but where have all the nurses gone?

[ceraleigh]

quote -

Severity of the RN Shortage As a whole, the U.S. is experiencing a moderate shortage of registered nurses, with more severe shortages in certain areas.

This RN shortage will continue to grow if current trends continue, including:

• a growing and aging U.S. population
  
• high demand for highest quality of care
  
• an RN workforce at or approaching retirement age
  
• difficulties attracting new nurses and retaining the existing workforce.

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/

Here's what caught my attention, "difficulties attracting new nurses and retaining the existing workforce."

Um... difficulty attracting new nurses? How can this be when all the nursing programs have waiting lists and there is a huge buzz about a career in nursing.

[LucasRN]

well, alot of doctors have been attracting nurses to work in their offices, clinics or surgi-centers with good pay bennies and not to mention no week ends or holidays. also insurance companies hire nurses for claims or telephone triage. there is also hospice, and home health, and agency work is fab because you get a ridiculous rate of pay and pretty much only work when you want to, lastly alot of med assist programs hire nurses as instructors. hope this hels!! we have a great amount of possibilities for us!

good luck

chris

[xNursePinkx2b]

There are a lot of people in nursing school, but hospitals and the like have a hard time keeping nurses because of the stress, gossip, backstabbing, and other "politics" of the profession. I know a couple of people who were nurses for a few years who quit b/c of this.

[Beggar♂]

From what I hear, many facilities do have problems attracting and retaining their nurses.

These facilities are ones who've created lousy working conditions for their RNs in a variety of ways. Given the present mobility of nurses, of course lousy work-sites have trouble attracting and keeping staff.

The competition for jobs at some places is very stiff; at others, if you're a warm body with a license, come on in...

Is that a nursing shortage or is it simply that some places don't treat their nurses very well?

[Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN]

From what I hear, many facilities do have problems attracting and retaining their nurses.

These facilities are ones who've created lousy working conditions for their RNs in a variety of ways. Given the present mobility of nurses, of course lousy work-sites have trouble attracting and keeping staff.

The competition for jobs at some places is very stiff; at others, if you're a warm body with a license, come on in...

Is that a nursing shortage or is it simply that some places don't treat their nurses very well?

I suspect it's both; bad working conditions cause many nurses to quit, and the need for nurses is growing. I've heard some say that nurses will take over the primary care roles that doctors have normally done.