Everyone seems to be turning to nursing. I remember way back when (5 years ago) when nursing was a calling. There were still other jobs a person could do and make a living--like heating and air conditioning. Now nursing is a lifeboat--a recesion-proof job that anyone and everyone is considering.
I see post after post in here of people who have no experience, no particular desire, and no particular aptitude for nursing inquiring about nursing as a job. They need something to pay the bills. I just went to a restaurant tonight, and two of our waiters are starting nursing school.
Let's face it, with the coming depression, nursing wages are attractive. So here's a prediction, please tell me if you agree or disagree:
Nursing boards will start requiring a 4-year degree to sit for the NCLEX.
The Nursing shortage is going to end in about 3 years; in five there will be a glut of nurses and getting a job will be about like getting a job as an NP is now.
Travel agencies will cease to exist and agency nursing will go the way of the way of the dinosaur.
Without unions, hospitals will force nurses to take about 14 patients a shift and will simply fire those who won't do it.
I linked to this thread because I recently attended some job fairs in a major Texas metropolitan area and, like many have said, thought I could get a job anywhere, anytime as a nurse. I was surprised to find that wasn't the case. When I inquired about programs for experienced nurses returning to the bedside (I've been in an executive nursing position for some time) the hospital recruiters said there were internships for new graduates, but they were not available to experienced nurses.
I found it ironic that the lead story and CE article in the December 2008 Texas Nurses Association's "Texas Nursing Voice" was about the nursing shortage.
I'm curious, bossynursemom, was this just in the urban areas or included the rural areas as well?
I am still of the opinion that there will be a nursing shortage, but I don't know how much it will affect urban areas versus rural. Urban areas not only offer more schools, they offer more opportunities for young people who will make up the bulk of the new nurses.
My belief is that rural areas, communities distant from large cities with populations under 10,000, will still have hospitals and clinics but not offer many of the amenities that large cities offer. ICUs are nearly non-existant, ERs are relatively light and don't offer much excitement. After work entertainment is probably almost nil.
I believe that there are nurses who will be interested in these areas, who, like myself, would like to raise a family away from the hustle of large cities. But they offer little for a young person.
I'm curious, bossynursemom, was this just in the urban areas or included the rural areas as well?
The hospitals were urban but included positions in their outlying satellites as well. I want to work in east Texas - we own acreage where we plan to eventually retire - but the regional hospitals especially need someone with recent acute care experience. Like travel nurses, their staff may need to work any position on short notice.
I have 10 years' hospital experience but it's been about that many years ago.
My plan was to improve my clinical skills in a hospital here in the city so I would be better prepared for a variety of settings. I have even returned to school for my BSN, but the clinical rotations are community health and management, not acute care. It's a curious cycle: one needs recent acute care experience in order to get the acute care experience one needs.
There is another job fair tomorrow - any suggestions?
No, I think you're doing what is needed--getting some experience in order to qualify for a position that will give you the experience you need (read "Catch-22" if you ever get a chance, it sounds a lot like that).
I'm in a similar position--actually an RT that has worked nursing informatics for 10 years so I've been out of the clinical setting that long. I came to this website to get some advice on nursing school and got caught up in this thread.
However, eventually, I would like to put my combined RT/RN to work clinically and, with 10 years out of the clinical field, know that I'm going to have to basically start all over again just like a new grad. But, unlike a new grad, I can push my past knowledge of not just bedside care but my age may actually work in my favor--after all, do I really want to change jobs when I'm 60? And I know what hospital life is like. Probably not solid points but worth a try.
There is another job fair tomorrow - any suggestions?
I think the medical community, especially nurses, should oppose active voluntary and involuntary euthanasia at all turns--otherwise there won't be any need for nurses anymore. How many nursing homes for dogs to do you see?
That's the whole point. The government would as soon see this happen, that makes fewer people they have to spend our tax dollars on, and more they can use to fight wars.
We've got to get over the notion that our government cares about us. They do not care, that's a no-brainer if you ax me.
I agree with you about the nursing shortage and the possibility of increasing the requirements to sit for the boards. I'm an LPN (with one class to go for my RN) and there certainly DOES NOT seem to be a shortage in the LPN department!!
