RN shortage

Nurses General Nursing

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Really, do you think there is a shortage of RNs where you live. Have all of the RNs recently graduated found jobs? Is it a ploy to bring in more immigrant nurses???

I graduated end of 2016. All of my classmates found jobs within 1 to 2 months of passing the NCLEX. Most got in a hospital (ER, med surg, oncology, peds oncology, OB).

I don't know if I would call it a shortage. But I would say that we didn't have any difficulty finding work. Several of us got hired on the spot. I have heard from a few nurses who have graduated around 2014 to 2015 that it took them and their classmates at least a year before finding a job.

I think it has more to do with what time of year you pass the nclex and when most hospitals start their new grad programs. Also, when nurses leave a facility after their 1 year mark to find other opportunities that leaves an opening for other new grads.

Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

I think that there is a shortage of retention and new grads really knowing what they're getting themselves into...too many Indians wanting to be chiefs...

Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I guess it depends on where and in what specialty. I graduated in 2014 and we all found jobs fairly quickly. Most of my classmates work in a hospital. I have never had a problem with employment, but I probably work in areas that are not as desirable, though they suit me well. Where I live, Med surg floors seems to be always looking for nurses, if that's a person's thing (not me!). Again, depends on location.

There is a massive shortage where I live. Everybody I graduated with had jobs prior to graduation. My unit has finally gotten semi staffed although OT shifts still go out all the time, we are not fully staffed. Many of my coworkers are also picking up OT on other units. We are constantly on diversion due to staffing as are other facilities in the city. It's crazy.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Nationwide in the U.S., there has not been a true RN shortage in years. There are enough actively licensed RNs in the country to fill all vacant job openings overnight.

Rather, many geographical areas have a shortage of RNs who would willingly work in undesirable conditions for noncompetitive pay.

Also, many other regions are contending with a surplus of RNs: places such as NYC and certain parts of California have too many new grad RNs as well as overages of nurses with the wrong mix of experience.

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

there is a massive shortage where I am. I was one of those that said that the shortage was just them not hiring. Now I know there really is in some parts. We have been red-lined for over a week now (on divert NO beds available). Sunday there were 18 from outside hosp trying to get pts in, 7 transplants trying to get OR time, over 100 people waiting in the ED for a bed. 905 bedded patients. Our unit had some beds, but there were NO nurses to come an work. Mind boggling to me. Every unit working short. They are hiring, we have more new hires orienting right now and 5 more coming, but it is not happening fast enough. And the hospital is building another 250 bed tower. smh

Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

There's never been one in my area to my knowledge.

I graduated in 2006 and everyone found a job but it wasn't like we had our pick of what we wanted. I would say the supply and demand were about equal.

However - things got very ugly for new grads about five years later. People went over a year without a prospect. I'm not completely sure what the environment is like now for new grads but it seems like the jobs are still harder to find.

I've always heard the theory that nursing schools invented the nursing shortage - the immigrant idea is a new one to me.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

There is definitely a nursing shortage where I live. The new grad RNs get snatched up by the hospital as soon as they pass their NCLEX.

Specializes in ED, psych.
I graduated end of 2016. All of my classmates found jobs within 1 to 2 months of passing the NCLEX. Most got in a hospital (ER, med surg, oncology, peds oncology, OB).

I don't know if I would call it a shortage. But I would say that we didn't have any difficulty finding work. Several of us got hired on the spot. I have heard from a few nurses who have graduated around 2014 to 2015 that it took them and their classmates at least a year before finding a job.

I think it has more to do with what time of year you pass the nclex and when most hospitals start their new grad programs. Also, when nurses leave a facility after their 1 year mark to find other opportunities that leaves an opening for other new grads.

^^^ This.

Graduated in December of 2016, found a hospital job very easily. New grad residency, inpatient psych floor. Most of my classmates found jobs, all in hospitals.

I have a feeling that finding a job in May may be a little harder in my area, but still doable.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

The nursing shortage is a myth. There are plenty of active and voluntarily lapsed licenses to fill every opening out there. As mentioned above, the "shortage" is from individuals unable or unwilling to work under the conditions our modern healthcare system demands. The majority of those leaving the field are new nurses licensed for one year or less. Until conditions, education and training improve there will continue to be a "shortage".

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