Too Many Nurses?

Nurses General Nursing

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Right now, they say there is a Nursing shortage. I've read articles that say most states are scrambling to create more schools and more openings in the current schools to alleviate the shortage. It seems that alot of people are currently drawn to Nursing as a career. I think this might be because the salaries seem very appealing from the outside looking in and that there would be lots of job security. (Just my opinion)

My question is.....Do you ever foresee there being too many Nurses? With all the interest and people being trained right now, do you think that when the shortage finally alleviates that there will be too many skilled people and not enough jobs? That possibly the market could eventually end up flooded? (Just a side note....I've read about how there is no Nursing shortage in other posts. I'd still like everyone's opinion that's willing to share. Even those that don't feel there is a current shortage.)

Just curious what everyone's opinion is on this.

"that means in less than 15 years there will a buttload of nurses retiring!!! I believe the nursing shortage is going to be chronic for some years to come."

Yes..there always seems to be a need. We on a whole seem just not to be great bargainers for the top dollar.

Also add to that buttload of retiring nurses an increasing geriatic population you have more oppunities and less nurses.:rotfl:

Right now, they say there is a Nursing shortage. I've read articles that say most states are scrambling to create more schools and more openings in the current schools to alleviate the shortage. It seems that alot of people are currently drawn to Nursing as a career. I think this might be because the salaries seem very appealing from the outside looking in and that there would be lots of job security. (Just my opinion)

I'm aware of the history of the job market in nursing over the past 20 - 25 years, and I am aware that every time in the past that somebody warned about a surplus of nurses, the surplus never developed. But this time things may be different. The current debate in the Presidential campaign about the loss of American jobs is not just a bunch of obscure rhetoric. Real Americans are losing jobs in large numbers, because it is beneficial for organizations to get inexpensive, obedient labor from overseas. Real people are getting hurt here. I am one of them. At age 39 I am going back to college full time to train to become a registered nurse. I had to do this because all of the jobs in my previous occupation, computer programming have been destroyed. They are gone. For the past 20 - 25 years there were excellent job opportunities in the computer field. Now all of those opportunites are going to people from countries such as India.

I'm not too far removed from the debate on what the Statue of Liberty means, as I have Grandparents who immigrated to this country from Europe. But what we are talking about here are people being sponsered by organizations and being brought over in large numbers on work visas to replace Americans. Large, multi-national corporations are sponsering the immigration. I think there are some differences between the world my Grandparents lived in, and the world today.

As far as situation in nursing goes, I view the possibility that foreign placement firms will flood the U.S. job market with foreign nurses as the single biggest threat to my new career. And I can tell you one thing - I'm going to be active in organizations like the ANA and the unions to make sure I don't have a second career that is destroyed.

As far as nurses from countries from Africa goes, I'm sure they are fine people and have aspirations. I don't have any personal animus towards them. But, of course, I remember back in 2002, when I was working as a computer programmer at a small company in Vermont and my employer brought in a programmer from India on a work visa. I liked the fellow, and had a lot of sympathy for his "rags to riches" story, until 3 months later, when I was laid off and they gave the fellow my job. I'm also sure that bringing talent to the U.S. isn't helping to improve the appalling healthcare conditions that exist in the Third World.

The numbers of foriegn nurses entering the U.S. have not yet reached the level where they are having a large effect on wages, but my warning is - maybe not yet, but nursing is not immune from the forces of globalization and free trade.

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... buttload of retiring nurses...

Is that a large quantity???

(Guess it depends on the size of the butt, eh? :) )

I believe it's cyclic. In '92 when I went to school, there was a two year wait list to get in. Only 4.0's then lower were chosen, mind you upstate NY. When I graduated, mind you our economy here was depressed people moving out and beds per capita closing which resulted in a nursing surpluss. I couldn't get a job in even a nursing home in '95. Worked geriatric psyc. untill I was accepted into a "real " hospital.

Now I'm back home with 9 years experience, the cream of the crop and had the red carpet rolled out, with a pay cut and all. A CCU/MICU with vacancies which accepts new grads. Did I mention the vacancies?

So In my area,western NY, it is cyclic, yet the compensation is lagging to attract new nurses, they graduate and leave.

So In my experience, nursing availabiltity waxes and wanes based on how great the need, coupled with the compensation. Right now we aren't fairly compensating, so the need is GREAT. Does this make sense. I'm pretty sure this mimics several north east states.

