Is there REALLY a nursing shortage?

Nurses General Nursing

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This is an interesting article guys/gals...

Here's the letter I wrote to the President, Vice-President, U.S. Congress Rep. and Senator:

"I'm an R.N. and I recently started working as an agency nurse because the pay is so much better and the hours are very flexible. The hospital system in my area that uses most of the agency nurses is in the process of hiring foreign labor to cut costs and fill positions. I read an article, "Is there REALLY a nursing shortage?" by Richard Armstrong and what he said really concerned me. It is true that American jobs are going overseas and there are over 8 million Americans out of work. People who go to school for certain professions do not have jobs when they graduate. Where is the AMERICAN DREAM going??? I realize our country is a melting pot and all, but what about OUR JOBS for US HERE???!!!

Please abolish the H-1B program. Americans need to demand that employers not be allowed to replace American workers with foreigners... I'm finally not living paycheck to paycheck as a nurse and I'm finally able to get ahead... But now there is this big black cloud looming over my head and it's full of foreign nurses trying to get out of THEIR country to take MY job. :( Why are you letting this happen to your fellow Americans???

Sincerely,

Marie L. Schultz

Shreveport, Louisiana"

I don't know if it will help or not, but I figured it was worth a try. Nurses from India, Africa and Thailand (among others) are coming to the Shreveport area to fill gaps of this so-called nursing shortage so that the hospital system I work at won't have to use agency nurses. Instead of paying American nurses better... this is what is happening. Nice. Very nice.

Do you see this happening where YOU are??? I just started working agency and that's all I'm doing right now. I love it. I just started April 19th, 2004 and here it is... not one month later and 15 foreigners are starting in the next week or so as a "pilot" for the other 3 hospitals of this hospital chain. This hospital chain uses most agency nurses here in Shreveport. They're trying to get rid of agency nurses all together by using these other nurses.

Again I ask: Do you see this happening where YOU are???

Thanks in advance. :o :angryfire

There is already talk about med techs replacing RN's. i am not threatened by foreigners. i feel more threatened by our government and the power that they have to change our livlihoods in the blink of an eye with the poor decisions they make.

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i feel more threatened by our government and the power that they have to change our livelihoods in the blink of an eye with the poor decisions they make.

While I understand that the government has the power to make or break certain livelihoods and that we as citizens can't just sit back and expect government representatives to make choices that will be best for us an individuals or as a society, I don't understand the great faith that many of those same people seem to have in "free market" either. Companies where increasing profitability is the bottom line also make choices that make or break livelihoods and we as consumers and employees only have so much power to influence their choices, especially for services like health care where choosing to go without isn't often a reasonable option.

A privately run company is just as likely to push for utilizing med aides as is a government-funded agency as everyone tries to keep costs down. I certainly don't think the government can solve every problem or should have unilateral power over things like administering health care. But I also don't think solely leaving it to the powers of free market will necessarily lead to better outcomes across the board.

I don't think it's ever as simple as choosing between "free market" or "government-involvement."

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I agree. I agree. I agree. It is not a matter of racism or bigotry, it is a matter of exploiting us, the American Citizen Nurse.

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To the best of my knowledge, in Virginia the nurses are WELL above the "shortage" line. As far as EMT's go, this is a big shortage in Southwest Virginia. Some Rescue Squads get around 5+ calls a day but are still Volunteer because their is not near enough people to work for them. Luckily my agency had paid staff for all stations and volunteers "come and go" and are usually the 3rd man on a truck. One of the hospitals that we CAN transport to ended up firing about 8 nurses and a handful of ppl from the admin area because of budget cuts.

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Specializes in CNA-2years LPN-about 2 years.

Hey. I am not an agency nurse, I work in a hospital as a regular floor nurse. Only one area of our hospital uses agency and they are set up as a nursing home. I did however work agency as a CNA and I loved it. I think there will always be a demand for agency nurses. Some hospitals do not like to use agency because their rate is higher, however I have found some agency nurses to be worth that increase. The biggest nursing shortage is supposed to be coming in 2011. Hospitals everywhere are going to be retiring bundles of nurses and the increase for agency nurses and nurses in general are going to be on the rise. I would not worry about our jobs leaving, our job is a must and will always be needed as long as we have a health care system.:nurse:

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Guys,

let's not argue...Immigration politics can be changed/fixed only by the politicians. We cannot do anything to change it. America has always been a "melting pot", a land that attracts people from all over the world. We should be thankful that we live in a country with a freedom, opportunities, and ability to make choices. We should be respectful and not greedy. If we were good workers, willing to face the challenges and be devoted in our professions...why should we worry about someone else coming to take our jobs?!...So many people are on welfare that they shouldn't be...they can try to work, get a job, do something and be productive....Don't abuse the system. Immigrants pay taxes, too. Right? These taxes are distributed...they fund ones that are on welfare, too. To support one retired person nowdays you need more working people (ratio 7 working to 1 retired, not sure if it is still the same) to contribute to Medicare, Medicaid, etc.

JF Kennedy said long ago: "It is not important so much what the country will do for you. It matters what you do for your country".

An immigrant myself:up:

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Alot of my colleagues seem to be leaving floor nursing and doing UR.

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.

There is no nursing shortage.

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I agree there is NO NURSING SHORTAGE! In my hospital nurses are being floated left and right due to overstaffing. Its exhausting! Nurses are also forced to transfer to another area (medsurg to step down and so on...) Its also harder to find another hospital job in my area... I called agencies but there are no current openings! This is really scary! I think by the time the so called baby boomers do retire there will be enough nurses to cover for them... Now I feel nurses are abused ,overworked and taken for granted!:no:

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Marie! Good for you! Thanks for writing that letter!

I lost a job at a very prominent hospital when I was a medical transcriber because they decided to outsource overseas! It was cheaper AND the government gave them a tax break for doing so!

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Specializes in ICU,CCU, trauma, oc med.

Not where I live. You can not get PRN work at 3 other hospitals and there is no agency or travellers.

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I am starting to doubt that. It took me several months to even get interviews.

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