nursing shortage...

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Specializes in ICU, Alzheimer's care.

i am currently working on prerequisites for a nursing program that i hope to start in about 2 years. i'll finish either in the summer of 2009 or the spring of 2010, depending on where i go.

i was told by a woman the other day who's daughter is a nurse that by the time i finish school, because so many people are going to nursing school, that by the time i finish, the shortage will be nonexistant, there will in fact be a surplus, and i won't ever find a job.

has anyone else heard this? what do you think...true or false?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Everything I have read indicates that the need for RNs will remain for the next generation. As the baby boom generation ages and as nurses retire the need is going to be there.

Schools will be hard pressed to meet these needs.

This women is incorrect.

http://www.nursingworld.org/readroom/fsshortage.htm

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I'm no statistician but I think she is way wrong. The obvious thing is that with all the baby boomers aging at that time there will be a surplus of geriatrics so there will need to be more nurses. The other thing that comes to mind is that with the current state of disorganization, lack of professors and programs our educational system won't have gotten their act together enough to graduate the number of nurses needed. I don't know about where you are but in my area they are turning away an average of 200 applicants each fall and while I'm sure not all 200 were qualified for heaven's sake at least 1/2 of them surely would have been ok.

Now there are people getting into nursing because they think it is an easy job and a cash cow and imo that is a losing proposition but if you love the idea of being a nurse I wouldn't let the nay sayers cloud your decision. Much luck to you, Jules

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

In addition to the factors the above posters have mentioned, the woman who gave you the advice is wrong on several accounts. There really is not a nursing shortage right now. There are plenty of nurses today who can fill open positions; they do not want too! By the time you get into nursing these issues will continue to exist.

The demand for nurses now is not like the Internet Technology Boom of the 90s, where everyone choose to enter the field due to current growth and pay. Later to find that in the early 2000s a localized economic crash ("bubble burst") would cause him/her to be out of work and qualified people exiting college unable to find work.

There will still be a huge number of Registered Nurses who do not choose to work as Registered Nurses (at least not bedside). There will still be a huge number of students vs a small number of spots because of a lack of RNs wanting to work as instructors. There will also be a big number in the US population continuing to age and refusing to die. I am sure there are other factors I have not mentioned that support this theory.

So don't worry. If it makes you feel better check the Labor Bureau and google other websites to read up on projected growth in the field of nursing. The last time I checked the demand for nurses will continue to rise through 2012. I have not read any projections that show a leveling off period any time soon. So, I have no idea where the woman whose daughter is a nurse got her information. Rumor? Uninformed opinion? Misinformation? :wink2:

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Specializes in LDRP.
According to a report published in November 2004 as a Web exclusive of Health Affairs, Dr. Peter Buerhaus and colleagues found that "despite the increase in employment of nearly 185,000 hospital RNs since 2001, there is no empirical evidence that the nursing shortage has ended. To the contrary, national surveys of RNs and physicians conducted in 2004 found that a clear majority of RNs (82%) and doctors (81%) perceived shortages where they worked."

"According to the 2005 survey by the American College of Health Executives on the Top Issues Confronting Hospitals, 85% of hospital CEOs reported having a shortage of registered nurses. "

Check out this fact sheet. The other posters gave you excellent info--and remember that the baby boomers are getting old--and they are a HUGE part of the US population--I think the need for geriatric nurses will skyrocket--and not many people are going into that specialty.

All surveys have indicated that the shortage will hit hard at 2010--and nursing programs are packed yet they arent producing much more nurses than they used to due to teacher shortages.

According to a December survey from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, collegiate nursing programs turned away 11,000 qualified nursing school applicants last fall because of a lack of faculty.

http://www.nurseweek.com/news/features/04-08/funds.asp

Nursing continues to provide job security. There will always be rumors, but the facts speak for themselves.

http://seniorhealth.about.com/cs/prevention/a/nurse_shortage.htm

Interesting--wonder what todays numbers are:

Number of Candidates taking the NCLEX-RN Exam First-Time, U.S. Educated Candidates Only:

1995... 96,438

1996... 94,178

1997... 89,464

1998... 83,165

1999... 76,523

2000... 71,392

2001... 68,709

2002... 70,540

2003... 76,618

http://www.nursingpower.net/union/shortage_fact_sheet.html

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Specializes in ER.
Check out this fact sheet. The other posters gave you excellent info--and remember that the baby boomers are getting old--and they are a HUGE part of the US population--I think the need for geriatric nurses will skyrocket--and not many people are going into that specialty.

All surveys have indicated that the shortage will hit hard at 2010--and nursing programs are packed yet they arent producing much more nurses than they used to due to teacher shortages.

http://www.nurseweek.com/news/features/04-08/funds.asp

Nursing continues to provide job security. There will always be rumors, but the facts speak for themselves.

http://seniorhealth.about.com/cs/prevention/a/nurse_shortage.htm

Interesting--wonder what todays numbers are:

http://www.nursingpower.net/union/shortage_fact_sheet.html

Wow, I am surprised at the decrease in # of those taking the N-CLEX over the years. I can honestly say that I have been under the impression that many more where interested in nursing than in previous years. Maybe it's because all of my friends are in nursing school:)))

Thanks for the info,

T

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Specializes in OR Internship starting in Jan!!.

Yeah, I'm not sure where that woman came up with her info, but it sounds like she was just trying to rain on your parade. One of the reasons I am trying to become a nurse is for the long term job security!

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Specializes in ICU, Alzheimer's care.

thanks, guys. that's what i thought, but when i was talking to this woman i started to freak a little. :)

well, i'm officially wait-listed for my program...

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