7.5% Male; 4 % Fem new nurses dropped out of nursing within four years of graduation

Nurses General Nursing

Published

forwarded by psna listserve.

joanne laviglio from the associated press would like to interview a male, registered nurse working in a hospital setting today regarding the just released university of penn study.

the research, which analyzes data from the national sample survey of registered nurses collected by the division of nursing in the u.s. department of health and human services in 1992, 1996 and 2000, was conducted by psna member julie sochalski, phd, rn. the research found that 7.5 percent of new male nurses dropped out of nursing within four years of graduating from nursing school, compared to 4 percent of women and that the drop out rate for both male and female new graduates is accelerating, rising from 2 percent of men in 1992 to 7.5 percent in 2000; and 2.7 percent of women in 1992 to 4.1 percent in 2000. with the discovery that newly-minted nurses are leaving the profession at far faster rates than their predecessors, the study suggests that the current shortage of nurses may reach crisis proportions sooner than anticipated. information regarding the study was released in the most recent issue of health affairs, an influential healthcare policy journal.

if you would like to speak with joanne, please contact her at 215-561-1133 or if you know of someone who fits the profile for this media interview please pass this information a long asap!

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now your chance to speak up!

don't have access to full report. here is abstract.

trends: nursing shortage redux: turning the corner on an enduring problem by julie sochalski

http://130.94.25.113/1130_abstract_c.php?id=http://130.94.25.113/library/v21n5/s20.pdf

projections of a substantial nursing workforce imbalance in the coming decade have galvanized policymakers, providers, private foundations, nurses, and others to proffer aggressive and sustainable strategies to ameliorate the looming shortage. the solutions are largely ones that seek to increase supply. analysis of the 1992-2000 national sample surveys of registered nurses shows that increasing losses from the active workforce, stagnant wages, and low levels of job satisfaction pose major impediments to bolstering supply. strategies focused on working conditions and retention should occupy a central position in any nursing workforce revitalization plan.

karen

re

with the discovery that newly-minted nurses are leaving the profession at far faster rates than their predecessors, the study suggests that the current shortage of nurses may reach crisis proportions sooner than anticipated.

guess they haven't been visiting this bb,,,,we discused this last year here. our ancidotal evidence is now an offical report!!!

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

fergus.......I agree with the fact that today's nurses are dealing with far more than nurses in times past when it comes to patient acuity and the increased sickness that is noted among our population of citizens. However.....I still believe that adults in times past had stronger work ethic........IN GENERAL NOW.......than young adults do today. Not just in nursing.....but in many other "people-service" occupations as well. :)

I say the reasons nurses are leaving is over work underpaided high acuity of patients increased work load and lack of respect as a profession. also some men leave do to discrimination, which i think is getting a little better in some areas.

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

I agree with your point of view as well, Mark. I really am sad that men are leaving the profession so soon in the game, too. I have always enjoyed working with nurses who are males. Hopefully, something will be done to stop the nursing madness going on. New management??? Need a "Donald Trump" to come in and solve the matters or what??? :nurse:

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

I've said this before and I will say it again:

This is precisely why I think throwing more bodies at nursing schools, or dropping entrance requirements, or making education more "accessible" will NOT solve the nursing shortage.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by cheerfuldoer

fergus.......I agree with the fact that today's nurses are dealing with far more than nurses in times past when it comes to patient acuity and the increased sickness that is noted among our population of citizens. However.....I still believe that adults in times past had stronger work ethic........IN GENERAL NOW.......than young adults do today. Not just in nursing.....but in many other "people-service" occupations as well. :)

I'd also like to address this. As long as we're talking about generalities within generations:

Gen Xers do have a strong work ethic, but they also know how to balance work life with committments to family and children and personal growth, whereas Boomers did not and instead let their children (Gen Xers) be babysat by television. Boomers invented the concept of latch-key children, unfortunately. GenXers wish to rise above this mentality and actually raise their children.

In addition, GenXers don't put blind faith in companies or organizations with the mentality "oh, the company will take care of me." Far from the truth. Boomers will stop at nothing and work at that company, putting their families second, when POOF! the pension's gone. Whoops! :eek: Now what??

GenXers don't put faith in organizations nor are they loyal to them because:

1. It's just a JOB! I am a wife and daughter and sister first before I was EVER a nurse. and:

2. Organizations aren't loyal to ME, nor do they care about me! Therefore I am loyal to numero uno and will take of me first. If Hospital A starts messing with my hours, not providing safe staffing levels, can't retain employees because they keep taking away benefits, you're damn right - I am out of there and to hell with the unit!

GenXers, such as myself, change jobs or professions that accomodate our personal life and our families. We flit around for more money. Why? Because companies can TAKE AWAY pensions! Nothing guarantees them! Pabst, AC Delco, just to name a few of the biggies, have ripped pensions away that Boomer's were relying on. I don't want to be eating cat food when I retire, therefore, I am going to earn my money NOW, and not blindly work for some crack-pot organization thinking "they will take care of me, because I worked here for 30 years." Maybe they might, but history has shown they won't. And I am not about to live my life on a "what if."

8 to 10 patients per nurse? Whats "NOT" to understand about the drop out rate? When I got out of school we had 5pts per nurse..and of couree you had discharges and admits along with that ratio and passing meds, treatments etc....

NOW...8 to 10 pts and they expect us to keep up? I am opting NOT to work much now because of this and I think there are a lot of nurses that are opting not to work under these condtions. I don't think there are "no nurses"..I think there are nurses that are choosing NOT to work because of the conditions.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by FTell001

I don't think there are "no nurses"..I think there are nurses that are choosing NOT to work because of the conditions.

I agree!!! There are 2.7 millions licensed nurses in the country. If they ALL WORKED, there would be no nursing shortage. But they are leaving the field before they even get in it.

THAT'S what needs to be addressed. WHY they are leaving, not recruiting foreign nurses or ad campaigns for nursing schools.:rolleyes:

I agree. There are also a plethora of alternative occupations, many of which did not exist when we started, most of which pay better, treat employees better, and respect people and their educational attainments.

Off on a shallow, superficial tangent..........

Suzy....You and your hubby are adorable!

I can't imagine hanging blood, platelets, chemo..etc...and watching all that with 8 to 10 pts. Medicine floor with all the TPN, procal, lipids, IV pushes, and treatments...????? Surgical floor and watching for post op bleeds..frequent vitals, meds, dressings and family members to teach...not to mention charting and crossing every "T" and doting every "i"..because JACHO might be watching.....and GOD FORBID you have a patient that codes? HECK...who wants to be a patient under those conditions..much less a nurse!!

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by Furball

Off on a shallow, superficial tangent..........

Suzy....You and your hubby are adorable!

Gee.....thanks Furball! :imbar

Susy...your second post. Did you read my mind? I WANT THE BRAIN TODAY!!!!!! :p :chuckle

Excellent post. Hits the nail on the head. Lemme tell all of y'all, when I get preggers, no way no how am I coming back to nsg full time unless I am in DIRE need to for financial reasons. I am looking forward to being a mommy so I can go PRN. Sad, huh?

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