I've been looking for a job for the last 3 months and the outlook looks bleak (unless I want to go into a long term facility). The long term facility burned me out in just 3 years. I was on the "rehab" side and had 20-22 patients a shift. My responsibilities included med pass, wound care, tube feedings, etc. I had to work an extra half hour supposedly for my "lunch time". What a joke... what lunch time. I was lucky to get enough time to go to the bathroom and I still had a heck of a time completing my work!!!! I was truly concerned about the quality of care I was giving.
One night, I was so exhausted that I almost hit a gas tanker truck in the rear-end while I was doing 50mph. I didn't even see it until I almost hit it. That scared me enough to quit my job!!
Right now, RN jobs seems to be fairly plentiful in Michigan but with the influx of new students, that will soon be a thing of the past. The saddest part about all of this..............A LOT of them entering into nursing are doing it for the MONEY, NOT because they are compasionate or want to give good patient care but they want the big pay-check!
I too have been thinking about the nursing shortage. I don't know what to think. For one thing, I have never seen the economy is such dire straits as I have seen now. I am really scared and going back to work.
I do know a lot of nursing students are having a hard time in school due to the nursing instructors, either being incompetent or lazy or both.
If there is a glut of nurses, I kind of think it won't be bad because of the multitude of people coming into this country. More and more people means we need more nurses. People are living longer and that puts stress on the medical facilities. I am thinking that we will still need many many nurses. The whole character of our country has changed since the 70's or 80's and our population has blossomed.
I say right now Nursing is recession proof, but it is not for everyone. Don't go into if you really don't want to help people, because you will do a disservice to the profession and you will only make yourself miserable. It is a hard profession.
My experience in 47 years has been that I always had a choice of jobs; granted during that time the pay was not great and hours inflexable but a job non the less. I'm approaching retirement and my understanding is that in the State of Washington the average age for an RN is 47-50 years old; many will be in my situation before long and will need to be replaced; some of us work longer than others and may also need more funds to retire due to personal conditions. I agree that those that choose to go into nursing with only the pay check and ease of employment may not last through the first true emergency as more is required to see the job done right. To be flexable and deversify training and experience and truly love what you do helps keep you in the work force. Rehab3
THAT YOU CAN ,IV THERAPY,WOUNDCARE CERTIFICATION,ACLS ETC.....
NEW OR OLD BE THE VERY BEST YOU CAN TO STAND OUT YOU WILL BE
A COMMODITY.
You make a really good point about developing specific marketable skills. When I was ACLS certified years ago it was a big deal; now the hospitals expect nurses to be ACLS certified before they are hired. Any advanced certifications we can get will give us more of an edge.
When real estate was selling like hot dogs at a ball game, everyone wanted to get a license and sell real estate. During the recession of the early 90's the paper was filled with nursing jobs and huge sign on bonuses. People flocked to nursing and the sign on bonuses disappeared. Eventually, there were fewer jobs as hospitals merged, and managed care grew.
If you study the Great Depression, you find that jobs in nursing and for physicians did not fair well. Poor people would not hesitate to go to free clinics, there was no loss of respect for them. The rich got good care because they could afford it. But, the middle class----they couldn't afford the care and they couldn't drag themselves to go to a free clinic. Doctors and hospitals found themselves with no customers. Lots of nurses couldn't find work. WWII saved a lot of doctors and nurses.
So, to the questions.
I see hospitals experimenting with the concept of "bidding" for a 13 week contract as a contract labor nurse. Basically the same concept of a travel agency nurse, without the agency. There are no benefits, but a higher hourly rate. No insurance costs, no vacation pay, no retirement plan. Much cheaper on the hospital than an agency. I look for this to become more popular.
Also look for more part time positions to be available, but few full time. Again, reduced or no benefits.
Hospitals are getting squeezed. Fewer patients that are doing elective procedures (where the real BIG bucks are). More patients with NO insurance seeking care. Fewer and lower payments from Medicare/medicaid----look at the 17 no pay items that went into effect Oct 1). Supplies that are petroleum based (don't count on oil staying under $100 barrel for long) Nursing is still the largest outlay of money. Look to the above as a potential to lower costs substantially while still maintaining a decent nurse/patient ratio. Now imagine that the 13 week contract goes to the lowest bidder. Ugly.
