Yahoo" that included RN's as a "dime a dozen college major". It seems as though possibly the media is understanding that there is still a glut. I have managed to stay employed, but I am underemployed, lack company health insurance, have no company pension, and my wages are the same as 15 years ago! So many nurses I know have been injured doing this job and have received no compensation. Is the job market better or worse than 2 years ago? And what region/state are you in? I am currently in the south, but was just working on the west coast- where things were slightly better staffed due to a union, but the COL was through the roof! Also, I am seeing some notices of hospitals/clinics closing due to reimbursement issues