Is there a nursing shortage or not?

jlynn2303 · Apr 30, 2011

There is no nursing shortage in Ohio or Indiana, that's for sure. It is better now than a year or two ago, but there are still people from my class (Nov '10) looking for work, although some have found jobs, others are still looking. I am working in LTC as I can't live at home with my parents until I find a job! Way too old and support myself and others. If you are willing to work ltc, there is work here, and you might find a job in a hospital. One recruiter for a 156 bed hospital near here told me that she gets 300 RN resumes a WEEK and the larger hospitals get way more. It drives me nuts when anyone says nursing is recession proof. "People always need health care." I say "Yes, well, people always need food too, but that doesn't mean everyone gets it. If there is no money, there is no care, unfortunately." Ah well, what do you do? One day at a time.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Apr 30, 2011

As with other industries, the nursing shortage tends to be cyclical. I graduated in 1982. The local hospital was in a hiring freeze. I applied every other week....made a pest of myself and was on a first name basis with the head of HR. Still not hiring she'd say. So I applied to nursing agencies....got hired by one and then a second. One of my clients was a woman in a coma in the hospital. Her family had lots and lots of money so they wanted a private duty nurse to sit and watch her breathe (really there wasn't anything to do for her). So there I was, sitting, SO bored wondering why I had wasted my time going to nursing school. Her roomate called me and asked me to help her with the back of her johnny so I did. The nurse manager walked in and asked me what I was doing...I told her I knew I shouldn't have touched the other patient, but there didn't seem to be any harm in helping out. She asked me if I wanted a permanent job on the unit. I told her I had been told they weren't hiring. She said she could hire one person and she wanted it to be me. So I got a job.

Sometimes it's a question of being in the right place at the right time.

As far as the nursing shortage......I now run a facility. In any week I have between 5 and 10 people a week coming in to apply for nursing jobs. I hire new grads and take the time to train them. There IS a shortage of GOOD nurses. No offense meant but honestly, 80% of the people coming in to apply make one wonder how they ever passed the boards.

carl5480 · Apr 30, 2011

It seems to me that in my area (North Texas), there's not a nursing shortage that prevents people from finding jobs so much as other factors. For instance, as someone above mentioned, experience. I was a nurse with 5 years experience attempting to get into a different field from where I started (renal), and every single job I applied for (other than home health and med/surg) flat out declined to even consider me for a position because I didn't have experience in that area. So, how do you get GI lab experience if the GI lab will only hire people who've already worked in that area before? The answer has also already been mentioned: unless you have the perfect credentials HR is looking for, it becomes about WHO you know.

Secondly, there seem to be a lot of picky nurses out there. Granted, you want to find an area you're happy with. But the people who ONLY apply for, say, L&D positions will find it very hard to find jobs. To continue this example: L&D is a highly popular area, and those nurses tend to stay at their jobs longer than in other departments. Newborn nursery in particularl tends to have employees that stay until they retire. If you only want a job in an area with low turnover, of course you're going to find it difficult. Same goes for scheduling: some people have very particular schedules they need, but if you are not one of them then take what you can get! Don't refuse a job just because it means working night shift. Eventually a day shift position will open up. And definitely expect to have to work some weekends/holidays. That is unavoidable for the majority of nursing positions.

I guess the reason I say this is because our unit sees nursing students quite frequently. When I ask what area they want to go into, you can rely on the fact that the vast majority will say L&D, ER, or pedi. Meanwhile, ortho, med/surg, renal floors are getting slammed because they don't have any applicants. Or at least any quality applicants, which I guess is another factor in this situation. Just because you are an RN does not mean you will make a good employee, and managers will see that. My boss interviews people all the time for open positions and I've heard her say repeatedly two things: 1) I'm just not getting any applicants for night shift, and 2) I'm not going to hire you if you don't even make an attempt to be friendly or smile during your interview. If you don't make effort for a potential employer, how will you treat your patients?

Sorry about the length, just a few thoughts on the situation as I see it.

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 30, 2011

Yes, there is a "nursing shortage" as a simple equation of healthcare's needs/healthcare's providers, however the economy has limited ways to ameliorate these two variables.

