Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage

ToxicShock · Mar 13, 2009

I got into this profession thinking that finding a job would be fairly easy and now I'm thinking that I might have made a mistake.

I hope that isn't the only reason why you became a nurse. :smackingf

SoCaliGirl · Mar 13, 2009

I hope that isn't the only reason why you became a nurse. :smackingf

If someone is interested in a wide variety of careers, job availability can be a deciding factor to break a tie. I think that's actually an important thing to think about.

Medsport, LPN · Mar 13, 2009

I hear what your saying. I went into nursing partly because a family member thought I would be good at it and I'm a caring person, but also because it looked like a career that would be easy to get a job and always have openings. Boy was I wrong! I'm still reading that there is a nursing shortage, but in my area in NW Ohio, it is very difficult to find FT employment. Sure you can find a FT job at one of the shady nursing homes that overwork you and have a high turnover rate, but getting into a hospital (at least FT) is almost impossible unless you finished top of your class or know somebody that works there. I had to settle for a jail for the time being and still have'nt gotten FT after a year. I also work PT at one of the better nursing homes, but don't like working there and its a good drive for me. I'm to the point that I'm almost forced to go back to school (for the 4th) time to try to get an RN even though I thought I was finally done with it and already have way too much loans taken out for only an LPN (well part of it was accounting too). Problem is I can't afford to pay for classes and don't want to take out any more loans. My employer "may" reinburse for classes after you complete them, but I don't know if I can take the chance that its not in the budget as the company is'nt doing the greatest either. Plus the local paper says unemployment is near record levels at around 15%. I almost want to apply to other parts of the country, but in reality thats hard to do when you have a house and pets and little or no money to travel...

NewTexasRN · Mar 13, 2009

First, I was very cautioned about the way I worded that last phrase. I didn't get into nursing because I wanted a job. That's a stupid reason. I appreciate all the responses especially from the older nurses who has so many insights. Someone said, "It sounds to me like this is a problem with a disconnect between nursing programs and reality. The nursing profession is changing. It is not necessarily about signing up for the new grad training program at your local hospital anymore. I think nursing schools probably need to evolve into preparing students for that." I agree with that person. I asked a classmate the other day, why isn't our school not addressing the fact that when we graduate we won't be able to find jobs and she said, the school is afraid that if they address that issue, people won't bother applying to their program anymore. I definitely agree with that.

Also, a couple days ago at the hospital where I do my clinical, I saw a couple of patients getting neglected and I don't blame it on the nurse. My classmate and I got the patients in the same room. I had bed 2 and she had bed 1. I got on the floor by 0800 and I saw that they pt was having her breakfast, so I asked the nurse if she checked her blood sugar and she said yes. She does not need insulin. Well, it turns out that pt did need insulin, which I gave at 1045. I was upset because I had to go into the computer system and explain why the insulin was over 3hrs late. I told this to my mother and she said, they need more nurses on that floor, but they won't hire more because they are trying to save money by cutting back. So who suffers?

Koyaanisqatsi-RN · Mar 13, 2009

I hope that isn't the only reason why you became a nurse. :smackingf

This right here lies at the core of why people gripe and moan about how they think that there isn't really a nursing shortage.

Yes, there is. It's well-documented, it is statistically a fact. For many of the people whining about not being able to find a job, your problem is that you believed that a job was just going to be handed to you with minimal effort on your part. Not so. You actually have to work the streets, meet and greet people, go to job fairs, and DO THE LEGWORK TO FIND A JOB YOU WANT. This is not rocket science, folks.

The jobs are there. Just don't expect them to fall into your lap.

Oh and also, I hate it when people also whine about how the only reason the nursing shortage exists is because nurses leave. It's like that in every industry, ok? Maybe a little bit more turnover than usual, but that just creates opportunities for you. If you don't like your working conditions, lobby to change them. Work proactively rather than just griping on the internet about it. Just a thought.

marie-francoise · Mar 13, 2009

I guess "shortage" depends on what we mean. Hospitals may deliberately not hire enough nurses; so a shortage will then exist on the unit, which becomes understaffed and not as safe for patients. So, in that case there's a shortage yet no jobs posted (or, jobs posted that the hospital has no intention of filling anytime soon).

