Overwhelming volume of applicants to Nursing School

[Jules NY]

I am currently researching nursing schools to attend. I live on the East end of Long Island. The most convenient choices are the state universities which are also the most affordable. I was just told by Stony Brook and Farmingdale that they will receive between 1500-2500 applicants for 40-70 spots. I was told by one admissions director that this is a 400% increase from last year.

Question: with the huge influx of nursing students and an economic downturn resulting in cut shifts (as I understand from reading these blogs and in the news), can a new nurse student expect the job market to continue to grow dramatically in the next ten years as everyone has been buzzing about in previous years?? Can working nurses comment on the existing job market, availability of shifts/overtime and also pay raises? Are there out of work nurses out there or new nurses unable to find employment?

[elkpark]

Just glance casually around this site, and you will see a kazillion threads about all the new grads who can't find jobs. Even experienced RNs are getting laid off in some places. Although nursing has not fared as badly as many other occupations in this recession, nursing has been affected.

I'm not expecting the nursing job market to "grow dramatically" until the overall economy turns around -- and employment is what's known as a "lagging indicator," which means that employment won't pick up until well after the rest of the economy is recovering. Could be years. This is not a good time to be going into nursing.

Even before the economy tanked, the much-ballyhooed nursing "shortage" was mostly hype. There are still some areas of the country that have real needs, but much of the country, including most major urban areas and the more desirable places to live, is completely saturated with nurses.

[Jules NY]

UUGGGHH. I had suspected that the nationwide deficiency might be exaggerated. THank you for your repsonse. Do you think this applies to upper level nursing/APN/CRNA as well?

[DoGoodThenGo]

When they say there is a shortage of nurses, what they mean is there is a shortage at bedside, or rather those willing to work on the floors. As the previous poster stated, there are many, many RNs fully licensed and able to practice, however they just do not wish to work bedside or need to work at all.

With the huge job losses going on, especially in NYS and NYC persons hear "nursing shortage" and "recession proof" employment and make a bee line for nursing programs. Problem is there is no way of telling what sort of jobs will be out there in the two to four years (or longer), it takes to finish a program and pass the boards. So yes, one can in theory graduate and have to spend time like many recent grads today, cooling one's jets and or making endless rounds of interviews and phone calls looking for work.

If you truly wish to become a nurse, then by all means do not let the current employment and or school enrollment situation stop you. There will always be jobs out there for nurses, however you may find yourself working perhaps in a different town or state, and or doing something other than what you and in mind when first entering school.

[AccelCNL, MSN, RN]

There is a nationwide shortage however some areas might be saturated. The recession is also putting a damper on nursing positions due to the fact that many people are cannot afford to go to hospitals anymore, and some hospitals lost money in the market as well. I live in the Westchester area and even though I see the economy I will still be applying to a BSN program for Spring 2010.

When people hear about the nursing shortage they automatically think off ADN's or BSN prepared nurses alone who work in hospitals. The shortage includes MSN-prepared nurses as well...and it also means shortage in particular fields and a lack of nurses to teach in nursing school.

I remember a time (in 2007) when I knew an acquatintence who went through nursing school with a 2.7-2.8 GPA ( she was lazy.....) and when she graduated she had several job offers. Now....I know she would not get a job prehaps. Right now there is competition just to get you foot in the door in this area. However,there are still states where they don't have enough nurses. Besides, if Obama's health plan passes ....I think hospitals will be begging nurses to come due the extra patients.

Still apply to nursing school. The fact is that people still particiapate in the cycle of life, the recession will soon end (it will....it is the cycle of economics), and older nurses will still retire soon.

Just do well on your prereqs and make sure you are among the people who make it in. That is my plan.

If I were you I would apply to private BSN programs (if you can afford it). I am going to. I would love to go to a CUNY or SUNY but I would probably be waiting forever. According to the Admissions dept. at the school as long as a get a B or above in my GenChemII course, I should be getting an acceptance letter in January.

Good luck.