Nursing Shortage Expiration A Myth!

Published

I was trying to find out about a few things that I heard regarding the nursing shortage ending back in 2009. I heard today that the nursing shortage only depends on the area. In some areas, there is indeed a shortage; in other areas, there is a glut of new grads. How true is this and what are these areas? Thank you for any response, even if you just wanted to tell me that what I heard is good info.

45% of nurses plan to make a career change in the next 3 years

http://www.allhealth.org/publications/Cost_of_health_care/Nursing_Toolkit_FINAL_8-27-12_111.pdf

Are you guys sure that there won't be a nursing shortage anytime soon?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Soon? No.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse.
As the previous poster amply demonstrated- there are 'pockets' where there are shortages. True enough. But nationwide there is a glut.[/quote']

The next "hot" occupation seems to be engineering. It will be interesting to see how the attitudes toward nursing will change.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU, presurgical testing.

I read an article a while back talking about how the practice of heavy recruiting (at the high school level) of kids into STEM careers would have the result (intended?) of driving down the average pay for such jobs by radically raising the supply of engineers. I don't know if that's the case in nursing, but I know I'm not making a lot of money right now as a newish grad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, because we have no choice but to change careers if we can't find a job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

BWAHAHAHAHAA - too many engineers??? That'll be the day. At least in the US. I can't imagine any force on earth that would result in HS students stampeding into Math and Science classes. My state just decided to eliminate Algebra II as a requirement for HS graduation. My family is riddled with educators... they are very pessimistic about the state of public education in the US. The most common 'career goal' is to make lots of money as a DJ, model or just to be famous. Approximately 40% of CC students have to take remedial classes because they are not prepared for college level classes. Yeah, not gonna happen in this part of the world.

In my part of the country, there is an emerging shortage of experienced nurses - particularly those with specialty qualifications. Hiring bonuses are coming back at the same time everyone is cutting back on programs for new grads

. I know that it's very short-sighted, but when hospitals are struggling to maintain the bottom line TODAY and cope with continuously decreasing reimbursements, they are more focused on near-term survival than long-term strategy.

IMO, the number of acute care nursing jobs are going to continue to shrink. Staffing models will incorporate 'nurse-extender' staff to keep labor expenses down. If the ACA is successful, there will be more jobs in non-acute areas, including more ANP jobs, but I think that everyone is overestimating the number of new RN jobs that will be created because unlicensed (less expensive) staff will be used whenever possible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The next "hot" occupation seems to be engineering. It will be interesting to see how the attitudes toward nursing will change.

I disagree. I read a ton of articles on job demand and jobs that are the easiest to get. 75% of the time, nursing is usually on the top of that list; followed by IT, engineering, and teaching. So, if you think it's hard for a nurse to find a job, imagine what it is like for a teacher.

The problem with finding jobs for ANYONE seems to be the economy. I know engineering graduates who are having a tough time finding a job. They tell me that every company that they talk to wants someone who is EXPERIENCED. So, this fact seems to ring true for recent grads in any occupation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family practice, emergency.

No shortage in the NYC and surrounding areas. Upstate has a few more opportunities.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
No shortage in the NYC and surrounding areas. Upstate has a few more opportunities.

I keep hearing something like this. I hear that nursing jobs are hard to come by in the city, but they are easier to get in more rural areas.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
BWAHAHAHAHAA - too many engineers??? That'll be the day. At least in the US. I can't imagine any force on earth that would result in HS students stampeding into Math and Science classes. My state just decided to eliminate Algebra II as a requirement for HS graduation. My family is riddled with educators... they are very pessimistic about the state of public education in the US. The most common 'career goal' is to make lots of money as a DJ, model or just to be famous. Approximately 40% of CC students have to take remedial classes because they are not prepared for college level classes. Yeah, not gonna happen in this part of the world.

In my part of the country, there is an emerging shortage of experienced nurses - particularly those with specialty qualifications. Hiring bonuses are coming back at the same time everyone is cutting back on programs for new grads

. I know that it's very short-sighted, but when hospitals are struggling to maintain the bottom line TODAY and cope with continuously decreasing reimbursements, they are more focused on near-term survival than long-term strategy.

IMO, the number of acute care nursing jobs are going to continue to shrink. Staffing models will incorporate 'nurse-extender' staff to keep labor expenses down. If the ACA is successful, there will be more jobs in non-acute areas, including more ANP jobs, but I think that everyone is overestimating the number of new RN jobs that will be created because unlicensed (less expensive) staff will be used whenever possible.

