Increase in RN jobs with ACA

funnygirl_rn2 · Jan 1, 2014

I am a bit of news junkie, love to read and also have been looking for a better paying job since these last couple years have been rough for me with finances. So, I am crossing my fingers I can find something that pays well and also interesting. From what I have been reading ACA is expected to increase patient demand for medical services. There is already a shortage of primary care doctors since many new medical grads are burdened with horrendous student loan debt they opt for other specializations since pays more. Then you got the aging workforce of both doctors and nurses, so will be losing baby boomers soon providing they can retire. Add the aging population that needs more care and a growing population. I also read and have been seeing more job positions for PA's and NP's; less costly to hire a PA and NP versus a MD especially in primary care practice. So figure a greater demand for check-ups and preventative care. Wellness/health coaches I feel will be more prevalent and navigators too. I have a couple friends who are currently working with start-up companies. They are a bit frazzled since companies are fairly new, but hanging in.

RobtheORNurse · Jan 2, 2014

Yep, tons of Part-Time jobs, no full time. Hospitals around here are laying off or reducing staff through attrition and not replacing. Part-time = no benefits I liked it better before BHO was pres.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 2, 2014

Yep, tons of Part-Time jobs, no full time. Hospitals around here are laying off or reducing staff through attrition and not replacing. Part-time = no benefits I liked it better before BHO was pres.

Well, despite what those that hate our current president will tell you, what you have written happened under Bush number 2 as wel!!! So nothing has changed as far as more PT jobs available over FT jobs, layoffs, no bonuses, and no OT being the norm (there was no nursing shortage back then either). So, what you liked under Bush number 2 is a fantasy and not reality, especially during his second term.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 2, 2014

OP: I agree that there are more jobs. In fact, I am having absolutely no trouble getting raises every year now and getting performance bonuses (it is the first time since working any job since 2000). On the other hand, you and the above posters that focused on what the ACA actually is are correct, that part of our job is a matter of dollars and cents in the strictest sense and it is also about making sure that patients are properly supported and placed in the correct health care setting. Thus, it is very important that we all are better educated as to what the ACA does and does not do for our patients and providers. Specifically, the better nurses we are at performing our jobs, the better we can support both the patient’s health care outcomes as well as our employer's bottom line.

On a side note, so far this year it has been a busy one! More patients are coming in to be seen because their health insurance has kicked-in... I have even taken care of a few 20 Somethings (AKA "The Invinsibles") with *gasp* health insurance to cover their accidents and/or acute health conditions! What a blessing! :)

juschillin, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 3, 2014

The 20-somethings that you've seen coming in for care -- how great is that! It's going to be really interesting to see what happens, for our profession and our patients/clients. It's exciting.

Today's New York Times has a couple of interesting stories about the ACA rolling out and I'll put the links in this post. The first one talks about a study being done in Oregon that's showing more people are using the ER than was thought which is the opposite of what was hoped. There will be a big learning curve for those who've gone without primary care for so long, who are so used to going straight to the ER.

http://nyti.ms/19MlzXo "Access to Healthcare May Increase ER Visits"

http://nyti.ms/1cJhMi5 "Consumers Start Using Coverage Under Health Law"

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2014

I just saw a thread in the ANP forum here about how the ACA changes have affected their practice area in just a few days. Looks to me like there will be a lot of NP jobs coming up, especially if physicians decide they don't want to take less reimbursement. As someone said in the thread, it's nice to hear from people who actually care about the patients.

funnygirl_rn2 · Jan 4, 2014

MBARNBSN, Do you work for a large company or hospital since you mentioned raises and performance bonuses? Since the economy started to tank in 2008, our raises have been minimal or none......same goes for the peformance bonuses. I work for a small case management company and many of have been looking elsewhere for we simply cannot live on our current salaries with everything else increasing in price.

funnygirl_rn2 · Jan 4, 2014

The 20-somethings that you've seen coming in for care -- how great is that! It's going to be really interesting to see what happens, for our profession and our patients/clients. It's exciting.
Today's New York Times has a couple of interesting stories about the ACA rolling out and I'll put the links in this post. The first one talks about a study being done in Oregon that's showing more people are using the ER than was thought which is the opposite of what was hoped. There will be a big learning curve for those who've gone without primary care for so long, who are so used to going straight to the ER.
http://nyti.ms/19MlzXo "Access to Healthcare May Increase ER Visits"
http://nyti.ms/1cJhMi5 "Consumers Start Using Coverage Under Health Law"

Thanks for posting the links, good articles.

There are 21 states that are not participating in the Medicaid expansion; millions will still go without health insurance since they don't meet their State's income guidelines. In a few more months if any individual does not purchase coverage.....then they will have to pay a penalty, which is supposed to be 1% of their income. Many will take that chance, for insurance premiums have increased (my monthly rates increased $240 extra per month as of 12/2013). It still is a crap shoot for some and I cannot blame them for health insurance is so costly.

Regardless whether some are newly insured, there will always be some who will continue to use the ER. That is going to be difficult to curtail unless these individuals are held accountable and actually have to dole out some $$$ with co-pays etc... For my clients are lower income, have no co-pays or premiums, scripts are free AND most of them will not change their mindset. Sigh. If they are not held accountable, everyone's rates will continue to increase.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 7, 2014

MBARNBSN, Do you work for a large company or hospital since you mentioned raises and performance bonuses? Since the economy started to tank in 2008, our raises have been minimal or none......same goes for the peformance bonuses. I work for a small case management company and many of have been looking elsewhere for we simply cannot live on our current salaries with everything else increasing in price.

I currently work for two large hospitals/systems... Prior to my current employers, I worked for very small rural hospitals and was just fortunate to still have a job after performance reviews. I also did not live in a Pro-Union area of the country until now so that might make a bit of a difference as well.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 7, 2014

Thanks for posting the links, good articles.
Regardless whether some are newly insured, there will always be some who will continue to use the ER. That is going to be difficult to curtail unless these individuals are held accountable and actually have to dole out some $$$ with co-pays etc… For my clients are lower income, have no co-pays or premiums, scripts are free AND most of them will not change their mindset. Sigh. If they are not held accountable, everyone's rates will continue to increase.

True… Many people need education while others need some form of wrap-around case management. Some studies (I cannot find my favorite or I would post it), show that wrap-around programs deter and decrease the utilization of emergency services while preventing inpatient admissions of high utilizers in some regards.

Super-Utilizer Summit: Common Themes from Innovative Complex Care Case Management Programs. http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/reports/2013/rwjf407990

funnygirl_rn2 · Jan 8, 2014

I currently work for two large hospitals/systems... Prior to my current employers, I worked for very small rural hospitals and was just fortunate to still have a job after performance reviews. I also did not live in a Pro-Union area of the country until now so that might make a bit of a difference as well.

Okay, that is what I thought, large facilities. I am assuming they are also for profit.