Nursing Shortage?

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I have been hearing for years about a nursing shortage in Ohio and across the country. One newspaper (USA Today, I believe) recently ran an article that said something to the effect of "there will never be an unemployed nurse".

I beg to differ. I know way too many LPN's who are new grads and having an extremely hard time getting a job!

The other day on Fox News, I was really surprised to see them use the term "RN shortage" instead of "nursing shortage" I think "RN Shortage" fits better.

I live in Sandusky and we have an oversaturation of LPNs. Currently, we have around 3-4 LPN schools within a 40 miles radius. There are not enough LPN jobs in my area for the number of graduates. It took my husband's cousin seven months to find an LPN job and even then, she could only find part-time. Due to the economy, she was laid off within two months of getting the job. She is currently working in fast food.

I am moving towards the Lima area this late summer. I've talked to several DON's in that area and I am basically hearing the same thing---an oversaturation of LPN schools in that area.

I am curious as to what area members are from and is there an LPN oversaturation where you are at.

What do you think about the term "nursing shortage"?

Where in Ohio can an LPN get a job?

Well I graduated in Dec of 09. Got ATT February of 10 (***) and took my boards in March. Started applying for jobs in April, was totally ignorant about how difficult it was to get a job. Applied to many positions at various hospitals no response. Applied to LTC jobs voila interviews. Got a job hate it, feel like nursing was ab ad decision but I haven't given up on nursing just yet. Started this job in July (had 2 other prn jobs, still haveone) it's hell I'm leaving in two weeks. If one of you are interested in applying I can tell you what ltc facilities I work(ed) at. It's very hard work but it will pay the bills and it's a dump, but if you want a shot they may give you one.

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Plentifull of LPN & RN Jobs within 2 year,,,,,,ahmmmmmmmmmmm sit back and wait for that to happen....it now and their isn't any job in the healthcare field what so ever, what make you think that in 2 year this economy is going to turn around and their will be plenrtiful Nursing jobs when they just layoff 200 R.N's in Lorain, Oh and who knows how many more will be on the layed on chopping block...come on be for real (No disrepect)

My wife and I both relocated from Ct due to the same situation, she got laid off in CT last year as a STNA and here we are 9 month later and still no job, so what make you think that theirs going to be jobs in the up coming years for LPN and R.N's hellllllllo none. this economy is sooooooooooo screw up that it going have to take a largeeeeeeeeee miricle in order for it to be turn around and yet and I do say yet let just hope and pray that if it does get to turn around and that we don't end up back again in the same situation within a 1 to 3 years later. This economy has not only hurt the health care, but everyone including my own family.

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The shortage of nursing jobs is not due entirely to the economy. Nursing jobs is a cyclical thing regardless of the economy anyway. And there are definitely jobs. I graduated college in 2009 and every single one of my jobs has a job as a RN now and didn't have to wait more than 2-3 months after graduation to land a job. You just have to put the time and effort into the search and be willing to accept any RN job you can find.

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Hmmm... a shortage of nurses....

... a shortage of nurses willing to undertake unreasonable workloads (yes, in good economic times there was always a nursing job available, just not necessarily nursing jobs anyone would choose if they had any other options! Things shift a bit when the options are unreasonable workload and no work at all.)

... a shortage of nurses with specific skills sets and experience (in other words, some demands for nurses can't be filled by just anyone with a license; who pays for and who provides nurse training beyond initial licensure? is it reasonable to expect hospitals to provide and pay for that training along with full wages and benefits for both trainers and trainees?)

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I am sorry everyone is going through this. I wanted to comment and say this... this recession is the worst since the great depression. So it isn't that there isn't a nursing shortage, it's that the country as a whole is struggling right now. I read an article about how lawyers graduating from Tri 1 schools (Ivy League) can't find jobs right now. So it isn't just the nursing field that is experiencing a hiring freeze, it is all industries.

Personally, I wouldn't discourage anyone from getting their ASN. In 2 years when they obtain their degree, the economy will have rebounded by then and RN jobs will be plentiful once again.

I know when I graduate, I plan to put in apps all around the world. The entire southern USA and Europe. I say don't limit your options to just 1 state or 1 city. If you can move then move. Also, I am trying to get the highest GPA I can get and I am going to look for an internship as well. I know a lot of LTC places are hiring. The pay isn't as good, but it will get me the experience I need to be competitive in this slow job market.