Then, yes, there's demographics - the Baby Boomers are aging and will need much nursing care. That will constitute a REAL need, not a need specified on paper by what nurse-to-patient ratios the hospital administrators think are sufficient.

So, a shortage vis a vis real needs, versus a shortage vis a vis hiring practices - those may be different things.

Finally, I guess regional differences exist as well, as far as how bad a shortage is.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2009

Well, I'm in NY and we need nurses, but I'm in the rural part no one knows about.

lindarn · Mar 13, 2009

I am an older, experienced, nurse who has been out of the work force for several years. Yesterday, I attended a job fair sponsored by ICNE (Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education), in Spokane, Washington. There were many hospitals looking for the new grads who are gradauting with their BSN in May. Many of them are offering Nurse Internships.

If anyone would like to PM me, I will give them the names of the hospitals who are looking to hire new grads, and the ones who are offering new grad interships. Its the least I can do for my fellow nurses. I hope that this helps.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

fiveofpeep · Mar 13, 2009

It is frightening the lack of new grad jobs now and the potential for massive shortages later, but I love love love nursing so I know (hope) everything will work itself out. And, even though I graduate in December, I am already working my booty off trying to find new grad programs and find a hospital to work at.

Koyaanisqatsi-RN · Mar 13, 2009

It is frightening the lack of new grad jobs now and the potential for massive shortages later, but I love love love nursing so I know (hope) everything will work itself out. And, even though I graduate in December, I am already working my booty off trying to find new grad programs and find a hospital to work at.

Then I am positive you are going to find something you like! Best of luck! :) Keep working at it, that is the key.

Jules A, MSN · Mar 13, 2009

This right here lies at the core of why people gripe and moan about how they think that there isn't really a nursing shortage.
Yes, there is. It's well-documented, it is statistically a fact. For many of the people whining about not being able to find a job, your problem is that you believed that a job was just going to be handed to you with minimal effort on your part. Not so. You actually have to work the streets, meet and greet people, go to job fairs, and DO THE LEGWORK TO FIND A JOB YOU WANT. This is not rocket science, folks.
The jobs are there. Just don't expect them to fall into your lap.
Oh and also, I hate it when people also whine about how the only reason the nursing shortage exists is because nurses leave. It's like that in every industry, ok? Maybe a little bit more turnover than usual, but that just creates opportunities for you. If you don't like your working conditions, lobby to change them. Work proactively rather than just griping on the internet about it. Just a thought.

Lol, I've been slapped down more than once for writing that in my area, Balto/DC, there are still plenty of jobs for new grads. Maybe not the super cherry day shift Mon-Fri jobs some new grads expect but still plenty of positions. I heard from one of the students at my old school that almost all of the June 09 graduating seniors have jobs already lined up. I know that there are places where jobs are not plentiful but speaking only for this area it seems to me that if a new grad can't get a job there is something else going on. From what I've read on this board many new grads don't want to work in psych, LTC, clinics, 3p-11p, 7p-7a, weekends or holidays and if they want to hold out for something better thats cool but it does not mean there aren't jobs out there. It may be necessary to begin with a starter home rather than the McMansion.

I'm thinking about changing one of my jobs, interviewed at three major hospitals in DC area this past month and was offered a position with two of them. I have only been a RN for 10 months so its not that they were so impressed by my mega resume. I think you hit the nail on the head, get out there, revisit any floors where you made a good impression as a student etc. Like any industry many of the best positions are word of mouth.

waitingforthedream · Mar 13, 2009

As a new grad on east coast, out of 100's of resumes sent out, I have one phone call for an interview. They are not interested in new Grads! So here the new grads sit after years of school and have nothing to show for it. Eventually they will need us new grads, so why not start training us now?? I don't get it.