How is there a shortage?

miss81, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2011

There is a shortage when I am (canada). Our hospital actually had to go to several foreign countries (far far away) to recruit RN's. No LVN or CNA shortage though. And we will take new grads with a heart and a half! :heartbeat

Here, many of the nurses that were suppose to retire in the last few years have not or are coming back casual (the hospital usually asks if they will do at least some casual shifts).

I guess it depends on your area's circumstances!

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2011

It varies wildly geographically. Some areas there are 100's of new grads of every 1 position other areas there is 1 new grad for 100's of positions. (Okay the latter is probably and exaggeration but still close enough.)

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Jul 6, 2011

At the moment there is only a shortage in certain locations and in certain horrible facilities.

I'm in Australia but would say there seem to be jobs in rural locations and in some southern US areas (just my opinion from reading this board).

There is a projected serious shortage coming up when the baby boomers retire

Orange Tree · Jul 6, 2011

New grads can still get jobs where I'm at, but HR just reduced the new grad pay rate by several dollars an hour. Things are tightening up .... even in the good markets.

miss81, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2011

New grads can still get jobs where I'm at, but HR just reduced the new grad pay rate by several dollars an hour. Things are tightening up .... even in the good markets.

We are unionized so the health boards cannot change the pay, even for new grads! Thank goodness too...

KateRN1 · Jul 6, 2011

So I went to a seminar a couple of weeks ago about nursing, and I didn't really understand some of the things they said. So first of all, they kept mentioning that there is a shortage of nurses.
Other facts that were stated:
- recent graduates are not all getting hired because nurses who are suppose to be retiring are not. They are waiting for the economy to pick back up before they retire.
- LVNs are being phased out of hospitals
- CNA's are doing LVN jobs, basically that they are hiring the lower paid nurses to do the higher level of work?
- Colleges are closing admissions into nursing programs, there are long wait-lists to get in.
I feel like some of these facts contradicts the "shortage of nurses." Can someone explain why there is a shortage or if there even is one?

Much of it is geographical. I'm in NE Florida. There is no grand shortage.

LPNs/LVNs have been hearing that since the dawn of the ASN programs. Many hospitals still hire LPN/LVN staff, although not always to acute care or intensive care.

CNAs cannot do "LPN/LVN jobs." It is outside their scope of practice. If it requires the skill of a nurse, then it must be done by a licensed nurse.

I've seen an explosion of for-profit nursing schools in this area that charge exorbitant fees and do not have strict admission policies. I won't speak to the quality of their graduates or how many pass boards, but those long wait lists don't exist except at the public schools with good programs, great pass rates, and low(er) tuition.

I am not a new grad, but I'm also sick and tired of hearing about the so-called nursing shortage.

Chico David, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2011

It's really about the difference between short-term and long-term.

Long term, due to the aging of the baby boom generation, we have a shortage of nurses. It's real and it's going to hit hard in a few years.

Short-term, due to the recession, we have a surplus of nurses, for the following reasons:

1. Nurses who were licensed but not working at all, being supported by spouses, coming back into the work force because of spouse losing their job.

2. Nurses who were working in some other field losing that job and coming back into nursing.

3. Nurses who were hoping to retire having to put off retirement due to loss of value of their retirement savings.

Long-term we absolutely have a major nursing shortage. Short-term we have a serious surplus. There are two very bright young women in my own extended family who are new grads and can't find jobs. So there is this ugly disconnect between the fact that, in the long term, we need more nurses and, in the short term, we have too many. Bad for everyone.

Luularoo · Jul 6, 2011

It's really about the difference between short-term and long-term.
Long term, due to the aging of the baby boom generation, we have a shortage of nurses. It's real and it's going to hit hard in a few years.
Short-term, due to the recession, we have a surplus of nurses, for the following reasons:
1. Nurses who were licensed but not working at all, being supported by spouses, coming back into the work force because of spouse losing their job.
2. Nurses who were working in some other field losing that job and coming back into nursing.
3. Nurses who were hoping to retire having to put off retirement due to loss of value of their retirement savings.
Long-term we absolutely have a major nursing shortage. Short-term we have a serious surplus. There are two very bright young women in my own extended family who are new grads and can't find jobs. So there is this ugly disconnect between the fact that, in the long term, we need more nurses and, in the short term, we have too many. Bad for everyone.

THAT makes A LOT more sense to me, thank you!

alodocios · Jul 6, 2011

does that mean that after i get my nursing degree i will have to go back to teaching, and then get a refresher course when the 90 year old nurses finally pack it in? I am starting to get worried.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jul 6, 2011

does that mean that after i get my nursing degree i will have to go back to teaching, and then get a refresher course when the 90 year old nurses finally pack it in? I am starting to get worried.

We can't predict that. But the 90-year-old nurses are only staying around because they have to. Trust us, the 60, 70, 80 and 90-year-olds would gladly retire, if only they could.

medicgrrl · Jul 6, 2011

I know that there is no Nursing Shortage in Chicago.I am an E.R nurse and am planning on moving to Eastern N. Carolina next year. I have been perusing the market and am confident i can get a job there.