where are the nursing shortages?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am hearing that there are shortages in some areas while some are cutting back jobs.

Can anyone tell me for sure where thet know there are nursing shortages in the U.S or Canada.

Thanks

Arizona

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Minnesota!!!! Cold but nice

Minnesota?? I know RN's forced to stay in LPN positions (some are on this BB) because they can't find fulltime RN jobs.

I agree with Cheerfuldoer's and Haunted's opinions on this subject.

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Did you read that on the Schwartzenegger website??? I know several RN's and LVN's that are unable to secure positions here in Southern California, Orange County especially. I am sure there are some selected fulltime positions available with 12 hour shifts and every other week end requirements, however most of my friends prefer to work 8's, 10's and have a little flexability to spend time with their families.

I don't believe in A: The Easter Bunny

B: Your stated opinion!

C: This media induced hype about a nursing shortage.

Just an informed opinion.

Well, you can believe what you want about my stated opinion. I base it on the fact that our hospital has been hiring like mad since I started and there are always job postings. We're in S. California too. It's true, if you only want to work certain shifts and certain hours you'll have a harder time finding work. That's just common sense to me. That said, those that need jobs badly enough to be willing to put in weekends like the rest of us should be able to find something. New grads are being recruited from Canada, so I have a hard time believing there aren't any positions for experienced American nurses.

Apparently at least two other posters in California agree with me. Maybe they believe in the Easter Bunny too :chuckle

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Well, you can believe what you want about my stated opinion. I base it on the fact that

our hospital has been hiring like mad since I started and there are always job postings. We're in S. California too. It's true, if you only want to work certain shifts and certain hours you'll have a harder time finding work. That's just common sense to me. That said, those that need jobs badly enough to be willing to put in weekends like the rest of us should be able to find something. New grads are being recruited from Canada, so I have a hard time believing there aren't any positions for experienced American nurses.

Apparently at least two other posters in California agree with me. Maybe they believe in the Easter Bunny too :chuckle

Your hospital is hiring like mad and there are always job postings? At what point does this facility reach it's quota? that does not make any sense at all Fergus! A lot of my part time nurse buddies (per diem as well) and myself DO put in week ends, we also volunteer to work holidays for our commrades that are burnt out, we self schedule with them and let the staffing office know.

And then you state that "New grads are being recruited from Canada and you have a hard time believing there aren't any positions for EXPERIENCED American nurses? WHAT? So a facility would hire a new grad from Canada, in fact go to the expense and hassle of recruitment in exchange for this mass plethora of EXPERIENCED AMERICAN NURSES??? I still don't get it Fergus.

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Your hospital is hiring like mad and there are always job postings? At what point does this facility reach it's quota? that does not make any sense at all Fergus! A lot of my part time nurse buddies (per diem as well) and myself DO put in week ends, we also volunteer to work holidays for our commrades that are burnt out, we self schedule with them and let the staffing office know.

And then you state that "New grads are being recruited from Canada and you have a hard time believing there aren't any positions for EXPERIENCED American nurses? WHAT? So a facility would hire a new grad from Canada, in fact go to the expense and hassle of recruitment in exchange for this mass plethora of EXPERIENCED AMERICAN NURSES??? I still don't get it Fergus.

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? :confused:

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Specializes in ER, PACU.

New York!

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Because of turnover, my facility always has job postings Haunted. If you like I can point you to their HR department. They have their job postings on line. My interview was basically a 5 minute spiel about the unit, followed by "So when do you think you could move here and start work?", as it was at the other interviews I did (3 in California, 2 in NM). I find it hard to believe that I was able to turn down jobs and still get work easily, but other nurses already in the area can't find any work despite being willing to work the shifts that are needed like you say. The only way it would make any sense to me is if they are only wanting to work 8s or 10s or day shifts or something, or you live in the one part of California with an overabundance of nurses. Our health system is partly in OC and partly in LA county and we are hiring.

I pointed out they are hiring Canadian nurses because if they are going to the trouble of doing that, they obviously aren't getting enough applications from American nurses, so I don't think our shortage is imaginary. It would be a lot easier for them to hire American nurses.

We also use a lot of travellers (another symptom of the shortage). Last night there were 2 of us regular staff members and 4 travellers in the room we were working in. The hospital would love to get rid of travellers and hire regular staff since it's so much cheaper for them.

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Your hospital is hiring like mad and there are always job postings? At what point does this facility reach it's quota? that does not make any sense at all Fergus! A lot of my part time nurse buddies (per diem as well) and myself DO put in week ends, we also volunteer to work holidays for our commrades that are burnt out, we self schedule with them and let the staffing office know.

