Is There Really A Shortage Of Nurses?

HonestRN · Sep 19, 2008

I believe there is a shortage is some geographical locations but I don't believe that there is an overall shortage nationally. If you do some internet searching you will find articles concerning the number of nurses who are not working as nurses because of poor working conditions and pay. I personally think the so called shortage is bull****.

neurorn6 · Sep 19, 2008

After working in several regions of this country, I realize that it is a geographical occurance. In areas of the NE and out in the western parts of this country there is a shortage of nurses. The south seems to have more schools, pumping out more nurses. The southern states also have a lower pay scale then other areas of the country.

openheartmary · Sep 19, 2008

It is true the nursing shortage is currently being realized only in certain geographical areas. However, there are many different areas of nursing and I definitely would not sign in for a 2 1/2 year stint anywhere! Please think carefully about this. Why would they insist you sign in for that length of time? Are they having trouble keeping their staff? Bargain with them. Is there extensive training? A specialized field? If so, perhaps they would allow you a couple months orientation to see if there would be a good fit between employee/employer. If it fits, then negotiate a contract after the orientation time.

There really are too many jobs to stick yourself where you would not be happy. Every new nurse should have the choice to try different areas to find their "love". And paying back for your training? Please!

That's why you've got those loans coming due in November.

You've only been graduated a short while. Don't jump the gun!

RNBelle · Sep 19, 2008

I also believe its more geographical. You can come join me in the middle of nowhere TX where the shortage of RNs is astounding.

inthesky · Sep 19, 2008

My classmates and I experienced a similar phenomenon in an area not known to be a nurse saturated market. A unit must have a certain ratio of new grads to experienced nurses. There is a shortage of experienced nurses to precept and aid the new grads. As hard-working and capable as we are, I would not want to work in a new-grad run unit! Good luck..and you will find a job..it is just much harder than you were led to believe.

-and like others said- this 2.5years sounds shady-

Riseupandnurse · Sep 19, 2008

Never heard of tying you down that long. Even the military doesn't do that. And no, there isn't a shortage. There are lots and lots of licensed nurses who just don't like the way the work is structured these days and do something else instead. They are coming back to work to some extent because of the poor economy and the crushing debt of the average American household, so even that is changing. There are just some areas of the country that don't have enough nurses readily available due to people not wanting to live there or no nearby nursing schools or facilities that don't treat their nurses well. Keep looking, though. You will find something and once you're no longer inexperienced, many more doors will be open.

edisongirl25 · Sep 19, 2008

I experienced something similar to this. I graduated last May and for the first year I couldn't find a position in acute care for 9 out of the 12 months. It was tough and I got very depressed feeling like I had wasted my time and money for nothing. While in school, we are told that nursing is the best career b/c you will always have work and never have trouble finding a position.....that's a lie. It was this false sense of security that made my unemployment so much harder b/c I'd been fooled into thinking it wouldn't happen. I was offered a position right after graduation, but 2 weeks before my 90 days, I injured my ankle and was fired....that was September of last year..in fact, it was September 18th. I wasn't able to get back into nursing until this June. My ankle was fine, the hospitals all wanted a years acute care experience even for general med/surg.

I wish you the best of luck in your search. I'd think twice about the 2 1/2 years though...I signed a 3 year contract, all of the local hospitals had such agreements and now b/c they fired me, I owe $15,000.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 19, 2008

I agree with the others about the situation being different in different areas of the country. Also, some specialities are having more trouble finding and keeping nurses than others. And of course, in any job market, experienced nurses who need little training are often more in demand than a new grad who is going to require 3-6 months of intensive education and support before being able to function on their own.

One final thing ... with the current troubled economy, a lot of hospitals are hesitant to do a lot of hiring as their own budgets are hurting. For many, it is cheaper to pay their existing nurses overtime rates than it is to orient a new grad. And with the bad economy, a lot of nurses are wanting to pick up some extra shifts. Those who usually work part time can pick up those extra shifts without even being paid overtime rates!

That's one of the advantages of a nursing career: nurses can often flex their hours based on their personal needs -- and a lot of experienced nurses are looking to make some extra money right now. So hospitals don't need to hire new grads that are expensive to orient and often don't stay more than a year on their first jobs. They can simply give those shifts to their experienced nurses who want them now.

When the economy improves, those nurses will once again choose to work fewer hours, opening up those shifts for people looking to be hired.