Oversaturation? Why am I working short staffed?

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Specializes in ED.

I keep reading posts of nurses unable to find jobs. I"ve been an RN for 18 years and I don't think in all my 18 years, I have ever been on a unit that is adequately staffed. I don't believe the problem is oversaturation of nurses. I believe the problem lies in administrations that don't want to shell out the money to properly staff their facilities. For every new nurse out there that is complaining that he/she can't find a job, there are 3 working nurses complaining of understaffing and ridiculous work loads. The poor economy is also partially to blame. We accept poor working conditions because we are afraid to be out of work. We set the bar low and then complain in the coffee break room. (Ha! that was funny. Has anyone ever even seen their break room?) Does anyone out there feel the same? Does anyone buy the "oversaturation of nurses"? I don't believe it. I believe as a profession, we need to set the bar higher, make our voices heard and demand better and safer staffing. Lord knows, there are enough of us out there.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I have worked for some floors and no amount of hiring kept staffing where it should be, the culture or the pt population was just difficult. We were short staffed about 75 percent of the time, new hires came and went too fast. In that same hospital different unit, I have never worked short nor had more than my 2 pts. The unit is staffed well with techs/CNA's and secretary's. However, my last unit/hospital it was the norm to be short staffed. About 90 percent of my shifts we had no techs, secretaries, and tripled in the ICU. It was an HCA facility and from what I've heard, it is their norm in most states.. More profit for them ya know. Needless to say,I left the HCA facility and very happy. I would go back to waiting tables before working there again :(

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I think you answered part of your own question. I do believe there is oversaturation based on what other new grads are reporting. New programs are popping up overnight like mushrooms; the quality of some of them leaves much to be desired. Right now there's one in my area that's playing in heavy rotation for an online program for Capella University. (I bet when I post this Capella University will appear in my banner or margin.) I agree that the bar needs to be set higher. There are some people who honestly just should not be nurses, no matter how much they desire it.

Eventually, people my age will start retiring. What's scary is by then the nurses who were to have replaced us will most likely have moved on.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

My facility recently brought in a group of consultants to "improve processes and reduce waste". Basically, they told my unit that we need to cut eight positions, despite the fact that we don't have enough staff to cover all the ORs that run each day as it is (and lunches? ha!). And unlike the last "process improvement and waste reduction" there will be layoffs this time. It's not about the patients, it's about the money. That's why the powers that be aren't hiring adequate staff. Hospitals have become too business-minded instead of doing what's in the patients' best interest.

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Specializes in Case Management, ICU, Telemetry.

Definitely oversaturated. I graduated in 2013, it took 300 applications to get a job... I love in Phoenix arizona. I also had ACLS, PALS, BCLS, ANA membership, CCNA membership, Sigma Theta Tau membership... 6 months in case management. I couldn't even get AN INTERVIEW. Then I got three interviews in a week and got offered all three jobs. It is incredibly over saturated. The other thing that is happening is hospitals are understaffing nurses are quitting and then you end up with 4 nurses on a 15 patient critical care (telemetry) pod who have a combined 5 years of experience. Scary.

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I also think that it depends on what area you live in. If you are only applying in a city saturated with new nurses, you should either continue to apply or consider moving for at least a couple years to get some experience. If you are unwilling to compromise in that way, then you may be looking a while depending on where you live. Just my opinion, but also my experience. I graduated in a smaller city with 2 main hospitals and 3 schools churning out 50ish nurses per school every May and December. There was no way we were all going to get jobs in the same city. I never heard from one hospital's recruiter and I was turned down for a job at the other despite having worked there for 2 years as a tech in nursing school (I was turned down in favor of someone with 6 months of nursing experience).

However, I do see the other side of it as it seems that everywhere is short-staffed.

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Specializes in Acute Care - Adult, Med Surg, Neuro.
The other thing that is happening is hospitals are understaffing nurses are quitting and then you end up with 4 nurses on a 15 patient critical care (telemetry) pod who have a combined 5 years of experience.

Sounds about right. Welcome to the jungle. Hospitals are becoming a dangerous place.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

well, didn't Hillary Clinton say when Bill had surgery that all the nurses do is give meds and are overpaid? She was also the same one who pushed Obama into a healthcare plan which cuts reimbursements so low that the "overpaid med-pushers" are eliminated by budget constraints. You get what you pay for. Of course, they will always be treated as VIP's so will never understand our plight.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Good observations in your post, Pudnluv.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... didn't Hillary Clinton say... that all the nurses do is give meds and are overpaid?...

If that's correct, then we need to start spreading the word big-time!

IMHO, she's definitely got the White House on her agenda.

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.
well didn't Hillary Clinton say when Bill had surgery that all the nurses do is give meds and are overpaid? She was also the same one who pushed Obama into a healthcare plan which cuts reimbursements so low that the "overpaid med-pushers" are eliminated by budget constraints. You get what you pay for. Of course, they will always be treated as VIP's so will never understand our plight.[/quote']

You've been watching too much right wing media, care to post some references?

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Illinois has many, many nursing colleges just pumping out nurses, IL alone could fill any, and all new nurse positions across the country (if there even were that many opportunities for new nurses).

http://nursing.illinois.gov/PDF/IlApNursingEdProgPassRates.PDF

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