Can anyone tell me why there is a nurse shortage???

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I will be a new nursing student in the fall but am wondering why so many people are leaving the nursing profession? :confused: Could some of you help me out here and let me know what is going on. I am really looking forward to a nursing career but wonder what the deal is on why there is such a shortage and why people are predicting more of a shortage in the years to come. Thanks to all!

THE REASON THERE IS A NURSING SHORTAGE, IS BECAUSE OF NURSES ALWAYS COMPLAINING AND NOT USING OUR OWN POWER TO CHANGE THINGS.

wE NEED TO STOP COMPLAINING AND START ACTING, WE NEED TO RECRUIT BRIGHT STUDENTS AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ENTER NURSING NOT SCARE THEM AWAY.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

because we are "TOO SHORT"?

I personally had to quit working in the hospital after I injured my back. It was the 7p to 7a shift on Easter Sunday. I volunteered to work (no extra pay for holidays, I was thinking of the nurses with kids) They scheduled two LPN's (yes, I'm a Low Paid Nurse) and the RN charge with 9 surgical patients to get ready for transfers and Monday surgeries. Plus 2 admissions because the medical floor got fed up with all the admissions they were getting.

I was actually assigned to the medical floor but they floated me out ALOT because I didn't complain as much as the others. and the other areas had never complained about me.

If they thought more of the nurses they have so many would not be leaving the profession to do other things. There isn't really a shortage, just a shortage of nurses working in the hospitals.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVOR,CNOR,NEURO,TRAUMA,TRANSPLANTS.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

WE EAT OUR YOUNG

BURN OUT

LACK OF RESPECT

RODE HARD AND PUT UP WET

OVER WORKED UNDERPAID

UNAPPRECIATED

WALKED ON LIKE A BAD RUG

TALKED TO LIKE A CHILD BY DRS

LOOKED AT LIKE MORONS

PAID LIKE WE WORK AT MC DONALDS

ASSEMBLY LINE NURSING

WHY WE DO IT

ITS WHAT WE DO AND WE DO IT EVERY DAY AND IM A GLUTEN FOR PUNISHMENT

AND A SMILE FROM A PATIENT TAKES ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF AWAY

AND TO SEE THE YOUNG NURSE CRAWL HER SELF OUT OF THE OLDER NURSES THROAT, AND BE A BETTER NURSE THAN HER!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That was well put.

I never ate the new nurse or the students in clinical on the floor. I remembered that look in their eyes from the inside. That feeling in your heart that THIS is what you want to do with all your heart. I remember being so tired but still studing at 2:30 am for an exam...because I didn't want to be a"C" nurse.

I miss floor nursing every day. I feel like a piece of my heart is numb and that I am not doing what God wants me to do. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome after a back injury (at work). I fought the hospital tooth and nail to go back to work, and won when I reminded them of the ADA. I lasted five shifts.

I couldn't work a full 12 hr shift, so I was scheduled for 6 hr shifts. BUT they didn't schedule anyone for the other six hrs. I quit so that my fellow nurses would not have to continue to pick up extra patients because management had a point to prove. I loved my job and my fellow nurses...LPN or RN it didn't matter. We are sisters in the care of people in need of adequate staffing and well trained nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVOR,CNOR,NEURO,TRAUMA,TRANSPLANTS.

With a heart like yours Its a shame they couldnt work something out. Your knowledge and wisdom is so welcomed to be listened to by me anytime . I do hope that you begin to feel better and remain a healthy and happy one. Much Love Zoe

Up Vote Up Vote ×
originally posted by acnorn

as i said, opinions are fine. there are other factors that are the root causes of the negative experiences that nurses are facing at the bedside. until we deal with the root causes, the nursing experience is not going to get better. i tend to be action oriented and prefer getting to a solution rather than sitting and being unhappy with my situation. melh obviously doesn't know the reasons for the nursing shortage or she wouldn't ask. the opinions of the other respondents are no doubt heart-felt and true, but they don't give her any understanding of the "why" of the nursing shortage. opinions are just great. they are certainly all over this nursing forum - albeit most of them negative. a few facts don't hurt anyone either. if you want an opinion, mine is that no one will ever enter nursing if they read many of these posts.

man...nail right on the head!

