Any projections for nursing employment in the current and near future economy?

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Hello Colleagues,

As the economy worsens with huge numbers of layoffs, it seems to me that loss of jobs means of loss of health care coverage leading to decreased utilization of hospital beds and health care services. Any projections how this will effect nursing employment at all levels of the industry?

Yikes, this thread is scaring me a bit. I've been looking into nursing school and have asked myself a similar question based on noticing the numbers applying to nursing programs (I read it's the 3rd most popular major in the US) and the waiting lists for some programs. I'm scared that if I commit this time and money at this point that when I graduate the market will be flooded.

Any input on that? Or do you think things will be looking up in a few years due to the aging population?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.
Yikes, this thread is scaring me a bit. I've been looking into nursing school and have asked myself a similar question based on noticing the numbers applying to nursing programs (I read it's the 3rd most popular major in the US) and the waiting lists for some programs. I'm scared that if I commit this time and money at this point that when I graduate the market will be flooded.

Any input on that? Or do you think things will be looking up in a few years due to the aging population?

Despite what you hear about any "dire" shortage to come, the only shortage that will remain is the one created the hospitals because of their budget. Nurses will work short-staffed and positions will remain unfilled. Due to the economy nurses at retirement age are not retiring. People are renewing their nursing licenses and heading back to the floors. Nursing schools are pumping out more graduates than ever before to keep up with the imaginary demand. I do not see this changing in the next few years.

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I doubt that you have to worry about employment by the time you get down with school. Historically, the economy has to come down at some point and usually picks back up after a little bit. I don't think this will be going on forever.

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Specializes in cardiac rehab, medical/tele, psychiatric.
Despite what you hear about any "dire" shortage to come, the only shortage that will remain is the one created the hospitals because of their budget. Nurses will work short-staffed and positions will remain unfilled. Due to the economy nurses at retirement age are not retiring. People are renewing their nursing licenses and heading back to the floors. Nursing schools are pumping out more graduates than ever before to keep up with the imaginary demand. I do not see this changing in the next few years.

I have to agree. The economy is going to take some time to rebound and I believe that the nursing shortage was based on projections regarding age of retirement and the average length of employment (there is a high burn-out rate, especially with new nurses). The economy was a monkey-wrench that throws the equation out the window. We were told today that case management will be taking mandatory time off and if there are any resignations (Nurses), the positions will remain unfilled.:(

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Specializes in Home Care, Primary care NP, QI, Nsg Adm.

While all this bad news puts in a crimp in my plans to return home this year, I wonder what all this will mean to patient care. I wonder if it will be similar to the 80's when HMO's took off and reduced RN staff to cut costs.

If burn-out is high now, what about after a few months from now?

A question, I've been overseas 13 years and until getting more involved on Allnurses over the past few months, I really did not have any insights to what was happening in nursing in the States. Could someone give me a bit of background on why the big burn out, especially in new grads, and is it common to find friction b/tween staff nurses and nursing administration? I'm picking that up on different posts.

Thanks

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I doubt that you have to worry about employment by the time you get down with school. Historically, the economy has to come down at some point and usually picks back up after a little bit. I don't think this will be going on forever.

I agree and while it varies widely by area imo the issue is more about less overtime, less prime openings and less agency nurses due to cost cutting. In the past few years nursing has been pretty flush in most areas. I started out in a speciality as a new grad making $38 an hour. Thankfully shifts are still plentiful at my hospital but like I wrote there is less OT and no agency nurses now. As far as I'm concerned in the near future there will be plenty of decent paying jobs in LTC if we are willing.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
I agree and while it varies widely by area imo the issue is more about less overtime, less prime openings and less agency nurses due to cost cutting. In the past few years nursing has been pretty flush in most areas. I started out in a speciality as a new grad making $38 an hour. Thankfully shifts are still plentiful at my hospital but like I wrote there is less OT and no agency nurses now. As far as I'm concerned in the near future there will be plenty of decent paying jobs in LTC if we are willing.

Yeah. Thats how I see it too. I think a lot of perks are disapearing and its time to just worry about having a job right now.

Me, I'm looking for a staff position, ready to get out of travel nursing. My recruiter says I have nothing to worry about but..........pfffft.......he is not my source of info or advice on things of this nature.

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Well we did the same. Reduced Travelers and Agency Nurses and are hiring on Staff Nurses. Only problem we are having is our location. When I read here that so many Nurses cannot find a job in their area and we are having difficulties finding Nurses to move to our area. Not even speaking of RN Directors.

So Jobs are still there...might just not be where you are at :D

If I was a Nurse, I probably would love to work as a Traveler for a while and then settle down somewhere in a Staff position and work my way up into Management. But that's just me. Well, you never know, I might still end up going back to school one day. :)

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Country Mom,

Thanks for that update. If you don't mind what region of the country are you in. I'm evaluating a repat back to the States this year after 14 years working in Saudi but all signs point seem to suggest things will get worse before they get better and I may just stay put for another year. Its tough job searching from overseas, especially during the present downturn.

I'm from NY but looking in Northern Virgina, Pennsylvania (central), [born in Pittsburgh and did RN and NP education there] and upstate New York, Albany area.

Thanks again for the info.

I would say, take a look at the current unemployment rates nationally. Michigan is currently #1 in unemployment. Where you see high unemployment, you know the ecomony is going downhill. I also heard on NPR radio that North Dakota is booming economically. Anyone from that neck of the woods?

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Specializes in Home Care, Primary care NP, QI, Nsg Adm.

I think the brunt of this recession has not been fully felt and the worst is yet to come. All service industries are affected; no work, no health insurance. Even if the need for health care workers is there, the revenues may not be and that's what will determine hiring.

Hopefully, meaningful health care reform comes soon.

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Hopefully, meaningful health care reform comes soon.

That is the $64000 question! My hubby lived in Australia with his now Ex-W. HC was paid for by the government. All medical was free! The catch? (1) High taxes and (2) you cannot SUE! (the example my DH uses is: if the doc cuts off the wrong leg, you have no recourse. They will bring you in and cut of the one they were supposed to cut off the first time!)

So we have to be careful of what we ask for.

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I would have to say that in Chicago, the economy has definitely hit the healthcare fields. I interviewed with a very well known hospital here and got a call about 2 weeks after interviewing that they were not going to be able to fill the position due to the economy. I have been applying at a lot of hospitals since October and I can't seem to find any work. I am a new grad and so eager to start my career. Any advice for us new grads looking for employment??

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