Everywhere that hospitals in shortage exist that are not willing to focus on RETENTION, will have a shortage. This should be your first question that you ask in ANY interview.... 'what are you doing to retain your nurses".

Specializes in Clinical Risk Management.

When I was in school in the '90's, the graduates of '93 were avidly recruited by every hospital in the area. When I graduated in '94, managed care had caused a decrease in positions. I was blessed to have a contract w/ my employer while I was in school.

My SIL (also an RN) & I started noticing the current shortage in '98. It was present in smaller, rural hospitals at that time...less so in the large teaching hospital where I worked. That, of course, has changed now. Positions are available throughout our region and in a variety of fields. And nurses continue to leave the bedside AND nursing at a continual rate. I don't see any glut in the future. Not at least from where I'm sitting.

I'm not too far removed from the debate on what the Statue of Liberty means, as I have Grandparents who immigrated to this country from Europe. But what we are talking about here are people being sponsered by organizations and being brought over in large numbers on work visas to replace Americans. Large, multi-national corporations are sponsering the immigration. I think there are some differences between the world my Grandparents lived in, and the world today.

As far as situation in nursing goes, I view the possibility that foreign placement firms will flood the U.S. job market with foreign nurses as the single biggest threat to my new career. And I can tell you one thing - I'm going to be active in organizations like the ANA and the unions to make sure I don't have a second career that is destroyed.

As far as nurses from countries from Africa goes, I'm sure they are fine people and have aspirations. I don't have any personal animus towards them. But, of course, I remember back in 2002, when I was working as a computer programmer at a small company in Vermont and my employer brought in a programmer from India on a work visa. I liked the fellow, and had a lot of sympathy for his "rags to riches" story, until 3 months later, when I was laid off and they gave the fellow my job. I'm also sure that bringing talent to the U.S. isn't helping to improve the appalling healthcare conditions that exist in the Third World.

The numbers of foriegn nurses entering the U.S. have not yet reached the level where they are having a large effect on wages, but my warning is - maybe not yet, but nursing is not immune from the forces of globalization and free trade.

I too am starting a career in nursing, and I view imported nurses from the phillipines and africa as huge threat to wages and job security in general. We need to stop this influx while its still a slow leak before it becomes a flood, I dont want to have to go back to school in 10 years to learn how to fix cars or be a plumber.

As far as situation in nursing goes, I view the possibility that foreign placement firms will flood the U.S. job market with foreign nurses as the single biggest threat to my new career. And I can tell you one thing - I'm going to be active in organizations like the ANA and the unions to make sure I don't have a second career that is destroyed.

I'll be there with you.

Is that a large quantity???

(Guess it depends on the size of the butt, eh? :) )

At our house -- HUGE!

They may not be driving down the RN wages, but they are holding the LPN down in a badpan passing job instead of forcing institutions to see just exactly how competant we are compared to their RNs.

A new LPN may not be able to pass the NCLEX-RN, but give her/him a few years and she/he can test beside any RN with similar experience.

This is not to say ALL LPNs can, nor is it to say ALL RNs can hold a candle to ALL LPNs. I'm just saying LPNs are worth far more capable than vast majority of hospitals allow, we are being wasted. Nursing resources are being wasted and in this country that is a damn shame. To think about bringing others in while our own resources are shoved under the carpet is disgraceful.

Specializes in most of em.

With the vast career opportunities for different types of nursing being available, and the truly aging work force (Yes, that would be me) I don't see this happening.

Enrollment, although currently up is still not enough to replace the number of nurses who are retiring or leaving nursing.

Although some hospitals don't advertise in the paper, that doesn't mean there isn't vacant positions. Newspaper ads are WAY too expensive and many facilities are choosing not to pay the money every week.

We need to make nursing seem more fun though, and look at bumping up the salaries to be at least in the same ballpark as Pharmacy, I mean, they count pills and read orders off of papers- we actually have to read the PATIENT- Oh well, that is another story11

Hey you nurses-----YOU ROCK:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Hellllllo Nurse,

Do you live in the U.S.? If so, what part? I ask because I'll be graduating in less than a year and I plan on moving out of the Northeast and I certainly don't want to move to where there aren't any jobs. :uhoh21:

a little concerned,

Nemhain

i live in the northeast and there are plenty of jobs.

Yes, there are a lot of people entering nursing schools.

But...the attrition rate is pretty stiff. In my own class I would estimate that we've lost 30% already, and I'm only halfway through the program. So, just because someone has gotten IN to nursing school doesn't mean that they'll make it THROUGH school. :uhoh21:

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