where are the nursing shortages?

ssi9699 · Mar 16, 2005

There is no absolute nurse shortage although I might conceed that isolated areas do have more unfilled nursing positions than qualified nurses to fill those jobs.How many good nurses do you know that have left the bedside to join the growing number of those that do paperwork,QA,education ,management or any of the other nursing jobs that have developed over the past couple decades that do not involve direct patient care.I would be satisifed if bedside nursing enjoyed one half the job growth that these other areas experienced.Also many nurses have permanently left the profession due to the difficult conditions most of us work under.The true shortage in the nursing profession originates with the failed policies of administrators that do not support the bedside caregivers. The crisis in heathcare will continue as long as the numbers of those that do not care for patients increase and the ranks of the true caregivers/nurses remains stagnant.

I so miss working at the bedside where I feel I belong but I refuse, just refuse to take less pay than what I was paid for an office nurse job...12 years ago (!)to work per diem.. with NO benefits, NO guarantee of any hours, NO day hours, and the obligation to work a certain number of weekend shifts. No, no, no. :angryfire To have 21 years of experience and be offered $17.50 an hour? If more nurses would have a backbone and say "No", instead of "Yes, I guess" and just take what mgmt gives, they might have to change their scales. Or they could just go around saying they have a 'shortage.' We're out here, and I know dozens more in my own tiny network that would love to return to the hospital, even to work the off-shifts and all, but not at a dollar or two more than a new grad and to be dumped on because I'm 'only prn'. End of rant. Ok, I feel better now.

mydesygn · Mar 16, 2005

I work in the DFW area, there are plenty of postings -- however I have been in nursing for 14 years. I just recently changed positions, the difficulty I found was a certain amount of unwillingness based on meeting salary. I work pediatrics only so in many ways that limits me. I tend to beleive there is not really an overall shortage, there are nurses working any other areas of the country that could meet our needs in the DFW area and most of the hiring bonuses have gone away.

mydesygn · Mar 16, 2005

I think that they want to lead which makes sense why there are more BS/MS degrees.
I don't know for sure, but have heard that NP's are an overflooded market.
It appears to me that many nurses are desperate to get out of direct patient care and instead get a job where they can smugly repeat the rhetoric they hear at seminars and meetings, all of the theories out there about what good patient care is and how nurses need to be doing this or that, what the latest product in wound care is, or adding another document to be filled out during our 8 and 12 hour shift.
All of course, from the coziness of being behind the desk or with a white coat on in the patient care areas with no intention on lifting, turning, bathing, answering call lights, or responding to hysterical family members.....
"Let me get your nurse for you......"

For me, what drove me from patient care was not the patient but the nursing staff I worked with. I have also noticed that many of the NP's continue to work in staff nursing -- partly because they earn more money after calculating shift diffs, overtime etc..

antigone_eriksen · Mar 16, 2005

Vermont

RN34TX · Mar 16, 2005

I am a nursing student graduating in May with a BSN and I have no desire to "lead" other nurses. I wanted to get my BSN because I feel that the holistic approach to nursing is key and I wanted a well rounded education. At this point, I don't even know if I plan to acheive a MS. My passion is direct patient care and I don't think that it is right to generalize every BS and MS nurse as wanting to "lead" other nurses just because they didn't decide to get a AD or Diploma. I have worked extremely hard to earn this BS and it hurts to hear this very judgemental comment.

I apologize for anything in my comment that you found offensive. The post I was resonding to was talking about why you see more BSN/MSN's than before, it was not meant to be a slight to all BSN/MSN's.

I was referring more to nurses with LPN/ADN/diplomas who went back later to get higher degrees rather than those who chose BSN's to begin with.

By this I'm talking about myself, an ADN who is now chosing to go back and get a BSN.

I too, have no desire to lead, in fact I have no clue as to what I'm going to do with a BSN when I finish or if I plan on going on for an MSN.

Whatever degree nurses have, including those ADN's who sometimes are in management at some level, I was referring to how tired I am of nurses, once they are no longer in direct patient care, suddenly having these high standards and theories about patient care and what nurses should or shouldn't be doing and how big of an assignment that nurses should be able to handle.

Basically asking those of us still in direct patient care to do things that they themselves wouldn't have been willing to do back when they were working on the floor because they suddenly become more concerned with budgets than safety and liability.

I was also referring to the increase in BSN/MSN's as a reflection of floor nursing getting so bad that many are doing anything to get out of it, and the best way to do that is to get more education.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2005

I was referring to how tired I am of nurses, once they are no longer in direct patient care, suddenly having these high standards and theories about patient care and what nurses should or shouldn't be doing and how big of an assignment that nurses should be able to handle.
Basically asking those of us still in direct patient care to do things that they themselves wouldn't have been willing to do back when they were working on the floor

This is so true. Well said.

ocb_dave_ocb, LPN · Mar 16, 2005

They need LPN's at The Nursing home in Lake City, TN

JULES1 · Apr 2, 2005

Hi Jenago and Fergus 51,

I just recently did a paper on the nursing shortage.There are shortages everywhere,but the main reason for them are that employers are looking for those nurses in specialty areas(ICU, OR,CCU,etc.).Here in Ga. and all across the country they are increasing sign on bonuses,upwards to $14,000,and raising starting salaries to $60,000.There is a shortage,however,and fast-tract ADN ,second career degrees,and accelerated RN-BSN/MSN programs are being initiated to fill the voids.Therefore,nurses across the country doesn't have to take the flack they are being dished out at their present jobs;JUST "SUMMON-UP SOME GUTS", BE PREPARED TO MOVE ON, AND DEMAND WHAT YOU THINK IS AN APPROPRIATE SALARY FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.We help SAVE LIVES and get paid peanuts, while athletes and movie stars demand and get paid outrageous salaries,to entertain.WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? WHAT'S WRONG WITH US AS NURSES? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY? WE HAVE TO STAND FOR SOMETHING OR WE'LL FALL FOR ANYTHING!!!!!

