nursing shortage

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My question is : how severe is the nursing shortage?I know of other universities and collages graduating a good number of nurses and there's still a shortage. Where are the nurses going?What are they doing?

SMILIN BLUE EYES: You're 'there', so you don't need one of my rah, rah, rah posts. You've said it so succinctly; I've put it out there be4 with my contacting the legislatures, etc, but darn, you're good. NURSING NEEDS A LOT MORE (#####) LIKE YOU. Can't we be, not only our patient's advocates, but our own ADVOCATES?

WEIGEL 34: I can't agree w/you more; if respect is gained, who would think about poor pay and other compensation, poor working conditions, and all other concens that we nurses have expressed?

About the time I retire, where will be the nurse to care for me? I'm not running into many nurses over 20 years who entered this field for the $$$, but they didn't expect that they'd have to fight a losing battle for what most people are able to take for granted: RESPECT: was it Roberta Flack who sang that song?

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R-E-S........P-E-C-T!

Aretha Franklin

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

i think that there is a shortage of bedside nurses because #1 the pay stinks #2 staffing stinks thanks to hmo's #3 the benefits stink--garbagemen have better benes than i do! #4 the stress of the job--we are dealing with life or death here people!

i became a nurse because i wanted to help people. had i known any nurses when i was making my career choices, i may have changed my mind.

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I'd like to add to this..........Where I am in Ontario new grads are finding it very difficult to find work as most places want a

nurse with experience.

Two of my cousins had to move in the States for about a year

, where they accepted 'new grads' and provided them with the training they needed.

They came back after getting their minimum experience.

Sue

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kaknurse: I don't know how to do all those colors, but commend you for your talent. Had you gone into art, you may have more bennies, salary, etc after mega years, or you'd be able to advance in salary brackets with the years.

But, I think it all boils down to R E S P E C T. Would you pay someone poorly you RESPECT? :rolleyes: Would you provide poor staffing ratios to those you RESPECT and wish to care for a dependent population? I think not, as then those RNS will burn out, get injured, leave the bedside, sounds like you already 'know the drill'. :rolleyes: Would you offer only poor bennies to those you RESPECT (I'd like to think the 'suits' would want to recruit and retain good nurses, and good bennies is a tool used in most of corporate USA)? :rolleyes: RESPECT is really necessary because we DO deal with stressful situations, all day, every day.

What can/do we do to get the RESPECT we so much need/want? I think we can and must teach, advocate for the nursing rofession as much as possible, before we've become extinct. This is a WONDERFUL opportunity for a profession to mold itself; are we up to the challenge, and on the cutting edge?

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What really trips me out is when there is enough staff and we are still short. I don't get it! Nursing has the potential but unfortunately some of the nursing schools set the tone. I had to switch schools when I finished my LVN I wasn't going through that hellish experience again no support do or die, making one feel as though they are nurses from day one. It is sad. I like being a nurse who just want a decent wage and working conditions. Nursing nursing nursing gotta love it, though!

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Thanks SmilingBluEyes !! I was one of those 'down in the dumps' negative nurses years ago!! Was burned to the crisp....thought nursing was the bottom of the pits job....shame on me!! If I only knew when i was younger what a great opportunity was beneath my fingers!! I left nursing back in '90 to search for that 'perfect' job that i could 'dress up' in regular clothes, have 9-5 hours..boy was i sorely mistaken!! I actually went to business school - thought i was gonna make it big in businesss....but here i am back in nursing after i said i would 'NEVER' work again as a nurse...and now when i talk to people who want to leave nursing i try to convince them to stay in the field--to learn by my mistakes!! That's y i'm here on the bulletin boards...trying to get info on how the staffing is in the hospital scene...I graduated in '82 and worked nothing but critical care up until 91 --- I had a GREAT job in PACU but had to have, URGH like most nurses, back surgery.....had to resign from PACU cuz my time ran out..when i was released i went to the agency - home health-- worked as primary nurse on a peds vent case..after about 3 yrs left that job and went to a large HMO clinic and did urgent care for 2 yrs, then of course, AGAIN thought nursing was the worst job...and helped my hubby run his landscape business..DOUBLE SHAME ON ME!!! Being self employed is the worst!! NO BENEFITS, customers dont pay their bills...blah blah blah...and here i am BACK in nursing...I had no idea the shortage was SOOOO bad...i thought no hospital would give me the time of day since i was not 'CURRENT'...i'm now in LTC and desperately want to get back to the hospital scene!!! Thanks for letting me vent .. love the bulletin boards..... AND TO THE NURSES OUT THERE THAT WANT TO LEAVE THE FIELD --- DO NOT !!! Take it from me!! it's the best thing out there!!!!

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Specializes in cardiac ICU.

I just finished my last clinical (BSN) at the end of June. On the second to last day, I asked the other six students how many planned to be working in a hospital in five years. NOBODY said they would be. In one year? ONE student said she would, probably. It seems that brand new nurses are disillusioned before they even graduate! How scary is that?

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Oh boy, after reading some of these posts, it makes me wonder why I am pursuring the nursing field. But then I think about working in the business world (in the accounting dept), it isn't much better. Everyone complains about how the managers are and not getting promotions and the work we do for not enough pay etc. etc. It really isn't much different in that aspect. The bad part is is is very hard to change jobs and make the same money or better.

One of the reasons I chose to change careers ( and be an older student as well) and go into nursing is I feel that I need to work in a field where I feel like I've made a difference. I also like the idea that there are so many opportunties available. There are so many hospitals, clinics etc that you can work just about anywhere.

I hope I don't feel the way some folks feel once I am out there working.

Debi

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Originally posted by Lisa Lisa RN

Thanks SmilingBluEyes !! I was one of those 'down in the dumps' negative nurses years ago!! Was burned to the crisp....thought nursing was the bottom of the pits job....shame on me!! If I only knew when i was younger what a great opportunity was beneath my fingers!! I left nursing back in '90 to search for that 'perfect' job that i could 'dress up' in regular clothes, have 9-5 hours..boy was i sorely mistaken!! I actually went to business school - thought i was gonna make it big in businesss....but here i am back in nursing after i said i would 'NEVER' work again as a nurse...and now when i talk to people who want to leave nursing i try to convince them to stay in the field--to learn by my mistakes!! That's y i'm here on the bulletin boards...trying to get info on how the staffing is in the hospital scene...I graduated in '82 and worked nothing but critical care up until 91 --- I had a GREAT job in PACU but had to have, URGH like most nurses, back surgery.....had to resign from PACU cuz my time ran out..when i was released i went to the agency - home health-- worked as primary nurse on a peds vent case..after about 3 yrs left that job and went to a large HMO clinic and did urgent care for 2 yrs, then of course, AGAIN thought nursing was the worst job...and helped my hubby run his landscape business..DOUBLE SHAME ON ME!!! Being self employed is the worst!! NO BENEFITS, customers dont pay their bills...blah blah blah...and here i am BACK in nursing...I had no idea the shortage was SOOOO bad...i thought no hospital would give me the time of day since i was not 'CURRENT'...i'm now in LTC and desperately want to get back to the hospital scene!!! Thanks for letting me vent .. love the bulletin boards..... AND TO THE NURSES OUT THERE THAT WANT TO LEAVE THE FIELD --- DO NOT !!! Take it from me!! it's the best thing out there!!!!

Lisa Lisa

I enjoy reading these kinds of posts. It helps me remain positive as I attend school. The business world is not fun, the 9-5 dressing up. I hate dressing up for work. Have done it for 15 years and would welcome the change to uniforms.

Thanks

Debi

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