No Nursing Shortage At The Present Time

Despite rampant claims of a critical nursing shortage, many cities and states in the US are actually suffering from the opposite problem: a surplus of nurses. The intended purpose of this article is to challenge the widespread belief that a current nursing shortage exists. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

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Stephalump

2,723 Posts

Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I would start with doing a search on job sites to see how many openings there are in my area, then I would move to contacting the HR dept. of a company that hires them. Most will give you a min of their time if they know you are researching a job field and not trying to get a job interview. It isn't Rocket Science, just have to use some common sense.

Ironically, lots of job postings and enthusiastic recruiters are two of the main reasons (other than the media and schools) people come on this site and refuse to believe the shortage is a lie. Job postings are plentiful. Unfortunately, my definition of "plentiful" still isn't enough to support the unemployed nurses out there.

netglow, ASN, RN

4,412 Posts

First wad of sticky carmel popcorn has just been thrown at HM-8404!

(for starting to get weird and creepy. Have a beer HM-8404 and chillax. Try the popcorn that is now in your hair. It's good!)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Ironically, lots of job postings and enthusiastic recruiters are two of the main reasons (other than the media and schools) people come on this site and refuse to believe the shortage is a lie. Job postings are plentiful. Unfortunately, my definition of "plentiful" still isn't enough to support the unemployed nurses out there.

Anyone who has been looking for a job long enough knows that many of these plentiful job postings are 'dummy openings.' Human resources personnel at some healthcare facilities are forced to post job openings externally even though they plan to hire no one. This is because their policies mandate that every position be posted and that a specific number of applicants shall be granted interviews.

However, HR managers often hire no external people for these posted jobs because they are saving the positions for internal employees who have expressed interest. In other words, even though the local community hospital has tons of postings for new grad programs, the internal applicants who worked there during nursing school as nursing assistants are usually the ones being considered for the available slots.

Stephalump

2,723 Posts

Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Look at what we do to help people feel better about their bad behavior. A wife beater is now someone that commits domestic abuse, a child rapist is a pedophile, a drunk or crackhead has a substance abuse problem, illegal aliens are now called undocumented workers (what if they are not working?), a cheating spouse now is now an adulterer, and now we refer to a lying, cheating, sorry good for nothing as a politician. :)

Things were so much simpler when we just called 'em all demon-possessed and stoned them to death, eh?

Ah, the good old days.

...making caramel corn! Thanks for the recipe TothepointeLVN!

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

A good portion of the new grads that are coming up jobless right now probably did start to enter the system pre2008 considering the prereq and application process takes 2 years and nursing school takes at least 2 years. Some jumped into nursing as things started to go sour in their own industry.

Of course I wouldn't recommend anyone go into nursing now UNLESS it was something they really wanted. If nursing is your chosen career and you think you'll be a nurse for a lifetime you'll get through the tough spots. If its just a job then it's not a sure thing industry anymore.

workingharder

308 Posts

Just curious....are all of you people that are whining and complaining that there is "no shortage"...employed??? If so, what is the problem. I realize I may have shot myself in the foot opening that can of worms, but it is reminiscent of TV as it tries to scare people about "terror plots"...Just wondering. Have we all become brainwashed by BOTH sides??? Have you seen "soylent green?" Can we even think for ourselves based on our unique life experience anymore?...or are we stuck to the new electronic pacifiers that have infiltrated our human psyche and our destroying our culture from within? We must stop being the cattle blindly going to the slaughter. Besides all this talk about no jobs, lots of jobs etc...it really doesn't matter much anymore...anybody that argued against unions and workers rights has given it all away. We gave up our power as free thinkers and hard workers years ago...we no longer call the shots...why do you complain? What gives you that right? Just wondering as I wait for the onslaught...
No nibbles, huh?Maybe it's just too hot for fishing today.
allnurses Guide

nursel56

7,078 Posts

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
No nibbles, huh?Maybe it's just too hot for fishing today.

I consider that a positive development.

We are barely seeing the boomers retire at this point. Give it 5-10 years and between nurses at retirement age and general population the shortage that the experts have been preaching will be full blown.

The experts aren't preaching that anymore. And even if they were, they haven't been right yet so I'm not sure what difference it makes. Everyone who is pushing to keep the current number of graduates at the same level or higher talks about the baby boomers retiring en masse, but it's really just speculation.

The truth is nobody knows what is going to happen, but when you have the foremost nursing workforce experts in the country saying that due to an unexpected surge in young people becoming nurses the nursing workforce will grow at the same rate as the population until at least 2030 you have to pay attention to it.

DizzyLizzyNurse

1,024 Posts

Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Mmmm now I want popcorn. Cheese please!!

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

The truth is nobody knows what is going to happen, but when you have the foremost nursing workforce experts in the country saying that due to an unexpected surge in young people becoming nurses the nursing workforce will grow at the same rate as the population until at least 2030 you have to pay attention to it.

So by the time I'm a nursing manager I'll be begging people to come work for me. But I'll bring popcorn.

Specializes in Trauma.
Things were so much simpler when we just called 'em all demon-possessed and stoned them to death, eh?

Ah, the good old days.

...making caramel corn! Thanks for the recipe TothepointeLVN!

Why don't we just call a spade a spade and stop trying to put a positive spin on it?

If someone is a sorry ass drunk that won't support their family then call them a sorry ass drunk, not some poor soul that is suffering from substance abuse. Some people need a good shake to wake them up not a gentle stroke of their hair.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Well if calling them a substance abuse addict takes sympathy away from the real victims then I have a problem with it. Personally I like to use the PC terms because it evokes more empathy from me that calling a spade a spade and I prefer to be empathetic than my normal judgmental self.

allnurses Guide

nursel56

7,078 Posts

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
So by the time I'm a nursing manager I'll be begging people to come work for me. But I'll bring popcorn.

You should make batches of it in your office if it ever comes to that -- the smell of caramel popcorn is so irresistible the old bats who finally got out of the way will all come back! --- no not that!!!! :eek: :)