Nursing supply vs. Demand in america

[byrone]

We are in a situation where there are too many Nurses available to work with not enough jobs out there!

How can we reduce supply and increase demand?

I believe that federal funding that became available during Nursing shortage in USA is contributing to a glut of Nursing programs out there.

I feel it is irresponsible and unethical to sign students up for an intense 4 year nursing program when realistically job market is very dismal!

All they are doing is flooding the job market with unhirable highly skilled Nurses who are gonna wind up working in SNF's or Correctional Nursing or Psych Nursing (places allot of us do not wanna be in) or other positions they do not want to get stuck in. Also the aforementioned Nursing positions do not meet the requirements of most Hospitals for hiring which is 1 year experience in your specialty within the past 3 years! That stipulation means In-Patient not home care, not psych, not Correctional nursing nor SNF.

And for those of us with an ADN The long talked of minimum requirement of BSN is finally here with most Nursing job posts stating either BSN preferred or BSN only. To further the worsening job outlook for the ADN prepared RN "Magnet certified Hospitals" cannot have in their employ more than 20% ADN Nurses!!!

I would like to see Nursing Associations in America get together and set a realistic balance between the number of Nurses needed to fill jobs and the number of students graduating. Set some type of cap on how many nurses are being graduated to have some sort of realistic balance.

If nothing is done about this over production of RN's we are doomed to have a situation similar to that in Philippines where Nurses have to pay to volunteer in hospitals just to get experience!

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Just want to shed some "historical" light on decisions & strategies that have led us to the sorry mess we're in...

There IS a joint body of the 'movers and shakers' in nursing. It's called the Tri-Council (not to be confused with the Triad - fabled Chinese Mafia) It is composed of AACN, ANA, AONE & NLN. Yep, I know that's four, not three... maybe they should call it the Quad-Council, right? Anywhooo... about 10 years ago, 'they' decided that the US was going to be in dire straits (AWK Severe Shortage!!!) unless the number of new grads increased dramatically.

*** I have been in nursing for around 18 years. I have worked as a staff nurse in four states and as a traveler in several others. At no time have I ever observed a shortage of nurses. I have of course seen times when many more jobs were available, but this was not due to any shortage of nurses, but rather a shortage of nurses willing to work for pay and conditions being offered when there were other, better options available in the economy for nurses.

So the real question: Is the Tri-Council made up of stupid people who are unable to see the obvious, or is it made up of people who despise nurses and wish to ruin the profession as we know it?

It has to be one of those two things.

[goddess9]

Eh. It's hard to get a job anywhere without experience.

I work a Psych background (non-nursing) and want to be a Psych nurse one day. I resent the attitude towards Psych nursing and those who actually like a Forensic environment or nursing homes. I think those are all wonderful experiences! Not every nurse wants to work in a hospital.

It's your attitude that will get you off the ground. I had no experience when I graduated, but I turned it on in interviews. I was assertive, knowledgeable, and most of all positive! You'll find something - just try to stay positive.

[Zrvirgo]

While I am only a first year nursing student, I live in an area with 6 hospitals and a limitless number of doctors offices near me. Looking through employment oppertunities at these hospitals, every single one of them is looking for 5-10 nurses. Thats a good chunk of potential jobs without me even looking too deep

[byrone]

@ Krisiepoo Discouraging? Negative attitude? Don't be so presumptive, not in the least! I am positive and motivated with an objective of getting back into an ER. or Tele unit or Med Surg. As a last resort considering enlarging my search area out of state but having a home and family limits that option.

I have been advised by recruiters that Psych nursing and Correctional Nursing will not be acceptable as experience as per their criteria to get me into a hospital! I have already worked in the past as a Psych Charge Nurse

[byrone]

@ [COLOR=#003366]Nurse2b9742 I have already interviewed with Psych and Correctional facilities and am on the list.

Which area are you referring to? Which state/city with "Tons of Nursing jobs?

[byrone]

@Just Beachy Nurse very insightful post thanks!

[Stephalump]

While I am only a first year nursing student I live in an area with 6 hospitals and a limitless number of doctors offices near me. Looking through employment oppertunities at these hospitals, every single one of them is looking for 5-10 nurses. Thats a good chunk of potential jobs without me even looking too deep[/quote'] Be aware of job posting practices. Hospitals "have" to post all position openings, even if they fully intend to hire from within. Even if they know exactly who they're hiring already

They're also notorious for keeping job postings on their sites, without any real need or intent to hire. I've seen the same job postings up for months.

[Stephalump]

So to boil it down you're trying to get back into the work force and can't because of this "glut" so you're blaming nursing schools for being too lax in allowing students to follow their dreams? I also find it discouraging that you have such a negative attitude towards nurses/nursing positions that maybe YOU don't find desirable but are what some people want to work. perhaps it's not the "glut" but your attitude that is keeping you from getting a job[/quote'] That's just the way the cookie crumbles. At the end of the day, letting the whole world pursue their dreams isn't ANYone's priority. Nursing schools are looking to make money by admitting more students. . The health care industry is looking to save money by driving down wages. And nurses want higher wages and job security

by keeping demand higher than supply. It's not personal. You don't want to search for a job for two years to make $15/hr, either. We all want a stable, productive career. Even if that means not everyone gets to be a nurse. Just like not everyone gets to be a doctor. Or a pharmacist. Or a physical therapist. It's business, not puppy dogs and lollipops.

[elkpark]

They're also notorious for keeping job postings on their sites, without any real need or intent to hire. I've seen the same job postings up for months.

THIS ^^ -- My last employer (before my current one) used to always have scads of nursing positions posted on the HR jobs listing website, even though they were doing v. little hiring. We all used to joke that if they really had that many openings, they wouldn't be able to operate the medical center (and, yet, everything was running just fine ...) I think that, esp. with the v. specialized positions, they may keep those positions posted just in case someone with the advanced specialization and credentials happens to show up, looking for a job.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

That's just the way the cookie crumbles. At the end of the day letting the whole world pursue their dreams isn't ANYone's priority. Nursing schools are looking to make money by admitting more students. . The health care industry is looking to save money by driving down wages. And nurses want higher wages and job security by keeping demand higher than supply. It's not personal. You don't want to search for a job for two years to make $15/hr, either. We all want a stable, productive career. Even if that means not everyone gets to be a nurse. Just like not everyone gets to be a doctor. Or a pharmacist. Or a physical therapist. It's business, not puppy dogs and lollipops.[/quote']

THIS...

We are in a business; now, it's never personal.