is nursing shortage really exists?????

vjhappy · Feb 1, 2009

I've heard that it's because of the economy. Many nurses aren't retiring because they can't afford to. Also, a lot of hospitals in my area are having hiring freezes, too. I even heard that it's because of federal ties and the lack of money out there.

The best thing you can do is make yourself as competitive as possible. Work as a student nurse & get as many certifications as you can. I graduate December of this year & that's what I plan to do.

Hope that helps a little!

TinkerNurse · Feb 2, 2009

I've wondered this too, anymore responses?

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Feb 2, 2009

Depends on where you live. The northeast has lots of nursing schools and the economy has turned sour. So the nursing shortage in some areas has gone away.

ritarunningfeet · Feb 2, 2009

I know the hospital I work in is short alot of the time, we can't send our pt's upstairs from ER not because there isn't a bed but because there isn't enough staff to take care of a full floor. There is a hiring freeze, my guess is the economy. A bunch of non-nurse positions (managment and such) have been let go in an effort for the hospitals to make it. At least that is my guess as to why?

FLmomof5 · Feb 2, 2009

Additional factors are:

People are delaying optional surgeries because they are afraid of the economy. Because of that, some areas of the hospital are not making as much money and the census is low for that floor so the nurses are having their hours cut or they are being laid off.

Another cause is payments. If people are laid off, they lose their insurance (who can afford COBRA?). Without insurance the hospital is finding themselves with more unpaid debts. This hurts their bottom line so they cannot afford new nurses.

TCM1 · Feb 2, 2009

Maybe there wasn't really a nursing shortage as much as there was media propaganda/political scheme...schools make so much money, most people are left in debt, banks can charge high interest rates and give credit lines out to poor students, money flows..etc. etc. Sounds to me like the huge SARS scare. Where is it now?

kcochrane · Feb 2, 2009

It is possible that due to the economy many non-practicing nurses could decide to get back into nursing. I think last I heard 1/2 million nurses were out in the population that were not practicing now. Depending on the area, it could become difficult to find a job.

TinkerNurse · Feb 3, 2009

Yah, I kinda feel lied to about the "shortage". I am not very happy in the least.

chicookie, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2009

What I have found out is that there is a shortage of nurse yes IF you have experience. There is no shortage of new nurses. So while you are at clinical now make friends with the management and try to get your foot in the door while you still can.

ShiphrahPuah · Feb 3, 2009

As a recent grad (May 2008), I can tell you that I am surprised at the sudden turnaround this "nursing shortage" has taken. I was fortunate to get a job, but I noticed that several hospitals in my area have cut out their new grad programs. The best advice I can give you is to get a job (any job) in a hospital while you are in nursing school so you have your foot in the door. It doesn't even need to be as a tech or CNA; you can consider clerical jobs as well -- unit clerk, registration, scheduling, etc. I worked in ER registration while I was in nursing school. I started working 20 hours a week while I was taking prereqs since I needed the insurance (my husband owns his own business), but I also got the added benefit of tuition reimbursement. Once I got into the nursing program, it was difficult for me to continue to work 20 hours a week since I also have 4 kids and my dad got very sick and was in and out of a hospital and rehab and within a year passed away. I already had a great track record with my boss, so I was able to cut my hours first to one day a week, and then for a while when things were really difficult with my family situation, one day every OTHER week. I was able to pick up more hours in the summers and over school breaks. I would have loved to NOT work during school since nursing school is stressful enough, but in the end it helped me to get the job of my dreams in OB right out of school, even though the job was posted as a position for an RN with at least 1 year of experience. It really DOES help to have your foot in the door, even if it is not in the department you hope to be in (although working as a tech or a unit clerk in the unit you want to be in probably is even better). Hospitals seem to be loyal to people who already have a proven track record, and it is very helpful to have superiors within the organization to use as references. Many of the people working as techs and in clerical positions are in nursing school, so you find plenty of people to commiserate with at work about school. I know nursing school is challenging enough, and even more so if you have kids, but in this economy, it helps to have that added benefit of a foot in the door. For those of you who do not have kids and who are able to work at least 20 hours per week throughout school, the tuition reimbursement programs that most hospitals have also make it very worthwhile to work at the hospital, and then they also want to hire you as an RN since they have invested in your training. Good luck to all of you in school. It's hard, but you will get through it. Life is wonderful afterward with no homework!

Fermin Hernandez, ADN, ASN, RN · Feb 3, 2009

Maybe you should move out into the rural areas where we need nurses...