Are Allied Health training programs exacerbating the nursing shortage?

Published

Allied Health training programs advertise and recruit pretty aggressively. When I went through the Medical Assistant program I had no idea that I could go to nursing school for far less money and not that much more time. I think most people considering these programs are as clueless as I was and I wonder how many of them would enter nursing in the absence of such programs.

I don't know how to add an actual poll, but here is the question:

Have Allied Health training programs exacerbated the nursing shortage by aggressively recruiting students that may have otherwise entered nursing school?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I love your question and have thought that for a long time.

I'm taking prereqs for an RN program and there are lots of people doing the same prereqs for the MA in classes with me.

I want to tell them, "You're going to be looking for a job for a LONG TIME!!!"

But, they never ask my opinion, so......

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you might be right. I never considered that before. When I went through MA school, I thought I was lucky to just be doing that...at the time I never thought formal nursing school would ever be a possibility for me. And that program cost more than double what I am paying for my RN program. Sad...but it makes me ever so much more grateful to be in school now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Staff Dev--Critical Care & Trauma.

I would say yes and no. Nursing programs tend--tend--to be offered by not-for-profit institutions although, yes, that is changing (UoP comes to mind). Wheras MA and tech programs tend to be offered by for-profit schools. How does that matter? Those who attend not-for-profit schools, be they community or university, tend to be looking at career choices and education overall, rather than "I need a new job that pays well."

A gross generalization, to be sure. However, someone going into nursing because they need a new job that pays well won't last long either in school or in the workforce. So even if they made it into nursing, the shortage probably wouldn't be significantly relieved because I imagine their turnover would be high.

Now, what about those who would actually like to be nurses but instead go into the MA and tech programs? MA and tech programs are touted as being cheap. How many nursing programs brag about that? Also--and this is significant--they have great advertising.

Seriously.

"I really wanted to help people. Now I get to help people feel better as I work along side doctors."

Pretty good point, that.

How about those DeVry commercials that show all the great things in life? One could easily do that for a nursing program...

Close up of handsome/beautiful person on the beach enjoying sunset with the family. The dog runs up with a stick in his mouth. Voiceover...

"I was at a dead end in my life. I felt like I was going nowhere. I had no rewards."

Cut to handsome/beautiful person studying in a classroom, cut to person working with a patient simulator. Voiceover...

"I wanted a career that made me feel like I mattered, that I was helping people. I wanted a career that focused on science and critical thinking. I enrolled in the Nursing program at Institute of Higher Learning."

Cut to handsome/beautiful person working with real patients in real settings: surgery, ICU, Emergency. Voiceover...

"Now I'm an integral part of the health care team. What I do matters and is valued."

Cut back to beach at sunset. Voiceover...

"I make a great living, and my flexible schedule allows me to spend important time with the people I love. Sound interesting? Call about the Nursing program at Institute of Higher Learning. You'll be glad you did!"

Now, those people who want a career instead of a job may still decide on an MA or tech track, but it wouldn't be for a lack of knowing what's out there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

but what you seem to forget is that there is a shortage in the allied field and you never hear about it all you hear about is the nursing shortage. there is a storage in the lab field and many other allied fields.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Staff Dev--Critical Care & Trauma.

Very true. Even more reason to have cracker jack advertising for nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.

I will never think adding MORE nurses and taking away form allied health will help the 'shortage'. There are plenty of nurses, just too many refusing to work underpaid and underappreciated as bedside nursing often is. Plus many nsg schools are already hard enough to get into, adding more people to the list of possible students trying to get in wont really do much either.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Urgent Care.

When you don't do your research regarding career opportunities then you probably get what you sow.

Mex

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's difficult, though. If you go to the BLS website it shows that medical assisting is one the fastest growing careers and that job options are excellent. It is easier now, but when I went the internet was brand new. I had no clue about nursing programs and I was responding to a television ad. When you go in you meet with a "counselor" who gives you a test and then tells you how the test shows that this is the perfect career. I think if you are young it is easy to fall for that and to believe that a "counselor" has your best interest in mind. Obviously, I know better now, but those "counselors" are more aggressive than used car salesmen.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't think these allied programs have contributed to the so-called nursing shortage. From what many of the nurses post on this site say, especially the Commuter (help me out with the exact figures. :D ), there really isn't a shortage of nurses.

I do notice that the costs of these allied programs are often more than the cost of a nursing diploma. For instance, my LPN program costs less than $6,000, while I see ads for surgical-assistant programs that cost over $8,000, but the LPN earns more money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I would have to say no. Even if people said "Hey I want to be a nurse instead of a medical assistant," it doesn't mean they'd end up being a nurse.

There are thousands of qualified applicants turned down from nursing schools yearly because there aren't enough spots to train them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There are plenty of pre-nursing students, so I don't think the problem lies in "interest" or desire to be a nurse. These students are so interested that many of them have straight As and stellar records, yet still can't get in (I read of a lot on this site).

I know of a lot of people who wish they'd majored in something else. Just think of all the Starbuck's workers who have english or psych degrees! I guess it's the first real test out in the real world-it's a decision that impacts our lives in many ways, the career decision.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment