I was at a Magnet meeting today, and one of the participants questioned why there is a nursing shortage. One of our nursing administrators stated that there are less instructors because the salaries are not competitive (a basically known fact), and also, that there are statistics proving that there are less students applying for nursing programs. I am asking those that may have these statistics if this is true.
I know that I am speaking from a limited point of view; I can only speak for the schools within my area (especially community colleges); but I am hearing stories (and have witnessed) of RN programs having limited seats with over 300 applicants. Many are on waiting lists from anywhere from 2 years or more anticipating a seat. I am not seeing this. I have no statistics before me, but am having a hard time believing this, but again, this is from my own small circle of the world.
Does anyone have these stats, or have heard of them in their respective programs? I am looking for enlightenment. I am aware that there may have been a decrease of applicants in the beginning of the AIDS scare, but not currently.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
There aren't enough nursing instructors ( due to lack of enough pay)
There aren't enough applicants,because people are going into other professions
to make more money and get more respect!!
Nurses have a lot of responsibility, work too hard, don't get enough respect or pay!!!:angryfire
Where is the documented evidence that there are not enough applicants? This is the main thing I was searching for when I started this thread. I can only speak from my little corner of the world but I didn't see this. Each person I spoke to in my area and in other states have said that they had a hard time entering into nursing programs for the reasons you stated above; this we know. But where is the evidence or the stats that prove that there are less applicants? I am reading posts of people who are traveling far or relocating to areas because they are having a hard time entering into nursing programs.
It seems to me that most of us do are not aware of the conditions or pay until we get into the foxhole rather than being deluded in class. I spoke to an RN today and we concurred that there is no real money in nursing. What happens is that due to the shortage (based on the horrible working conditions, stress and lack of respect) is that we do have more opportunities to move around, and it may be easy for most nurses to work somewhere, but we usually hop around because the conditions are intolerable, however, we have to eat, so, we move on. :angryfire
Specializes in oncology, surgical stepdown, ACLS & OCN.
Where is the documented evidence that there are not enough applicants? This is the main thing I was searching for when I started this thread. I can only speak from my little corner of the world but I didn't see this. Each person I spoke to in my area and in other states have said that they had a hard time entering into nursing programs for the reasons you stated above; this we know. But where is the evidence or the stats that prove that there are less applicants? I am reading posts of people who are traveling far or relocating to areas because they are having a hard time entering into nursing programs.
It seems to me that most of us do are not aware of the conditions or pay until we get into the foxhole rather than being deluded in class. I spoke to an RN today and we concurred that there is no real money in nursing. What happens is that due to the shortage (based on the horrible working conditions, stress and lack of respect) is that we do have more opportunities to move around, and it may be easy for most nurses to work somewhere, but we usually hop around because the conditions are intolerable, however, we have to eat, so, we move on. :angryfire
I think, but don't have the stats to prove anything, that there isn't a shortage of nurses, but a real shortage of nusing faculty because nurses are not working at the bedside for all the reasons mentioned before and finding other positions in an
other capacity of nursing. Lets face it, you only need 2 years of education to work on the floor in a clinical area. Further education can get you other positions but not more money, I know that for a fact, because I work in a hospital and make almost 6 figures a year, but I work hard and will do so until it gets to be difficult
for me. The new nurses comming out of school do not work like us nurses that graduated 18 years or more ago. They don't want bedside nursing, and that is the heart of nursing!!!:wakeneo:
Specializes in oncology, surgical stepdown, ACLS & OCN.
Where is the documented evidence that there are not enough applicants? This is the main thing I was searching for when I started this thread. I can only speak from my little corner of the world but I didn't see this. Each person I spoke to in my area and in other states have said that they had a hard time entering into nursing programs for the reasons you stated above; this we know. But where is the evidence or the stats that prove that there are less applicants? I am reading posts of people who are traveling far or relocating to areas because they are having a hard time entering into nursing programs.
It seems to me that most of us do are not aware of the conditions or pay until we get into the foxhole rather than being deluded in class. I spoke to an RN today and we concurred that there is no real money in nursing. What happens is that due to the shortage (based on the horrible working conditions, stress and lack of respect) is that we do have more opportunities to move around, and it may be easy for most nurses to work somewhere, but we usually hop around because the conditions are intolerable, however, we have to eat, so, we move on. :angryfire
We may have more oppurtunity to move around, but the pay is not there.
I think, but don't have the stats to prove anything, that there isn't a shortage of nurses, but a real shortage of nusing faculty because nurses are not working at the bedside for all the reasons mentioned before and finding other positions in an
other capacity of nursing. Lets face it, you only need 2 years of education to work on the floor in a clinical area. Further education can get you other positions but not more money, I know that for a fact, because I work in a hospital and make almost 6 figures a year, but I work hard and will do so until it gets to be difficult
for me. The new nurses comming out of school do not work like us nurses that graduated 18 years or more ago. They don't want bedside nursing, and that is the heart of nursing!!!:wakeneo:
There isnt a shortage of nurses. not at all.
Now shortage of nursing faculty, I dont know. I cant see the interest in teaching. these young people are not as motivated to learn nowadays it seems.
Yes, new nurses arent as workable as when I was young.
I have known quite a few young nurses who will let pts wait to be cleaned untill they can find a tech to do it. The older nurses just get it done.
pagandeva2000, LPN
7,984 Posts
Where is the documented evidence that there are not enough applicants? This is the main thing I was searching for when I started this thread. I can only speak from my little corner of the world but I didn't see this. Each person I spoke to in my area and in other states have said that they had a hard time entering into nursing programs for the reasons you stated above; this we know. But where is the evidence or the stats that prove that there are less applicants? I am reading posts of people who are traveling far or relocating to areas because they are having a hard time entering into nursing programs.
It seems to me that most of us do are not aware of the conditions or pay until we get into the foxhole rather than being deluded in class. I spoke to an RN today and we concurred that there is no real money in nursing. What happens is that due to the shortage (based on the horrible working conditions, stress and lack of respect) is that we do have more opportunities to move around, and it may be easy for most nurses to work somewhere, but we usually hop around because the conditions are intolerable, however, we have to eat, so, we move on. :angryfire