I would like to hear from some nurse recruiters on why no one can find a job.

TuTonka · Jun 5, 2009

Does anyone have any thoughts as to where nursing is going? we have all these new fancy titles coming out of the MSN programs-CLN a clinical LEAD nurse( isn't that a charge nurse) I've been an RN for 30 years - diploma program- back in the day when we still wore caps, white uniforms, no slips or other undrepants showing, CLEAN shoes. To expect to get a day shif job just out of the gate was unheard of- the old dragons had them jobs. I can remember being THE ONLY RN on 11-7 brand new- with 1 LPN and ! na for 24 tele-patients(tele was new also)charge nurse what charge nurse- I was it, the ink wasn't even dried on my license. Now we have staffing ratios that are IGNORED, and HIRING MANAGERS??, HR entorages, assistants and assistants to the assistants. I too am out of a steady position- I do Per deim when I don't get cancelled, just started with an agency- my BOOKING agent isn't even a nurse- I get cancelled at the only places she books me- REHABs and LTC- Ive' worked 30 long hard years in the HOSPITAL-med/surg-that is the most under rated speciality there is, tele- enough to make your hair stand on ends- and oncology. I recently applied for and interviewed for a PT staff position- I feel like interviewing for a nursing position now a days is more like trying out for one of Donald Trumps beauty pagents and the judges are the 3 from Britian's got Talent- Simon, Amanda and Peirce, and I have to tap dance or sing I DREAMED a DREAM. There is supposed to be a NURSING shortage??? They want experience and new grads, a hiring freeze and being all about the money. What do they think is a decent pay for a med/surg nurse who is made/HAS to take 11 patients or a tele nurse with 6 tele patients, or an RN who is assigned premies- someone elses premey. That's a lot of RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY. These CEO's and HIRING MANAGERS ( who are nurses- I know i live next store to one- she is driving a BRAND NEW SILVER MERCEDED SPORT CAR and has a hubby who is a MSN in education and working also) There are these new people- MED TECHs. I looked up med tech- criteria: must be 16 years old, able to read 8th grade level, 15 HOUR program, cost of program $55.00- $75.00. ( cost of life?????) I would just like some forecast, thought on where others think the nursing in the future will be. We all can't sing and very few of US are driving silver mercedes. I know I'm not . I'm P--t.

AMEN....I too am a nurse with 30+ years under her belt and I am experiencing the same F....ing Bulls...t. If you are not a beauty queen, young , or a new grad you are out of luck. I do not kiss a>> so I am still looking for a job in this area that I am coming to hate and everyone connected to it. Med techs? They are a joke.. a bad one if they are being hired instead of real nurses. The way you see nursing is and was accurate all the back to the 80s but hey this is like all the companies the gov. is bailing out now . Hmmmm let see they give themselves very large bonuses and pay raises while the company goes belly up..Why should they care ... they have what they want. Ladies and Gentlemen we now have the ME Generation calling the shots...where do you reallllllly think nursing is going to go.

TuTonka:angryfire

c_beshore_rn · Jun 10, 2009

I went to nursing school when the caps were the thing...We were taught by an ol military degree-program nurse that taught us to make military corners and toe-pleats in our beds. We ironed our dresses and pinafores everyday and if there was a run in our white stockings or scuff on our orthopedic solid white shoes-we were sent home ASAP!! Patient care was taught! Wiping rears, cleaning puke, getting dirty, doing WHATEVER it took to take care of your patient!!! RN-LPN didn't matter- u did it all and smiled because u felt good about your job.

I worked with a new grad the other day that let a call light go off for a while, got up, switched it off at the desk, sat back down, and started reading again!!! They graduate and cant make a bed, don't know how to give a bedbath, or pivot a patient to transfer to the commode....WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?

RN's that are afraid of "real" work, RN's that WONT pass meds, RN's that WONT answer call-lights, RN's that say "that's the aids job", COME ON!!! It's all of our jobs!! We have turned into a spoiled, arrogant profession of idiots---Its going to bite us in the rears someday.

Get off your rear and give a bedbath, walk a patient, change someone, touch your patient, get to know them! Answer a freakin call light....It wont hurt!! The paperwork can wait.

dlatimer · Jun 10, 2009

c beshore rn,

I think you have a good point. But, I think the cause/responsibility for this type of nursing has to attributed to where they were schooled. It seems the answer to nursing shortage is to make new nurses. Patients don't inspect or rank or certify your hospital; that is Joint Commission's job. They go by numbers. If you have X number of licensed personnel per patient, then you qualify. They, or for that matter, health care providers, don't take into consideration the experience, intuition, and skill level of experienced nurses. Quality of care and even Nursing Care in general will suffer.

I read an article in NYT regarding outsourcing health care. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina now send some elective and needed surgeries (CABG, hip replacement, etc) to India, Singapore and Thailand (where they have had doctors inspect) because the care is just as good, if not better, and it up to 90% cheaper. Where does that put the future of nursing? Right now it is in the hands of corporate healthcare providers whose only goal is to make a profit, not patient care.

meluhn · Jun 10, 2009

I went to nursing school when the caps were the thing...We were taught by an ol military degree-program nurse that taught us to make military corners and toe-pleats in our beds. We ironed our dresses and pinafores everyday and if there was a run in our white stockings or scuff on our orthopedic solid white shoes-we were sent home ASAP!! Patient care was taught! Wiping rears, cleaning puke, getting dirty, doing WHATEVER it took to take care of your patient!!! RN-LPN didn't matter- u did it all and smiled because u felt good about your job.
I worked with a new grad the other day that let a call light go off for a while, got up, switched it off at the desk, sat back down, and started reading again!!! They graduate and cant make a bed, don't know how to give a bedbath, or pivot a patient to transfer to the commode....WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?
RN's that are afraid of "real" work, RN's that WONT pass meds, RN's that WONT answer call-lights, RN's that say "that's the aids job", COME ON!!! It's all of our jobs!! We have turned into a spoiled, arrogant profession of idiots---Its going to bite us in the rears someday.
Get off your rear and give a bedbath, walk a patient, change someone, touch your patient, get to know them! Answer a freakin call light....It wont hurt!! The paperwork can wait.

I am not sure what this has to do with the original question or how this post got so far from the topic but since you brought it up...While I agree with you that team work is essential, I will not change a diaper or toilet a pt if there is a cna around that can do it. I am a professional with knowledge and skills that the cna does not have. If I am busy doing these types of things for my pts, who is going to look at their labs, assess them, problem solve and do all the critical thinking that is involved in nursing.

I agree with you that all nurses should have basic skills as far as transfers and changing diapers, I am afraid that your old school views are what is keeping us from being taken seriously as a profession. We are not as you say, a spoiled arrogant profession of idiots. Nurses these days have to have more and more knowledge just to keep up with the changes and advances in healthcare. Nursing is more stressful than ever and I know certain old timers like yourself that wouldnt be caught dead out on the floor working because they couldn't handle it.

JerzeeMike · Jun 21, 2009

Does HealthSouth Rehab hire LPN's?
Thx

Yes, they certainly do. I met a few so far.