*** I wonder have you taken into account that many/most nursing schools have greatly expanded their programs and are graduating many, many more nurses each year? Also new programs have sprung up all over the place. Did you consider those two factors when you came to the conclusion that there is indeed a nursing shortage?

Have you ever been to your states board of nursing web site and seen just how many licensed nurses there are in your state?

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2011

http://www.nursing.illinois.gov/education.asp#ACCREDITED

Just click the link and scroll down. This is just one state. Many of these colleges graduate twice a year.

angelkerri · Apr 30, 2011

I graduated in Dec 2009. Here in Central MO in our University town we have 3 big hospitals (some might say 4, but the extra one is an extension of University hospital). When I was a senior in nursing school doing my practicum we had the traditional wining and dining by the local and nearby hospitals trying to recruit new grads. One experience really stands out in my mind: we're all sitting around round tables, munching on wraps brought in by the nurse recruiter who was giving us a powerpoint presentation on her hospital and the great benefits available and the awesome new grad program they have (new grads get a free PDA! whoo!). Well she gets to the end of the presentation and it's time for Q&A and one of the students makes mention that there are not very many job openings on the hospitals HR site. After going round and round with how we need to apply to make ourselves competitive, etc, the recruiter then goes on to tell all of us that they will likely not be hiring new grads anytime in the near future. I feel a lump as I swallow the last of my food.

"What is the point of this information session then?" I wondered.

I work at a SNF now but I put in my notice and will be moving to the east coast. There are no nursing jobs anywhere but I have been in a rut here in MO for some time now and I am fine with getting what I can for now. I have a per diem position waiting for me at my new location and that's good enough for now. I was the same: I went in for nursing so that I would have some nice security in case some of the other dream projects I wanted to pursue didn't pan out. I tell people now, you might as well go after that Underwater Basketweaving degree because what were once more "practical" options aren't getting anyone anywhere.

Edit::Oh, and I am a BSN educated nurse.

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2011

Angelkerri, the exact same experience for my graduating class!

AmericanRN · Apr 30, 2011

I think everyone is having a hard time right now. I did not mean to imply the ADN's can't find work because of their degrees, it's just that my friends have ADNs and they're struggling and I do not know anyone with a BSN. I'm sure it's just as bad here as it is everywhere else.

I'm not in Cali but I have a BSN and it took me & 85& of my class about 6 months to find a job. Since I've graduated there have been 3 more classes behind me and the average on them is also 6 months. Having a BSN in some areas doesn't get one in the door. I got my first nursing job ONLY because the LTC needed 2 RNs in the building for day shift. It had 0 to do with the BSN and everything to do with a medicaid requirements about having an RN in the building. We worked the med carts just like everyone else. I landed an acute care job in a hospital only because the unit manager figured I would be great at time management coming from an LTC. My resume ended up on her desk because I know a tech on the unit & they were desperate for another nurse d/t their high turnover. Seriously its all in who ones knows and the level of desperation the unit has nowadays.

soxgirl2008 · Apr 30, 2011

I'm not in Cali but I have a BSN and it took me & 85& of my class about 6 months to find a job. Since I've graduated there have been 3 more classes behind me and the average on them is also 6 months. Having a BSN in some areas doesn't get one in the door. I got my first nursing job ONLY because the LTC needed 2 RNs in the building for day shift. It had 0 to do with the BSN and everything to do with a medicaid requirements about having an RN in the building. We worked the med carts just like everyone else. I landed an acute care job in a hospital only because the unit manager figured I would be great at time management coming from an LTC. My resume ended up on her desk because I know a tech on the unit & they were desperate for another nurse d/t their high turnover. Seriously its all in who ones knows and the level of desperation the unit has nowadays.

