Nursing shortage

Nurses LPN/LVN

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It seems so strange to me that everywhere I turn, I hear about nurse shortages.Yet, what's even more interesting, is the fact that Nursing schools have difficult admission requirements...waiting lists and such. It seems that if the census is that low, why not be more student friendly and offer more nurse programs.I'm going back to school for my RN HOPEFULLY,but there are so many aggravating obstacles in the way.It seems colleges are more interested in tuition fees rather than producing nurses.I don't know if being an RN is worth all the headache. Maybe I should learn to be more content with being an LPN.Either way...I love my profession. Okay guys and gals...what's your view?

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
It may be true that there are more than enough nurses to fill the void, but has anyone considered that many nurses are abandoning the bedside and even the profession because of unrealistic workloads, unpleasant work environments and burnout??? We can license all the people in the world, but if they don't want to work, it doesn't do us any good.

Absolutely. Those are some of the key points that were discussed throughout this thread. And, if a BSN or MSN nurse has more options, then, why would they bother with the bedside? Also, there is so much back biting and back stabbing within the profession that people leave it behind for less stressful situations.

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
This is written about in all the professional nursing publications. Most of the boards of nursing also have the inside scoop on this. There are not enough nursing instructors. Nursing programs are too expensive for some colleges to support. Because of this, nursing programs are only trying to assure that they are choosing applicants for nursing school who are sincere in their resolve to complete the program and who are able to scholastically stand up to the challenge. I am so sick of hearing nursing wannabes who are looking first at the wages and not even thinking about the work and dedication that goes into the profession. I am also aggravated with so many nurses who think their education has ended when they have graduated from school. All of these are among the ones who end up leaving the profession. IMO it's because they never had what it takes to be a nurse in the first place. They either fooled their nursing schools when they were admitted or the schools did a lousy job of screening applicants. Maybe the process of screening and admitting people to nursing programs should also involve community and hospital leaders. They might know some of the right questions to be asking applicants in order to weed out the ones who don't belong there.

I just learned that one of the hospitals in the area where I live donated a huge chunk of money to three local community college nursing programs that was specifically earmarked for each of them to hire on another clinical instructor for their nursing programs for their next scholastic year. Hooray for them!

Never heard of any screening process here in New York...if you have the GPA of 4.0, you are accepted. I don't think it is difficult for anyone to fake their way out of nursing programs, because to them, school is temporary and they tell the professors what they want to hear, and that is the same deal in my opinion about NCLEX-PN/RN. They seem to want to know if you are a good test taker, not so much how concerned or safe of a nurse. Even the instructors in school are that way...they focus on how the questions are answered...that person can pass the program if they pass the exams. Most of the nursing students that come to my hospital have the same experience I had in clinicals...not much. They are dumped in their clinical site, and are basically ignored by the nurses that work there (unless there is a friendly face around).

While I can believe that those that leave early on may not have what it takes to be a nurse, but I also say that even the most empathetic, seasoned nurse may opt to leave after awhile, to save themselves. With all of the hogwash that is attached to nursing, a person may wish to preserve their own health and sanity, making the decision to leave nursing an easy one.

Specializes in ICU, CCU, telemetry, PACU.

I do believe there is a nuring shortage AND nursing teacher shortage. We have to realize that there are lots of areas of nursing and in my particular area (critical care) it seems like we are always short. I am constantly being called in on my days off. Just when we hire new grads, someone who's been here awhile leaves. And I can't blame them. Our hospital just spent millions of dollars for a name change instead of investing in nurse retention and a pay raise for us all. We got NOTHING! A lot of our equipment is out of date and malfunctions. For example, if we want to use a defib, we have to change a plug on the unit first; our med dispenser died the other night just as I was getting a trauma pt, and 2 monitors died as well as were trying to get to CT. We are not allowed to carry phone #'s, pictures, or other important info or pins on our new name badges or put them in a plastic holder.

:redpinkhe Does anyone work in OREGON?-Portland area? I'm thinking about transferring there for work/school reasons. Any info on OHSU (student or RN) or Providence? Thanks for any advice.

I agree with verman's post.Especially the underpaid comment....(so true here in Tennessee). I am guilty of looking each week in the want ads for better paying jobs.And the fear of putting my license on the line has happened to me personally one too many times. This is a little off subject but, another thing that bothers me is the fact that more and more hospitals are opting to not hire LPN's. A concept I'll never understand...So what if we can't hang blood or do some IV pushes.Dose that make us any less a nurse? Other than that our jobs seem almost identical.

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
HealThy Nurse!!!!!! i agree there's a shortage - of nurses, of qualified teachers, and burnout is such a problem. i'm retired but i got so burned out along the way - only after i left the profession did i discover this amazing book entitled HealThy Nurse. it deals with the nursing shortage and burnout and it has lots of strategies to help the stressed out nurse get through the day. i'm using it now in my daily life but i sure wish it had been around when i was going through hell. visit the website - you won't be sorry - i wish i could shout it from the rooftops! - great great find!!!

I can see how a nurse can get burned out. I have only been an LPN since July, and it is tiring because the needs are large, and then the pettiness of nurses is very taxing. You should post the website. I am about to put it into my browser to check it out. Thanks!

Specializes in Accepted...Master's Entry Program, 2008!.
....They either fooled their nursing schools when they were admitted or the schools did a lousy job of screening applicants. Maybe the process of screening and admitting people to nursing programs should also involve community and hospital leaders. They might know some of the right questions to be asking applicants in order to weed out the ones who don't belong there.

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Well around here, especially if you want an ADN, if you breathe and can fill out forms, you've a good chance. Most of the ADN programs admit by lottery. Which is not only incredibly stupid, it's not going to produce the best nurses.

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