Is there really a nursing shortage?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Mar 8, 2014

But evidence and research shows that new grads functioning without oversight of experienced nurses leads to poor patient outcomes as they do not have the experience to "know what they don't know" nor the clinical experience to recognize subtle symptoms or changes that can ultimately adversely impact a patient.

In addition situations where there is low retention there is a reason which may be low pay (new grads more likely to accept lower pay as they are not certain of their worth or just willing to take the first offer to have a job), poor work conditions. ( poorly maintained facility, limited supplies or resources, adverse management, low esteem/morale, lack of benefits, poor management support, lack of training & education), short staffing, etc.

It's not to say new grads can't succeed but experienced nurses know how it could or should be (proper ratios, adequate support & supplies, reasonable pay & benefits, proper training/education/inservices, evidence based practice policy & protocol) where a fresh grad only knows what they are shown/told.

NightNurseRN13 · Mar 9, 2014

I wouldn't want to be hired as a new grad onto a unit with all "baby" nurses. Who would you turn to for help? Unfortunately despite my last post that has happened to a few of my former classmates and they feel like they are drowning.

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 9, 2014

Whatever that is, it means the new grads would have to learn how to handle situations on their own which could be beneficial in the long run.

I would not want to be the patient for the first time the new grad has to learn how to handle a critical situation. This is why skill mix is so important for safe patient care. Yes, the newer nurses can bring in new knowledge that maybe the experienced nurses haven't had the opportunity to read about. However, who will those new grads turn to for guidance with a situation they don't yet know how to handle? This is where the experienced nurse comes in.

MatrixRn · Mar 9, 2014

I am confused, then. You are making it sound like you think new grads thinking out of the box with their fresh minds is beneficial (which I agree). Wouldn't it be good for them to be hired into a facility that isn't populated with nurses who have 30 years of experience? Many of y'all are implying that the reason these not-so-desirable areas always have RN openings is because there's something that keeps people from staying too long. Whatever that is, it means the new grads would have to learn how to handle situations on their own which could be beneficial in the long run.

You are not confused; you nailed it. We need fresh minds with fresh ideas to help move the profession forward. This is not to say that a nurse with many years of experience is not valuable. They are. The 20 or 30 veteran can offer much insight to the human condition that only comes from experience at the bedside and can be passed along to the next generation. The new generation are generally the ones who will see new ways of processing that information, be stronger in computer skills etc.

An experienced nurse who is continually looking for ways to improve the profession, looking for new practice ideas or new strategies is the best of both worlds.

hope3456, ASN, RN · Mar 9, 2014

As a new grad I am not concerned with what is "cool" (not sure what you meant by that?) when I'm looking for my first job to gain experience. Sure, it'd be nice to get hired into a facility populated by very experienced nurses, doctors, and aides. I would learn so much more! But, beggars cannot be choosers when 3/4 (made up statistic) of the country is saturated with RNs and the job market is competitive.[/quote']
Please allow me to replace my use of the phrase "not cool" with "potentially unsafe."
Like you, I did take a job in such a facility because of choosing to move with my husband and it was a rural area. I was quite naive as to how bad working conditions can be for nurses. It was quite an eye opener.
I know everyone has to start somewhere and I wish you luck in finding a facility where you will receive adequate orientation.
It is just too bad it has to be this way.

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 12, 2014

What kills me is almost without fail each article on the "nursing shortage" goes on about how with the economy improving more nurses will retire/reduce hours because their husband's are now fully employed. Why is it even in 2014 people assume professional nurses are all married females (or looking to become), whose husbands are the primary bread winners and they are working for "pin money"?

It's not really an assumption -- and you don't have to make any assumptions about "pin money" to reach the conclusion that the job market will soon change for nurses -- though exactly how and when it will change cannot be known for sure. It is what the numbers show. While there are many men in nursing, most women are nurses. And a large percentage of those women have children -- and would prefer to work fewer hours than they do. Those who have husbands tend to increase and decrease their work hours in response to their husband's income, etc. It's not everyone, but it is a sufficiently high number to make a difference.

Also, there are many nurses who would like to reduce their hours, but who have not done so because their retirement funds took a big hit during the recession. If and when their retirement funds become sufficient, they will go back to their original plans to reduce their hours a bit. That I true of both men and women ... but since the vast majority of nurses are women, we are talking about lots of women reducing their hours as they approach retirement age.

Finally, many people find themselves retiring a few years earlier than they planned. Health issues, changes in the workplace, etc. happen that people don't plan for. And since most nurses are women, that is a bunch of women who will be retiring (or at least reducing their hours) within the next few years.

I'm not saying that there is going to be a sudden mass exodus ... just that the numbers indicate that many nurses (mostly women because most nurses are women) will be reducing their nursing work force in the next few years. I've seen it happening at my hospital and am hearing my friends considering their options as we are now in our late 50's.

smartnurse1982 · Mar 23, 2014

To be fair,it also depends on specialty.

Ltc facilities almost always seem to have openings. Why?

Work in one and you will find out for sure!

Private duty also is another one that sometimes have shortages of nurses.

Why?

A great reason...no benefits of course!

I work private duty with trachs and vents.

Ask me how much is in my 401k fund.

$0

I do not have one because they do not offer any matching benefits.

You might get lucky and get hired into an agency that offers cheap health benefits. Most do not.

royhanosn · Mar 23, 2014

yes, there will be. and jobs? LT, why? Guess! There is a glut of old people that are dieing very slow, and this takes up bed space. But needs nurses. Old People. There is great movement amongst us, because some hosptials have poor management skills. The dollar is talking loud and dirty. Your job is not secure.

OCNRN63, RN · Mar 26, 2014

I agree with soldiernurse22. There are shortages in specific areas. Mine is one. I don't graduate for 3 months and I've already got a job offer. I'm getting ready to put in more applications to see what else I get offered. There were 37 that graduated from my university program last year. 5 are working at children's hospital and the rest are spread out over the state. But most had jobs offers before graduation with us having to do a month long preceptor before graduation.
Last week, one of our instructors forwarded an offer to all soon to be graduates. Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith Arkansas was expanding as well as opening several new clinics around the town. They were offering to pay hotel costs for anyone willing to come for a job interview. If there isn't a shortage, why would they pay for us to come just for a tour and interview.

LOL...in my head I was thinking, "Where does she live...Arkansas?" (No offense intended.)

OCNRN63, RN · Mar 26, 2014

Yes, they definitely will be working longer, but they can't work forever.

Yeah...eventually they have to die, right?

OCNRN63, RN · Mar 26, 2014

Not cool, as in exactly how you took it. When a hospital has multiple travel nurses and new grads it can be a challenge, work wise but only because the nurses will need to think outside the box to get the job done. If we keep asking the 25 yr vet on the floor they will keep giving the same answers.
As a profession, we need new blood and new ideas. We must move away from the old school nursing ways and the only way to do that is with new grads with fresh minds.

Gee...as an experienced nurse, I didn't find that insulting in the least!

/sarc

royhanosn · Mar 27, 2014

I found it offensive, but laughed! Beautiful country down there! Up north here, our govts are cutting spending on Nurses and equipment but the boss CEO's are their annual raises. Why because they are on contract, not unions. As for moving in new direction, highly unlikely. Nursing has not changed except for the technology.