I know this is a very negative observation,but it is also A VERY POSITIVE TRUTH.Patients, and our care of them, will always come first,but the bottom line is survival,and we are not getting any younger,we're getting burned out and injured(been there and done that).HOORAY FOR CALIFORNIA AND THOSE STATES FOLLOWING IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS!!! Why do you think nursing is not as popular and well respected as it used to be? There is more money and more job satisfaction in other fields. IT'S TIME TO BE HEARD NURSES!!!.

JULES1

CFwoman · Apr 2, 2005

I so miss working at the bedside where I feel I belong but I refuse, just refuse to take less pay than what I was paid for an office nurse job...12 years ago (!)to work per diem.. with NO benefits, NO guarantee of any hours, NO day hours, and the obligation to work a certain number of weekend shifts. No, no, no. :angryfire To have 21 years of experience and be offered $17.50 an hour? If more nurses would have a backbone and say "No", instead of "Yes, I guess" and just take what mgmt gives, they might have to change their scales. Or they could just go around saying they have a 'shortage.' We're out here, and I know dozens more in my own tiny network that would love to return to the hospital, even to work the off-shifts and all, but not at a dollar or two more than a new grad and to be dumped on because I'm 'only prn'. End of rant. Ok, I feel better now.

Heck, that's no rant...that's the truth. there is a severe shortage in CA, but the hospitals are doing it to themselves. Many hospitals in CA have their Nurses on 10 and 12 hours shifts, but they rarely give them both breaks, they cut the lunches short and are continually hounding the staff to work overtime! No wonder everyone is growing cranky, bitter and jaded! The turn-over is incredible. Nurses do not treat each other well and take out their frustrations on other Nurses with cattiness and superiority complexes. My stepdaughter is going into Dental Hygiene and I am so relieved. My sister is a PT. Both make more money than RNs and have better hours and are treated with much more politeness and respect. Personally, I don't feel that Nurses are treated with much respect anymore. I like to hear what people say about Nursing before they actually know that I am a Nurse. I seem to hear more negative than positive. It's so sad.

closatssl1 · Apr 2, 2005

I don't get it either..there are so many nurses here, and if our "shortage" needs to be addressed so badly, why are we going to Canada?

CAN A NURSE HERE IN THE U.S. WORK IN CANADA AS A NURSE? DO THEY HAVE TO RETAKE THE N-CLEX OR OTHER BOARDS?

gypsyangelrn · Apr 3, 2005

Why so much foreign recruitment of new grads? They are cheaper, more pliable, less risk , healthier stronger...because they are young no doubt. A not so subtle ageisim? Probably..

THIS I know. Despite my experience, I and others like me are NOT the 'desireable employees'...facilities prefer the above candidates, and they import them in groups from the Phillipines. HRs in my area tend to stall on my older friends' applications...often they won't hear back, and if they do 'there is a better candidate' despite NUMEROUS advertisements still posted. Hmmm. And these are good experienced nurses in their 40-s-50's. I guess the lesson in the DFW area is don't go lookin' for a job at this point in your life...make sure you're where you want to be, eh?

So IMHO there is a hidden story behind all the cries of 'shortage'.

Gee, Mattsmom, I just recently had the same experience in Washington. I am a RN in Oregon....have 29 years of experience. In spite of having 4 positions open for the unit and shift I applied and interviewed for, I was told I wasn't a "good fit". Makes me think they didn't want to pay for an experienced RN!!

rach_nc_03 · Apr 3, 2005

Everyone tells me I have to do 1-2 yrs. med-surge before I can even consider trying something like ICU. But I've been a new grad since May 04 and I simply won't kill myself in med-surge here in NY. They're always short staffed 10-14 pt's per nurse and the cna's don't exactly like new nurses and they let you know that (so do the RN's) eat their own so to speak but complain they're short staffed go figure ??? My license is so on the line doing that... it scares me to death. :chair: So I decided to stay on vacation since May and plan to start looking around April this year. I might just try doing it the way you did and see where it lands.....sounds like a good idea...

Everyone in my class who wanted ICU has a job lined up (we graduate in may) and most of us had accepted formal offers by february of this year. The NICU and PICU at my hospital (which is a large teaching hospital) hire 20-30 new grads/year each. If you got in before the end of feb (and you had good grades and recommendations, plus some demonstrated interest in critical care), you had your pick of jobs. and med-surg floors want to hire us on the first day of clinicals at every location. that being said, people looking for jobs now are finding only ortho and tele work. also, i have a friend in her 50's who is an experienced icu traveller, and she can't get into the NICU at our hospital.

you should see if you can find out the policy toward new grads in specialty units in the hospitals you're considering. if you don't find what you're looking for, you might have to broaden your search- but I'm guessing there are a lot of hospitals if you're in NYC. if you're willing to relocate, it sounds like a lot of areas have icu jobs for new grads.

as for whether or not there's a nursing shortage, i think it must be geographically specific. then again, if you look at the websites someone else posted, NC doesn't have a shortage, but I hear managers talk about not having enough staff, nurses talk about being recruited away...seems like a good job market to me.