Nursing Shortage? Not really!!!!

oramar · Feb 19, 2004

There is an article over on Nurseweek that says the shortage has eased somewhat in some regions. I was waiting for someone to post it. This apparently is due to the fact that wages have improved and retention efforts have improved. The easing has come from retired nurses in 50s returning. Also has been eased by imported nurses. Like I said this is a very spotty thing, is not happening everywhere. The place mentioned specifically in article is New Jersey.

ktwlpn, LPN · Feb 22, 2004

There is an article over on Nurseweek that says the shortage has eased somewhat in some regions. I was waiting for someone to post it. This apparently is due to the fact that wages have improved and retention efforts have improved. The easing has come from retired nurses in 50s returning. Also has been eased by imported nurses. Like I said this is a very spotty thing, is not happening everywhere. The place mentioned specifically in article is New Jersey.

THis has happened in my facility to some extent---We have several retired nurses that will work PRN-but they are only willing to work on particular units so I have seen the full time charge nurse pulled off of her unit to accomodate them( I am not complaining-I would rather be pulled then have charge of 2 units and no prn nurse,ya know? When I am an old fart and want to work prn I expect to be accomodated a bit,too)

sbic56, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2004

I imagine the shortage has eased up some with this lousy economy. It isn't that our wages are that great, but at least our jobs can't be outsourced to India or Guatamala. The nursing shortage has eased up because we are getting to be one of the only sure things around unless you want to work at Wal Mart!

nursebonkers · Mar 6, 2004

If the nursing shortage gets even worse the Federal Govt will lessen the restrictions regarding wages having to be the same for foreign nurses coming to work. Do you think the Goverment will protect your income, think again, India is prime and ready to go, I had another post here regarding outsourcing just because it hasnt happened does'nt mean it wont, If you like I can locate the article on global nursing and info on H1b regarding immigration, Let me know!!!!!!

sbic56, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2004

nursebonkers

Do I think my gov't will support/protect me?No way. But, I don't see foreign nurses coming in and taking over either. The point of my post is that IT jobs, like my son hates to see leave the country(he has a BS in IT), are easily outsourced to other countries. To bring in nurses and lower the wage restrictions is a huge political issue that would not go through easily, and not nearly as likely to happen. If we had enough instructors, we would have more nurses, because with many good jobs leaving, nursing will be more attractive to people. Therein lies the real nurse shortage problem, IMO.Bottom line is to stop the outsourcing trend in other areas before it gets as far as nursing. I am not saying it could never happen, but I am not worried about it in the near future, but alot of your point is well taken.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2004

I totally agree. Hospitals are not willing to pay for the proper ratios. And when ratios are mandated they just lay off the ancillary help.

tiliimnrn · Mar 7, 2004

What you don't understand is that they are already outsourcing. Have you looked at the nursing students that are coming into some of your hospitals. I have, and alot:o I mean alot of them are from Jamaca, some are Hmong, some are Somalee. Excuse the spelling, but the point is, they are here, and it's going on right now. They have already started to raid African RN's because they have so few MD's over there the RN's are trained more like MD's. I don't know, but I think raiding from a country that is teeming with Aids patients is a little low. It's going on though, as we speak.:uhoh21:

As for the government helping, darlings we have to help ourselves. Yep, we have to do it for us, and for the future of nursing. If we don't, when we get older and need help what will be out there to take care of us? :crying2: I want someone who loves their patients like I do, someone who cares about me, someone who can speak my language. :coollook:

CCU NRS · Mar 7, 2004

:angryfire I'm not too sure I believe in the nursing shortage. I believe it's a way for all hospitals, nursing homes, etc. to short staff us. If you think about all of your friends that have left nursing within the last, say 5 years, I'm sure you could come up with quite a few nurses. Now take that times, however many floors in your hospital, times other hospitals, etc. I hope you get my point. All of these nurses left because they were so disgusted with their treatment, the lack of respect, md's not listening to them, md's not answering calls, our hours and pay. I could go on forever about "CONDITIONS".
I believe that if the hospitals, etc. started treating us better, paying us better, trying to work out some of these "CONDITIONS", and letting us give the patient care we all want to give, more nurses would come back into nursing. Rather than do the above, they would rather hire new grads (who don't get paid as much) and rip their way through them like they did the above, putting them in dangerous situations and being green they don't know their in over their heads. Or, they would rather steal nurses from other countries( who don't get paid as much), countries that could use the nurses more than we could.
I think this is an easy way out for the hospitals and other nurse employers. All they have to do is whine a little and then "Stick it to us", and we're sucking up everything they say.......:rotfl: Come on people, lets grow some balls, or if you already have em, use em.... We need to do something NOW:nurse:

CCU NRS: Jumps to feet swinging arms overhead Yelling Hallelujah, sing it Brother(or sister) Praise Lord Hallelujah!!!!!

I guess my point is you are preaching to the converted, what we really need is a way to make our voice heard nationally.

fergus51 · Mar 7, 2004

From what I understand H1 visas are now a thing of the past.

sbic56, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2004

We are moving toward globalization. Through it, we will see that we become less rich and other coutries rise to a standard of living that they can live on. I am not so threatened by foreign nurses coming in and competing with us for jobs within the US. It is the sending of jobs overseas where it can be done for a fraction of the rate here. The world economy is going to change, it has to, but I believe it has to happen in a more gradual fashion with some regulations on how this globalization takes place.

Brownms46 · Mar 7, 2004

I also don't believe there is a shortage of prepared nurses...yet! I have run into nurses in my travels, working everywhere...but in nursing! I have met nurses running day care, selling real estate, working at insurance, and drug companies, working in IT positions, selling Mary Kay, ...heck I even met one running her own nail business! My BF even had an RN in his Indexing class!

And yes there are many new grads coming out of school, ready go to it, but who are soon turned around by the system, d/t being overwhelmed ..by "the conditions"!

Then there are hositals who have positions open, but refuse to fill them, or offer such low pay that no one wants them!

While there is not ...I believe a real shortage yet....there will be, and I feel sorry for those coming into the field these days. The new nurses coming out of school ...sometimes have no clue, or just have on those rose colored glasses, that have been knocked off most of us long ago. But that is what TPTB want.....ignorance is bliss...at least for those taking advantage of it.