Interesting article about conflicting reports concerning the nursing shortage...

wifeandmomoftwo · Jul 29, 2010

I'm with vegas2009. There hasn't been a real nursing shortage in many years -- there were more than enough actively licensed US RNs to fill every vacancy in the US before the economy tanked; there was just a shortage of nurses willing to put up with lousy pay and working conditions. Many licensed RNs were "voting with their feet" and choosing not to work as nurses. With the collapse of the economy, many of those people have come back into nursing.
The info from the ANA discussed in the article is the same stuff the ANA always says. Look around this site at how many actual, working nurses have any respect for what the ANA has to say. You also have to question anything the AACN says -- they are the trade organization for colleges of nursing; they have a vested interest in continuing to attract large numbers of students into nursing programs. I've taught in a number of nursing schools where the hard-core academics directing the programs (who make up the AACN) had no clue whatsoever was going on out in the "real world" of nursing.
(And am I really the only person who's going to say this -- social/economic analysis from John Tesh??? Really??? )

Please forgive me. I'm sorry that you are displeased with the source of this article. I just thought it was an interesting point of view (and one that I have seen thrown around on here quite a lot). I thought others might find it interesting too. Geez. :uhoh3:

wifeandmomoftwo · Jul 29, 2010

LOL! "hundreds of thousands, every year"? California graduated 9,580 in total, in 2008. Considering CA is the most populous state in the union by far, you have a loooong way to go to justify such a wild claim.
source: http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_15189410 (California Institute for Nursing and Health Care cited)
Research is your friend: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media/factsheets/nursingshortage.htm - lots of fantastic data therein, directly addressing the nursing "situation" America is in.
Bitter much? The facts can be found in the preceding link, but the bottom line is that there is both a shortage *and* a recession - thus, current nurses get overworked and new ones, though needed, cannot be hired due to budget constraints in lots of areas. However, even the OP's reference cites job openings for those willing to relocate, in addition to the AACN link I posted offering the same observation.
Current nursing employment opportunities are not all peaches-and-cream, as some would like, but nor are they doom-and-gloom, as apparently some others would like.

I agree!

vegas2009 · Aug 4, 2010

Kurt_W,

I don't need to look at stats to tell me what career choice I should get.

I admit, I do look though. But, I don't base my decisions solely on them. I talk to people who are in the profession. Or to people who know people who are in the profession.

California is only one state of many. California is also one of the few states who actually PAY their nurses well, compared to the rest.

I'm not saying I shouldn't go into nursing, but I have to be realistic of what my expectations are. Honestly, it takes a long time to just work on those pre-reqs, and finally getting into A nursing school.

Then, spend all that $, time, and effort.... hopefully graduate and pass the NCLEX and NOT be able to get a job! Many people I know are in that boat since last year and this year. Only a few get hired.

Nursing schools, nursing associations, etc., will tell people the same thing over and over again (Nursing shortage claim). But, it's just like everything else in life.... people will tell you whatever they want to tell you. But, it doesn't mean that they're true! In some cases, if ANY of it is true! Many people would have to re-think the nursing profession nowadays, seriously.

To work so hard/harder just to get that degree, pass the NCLEX, pay all the fees just to get licensed and to NOT even get some kind of work afterwards?

In this economy, yes --- it is asking a lot. On top of that, a number of nursing schools are still keeping their restraints. Nursing students go through a lot, literally jump through hoops while in nursing school. I'm not saying, they shouldn't. To go through all that, and not even qualify to get "trained" while being hired afterwards? I don't know anymore. I think I need a long vacation :)