COVID-19, Nursing shortage, and Nursing Students

[Reggie445, LPN]

Many clinicals for nursing programs have been cancelled due to COVID-19 yet nurses are needed more than ever. Delaying future nurses is not a solution to this problem and much learning is done on the job after graduating. It may help future nurses to graduate sooner rather than later to be better prepared if COVID-19 lasts longer than a few more weeks or months. Also this set-up treatment sites will need staff (aka nurses and doctors) but many states can not depart with their own. By allowing senior nursing students to graduate now they have a better chance of getting the training they need for this situation it will also help increase the number of available healthcare workers with stealing from other needed areas. Please take time to consider this petition and sign if you agreed to graduating senior nursing students..... I am not saying that these students are ready, I am saying that graduating them earlier gives them a better chance to be ready by allowing more training time. There is the possibility that they will officially graduate and enter the workforce when this situation is at its worst and there is very limited training time for them. https://www.change.org/p/michigan-governor-gretchen-whitmer-the-healthcare-system-is-in-dire-need-let-senior-nursing-students-graduate?recruiter=1060099439&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=253a9fa0-6c94-11ea-b075-cda65030bef3&utm_content=fht-20953287-en-us%3Av2

[V.E.03]

Its student nurses and those waiting to take NCLEX. I was scheduled before they canceled my Pearson test.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

One could argue that there aren’t resources to train these student nurses if they were graduated early, including lack of staff, lack of time/attention from said staff due to the current circumstances, and of course lack of PPE.

[Reggie445, LPN]

3 minutes ago, JadedCPN said:

One could argue that there aren’t resources to train these student nurses if they were graduated early, including lack of staff, lack of time/attention from said staff due to the current circumstances, and of course lack of PPE.

True, but many of the students will be younger than many of the retired nurses that are being urged to re-enter the workforce and will perhaps have a better immune system if it comes down to limited PPE. Since this is an infectious situation the lack of staff will only get worse and many of the skill and experienced nurses may get sick and possibly die (worst case). Then you may have a situation where limited experienced nurses are available for the workforce and to train new nurses (however limited it maybe).

Once again, this is preparing for the worst case situation. Everything might get better soon. Just throwing options out there, everyone makes up their own decision. Either way I hope everyone can and will stay as safe as possible.

[Peggy Roos Lund, RN]

Perhaps let them help as graduate nurses and function at less than RN responsibilities. They'd still be extra help. It would be better than retired nurses like me going back to work when we are in the high risk category, and lacking the energy and stamina to work an 8 hour shift. "Back in the old days" when I was in school, we worked as rather "super" CMA's and our privileges we based on what year we were in school. As seniors, we worked with the same responsibilities as the LPNs

Just a thought.

[Texasmama72]

Last year students can practice in Tx currently. They are waiving reactivation fees and education requirements for expired licenses.

[sunny12u, BSN, RN]

Hi, I am currently an RN and because I chose not begin my career right after graduation, (obviously this was a BIG mistake) and because of that fact, I have never worked as an RN. I did not receive any offers for a residency. I passed the NCLEX in 75 questions and kept current on my BLS, ACLS and went on to attain an ENPC, TNCC cert. to keep my head in the game.

I chose to continue working with the job I had because of financial and family obligations. I have continued to apply for jobs over the years and realize that unless I could get a residency or go back and complete a refresher course that I would never work as an RN.

Now we have this Covid-19 crisis and I am willing and ready to join the RN core. However, because I do not have the minimum required 1 year of acute care experience, I am still considered not hirable. I am truly sorry that I did not take more initiative. Timing is everything so they say.

I am hoping this crisis will end soon and I am praying for all the nurses. I hope they be able to sustain themselves thru it and survive this catastrophe.

[angelberry]

Washington state has a call for healthcare providers who are not necessarily licensed in WA. They need people to help in many different aspects of nursing. There may be opportunity to do a from home/phone answer type of work if you are not in that state. Info can be located on the WA DOH website homepage. It might be a way for you get into the field regardless of your experience level.

[sunny12u, BSN, RN]

Thank you so much! I will check into it. Appreciate your responding.

[Texasmama72]

Good luck!

[bluescrubs, ADN, ASN, RN]

7 hours ago, sunny12u said:

Hi, I am currently an RN and because I chose not begin my career right after graduation, (obviously this was a BIG mistake) and because of that fact, I have never worked as an RN. I did not receive any offers for a residency. I passed the NCLEX in 75 questions and kept current on my BLS, ACLS and went on to attain an ENPC, TNCC cert. to keep my head in the game.

I chose to continue working with the job I had because of financial and family obligations. I have continued to apply for jobs over the years and realize that unless I could get a residency or go back and complete a refresher course that I would never work as an RN.

Now we have this Covid-19 crisis and I am willing and ready to join the RN core. However, because I do not have the minimum required 1 year of acute care experience, I am still considered not hirable. I am truly sorry that I did not take more initiative. Timing is everything so they say.

I am hoping this crisis will end soon and I am praying for all the nurses. I hope they be able to sustain themselves thru it and survive this catastrophe.

If you really want to work as an RN apply to corrections, LTC or something out of the hospital. Residency requires you graduated no longer than a year ago. So if its been longer than a year you will most likely be disqualified. Also be open to relocating. I'm a new grad and for the area that I am in competition is crazy because we have so many nursing schools. I got an offer for corrections but its actually a mental health facility, my patients just happen to be prisoners and I am waiting to hear back from another interview that I recently did. Both interviews I got are hours away from my house but I knew relocating was a must for me if I wanted to find a job anytime soon.

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic the hospitals near me hasn't called me. They want experienced nurses that can hit the ground running and don't have to train. In a time like this a new grad wouldn't be ideal to take care of a patient by them-self. I would hire new grads maybe for CNA work, starting IV's and med pass under an experienced RN. Just to help with the work load. A new RN may miss something in labs or assessment that someone with the one year experience would notice. IDK why people become RN's and do not try and find work after passing the NCLEX. Before the pandemic, I was telling some classmates to hurry up and schedule the NCLEX and they kept putting it off. Now look, they can't take it for God knows how long. IDK if residency programs will be accommodating to those people next year. Contrary to popular belief, there is not really a nursing shortage. We have one now because there is a pandemic but even if they hospitals were fully staffed there isn't enough PPE's, beds and ventilators if we get hit like Italy.

[Artemis, CNA]

Unfortunately, there is not a “best case scenario”. Yes, nurses entering the work force without the extra clinical/teaching hours is a set-back, as is having to jump into a healthcare crisis right away. However, they are predicting this to get worse and/or last for awhile.