I agree. I think in many areas the BSN will definitely help, but it's no guarantee and BSN grads are still having a hard time. I see a lot of posts implying if you get your ADN you won't find a job, and if you get your BSN you'll find a job right off the bat which isn't the case. It has to do with hospitals simply not hiring ANYONE, regardless of degree. The people who get jobs are the ones who have connections or are very persistent.

nurse.sandi · Apr 30, 2011

Thank you for all the great responses. Its dishearting to senior nurses that we can not find jobs..so I would be devastated if I had just recently graduated. I have been a nurse for 16 years and have way more experience than is listed in my bio. I have worked every shift you can think of, missed so many's holidays, kids sport games, etc. I do not mean to be disrespecful, but when a nurse has worked the off shifts, etc. I think they deserve to be placed in respectable positions. I would never pay for a PHD in nursing and be a bedside nurse. That is just plain ridiculus. I want to say on a positive note..that the money I earned as a nurse has been my family's bread and butter, since I was a single mom for 20 years. But now, how we are treated... I just feel I have lost my respect for healthcare. So, with that said. Will the moderators please close this thread? Thanks for all your responses. Sandi

nurse.sandi · May 1, 2011

It seems to me that in my area (North Texas), there's not a nursing shortage that prevents people from finding jobs so much as other factors. For instance, as someone above mentioned, experience. I was a nurse with 5 years experience attempting to get into a different field from where I started (renal), and every single job I applied for (other than home health and med/surg) flat out declined to even consider me for a position because I didn't have experience in that area. So, how do you get GI lab experience if the GI lab will only hire people who've already worked in that area before? The answer has also already been mentioned: unless you have the perfect credentials HR is looking for, it becomes about WHO you know.
Secondly, there seem to be a lot of picky nurses out there. Granted, you want to find an area you're happy with. But the people who ONLY apply for, say, L&D positions will find it very hard to find jobs. To continue this example: L&D is a highly popular area, and those nurses tend to stay at their jobs longer than in other departments. Newborn nursery in particularl tends to have employees that stay until they retire. If you only want a job in an area with low turnover, of course you're going to find it difficult. Same goes for scheduling: some people have very particular schedules they need, but if you are not one of them then take what you can get! Don't refuse a job just because it means working night shift. Eventually a day shift position will open up. And definitely expect to have to work some weekends/holidays. That is unavoidable for the majority of nursing positions.
I guess the reason I say this is because our unit sees nursing students quite frequently. When I ask what area they want to go into, you can rely on the fact that the vast majority will say L&D, ER, or pedi. Meanwhile, ortho, med/surg, renal floors are getting slammed because they don't have any applicants. Or at least any quality applicants, which I guess is another factor in this situation. Just because you are an RN does not mean you will make a good employee, and managers will see that. My boss interviews people all the time for open positions and I've heard her say repeatedly two things: 1) I'm just not getting any applicants for night shift, and 2) I'm not going to hire you if you don't even make an attempt to be friendly or smile during your interview. If you don't make effort for a potential employer, how will you treat your patients?
Sorry about the length, just a few thoughts on the situation as I see it.

Thank you for the response. Yes, day jobs are hard to come by. I agree a smile is worth a 1000 words.:)

nurse.sandi · May 4, 2011

I graduated in Dec 2009. Here in Central MO in our University town we have 3 big hospitals (some might say 4, but the extra one is an extension of University hospital). When I was a senior in nursing school doing my practicum we had the traditional wining and dining by the local and nearby hospitals trying to recruit new grads. One experience really stands out in my mind: we're all sitting around round tables, munching on wraps brought in by the nurse recruiter who was giving us a powerpoint presentation on her hospital and the great benefits available and the awesome new grad program they have (new grads get a free PDA! whoo!). Well she gets to the end of the presentation and it's time for Q&A and one of the students makes mention that there are not very many job openings on the hospitals HR site. After going round and round with how we need to apply to make ourselves competitive, etc, the recruiter then goes on to tell all of us that they will likely not be hiring new grads anytime in the near future. I feel a lump as I swallow the last of my food.
"What is the point of this information session then?" I wondered.
I work at a SNF now but I put in my notice and will be moving to the east coast. There are no nursing jobs anywhere but I have been in a rut here in MO for some time now and I am fine with getting what I can for now. I have a per diem position waiting for me at my new location and that's good enough for now. I was the same: I went in for nursing so that I would have some nice security in case some of the other dream projects I wanted to pursue didn't pan out. I tell people now, you might as well go after that Underwater Basketweaving degree because what were once more "practical" options aren't getting anyone anywhere.
Edit::Oh, and I am a BSN educated nurse.

Good luck in your future nursing career. Thanks for the post.