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?
edited: Sorry, I forgot to mention, I'm in California ^__^
I have lived in S Fl and New England, have nursing degrees from both areas. Florida has more shady schools, but New England has a College on every block! Turning out green BSN's constantly. The cost of a four year degree from a New England state school is huge let alone a private college. I can not imagine having all that debt and then not getting a job!! I went the Community College route because I have a degree in another area. Even with all the you need a BSN talk I am glad because my cost was very much smaller. Unpaid bills don't care if you have a BSN or ADN!!
I wish nurses both in the trenches and big wigs in the Nurses Organizations would speak out more about the truth! Other professions like PAs and Lawyers keep numbers in schools limited to control over population. This way they don't have the extremes the nursing profession does. It seems we go from huge sign-on bonus to 100 applicants for one job. There has got to be a better way!!!!
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 (true).
- LVNs are being phased out of hospitals(true)
- Colleges are closing admissions into nursing programs, there are long wait-lists to get in(there are long wait lists-took some new nurses we have recently hired 4 years to get into programs).
I feel like some of these facts contradicts the "shortage of nurses."(true)
Can someone explain why there is a shortage or if there even is one?shortages are only in some areas-mostly rural.
After reading Chico David RN's post, I'd add this:
Nobody is going to flood funds back into hiring nurses and training nurses like they once used to. Maybe a few academic centers will... but the entire focus is to cut the healthcare dollar. If the economy improves, your employer/medicare WILL NOT LIKELY increase your benefits back to what they might have been in the 90's. That is the problem for nursing, as well as brand spankin new MDs as well, if you know any MD bloggers.
In Australia it is estimated that by the year 2025 we will have 110,500 less nurses in the health sector than we do now. This is due to retirement of nurses; our current retirement age is 67 but for those that started nursing in the 70's it's 64
There is a self imposed shortage of nursing I believe, It is called Magnet Status. There are lots of qualified new ADN grads, or as qualified as a new grad can be, but not only do they want at least one year of experience in acute care, they also would either STRONGLY PREFER BSN as per the applications, or BSN is required. I am an ADN, I am in a BSN program, so i am not against getting a higher degree. But If there is a shortage, it is self imposed by the hospitals themselves. So, what i wish the nurse mills would tell us is that we might as well go in for the long haul and get our bachelors, because the ADN, at least in the northeast is becoming as unwanted in the hopitals as diplomas and LPN/LVN's. Some hospitals are saying if they hire you, you will be expected to get your bachelors within a few years of hire, IF they hire you.
I didn't see this mentioned (may have overlooked it), but one factor contributing to the shortage is changing demographics. People are living longer, so we have a growing elderly population and many more living with chronic diseases. There's more of a demand for nurses as a consequence.
There is a self imposed shortage of nursing I believe, It is called Magnet Status. There are lots of qualified new ADN grads, or as qualified as a new grad can be, but not only do they want at least one year of experience in acute care, they also would either STRONGLY PREFER BSN as per the applications, or BSN is required. I am an ADN, I am in a BSN program, so i am not against getting a higher degree. But If there is a shortage, it is self imposed by the hospitals themselves. So, what i wish the nurse mills would tell us is that we might as well go in for the long haul and get our bachelors, because the ADN, at least in the northeast is becoming as unwanted in the hopitals as diplomas and LPN/LVN's. Some hospitals are saying if they hire you, you will be expected to get your bachelors within a few years of hire, IF they hire you.
I see it's this way in FL too, not sure in GA. I think some of the hospitals that mention it being a requirement to get your BSN pay for your tuition. I could be wrong?
nursejossy
42 Posts
I have lived in S Fl and New England, have nursing degrees from both areas. Florida has more shady schools, but New England has a College on every block! Turning out green BSN's constantly. The cost of a four year degree from a New England state school is huge let alone a private college. I can not imagine having all that debt and then not getting a job!! I went the Community College route because I have a degree in another area. Even with all the you need a BSN talk I am glad because my cost was very much smaller. Unpaid bills don't care if you have a BSN or ADN!!
I wish nurses both in the trenches and big wigs in the Nurses Organizations would speak out more about the truth! Other professions like PAs and Lawyers keep numbers in schools limited to control over population. This way they don't have the extremes the nursing profession does. It seems we go from huge sign-on bonus to 100 applicants for one job. There has got to be a better way!!!!