Spot on. Spot. On.

Edit to add: I recently had to take remedial algebra at a CC (completing my BSN). I mean, I hadn't seen algebra since 1985, so I get a pass on the dumb-O'-meter, right? :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
45% of nurses plan to make a career change in the next 3 years

http://www.allhealth.org/publications/Cost_of_health_care/Nursing_Toolkit_FINAL_8-27-12_111.pdf

Are you guys sure that there won't be a nursing shortage anytime soon?

I think that was around the same percentage from 20+ years ago. That's the funny thing with statistics--a simple survey asking people how long they "plan" to stay in a profession, well, we all know how that goes.

Nursing is like the Roach Motel ("bugs check in, but they don't check out"), or The Hotel California ("you can check in time you like, but you can never leave.").

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I disagree. I read a ton of articles on job demand and jobs that are the easiest to get. 75% of the time, nursing is usually on the top of that list; followed by IT, engineering, and teaching. So, if you think it's hard for a nurse to find a job, imagine what it is like for a teacher.

The problem with finding jobs for ANYONE seems to be the economy. I know engineering graduates who are having a tough time finding a job. They tell me that every company that they talk to wants someone who is EXPERIENCED. So, this fact seems to ring true for recent grads in any occupation.

The articles lie. There is no nursing shortage. In some areas of the country the are figures as high as 47% unemployment off nurses....especially new grads. Right now there is a glut of nursing graduates and nurses. This is a complicated problem. The initial figures were based on mandatory staffing ratios that never happened. It counted on nurses retiring who now cannot due to the economic crisis and the stock market crash where many nurses had their retirement in 401Ks because many hospitals do not offer retirement plans. Schools cropped up everywhere to satisfy the "need" and when everyone lost their jobs...they all flocked to nursing because that was where the money was. Schools are cranking out nurses at an alarming rate every six months...leading to a plethora of nursing grads. Driving down salaries placing the hospitals squarely in the drivers seat.

Jobs may be posted but they may not be hiring. If they are hiring they only want BSN and experienced grads....Why you ask? Because they can. Gone are the days of pages upon pages of jobs available. One poster mentions around 300 jobs in her state. I am curious how many new grads are graduated every six months in comparison. I remember job opportunities that were held in 3inch 3 ring binders for nurses alone at one facility. I remember sign on bonuses of $20,000.00 and complete loan forgiveness for a 2 year commitment. I think those days are gone. FOREVER.

Has the Nursing Shortage Disappeared?

It's that time of year again. Graduating nursing students are preparing to take the NCLEX and are looking for their first jobs. This year, many are finding those first jobs in short supply.

Reports are rampant of new graduates being unable to find open positions in their specialty of choice, and even more shockingly, many are finding it tough to find any openings at all.

These new RNs entered school with the promise that nursing is a recession-proof career. They were told the nursing shortage would guarantee them employment whenever and wherever they wanted.

So what happened? Has the nursing shortage—that we've heard about incessantly for years—suddenly gone away?

Has the Nursing Shortage Disappeared?

The short term answer is clearly yes, although in the long term, unfortunately, the shortage will still be there. The recession has brought a temporary reprieve to the shortage. Nurses who were close to retirement have seen their 401(k) portfolios plummet and their potential retirement income decline. They are postponing retirement a few more years until the economy—and their portfolios—pick up.

Many nurses have seen their spouses and partners lose their jobs and have increased their hours to make ends meet for their families. Some who left the profession to care for children or for other reasons have rejoined the workforce for similar reasons.

In addition, many hospitals are not hiring. The recession brought hiring freezes to healthcare facilities across the country, and many are still in effect. Help wanted ads for healthcare professionals dropped by 18,400 listings in July, even as the overall economy saw a modest increase of 139,200 in online job listings.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/no-nursing-shortage-752411.html

For Nursing Jobs New Grads Need Not Apply by Annalyn Kurtz CNN Money 1/23/13

No Nursing Shortage At The Present Time - Nursing for Nurses

Proof There's No Nursing Shortage:

No nursing shortage: roll call! - General Nursing Discussion

THERE IS NO NURSING SHORTAGE in 2010. - Nursing for Nurses

Is there a nursing shortage or not? - General Nursing Discussion

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion