Will the nursing field become saturated with new graduate nurses in a few years?

Nurses General Nursing

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Iam almost done with my prereqs so that I can apply to nursing school in the Fall,but now Im hesistant to. I always see articles and tv commercials saying how Nursing is where its at, how its a recession proof career(which is obviously not the case), and how there is a nursing shortage because older nurses will be retiring. Im seeing on nursing forums how nurses are being laid off, and hospitals are cutting back to save money, and how a lot of new graduate nurses are having a hard time finding jobs.To me it seems as if there probably isnt a shortage. Are there any similar careers that are kind of like nursing? Or should I just stick with nursing? I dont want to graduate from nursing school in the next two years and not be able to find a job because there are too many nurses and not enough jobs.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

I dont think so. Cant quote any statistics or anything, but I dont see grads saturating the field. Why?

1. Remember, a lot of people dont finish school. Less than half finished from my begining class. So, the registration size of the classes is......misleading.

2. There are a lot of people who work a number of years and then move on from nursing. I cant tell you how many.....former.....nurses I've run into in my lifetime.

3. I do remember that statistics show the need for medical care will keep riseing as the baby boomer generation gets older.

4. Walk onto any hospital unit and the age ranges on the unit are......very polar. You have your 25 year vets and a whole lot of people with 5 or less years exp. At least thats what I see. I think its related to #2 above. Those vets are going to be moving on soon.

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I'm trying to figure out that exact same thing!!

I know that nursing is something i'd be good at, and something that I want to do for myself and for my daughter. I'd like to keep hope that everything will work out, even if my first gig isn't my dream one...

its still stressful :/

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I think we're already there.

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Saturated, no, but realize it is getting harder to find jobs as new grads. Doesn't mean you won't, just that the preference in a tighter job market is for experience.

Should you not go to school, or not continue? No, of course not (you SHOULD continue). People are still retiring, moving, changing. A new grad today who plugs away at the jobs she's not excited about but is gaining experience in IS the desired applicant a few years later.

You might not be welcomed into the hiring process as quickly as you'd like, but you will find employment. The only way to get experience and become that valuable hire is to stick to it, get through it, and make yourself stand out--just like every other career out there.

We need good nurses, and always will. Good nurses retire, or go on disability, and must be replaced!

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It is true that there are MANY people who are deciding that they want to go into nursing. It is also true that nursing programs are trying to expand to accept more applicants. However, most nursing schools can still only admit about 50 students per term, and there is not a surplus of nursing instructors. I don't think there are nearly as many people graduating nursing school as there will be open nursing positions (in the future, when nurses finally retire because the economy has improved). I am about to start nursing school and I am worried like everyone else that I will not have a job when I graduate. I suppose I am banking on the fact that the economy can't get much worse, and we will be better off when I graduate (Dec 2010) than we are now.

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

What I've seen in nursing is that it tends to cycle. Right now, the economy is down, so people are putting off elective procedures and only coming in to see doc when absolutely necessary. Hospitals are losing money and many are merging to keep above water. We've been riding a nice wave for awhile. The wave is now crashing. No worries, this is a cycle. Check out the baby boomers. They will need care and we will be there to give it! Even if people can't retire, they still will need care.

For those of us who are ADN's (2yr programs), it may by tougher because employers can choose to be more selective (ie, we prefer to hire 4yr nurses). I'm still not worried. Right now, I'm worried about making it through my final semester, then I'm going to worry about passing NCLEX, and then I'll worry about finding a job.

It will cycle again. That I won't worry about either.

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Specializes in CTICU/CVICU.

I was just thinking about posting the SAME THREAD! Many people think that there is such a nursing shortage..so when they hear that I'm going into nursing (already have a BA in a non-nursing field), they are like "Great choice! You'll find a job in no time and make SO MUCH MONEY!!"..:chuckle They are SOO confused!

Yes, the economy is bad..but remember..what goes down..must come back up!This isn't the first time we've been in a recession..and probably won't be the last..it WILL get better..eventually. As someone has stated..don't NOT go to nursing school..go and do the best you can.

Utilize externships..try to work in a hospital during nursing school..do what you can to get your foot in the door..even if it's a little toe! That's what I plan on doing.

No worries from me..because I know..it WILL get better!

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IMHO, yes.

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It is true that there are MANY people who are deciding that they want to go into nursing. It is also true that nursing programs are trying to expand to accept more applicants. However, most nursing schools can still only admit about 50 students per term, and there is not a surplus of nursing instructors. I don't think there are nearly as many people graduating nursing school as there will be open nursing positions (in the future, when nurses finally retire because the economy has improved). I am about to start nursing school and I am worried like everyone else that I will not have a job when I graduate. I suppose I am banking on the fact that the economy can't get much worse, and we will be better off when I graduate (Dec 2010) than we are now.

Sorry to rain on your parade but I think the economy is going to get severely worse than it is now. :twocents: I hope I'm wrong.

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Sorry to rain on your parade but I think the economy is going to get severely worse than it is now. :twocents: I hope I'm wrong.

You aren't raining on my parade. It's your opinion, not fact.

(BTW, I think if you accompanied explanation of your opinion with your 2 word answer it would probably help the OP more).

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Dear OP, I wouldn't worry too much about the market becoming overly saturated with new grads. Here's why: education and healthcare are the only two industries that have shown any growth here lately. If you major in something besides nursing, would you have better prospects of landing a job? Things are a lot tougher in other sectors. Besides, you will have a college degree, so you'll have a shot at any other job or grad program that requires a generic college degree. You can choose to go on to grad school in nursing, education, medicine (if you do pre-med prereqs), law, counseling etc. Things are tough for nurses in some parts of the country. There are still ***plenty*** of opportunities if you are willing to move, start out on an evening/night shift, in an area that may not be your forever love, etc. In short, you will be more marketable as a nursing grad than most other AS/BA/BS grads in other fields, so consider a few alternatives and never fear.

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