Study on recession's effect on nursing shortage

Well they are not hiring new nurse in my area and everyone in my class that just graduated is having a difficult time finding a job!!!So maybe there isn't a nursing shortage after all.

The predicted nursing shortage is based on current medical and nursing practices and the fact nurses are aging. It the same light I hear Medicare is going bankrupt in 8 years. Do you really think that the Medicare we know is going to exist the same in the future.

My predictions for the next 10-20 years, the Medicare benefit will be cut, hospitalizations will be shorter and SNF under Medicare Benefit will be limited. Home care visits will be limited also. The need will be for Advanced Practice Nurses to act as MD extenders.

Assisted Living will grow and nursing home beds will be decreased. The older nurses will work longer.

MD offices tend to hire LPN not RNs.

Isn't that what everyone has been saying ? Most non traditional places other than hospitals look for experienced nurses ( home care, clinics, outpatient surgery, Home infusion therapy, insurance companies) I believe that is why new grads are having a hard time finding positions. I wonder how many RN positions have been eliminated, I know many nurses who have lost their jobs. With California bankrupt and will be reducing reimbursements, I would venture that many RN positions will be cut in CA.

All I see for positions in hospitals are for specialized nurses or management positions.

And you can bet your arse while they don't hire more nurses for the floor they have a stink load hired to sit on their backsides pushing paper around a big desk and giving us more papers to strain our eyes on for things as mundane as a smoking cessation request form for a non-smoker. >_<'

Perhaps recession is dependent on geographical location its economic status. Here in New York City, three acute hospitals closed not because of economic pressure of the current time but they have been doing poorly prior to the current recession. What happen to the nurses. Many relocated out of state and those who stayed got jobs immediately because of their specialized skills and opening of new beds by hospitals who are receiving the population of the recently closed hospitals.
Nursing shortage - it will be around for a great while because of the aging of the current nurses. In addition, the nursing profession became so dynamic and no longer dedicated to hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient services, etc. There are so many new roles and doors opening for nurses, including many non-clinical related work such as clinical documentations specialist, case management, DRG validator or coder, IT jobs, and even administrative jobs not related to clinical nursing. There is a growing sense that the healthcare industry needs to adjust to the so called nursing shortage and the problem of healthcare cost. Many expert look for providers to change or come out with a new methodology of care. The question is, do we really need a new methodology of care or should we look and evaluate our past and go back to basic, that is, taking care of our own. The complexities of our current family structure and responsibility may not be suitable to family care engagement, but what would be the best for those who needs care... just a thought.

in NJ the situation in no different. i've seen the web posted nursing positions drastically reduced

I too am thinking about and just interviewed for a clinic position-after 30 yr hospital bedside but inspite of all I am finding it extremely difficult to transition into that . bedside is all I know and really love it but I can't put up with this crap any more. it really frightens me of where this is all going. I remember the days when we med/surg nurses were still able to gracefully juggle our assignments- time management and priorty setting that was the THRILL of med/surg. I did try ICU- not for me, I couldn't stay in one spot or focused on 1 patient that long. it's such a shame for the new grads no positions for them when they are desperately needed, and they won't have us old nurses there to mentor them and teach them the ropes

You can't predict the future. A lot can change in a year; this last year is a perfect example. I've been doing this for a while & the job market will tighten for a time and then it will cycle back. It has happened many times before (without a recession). It is always frightening when it does tighten. However, one of my nursing instructors told me something I have never forgotten. She said, "you can always find a job as a nurse...it may not be the job that YOU WANT, but you can always find work", and I have definately found that to be the case. If this is what you want to do, then go and get your RN, don't stop with the LPN. Two things make you more marketable; experience & education. If the market is tight when you get out, you may have to take a less desirable nursing job for a period of time, but you can always move up or go to another job when things improve.