Is there a nursing shortage or not?

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I am sure many members are tired of this subject, but I am new here. My question is after reading the threads and reviewing the literature on the nursing shortage and future demands. I do not understand why so many nurses including myself, whether you are a new grad, returning nurse, or senior nurse...why can we not find jobs if there is a shortage?

:confused::nurse:

My friends in southern california can't find jobs, but maybe it's because they have ADNs

I have friends with their BSN in California. They cannot find a job either. I'm getting a LOT of the same answers across the country. Nursing sucks across the board and things look like they're getting worse by the day. I don't think nursing will improve anytime soon, if ever. I'm already exploring other options.

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I am looking into starting nursing school in the spring, would you guys say that it is not a good idea because of how hard it is to get a job. My dream is to be a L&D nurse which I know is very hard to find a job in. If I start working in a hospital now with a CNA just to get my foot in the door would that give me a better chance to get a job as a new grad? Or in your oppinion just stay with the CNA and work and wait a few years to go to nursing school to see if the ecconomy will come up or to even go to school of something else. I know I wouldnt graduate for two and a half years maybe there will be more jobs by then? I just dont want to spend all this time and money to go to school and try to be a L&D nurse and do something that Ive always wanted to do or not only due to jobs not being there and having to settle for a nursing job that was not my dream forever. I dont have a problem working nights or in some other place other than labor and delivery but I wont be happy untill I get to labor and delivery.

Is it worth the time and money if there are no jobs?

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Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.

talked to death already, this happens like every 3 weeks.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
talked to death already, this happens like every 3 weeks.

Three weeks??? How about 3 MINUTES.....it has gotten so that when I see this combination of words in a sentance....nursing and shortage...I clench my teeth and GROWL.................:mad:

What willl it take???

This should be posted on Facebook, Twitter, all Bathroom walls of college Bars....and anywhere that impressionable students hang out.....

There is NO NURSING SHORTAGE!!!!

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I know that there is no nurse shortage, but is it even worth it to go to nursing school if there are no jobs available once you graduate?

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

Honey, that is a decision only you can make. Why do you want to become a nurse? Is it because you always wanted to be a nurse? or did you get caught up in the hoopla about it being recession proof?..which by now you know is NOT true....if it's #1...do it...#2...well, maybe not.

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ive recently been accepted to an Accelerated BSN program to begin in June for a career change. After doing some research on the market for nurses I've found that there probably isn't a short term nursing shortage. It is probably more true that hospitals can't hire right now. Anyhow, I know I am not as dejected as many who are already in the profession. What is true as we have all seen is that nursing is not recession proof, and you are experience what many others are. I come from finance and accounting and was a temp staffing/recruiter...believe me qualified folks from that industry were/are in pain as well. So those so insanely dispassionate, were probably the ones most duped on the idea that nursing will be highly employed and highly paid regardless.

I do have one thing to lift your spirits...the Health Care Reform Bill passed by Obama (good or bad, big govt or not)...will have profound effects. The meat of this policy will not kick in until 2014...where 32 Million more people will be required to have insurance...that is a significant amount of people to add to the pot...its true that the government makes mistakes, but that bill is not simply requiring people to have insurance...it also includes a lot of funding for infrastructure (not just buildings, but work force etc...) this will have profound effects on nurses now and for a long time...be patient folks

Secondly regarding the glut of nurses currently looking...this next part will likely strike much fear in many...i agree with a previous poster that alot of these new programs putting out nursing grads like a puppy mill are LPN and Associates Degree folks...there always will be a place for these folks...but in a short few years these professionals will be considered a separate group as hospitals trend towards higher education...so truth be told...if u cant find work now...go and bridge to a BSN as that is what will be standard in the near future..

Lastly 32 million new insured people in 2014...that is significant folks...you will enjoy the ride soon enough.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

secondly regarding the glut of nurses currently looking...this next part will likely strike much fear in many...i agree with a previous poster that alot of these new programs putting out nursing grads like a puppy mill are lpn and associates degree folks

*** actually that's not the case. a large number of new grads not finding work are graduates of Accelerated BSN and direct entry masters programs (my hospital, no longer considers de msn grads for employment). these "accelerated become a nurse in a year!" programs have been popping up like weeds in a garden. it is tough for new grads to find jobs, however nothing i see encourages me to think that the bsn grads are finding jobs easier than those with associates degrees.