And then you state that "New grads are being recruited from Canada and you have a hard time believing there aren't any positions for EXPERIENCED American nurses? WHAT? So a facility would hire a new grad from Canada, in fact go to the expense and hassle of recruitment in exchange for this mass plethora of EXPERIENCED AMERICAN NURSES??? I still don't get it Fergus.

I know for a fact (from two HR managers at two larger CT hospitals) that hospitals here in Connecticut go to Canada at least twice a year to hire new grads. Apparently Canadian students are far more experienced (clinically) when they graduate than US students are. When they graduate they have already had the equivalent of our 12 week new grad orientation before they even graduate. Way to go Canada!

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Because of turnover, my facility always has job postings Haunted. If you like I can point you to their HR department. They have their job postings on line. My interview was basically a 5 minute spiel about the unit, followed by "So when do you think you could move here and start work?", as it was at the other interviews I did (3 in California, 2 in NM). I find it hard to believe that I was able to turn down jobs and still get work easily, but other nurses already in the area can't find any work despite being willing to work the shifts that are needed like you say. The only way it would make any sense to me is if they are only wanting to work 8s or 10s or day shifts or something, or you live in the one part of California with an overabundance of nurses. Our health system is partly in OC and partly in LA county and we are hiring.

I pointed out they are hiring Canadian nurses because if they are going to the trouble of doing that, they obviously aren't getting enough applications from American nurses, so I don't think our shortage is imaginary. It would be a lot easier for them to hire American nurses.

We also use a lot of travellers (another symptom of the shortage). Last night there were 2 of us regular staff members and 4 travellers in the room we were working in. The hospital would love to get rid of travellers and hire regular staff since it's so much cheaper for them.

High turnover? Why is that I wonder? I also don't think "travellers" are a symptom necessarily of this "shortage" but rather a reflection of how nursing in general is changing. I work registry because it affords me the variety and flexibility to work everywhere and anywhere I desire. I think MattsMom quoted it best when she wrote something about, there isn't a nursing shortage, there's a shortage of desireable nursing jobs. I think professional nurses are beginning to take back their power and control from administrative figure heads who we realize no longer serve and protect us. And that includes your HR department that scuttles for foreign born nurses and tells you it's because your commrades are in short supply. Not true Sister!!!

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Haunted, I work here and believe me, the hospital isn't a hellhole. I wouldn't work here if it was. If you knew me, you'd know that:) I move pretty often, so I don't have a problem quitting a job I don't like to find one I do. I've done it more than once.

I didn't say turnover was high, but every hospital has turnover that creates constant oppenings for new staff. Also, I do understand the appeal of travel nursing. High pay, free housing.... it would be nice. We have one travel nurse who has been here for 4 years so our hospital can't be that bad. She's on her 16th contract extension. Judging by some of the posts on the NICU forum, my hospital is very nice. We provide a good length orientation for new staff and meet the ratios more often than not. I've been here 8 months and have never had an assignment that was outside of the recommended ratios. I think the pay is good and the benes are pretty nice too. It's a big unit, so staffing is always going to be an issue and to meet the rations we do use travellers. I think that's a sign of a good unit. A lot of units out there would just load up their staff nurses and say "Sorry, no extra staff tonight, you'll have to take more patients". Our managers and HR are willing to pay the extra money for travellers and registry if need be.

I looked at work the other night and there are more than 60 nursing positions posted for our hospital from general medical to OR to ICU to peds, etc. The work is there. If the nurses don't want it for whatever reason (scheduling, pay, holiday time, etc), that's their choice and I respect that, but the jobs are here.

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Fergus, you work in a specialty unit on NOCS. That sounds like job security to me dear. I would venture a guess that you don't visit the "trenches" much so it's my understanding that the information you garner is whatever propaganda get's filtered beyond that velvet rope. I still contend, ain't no nursing shortage here in California, specifically So Cal, anywhere!

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From all the replies here it seems that nurses 'appear' to be needed in numerous areas of the country, or is it just that they are ADVERTISING the need ? OR are they really using using a 'shortage' as an excuse for short staffing units..which makes the nurses 'think' there is a shortage' and more likely to accept the poor working conditions ie the hospital is TRYING to hire?? Hmm.

Now maybe this doesn't happen everwhere (Fergus you have found a good manager/unit...feel fortunate) but I smell a rat in a lot of the hoopla involving 'nurse shortage' claims.

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'.

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