where are the nursing shortages?

KPOP · Feb 23, 2005

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

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?query=Articles%20of%20Nurses%20Shortages

NancyJo · Feb 23, 2005

Central Illinois. While administration has printed on several occasions that we aren't affected by the nursing shortage in the local newspaper, those of us working the floor know differently. I happen to work for a nurse manager who has been hiring like crazy,however the other managers in our facility aren't. So we don't see the benefits of increased staff as we are floated all over to make up staffing on other units. We have had several new hires and my workload has actually increased. I have heard from other nurses in our area that they too are short staffed.

jacads · Feb 23, 2005

Texas pays crap especially in Houston. They want to pay travelers less than $30/hr which is an insult!!! The traffic and at will killings in the Houston area make it definitely not worth it. As far as Minnesota not having much of a shortage I see very good pay rates in Minnesota as compared to what I was making in South Dakota and I believe that is why they do not have a shortage. I have yet to be able to find a traveling position in Minnesota.

Duveed · Feb 23, 2005

I have a question for ya'all. I'm just out of Highschool getting ready to go into college for a BSN in Nursing... I've always wanted to do something in the Medical Field, and was lured to nursing by the fact that there are so many "nursing shortages" or so I've heard. Should I continue with my route and become an RN or do something else? Admin told me the shortages will only get worse as time goes by... but I'm beginning to wonder. It's hard enough to find a good job without a college degree... spending all that time to get and one and not being able to find work would be a HUGE slap in the face....

David

kenni · Feb 23, 2005

check out any hospital website in houston and you will find pages of open positions for registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, certified nurse assistants, and patient care techs. I overheard some of the graduating seniors talking about difficulty finding placement. I think the shortage is there, as is the need, but the funds may not necessarily be.

LoriRN911 · Feb 23, 2005

Boston (and surrounding aresa) also have a nursing shortage. We have alot of travlers because we can't hire nurses. The pay is good and hospitals are good as well.

PFDGB · Feb 23, 2005

Where can one find hard statistics to back a nursing shortage up? Where are the people saying there is a nursing shortage getting their numbers from?

:angryfire I've just e-mailed Hiliary Clinton for this very same info as well as what she and the senate are doing about the garbage that's being shoved down our throats (hiring nurses from abroad and mandating) I believe that there is a bill currently being postured about mandating. I'll get back with the full info... :angryfire

PFDGB · Feb 23, 2005

check out any hospital website in houston and you will find pages of open positions for registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, certified nurse assistants, and patient care techs. I overheard some of the graduating seniors talking about difficulty finding placement. I think the shortage is there, as is the need, but the funds may not necessarily be.

:angryfire What is the pay they're offering...... Again, this is not about a shortage. It is about the refusal to pay for skilled nurses. Please do some research so that you understand the problem. Write your senators and congress to see what they have to say about this...and require them to provide you with the data & stats to back up the garbage they're shoving down your throat; and your are so willing to swallow. Be involved in your state nursing association so thast you are kept informed of what is truth and reality and what is not. One of the major problems is a shortage of nurse educators. There are more than enough americans seeking admission to nursing schools but can't get in because there are not enough program lines available. It is not because nurses don't want to teach. Nurses crave teaching. The problem is that they are not paid a fair wage compared to other professional educators. Get It ! :angryfire

dazzle256 · Feb 23, 2005

Well you guys are slowly and surely talking me out of moving back to Wisconsin/Minnesota after my dh retires. Here in WA there is NO shortage of work for me. And I like the scenery MUCH better, as well as our weather. The only rub, is all my dh family are BACK THERE and we would like to go HOME. But not if there is not enough work. No thanks. I don't want to struggle that much. Guess they will just have to fly out and see us.

I moved from WA to WI..........Stay in WA

sparkyRN · Feb 23, 2005

Nashville and Memphis both have lots of opportunities in most specialties.

I'm wondering if unionized hospitals are the ones not hiring compared to the non-union ones that appear to have positions to fill at all levels. No union hospitals that I'm aware of in TN....though I have been known to be wrong! :rolleyes:

mattsmom81 · Feb 23, 2005

Where can one find hard statistics to back a nursing shortage up? Where are the people saying there is a nursing shortage getting their numbers from?

I imagine they are looking at facility FTE's unfilled. But the facilities LIKE staffing us short...I guess this is missed by lots of nurses. Once we've had the experience of replying to flyers, postcards, recruitment letters..noting a gazillion advertisements in the paper, then reply only to be stalled, told they're not hiring, et..one begins to get the picture. They may consider hiring that 'perfect nurse specimen' but many are not desperate to hire nurses, believe me.

Its much more fun to blame a shortage for the short staffing, and count their money.

Oh and I'm sure there are SOME areas where they really DO need nurses and WILL hire them, but like I said before...there's more to this than meets the eye.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 23, 2005

I moved from WA to WI..........Stay in WA

OH BELIEVE ME I prefer to. Its my dh that wants to move back. I like it here MUCH MUCH better, for so many reasons. The weather and scenery are just the beginning...