Is there still a nursing shortage?

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

i am in the middle of another "i hate my workplace" phase that forced me to look into employment elsewhere in town.

i was shocked to find how limited my options were. certainly, they were not good enough to allow me to leave my workplace for another job.

but, i had some options. i just didn't like them!

so, here i stay.

but, there are some people who don't have any options. they are stuck at their jobs (and grateful) or they are looking, looking, looking for work.

if the worst thing happens and i am laid off, then i will be able to find work. i may not like it but, oh well. i would do what i had to do to keep the house.

some people, if laid off, would be screwed. royally. they may not have any options.

nursing is a fantastic career. i can do anything. but sassie, i think you should still go for your bsn, or whatever works for you. we don't know what extra certifications, education, friends, etc that will be to our benefit. if you can afford it, the go for it. if not, then do it the old-fashioned way.

i also think 2009 will be awful, awful. i'm really putting all my eggs into 2010 and hoping that it will rebound by then, hoping that i don't get laid off or my husband doesn’t get laid off. (has already been threatened at my hospital)

MsBruiser · Jan 14, 2009

i am in the middle of another "i hate my workplace" phase that forced me to look into employment elsewhere in town.
i was shocked to find how limited my options were. certainly, they were not good enough to allow me to leave my workplace for another job.
but, i had some options. i just didn't like them!
so, here i stay.
but, there are some people who don't have any options. they are stuck at their jobs (and grateful) or they are looking, looking, looking for work.
if the worst thing happens and i am laid off, then i will be able to find work. i may not like it but, oh well. i would do what i had to do to keep the house.
some people, if laid off, would be screwed. royally. they may not have any options.
nursing is a fantastic career. i can do anything. but sassie, i think you should still go for your bsn, or whatever works for you. we don't know what extra certifications, education, friends, etc that will be to our benefit. if you can afford it, the go for it. if not, then do it the old-fashioned way.
i also think 2009 will be awful, awful. i'm really putting all my eggs into 2010 and hoping that it will rebound by then, hoping that i don't get laid off or my husband doesn't get laid off. (has already been threatened at my hospital)

are they threatening you or your husband with layoffs at the hospital where you work?

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

Not me, specifically (thank goodness) but nurses in general-yes.

Hoozdo, ADN · Jan 14, 2009

i am in the middle of another "i hate my workplace" phase that forced me to look into employment elsewhere in town.
i was shocked to find how limited my options were. certainly, they were not good enough to allow me to leave my workplace for another job.
but, i had some options. i just didn't like them!
so, here i stay.

i look at career builder every sunday, almost without fail, since i have been an rn. i like to keep my options open :wink2: it is shocking how few job opportunities there actually are.

i even look at the various nursing magazines that get sent to my house - tonight i looked at the latest and the only advertisers were st. joes (phoenix) and the abrazo hospitals. abrazo has job openings for float pools - and they expect you to float between their five hospitals! that is for the premium float pool; in the past you could get premium float pool just working at one of their facilities.

tip for new grads - maricopa integrated health and st. joes do have positions for new grads. just go to their websites.

markas214 · Jan 23, 2009

There is a patient shortage. It's as if everyone suddenly is cured. The problem is national. In eastern Pa we are not hiring and our census is much lower than it has been in the past few years. California is the same. all my OT is gone. PTO is used up and hours are cut due being cancelled. The only hope for a quick turn around is if President Obama moves on health-care immediately. The Republicans will do everything they can to obstruct this. Not to make this a political rant but an absolute statement of fact. Watch Senator Kyle. He will push hard to extend tax cuts for the top 1% and do all he can to prevent the bottom 20% from having health care coverage. Become involved nurses. Hold your representatives feet to the fire. If this becomes a full blow depression a good 75% of Americans will be without insurance and only the sickest will seek care. How many hospitals will close and nurses and other health care workers end up unemployed? I apologise for the political nature of this reply but this is where we are as a nation. We are all the victims of years of no oversight of the financial system and are now on the verge of catastrophe.

I have over 14 years experience and worked ER for a number of years and thought I'd never go back due to the stress but that may be my saving grace when my family moves in June. New grads, take whatever you can get. When i started it was a lull in hiring and I ended up in LTC with geriatric psych and Alzheimer's patients. Not my first choice by far but I got experience and money to pay the Bills.

Oh and one more thing. Arizona has absolutely horrendous unemployment compensation. $250/week. Try living on that after earning near six figures for the past several years.