...there always will be a place for these folks...but in a short few years these professionals will be considered a separate group as hospitals trend towards higher education...so truth be told...if u cant find work now...go and bridge to a bsn as that is what will be standard in the near future.

*** it's a double edged sword. those associates degree grads who haven't found work and elect to do and rn to bsn programs will be asked "so what nursing experience have you gained since you graduated two years ago?".

what evidence do you have that bsn will be the standard soon? back in the day when i was in nursing school we were told that it was "right around the corner". when my mom was in nursing school back in the early 70's she was told that a bsn would be required in "the near future".

lastly 32 million new insured people in 2014...that is significant folks...you will enjoy the ride soon enough.

*** not sure what you are saying with this. if you are saying that there is a nursing shortage coming then that argues whith your claim that bsn will be the standard in the near future.

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PMFB-RN-I don't think your making any arguments that haven't been made. And I feel when you break up my posting into pieces you are taking arguments out of context...as they all need to be considered to understand my point on the overall trend...but I can argue you point by point

"*** Actually that's not the case. A large number of new grads not finding work are graduates of Accelerated BSN and direct entry masters programs (my hospital, no longer considers DE MSN grads for employment). These "accelerated become a nurse in a year!" programs have been popping up like weeds in a garden. It is tough for new grads to find jobs, however nothing I see encourages me to think that the BSN grads ar

e finding jobs easier than those with associates degrees."

Yes, right now it is hard for everybody bsn, AA, experienced and not. However, I think when when hiring does pick up and it will...that the AA degrees will find it way more challenging...do I have statistical evidence for this? No, since there hasn't been much hiring to speak of, although military hospitals are now requiring a BS, that will trickle down (not the cause, but more correlation)...I do have anecdotal evidence from people saying that there are changes in hiring policy...and the AA will find this when this does pick up. But your right BSN do not seem to have an advantage currently...because there is no hiring. In a 2010 study of 2008 data, almost half of the nursing work force has an associates degree or less...they will be phased out, and when layoffs occur, they will be one of the most at risk groups.

*** It's a double edged sword. Those associates degree grads who haven't found work and elect to do and RN to BSN programs will be asked "so what nursing experience have you gained since you graduated two years ago?".

What evidence do you have that BSN will be the standard soon? Back in the day when I was in nursing school we were told that it was "right around the corner". When my mom was in nursing school back in the early 70's she was told that a BSN would be required in "the near future".

This argument you make has nothing to do with Associates degree vs. BSN...its an argument about not having current experience. And yes, when hiring has slowed down, those with most recent experience are more marketable, that is with all industries. Look at people who are in tech as a prime example.

The evidence I have that BSN will be standard, is the fact that hospitals are beginning to hire those with BSN only...is this a country wide rule, no. I'm sure you can find hundreds of examples of those with Assoc. who are working to prove me wrong. The discussion we are having is what is the trend. And if you are arguing the trend is not higher education...then you are fighting a losing battle. I do not know your mom and her 1970's experience, so I can't respond to that. Alll I can point out is the Institute of Medicine and Robert Woods Johnson Foundation performed studies and are advocating by 2020 that 80% of all nursing staff should have at least a BSN. The reason for this, is that as the baby boom generation comes of age, nurses will play a more vital role in primary care, and they are an advocate that nurses play a more integral part and that they are able to exercise the full extent of their training...thus more education...thus BSN.

*** Not sure what you are saying with this. If you are saying that there is a nursing shortage coming then that argues whith your claim that BSN will be the standard in the near future.

Im not really sure what you mean. My point of the 32 Million, is that this is the number of new folks expected to have insurance that currently do not by 2014 due to the Health Care Reform Act. I don't mean 32 million nurses.

I know its little solace to nurses who currently do not have a job for me to say the trend is improving. This is a career and im just pointing out some things we can be excited about. There are many Chicken Littles on this board who are claiming the sky is falling. Yes, the clouds are grey, but the macro picture is definately a promising one. I've been unemployed before, and I know how stressful this is. I am trying to urge everyone to not have a myopic view.

I also challenge people to know look at anecdotal evidence on how bad things are. Even during the good times, I've had friends that were unemployed, and from their perspective things couldn't be worse. Buckle down, dont waste energy on reminding yourself how bad things are. Apply, apply, and apply. The luckier you get is a reflection of how much harder you work

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