Is the nursing profession causing its own RN shortage?

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With all the RN's going to NP school, is the profession significantly contributing to the RN shortage? Between retirement and RN's in line to become NP's it seems our unit is on a constant hunt for staff.

I've always said I never understood why hospitals stopped hiring LVN's. We could lighten the workload a lot. An experienced LVN knows a lot!

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Specializes in SICU.

I'm literally laughing at the perks of the CCRN , I thought I had it bad when I was given a snow globe with the hospitals logo when I passed the CCRN... But a pencil? Wow!

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Here in the Bay Area, market rate for RN's is $60 an hour in the hospital. My bill for an overnight stay (and tests) because of chest pain was $37,000. Granted, it was almost all written off, but still...I am an LVN, but I still cannot see RN's making more than that! I know the job is horribly stressful-with higher pay comes higher responsibility, in my opinion.

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And yet, RNs in the Bay Area will never be able to afford a house on a single income. A nurse in the rural south can.

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Then that is due to the high cost of living in this part of the country. It has no reflection on the competency or incompetency of the nurse. Isn't that we are talking about? We choose to live where we live, for the most part.

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When I heard the expression "nurses eat their young", and I learned it would be likely my first shifts would be 12 hour graveyards with a 30 min lunch break, and don't sit in the last empty chair at the nursing station--I was simultaneously ripped from my dream of a nursing career by a bad back. All my guardian spirits were steering me away, and thank goodness. Anyone working under those conditions truly are entitled to file for abusive work practices!

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That is for sure! Studies have proven that!

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Many patients don't seem to want to take care of themselves anymore. The government is spending tons of money to try to help them, but the truth is, they are non compliant!? That is a leading cause of frustration for many of us.

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This area is the most expensive in the country, granted. How is that the employers responsibility? There are at least 50 people vying for the same job, so they feel none. Not everybody can have the "American Dream".

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This area is the most expensive in the country, granted. How is that the employers responsibility? There are at least 50 people vying for the same job, so they feel none. Not everybody can have the "American Dream".

If you are talking about San Francisco, there are not 50 applicants for every open nursing job. Not that it matters, pay is set by the union contract, not by the employer per se or the short term market conditions.

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I should have clarified with "It SEEMS like there are at least 50 people...". Sorry. As far as pay being set by unions, I am not a fan. There are good points and bad points.

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Farawyn, you're on here constantly, putting your own spin on people's posts and generally acting like a troll. Stop it.

Nurses don't need to be disrespected by other nurses.

I've seen you before, you know.

Unfortunately, we all have.

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