Does anyone in the US NOT have a shortage?

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jun 30, 2005

I don't believe in posting locations, because these forums are far from anonymous, but I CAN tell you that the shortage is MOST DEFINITELY NOT everywhere.

TPTB have largely brought about whatever shortage there is upon themselves. Back in the years of the "overages" when nurses were replaced with UAPs, and the way some places continue to treat their nurses - even places without shortages seem to be trying to create them. I know many nurses who have left the bedside (and several who have left the profession altogether) because working conditions were so poor. However, if you live in an area where there are several nursing schools cranking out a flock of new grads every year, there are always new faces to replace the ones who are leaving. Things even themselves out.

Some places like to use the "shortage" as a convenient excuse to understaff (putting dollars in corporate pockets). They will list available positions, but they will never respond to applications. They tell the staff to "tough it out" while they are working short, pointing to the listed positions and saying "we are trying to get more nurses, but there is a shortage you know...." Meanwhile, people who apply for those listed positions never hear back from HR. Sure, some will come along and say "oh surely not...why would they list positions if they do not intend to fill them..." but it DOES happen and there are many on these boards who have seen such dealings first hand.

Long story short --- YES there are places without a shortage. I have a feeling that there are many more of them than health care executives would like for us to believe.

kathc · Jul 1, 2005

In our area there is a shortage (Rochester,NY area) - at least if you're talking long term care and talking LPN. It is hard as an LPN to get into the hospitals without at least one year experience and only in certain areas. BUT LTC you can have a few jobs if you want. I work in a large (500 bed) LTC facility and I could probably work a double every day if I wanted. Not sure about the RN shortage. We just hired a bunch of LPNs, so I know they are trying. But with competition with other LTC facilities, it is hard to get and retain nurses.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 1, 2005

Inability to retain nurses is not a nursing shortage. It is reaping what you sow. If they had nurses, but the nurses left - that does not mean that there are not enough nurses...it means they are too cheap or too short-sighted to retain the nurses they had. The nurses don't disappear...they are still out there. They just happen to be looking for better opportunities. If the nurses find greener pastures elsewhere - more power to them, I say.

kathc · Jul 1, 2005

Inability to retain nurses is not a nursing shortage.

It depends. If other facilities are short handed and competing to get these people, then yes it is a nursing shortage. Actually our place pays pretty well and the benefits are county benefits, which are excellent. BUT some other places pay a bit higher per hour or have sign on bonses. A few nurses do end up coming back. I agree that retaining nurses is not always due to a shortage, but in this area it is...too much competition - at least in LTC and at least for LPNs.

live4today, RN · Jul 1, 2005

.....................................TPTB have largely brought about whatever shortage there is upon themselves. Back in the years of the "overages" when nurses were replaced with UAPs, and the way some places continue to treat their nurses - even places without shortages seem to be trying to create them. I know many nurses who have left the bedside (and several who have left the profession altogether) because working conditions were so poor...................................................................................
Some places like to use the "shortage" as a convenient excuse to understaff (putting dollars in corporate pockets). They will list available positions, but they will never respond to applications. They tell the staff to "tough it out" while they are working short, pointing to the listed positions and saying "we are trying to get more nurses, but there is a shortage you know...." Meanwhile, people who apply for those listed positions never hear back from HR. Sure, some will come along and say "oh surely not...why would they list positions if they do not intend to fill them..." but it DOES happen and there are many on these boards who have seen such dealings first hand.
Long story short --- YES there are places without a shortage. I have a feeling that there are many more of them than health care executives would like for us to believe.

:yeahthat: And THAT'S the truth in a nutshell! :) I couldn't have said it better myself! :cheers:

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jul 1, 2005

Agree with Cheerful, some facilities use bait and switch to get rid of potential employees who keep knocking on the door. You know, yes that was the position originally, but now you have to stand on your head and whistle while you pass meds, or some such silly requirements that a nurse, especially an experienced one, does not even begin to want to do. The other way is to overload, overload, overload with duties, patients, and requirements until it is not worth the money and effort to work for the place.

Many more places are beginning to reap a bitter harvest because they thought nurses were and are a dime a dozen.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 1, 2005

Situations like THIS may be part of the answer as to why there is a "shortage":

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110395

Only 6 months a nurse and already ready to quit nursing due to abuse and overwork.

Most nurses know about these things---we are preaching to a choir when we bang the gong about this here. The administrators know this too. But they prefer to put the blame and burden on "nursing" for all the ills/problems relating to healthcare business if they possibly can. Why not? It's easy, nursing is an easy target to paint with such a broad brush named "nursing shortage".