MsBruiser · Jan 23, 2009

I look at Career Builder every Sunday, almost without fail, since I have been an RN. I like to keep my options open :wink2: It is shocking how few job opportunities there actually are.
I even look at the various nursing magazines that get sent to my house - tonight I looked at the latest and the only advertisers were St. Joes (Phoenix) and the Abrazo hospitals. Abrazo has job openings for float pools - and they expect you to float between their five hospitals! That is for the premium float pool; in the past you could get premium float pool just working at one of their facilities.
Tip for new grads - Maricopa Integrated Health and St. Joes do have positions for new grads. Just go to their websites.

Unfortunately, I think St Joe's and Abrazo are still advertising because they pre-purchased ad space far in advance of this downturn (i.e.: before October).

MsBruiser · Jan 23, 2009

There is a patient shortage. It's as if everyone suddenly is cured. The problem is national. In eastern Pa we are not hiring and our census is much lower than it has been in the past few years. California is the same. all my OT is gone. PTO is used up and hours are cut due being cancelled. The only hope for a quick turn around is if President Obama moves on health-care immediately. The Republicans will do everything they can to obstruct this. Not to make this a political rant but an absolute statement of fact. Watch Senator Kyle. He will push hard to extend tax cuts for the top 1% and do all he can to prevent the bottom 20% from having health care coverage. Become involved nurses. Hold your representatives feet to the fire. If this becomes a full blow depression a good 75% of Americans will be without insurance and only the sickest will seek care. How many hospitals will close and nurses and other health care workers end up unemployed? I apologise for the political nature of this reply but this is where we are as a nation. We are all the victims of years of no oversight of the financial system and are now on the verge of catastrophe.
I have over 14 years experience and worked ER for a number of years and thought I'd never go back due to the stress but that may be my saving grace when my family moves in June. New grads, take whatever you can get. When i started it was a lull in hiring and I ended up in LTC with geriatric psych and Alzheimer's patients. Not my first choice by far but I got experience and money to pay the Bills.
Oh and one more thing. Arizona has absolutely horrendous unemployment compensation. $250/week. Try living on that after earning near six figures for the past several years.

You are so wrong it hurts. Arizona unemployment is $240.00 per week!!!! Just having some fun with you :saint: Unfortunately, you are 100% correct on everything else. Do not apologize for a political rant. We need more of that. US citizens have skated by for too long without making tough, pragmatic decisions (or learning basics like living within their means) about healthcare. We are now about to pay the piper for that one...

markas214 · Jan 23, 2009

You are so wrong it hurts. Arizona unemployment is $240.00 per week!!!! Just having some fun with you Unfortunately, you are 100% correct on everything else. Do not apologize for a political rant. We need more of that. US citizens have skated by for too long without making tough, pragmatic decisions (or learning basics like living within their means) about health-care. We are now about to pay the piper for that one...

Well then another thing...:wink2: Look where the budget deficit will hurt most in Az. The cuts will come mostly from education and health-care. It's obvious what that will do for nurses. Not a happy time. As I said the current situation with a lack of positions has little to do with too many nurses. It will get beter but it could take years.

markas214 · Jan 23, 2009

Unfortunately, I think St Joe's and Abrazo are still advertising because they pre-purchased ad space far in advance of this downturn (i.e.: before October).

That hurts me. I was counting on $5000 from Banner or up to $12000 from Abrazo to pay my moving expenses. Anyone have insight there?

island40 · Jan 23, 2009

Surveys for nursing shortages seem to focus on hospital jobs (most nurses do work in a hospital) but some go through nursing school never intending to work in a hospital setting. The community nurse is in short supply but the trend is to make very few hires, freeze wages and benefits. I happen to work for a community mental health (don't get me started on the disparity in wages and benefits between hospital nurses and mental health nurses!!) and if I have one more pep talk on increasing productivity and billable hours I think i will scream.

MsBruiser · Jan 24, 2009

Well then another thing...:wink2: Look where the budget deficit will hurt most in Az. The cuts will come mostly from education and health-care. It's obvious what that will do for nurses. Not a happy time. As I said the current situation with a lack of positions has little to do with too many nurses. It will get beter but it could take years.

AZ's attitude towards education ranks as pathetic. If my folks didn't live here I'd honestly consider moving. It is truly shocking how education is treated as being the bottom of the barrel in this state. Consider this, I pay $108.00 per month for complete family medical/dental. Go to one of the school district websites - a teacher has to pay something in the neighborhood of $600-$700 for family coverage. And as a reasonably new nurse I make what a senior teacher makes! Compare that to other public employees. I had a patient the other day who was Phoenix firefighter who basically said someting to the effect of "If people knew how little we did they would be up in arms." But would politicians even touch the FD budget...heck no! IAFF is a political machine (firefighter's union). I used to be on the FD back East and know exactly where he is coming from. It is politically more expedient to slash education...

This place is insane...but I would never leave my family...so I will stay!

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

I have been a nurse for many years an have worked in several states. I believe that there has never been a nursing shortage.