Idealist, not realist.

Bought into the hyperbole.

Nursing? Ya gotta be kiddin' me.

After 33 years as an RN.............NO WAY.

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So,a year later after the last post it is obvious things have NOT changed! I have been trying for 13 months to get an Staff RN job with a big fat ZERO! Must have experience as an RN in the hospital, how the heck do you get it if no one takes a chance on hiring you? I think I want my money back on the education! LOL

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I see this post was just brought back to life . . . as a SW Ohio resident, I am now officially worried that maybe my choice in attending nursing school (I start in a month) might not be the best. Passion or not. I get waiting, but I will be a second career nurse (with a marriage, mortgage, children . . . ). Waiting is not a luxury I can afford. However, I am willing to take on any nursing role.

Most people in my area seem to find jobs, but we are always a year or two behind typical state trends. So, what happens in Columbus, Cincy, seems to happen here later.

Nursing or not? I don't know . . . maybe I should go back into my high paying gig as a high school English teacher :)

Seriously, will MSN/FNP/DNP have better luck, or are nursing schools pumping them out as well???

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If you want it - do it. I'm a nursing student in Columbus, OH and there are jobs here if you look hard enough :)

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I am in SE Ohio (small town near OH river) and there are definitely jobs here--now, if you can get them as a new grad, who knows. But this community has a reputation for supporting new graduates, so hopefully that will remain the same when I am done.

I am in surprised by how many programs are in Columbus, but while there are many programs, are there really that many graduates?

I ask because our director told me that while they have 48 students starting in the fall, they expect that a quarter will be gone by the first year (trends/stats from previous years), another quarter by the second--leaving about half that number that will graduate. They have recently increased the number of pre-reqs for the program as well, hoping to get a better candidate pool for the actual program.

So I wonder, while it seems programs are "spitting" out new grads, just how many are actually passing, graduating, passing exams and entering into the workforce? Obviously, there are still many that are struggling (as evidenced by this and many other threads), but I still wonder if it is dire as it seems.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Over the last several years, there have always been jobs... just not nearly enough for all of the grads seeking them out.

If you're a less-than-optimal candidate - or unlucky - or poorly networked - or at all picky - you're facing an up-hill battle to get hired.

In my view, it would be foolish to leave a relatively secure job to pursue the nursing field.

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Over the last several years there have always [u']been[/u] jobs... just not nearly enough for all of the grads seeking them out.

If you're a less-than-optimal candidate - or unlucky - or poorly networked - or at all picky - you're facing an up-hill battle to get hired.

In my view, it would be foolish to leave a relatively secure job to pursue the nursing field.

As stated prior I graduated in 2010 and been working HARD to find a hospital nursing job (yes, includes SNF, etc) for 13 months with NOTHING to show from it but a lot of rejections. I think it is MUCH easier for an experience hospital nurse to get a job then a new grad with no hospital experience as an RN. I have even been in home health which hospitals deem "not similar" in job experience. I too have a mortgage, etc. and would love to move if the housing market was better. Nursing can be a secure job if in a different state OR have nursing hospital experience.

My advice is to make sure you get into a program that lets you work for a hospital for a certain number of hours per week (they pay your tuition) with the promise that after graduation they will have a spot for you. Would like to get the MSN, but owe to much on the BSN. If nursing is your passion, go for it. Just be smart about it now, and go work in a hospital as a patient care assistanct (or whatever they are called there). I worked in the hospital, but they did not pay my tution which was a mistake on my part and I am truly paying that price!

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Specializes in L&D; Case Management; Nursing Education.
I think it is MUCH easier for an experience hospital nurse to get a job then a new grad with no hospital experience as an RN.

I don't totally agree with that. I have over 20 years of nursing experience (16 in a specialty area of a large hospital) and just got laid off from a nursing job in the business world. I've been looking for a new job for nearly 3 months and even though I've had a few interviews, I haven't gotten a job. Hospitals prefer nurses with a few years experience - they have enough experience, but don't have to be paid too much. New grads have no experience, but a very experienced nurse has to be paid too much. And age discrimination is rampant (can't be proven, but it's obvious if you're highly qualified but still can't get the job).

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