Nursing Shortage?

youneek28 · Jan 8, 2009

I wouldn't worry too much about this. I am about 3 year behind you, meaning I haven't every been accepted into a program yet. If it helps and you have a little time to kill, go to any hospital's website and look at all the RN positions open now. I know you have a few more months but, this industry seems to be very fluid and there is a lot of movement. If there was going to be a slow down, you would start seeing the agencies companies going out of business, or at least no positions in Atlanta.

Worst case, is that with the current economy, people might lose their job and look into nursing as something with some stability. This is exactly why I am doing it. So in that respect their might be a flood of people that pursue the career in the coming years. I have so many other reasons why I don't think this will be an issue but I won't bore you with them.

Good luck with the last semester

Laurendd · Jan 8, 2009

Hey gapeach, I am currently applying to hospitals and facilities in Atlanta. There do seem to be many hospitals that offer grad programs and are accepting apps for March. I'm just trying to get a foot in the door any way I can and not getting too caught up in applying for strictly grad programs. Good luck with your search! Have you taken the NCLEX yet?

youneek28 · Jan 8, 2009

Have you taken the NCLEX yet?

I doubt it.

gapeachRN2009, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2009

Have you taken the NCLEX yet?

I don't graduate until May 2009

Laurendd · Jan 8, 2009

Well then good luck with your last semester.

studytime · Jan 8, 2009

I have a few friends that have been RN for several years. Also, I am trying to get into a bridge program (LPN-RN). Georgia is fading out those programs and there is not enough nursing schools within a 30 miles radius. My friends tell me that there are a few RN jobs, SO YOU MAY FIND ONE. The problem they say is, there is not many options; therefore, the employers over work or mistreat there nurses. The many concerns about the schools and jobs in Georgia brings me to the conclusion that Georgia may not have the respect and the urgency for nurses like many other states(California and New York). Even though, they have this so call "Nurse shortage". Please do your research before finishing school, do not rely on what the instructors say. I wish you the best.

VORB · Jan 8, 2009

I think if there were a nursing shortage, we wouldn't be asking if there was one. There SEEMS to be a nursing shortage because nurses are spread so thin (nurse-to-patient ratios, etc.); however, departments are staffed exactly as administration sees fit. So the shortage is a mirage, a myth. There would only be a shortage if there were a lack of applicants at hospitals, and this is not the case. The main reason there are openings at all, is because of nurses moving from hospital to hospital or state to state.

I've only been on the floor a little over a year, and it took me maybe a week or two to figure this out. The reality is: as long as there are nurses being downstaffed, there IS NO shortage. Now in some areas they are not being downstaffed, they're being laid off. With this economy, there IS NO guaranteed jobs -- not even in healthcare.

What I also found is that these hospitals will interview anyone with a pulse, so that is not a good indicator of need. A job posting on their website is also no indication that they're hiring. Hospitals in a hiring freeze will continue to have jobs posted oddly enough. All you can do is remain positive and play their game and hope you're in the right place at the right time.

If you're a new grad or soon-to-be, don't let the negativity get you down. You only need one job, and there's one out there for you. As someone who has a good job now but is looking to make a change, I can tell you times are tough in the job market, even in healthcare. But I've also been around long enough to know this too shall pass.

paulie23 · Mar 12, 2009

I can't imagine where you read or heard that the nursing shortage is coming to an end. It ain't, it's only going to get worse as the baby boomers go from care givers to patients. This is just your nursing school over active adrenals messing with you. you have nothing to worry about

VORB · Mar 12, 2009

I can tell you that our dept has hired about 2 nurses in the past 6 months - a dept with about 30 nurses. We also lost a couple nurses 5-6 months ago that weren't replaced.

People are staying put; there isn't the turn over in nursing there was just 18-24 months ago. Hence less openings.

I would say there's a nursing shortage if hospitals are seeing a lack of applicants, but that is NOT the case. Yes, there is a projected shortage over the next 9-12 years, but most health care facilities today are downsizing, not expanding.

Mia123 · Mar 15, 2009

I can say that several of the students I graduated a BSN program with 3 months ago cannot find jobs. They are applying at several hospitals and would accept any department, so they are not being too picky. Some hospitals are on hiring freezes, and yes, that does include nurses. My advice is to apply to many places and take what you can. Once you get experience, the opportunities should open up a little more.