There is a blip here and there that Medicare/Medicaid benefits will be reduced----especially for the Boomers. What I read is a life time benefit of say $300K for each boomer. Once it is gone, you might consider going on hospice. Remember the movie Solent Green?
In the past, the average nurse stopped working in their late 50's. If hard times come and stay, look for nurses to try and work as long as possible. The stock market crash in the early 2000's took out a huge amount of retirement savings. This one has put the last nail in the coffin. Few people will be able to stop working. We may go from nursing on the floor one day to a hospital bed the next. We have some nurses in our hospital in their early 70's. They are having a hard time, but can't afford to stop.
I don't see there being more teachers at the college level. Therefore, there will still be a limit on how many nurses come into the work force each year. What you may see are specialty jobs such as the medication aide become more popular----lower pay, shorter education.
Unemployment is running at 3.8% in the medical field this year compared to 2.6% last year. Not bad considering some of the other industries, but it does show that we are not totally immune.
Specializes in Radiologic Technologist, now in Nursing.
I think a balanced analysis is called for in this discussion. First, they say that the current nursing pool of RN's is aging out...........that is........within 5 years many of them will be retiring.
Secondly, there are only a FINITE number of nursing schools and they will never be able to marticulate hundreds of students due to the clinical supervision needed so there are only a FINITE number of new graduates each year. Salaries for nursing instructors are VERY LOW so it's unlikely that people are going to turn to teaching nursing students.
Thirdly, nursing schools are now requiring more pre-requisites and now many of them are requiring 100% on math exams, chemistry, microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Nutrition, Psychology, etc, etc Even the ADN programs have strict entrance requirements, waiting lists, and courses "expire" in five years.
I think anyone with ambition, talent, and good grades should be able to find a job. I think nursing will continue to be as depression proof as possible but there are no guarantees. I live in New Mexico and I look in the papers regularly. I don't see tons of ads in the classifieds for RN jobs. I do see them, but there are not PAGES of openings like there used to be. Hospitals are feeling the pinch too.
I do think it's a good idea for all students to have a plan "B" just in case there are difficulties finding a job out of school. It never hurts to take some computer programming classes. In my area of the country I don't see a lot of openings for nurses and our salaries here are pretty low compared to other cities in the nation.
I think that if you want to be a nurse..........you should do so regardless of the state of the economy..............you'll find your way. There are no shortages of worry worts, naysayers, and negative people. Think positive, do good work, hold your head up, and the universe will find you a place.
I think the universe is conspiring to do good things for me.
The "nursing shortage" such as it is, was manufactured anyway. There are plenty of nurses, LPNs and RNs. But moving the LPNs out of the hospital is what created the "shortage" in the first place, that was calculated to increase the the value of the RN.
Now with the recession/depression, hospitals being reimbursed for the services provided, will be more difficult than ever. The flip side, people really are living longer but will they always have insurance coverage with financial institutions, which insurance companies are a part, having such troubles and needing bail outs?
I think doctors will feel it before nurses do. Specialty areas, like derm and plastics will feel any changes before the general areas.
So, there is a mixture of issues, but nursing jobs are probably going to stay where they are for the time being. It'll take a while for things to really change enough to really get bad for the nursing profession as a whole.
CrusadersFan
21 Posts
I'm curious, bossynursemom, was this just in the urban areas or included the rural areas as well?
I am still of the opinion that there will be a nursing shortage, but I don't know how much it will affect urban areas versus rural. Urban areas not only offer more schools, they offer more opportunities for young people who will make up the bulk of the new nurses.
My belief is that rural areas, communities distant from large cities with populations under 10,000, will still have hospitals and clinics but not offer many of the amenities that large cities offer. ICUs are nearly non-existant, ERs are relatively light and don't offer much excitement. After work entertainment is probably almost nil.
I believe that there are nurses who will be interested in these areas, who, like myself, would like to raise a family away from the hustle of large cities. But they offer little for a young person.