i am relatively new here and i tend to get a little frustrated with some of the posts i see here. i joined because i thought i could use this bb avenue to network with other nurses in the profession (yes...it is still a profession!) of healthcare delivery to learn more about "global" nursing issues and how others have either found a solution or using "something" that is beneficial. but more often than not, i hear gripping, whining and complaining, about aspects of the nursing industry that has existed for ages and won't go anywhere by the rambling bickers vented here.

now, before anyone gets bent outta shape reading this post...yes, i understand there are some aspects of nursing that truly sucks. "sucks, sucks, sucks! i'm there with you. but going around the mulberry bush by glorifying personal incidents of nursing injustices' just doesn't get anyone anywhere. maybe venting does help short term, but long term, what's a solution? i had a manager whose philosophy was you couldn't bring her a problem or a gripe unless you had a solution or an idea for a solution. at first the department thought she was dodging her duties to lead. but as we witnessed every gripe we bought to her, our solutions implemented, we realized she was a person trying to "make it" work as we all where, and using our ideas made a big difference in trusting her to lead.

all this is to say i appreciate your post, acnorn. it was fact based without being sterile of personality. thank you for adding specific data amongst the "i think its because.... and its not fair and i hate...." posts.

no doubt this post will get dragged to the edge of the city and stoned ;). if it helps another nursing peer feel better about to judge and belittle, in the form of an "opinion", then i'm happy to make someone's day

s_bsn

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Where to start...as most others have said low pay, long hours that take a toll on you physically(12 hour shifts are the in thing), even though you hold a degree and are a professional you are treated as a glorified waitress by families, lack of respect by physicians (even verbally abused by them at times), weekends, holidays (not bad when you're single but when you have a family it is very tough), exposure to infectious potentially deadly diseases. Oh yes my favorite after 10 years in L&D, the joy of being involved in a lawsuit if the outcome is not perfect regardless of the cause. (never happened to me yet but I've watched some coworkers go through it). I became a nurse because my mother was an RN and she shoved me into it. She was the old school where it was really the only "secure " job for a woman. If I'd had a choice I probably would not have persued this profession even though I have found a measure of satisfaction especially lately since working for Hospice. Go ahead and do your best at college but keep your eyes wide open and remember why you decided to do this in the first place..helping others. GOOD LUCK!!!

:) :) :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Family members are a big problem for me. The ones who aren't satisfied no matter what you do. Every shift I work, there's always at least one in my face about something that usually has nothing to do with me, my shift, and sometimes not even nursing. I'm really tired of having a job where I can't work without being harassed by somebody. And nowadays they're looking for a quick buck, so the word "sue" drops readily from their lips. I'm no pushover, and always put these people in their place. But I'm just tired of having to deal with it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ya know...In Cali, they come in with attornies!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Dear Mel. I am a male nurse. In this field sex makes no difference. in fact I think I hate this career more then the average female does. Some say that more males in the field will help, but very few if any male nurses will wan't to put up with this pathetic career any more then I will. I have read many replies on this and I agree with all of them. Yes, this was primarily a "womans job" and still holds the sexist non-verbal slander that woman have put up with for years. The "OH THEY WILL TAKE WHAT WE GIVE THEM" is still the domineering attitude of hospital executives. While they go home to there mansion you will still be puting up with slave labor, slave hours, and very close to slave pay. For example, my sister has been a pharmacist at wallgreens for only 2 years. Allready she makes $90,000.00 a year! This is what we should be making. I guarantee you it is not going to happen short of a nation wide walk out, which I wish we could organize

:-) After 3 years I am leaving the so called career for pharmacy school myself. If you decide that you don't wan't to believe all of us, give it a shot. All I will say is if you do, work in the most difficult intense unit you can for one year. Then go agency. Atleast that way you will get paid close to what we all rightly deserve. Good luck, but run anyway.

August :-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by ruffhouser

I don't think that you said anything that was awful. I am a new RN. My supervisors are fine thus far. However, in my former line of work (banking), I had both male and female supervisors. For the most part, I found that the male bosses were much easier to work with, especially when it came to family issues (sick child, etc.). I never abused the family issues thing, but the male bosses were always willing to work with me while the females were very difficult and catty. Just my $0.02!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
:confused: Geez, gals and guys!!! Should I be entering this field??? I know I love taking care of people but I can do without all the extras!!! Will I get a taste of it during clinicals?? What should I expect? I don't want to get into a field that I am going to feel like cussing everyone out in!! :p YIKES!!!!! I can bite my tongue but not for too long!:rolleyes:
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment