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???

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Some areas also have a shortage of well-prepared nurses. There are communities with an abundance of new graduates from "quickie" programs that are not prepared for the rigors of contemporary acute care. So the number of people with RN licenses is adequate, but the numbers of people capable of succeeding in acute care are too low.

It's complicated -- and every region is a little different.

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Well I guess it depends on the area, but in general there is no nursing shortage of registered nurses. Although the schools are graduating a large number new gads, a good percent of them are leaving the nursing field early in their career or leave bedside nursing for advanced practice.

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I can drop my current job today and have another one tomorrow. Not arrogance, just the reality of the market in my area. I really think it's like the Commuter said, it's a geographic thing. Also I agree with AJJKRN, in that so many new grads I meet now are only in it to move onto advanced practice nursing and leave the bedside all together.

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Specializes in ED, psych.
I can drop my current job today and have another one tomorrow. Not arrogance, just the reality of the market in my area. I really think it's like the Commuter said, it's a geographic thing. Also I agree with AJJKRN, in that so many new grads I meet now are only in it to move onto advanced practice nursing and leave the bedside all together.

Actually, that's a point well taken: the desire of new grads to move on to advanced practice nursing.

I am the minority of my graduating class, and the year before that, and the class before that, etc. I have absolutely no desire to move on to advanced practice nursing. I am happy with my schooling, am so far pleased with my lot in life, and there are so, so many things within the realm of nursing that I don't think I could ever get bored.

Those who graduated in my school of nursing in 2015? Almost half are in an APRN program. Those in 2014? Almost 75% (my alma mater loves sending out these stats). Those who JUST GRADUATED IN December? Many are already considering the application process.

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There is not a shortage where I live but some positions are always open, if that makes sense.

For new grads who only want PEDS or ED or L&D, there are more applicants than slots for those jobs. However, there are always openings in the ED for experienced nurses. There's always a need for experienced hospital nurses, but the floors aren't as desirable as ED or ICU - heavy patient floors like renal, ortho, post-stroke, internal med, etc. We are always short nights in my hospital and we never have float pool staff on paydays.

No shortage of people who want clinic jobs, no shortage of applicants for CRNA school, etc. I haven't worked LTACH but I imagine there are lots of open slots there too.

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Actually, that's a point well taken: the desire of new grads to move on to advanced practice nursing.

I am the minority of my graduating class, and the year before that, and the class before that, etc. I have absolutely no desire to move on to advanced practice nursing. I am happy with my schooling, am so far pleased with my lot in life, and there are so, so many things within the realm of nursing that I don't think I could ever get bored.

Those who graduated in my school of nursing in 2015? Almost half are in an APRN program. Those in 2014? Almost 75% (my alma mater loves sending out these stats). Those who JUST GRADUATED IN December? Many are already considering the application process.

I have zero desire (and zero business, in my opinion) in being an ANP or FNP at this point. I saw how they were slammed with patients when I worked urgent care. Currently I like bedside nursing and don't plan on leaving. This is where I think there will continue to be a nursing shortage, full-time inpatient bedside nursing.

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Those who graduated in my school of nursing in 2015? Almost half are in an APRN program. Those in 2014? Almost 75% (my alma mater loves sending out these stats). Those who JUST GRADUATED IN December? Many are already considering the application process.

Good Lord. Wow. Yeah, I mean, whatever makes you happy, go for it. I have zero desire to be an APRN. Nope, no thanks.
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Specializes in ED, psych.
Good Lord. Wow. Yeah, I mean, whatever makes you happy, go for it. I have zero desire to be an APRN. Nope, no thanks.

As I said, I'm in the minority. Noooooo thanks.

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Specializes in Trauma Administration/Level I Trauma.

The biggest shortage here is for surgery RN's, most hospitals are offering bonuses. I had one in the mail last week for $15,000 for surgical RN's...if only.

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I'd say there is a shortage of experienced nurses willing to work at the bedside. Any type of nursing is tough...but floor nursing is exhausting mentally, physically, and emotionally. I think there is a shortage of experienced nurses to teach new grads as well. I have seen new grads with 9-12 months experience orienting fresh new grads on a cardiac step down unit. Retention and burn out are also a problem. Once nurses gain 1-2 years of experience, they often leave their unit or facility to work someplace else. Some don't even stay that long. To me, the problem is unrealistic expectations for floor nurses, short staffing, customer service mentality, high nurse to patient ratios where increasing patient acuity is not taken into consideration.

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Those who graduated in my school of nursing in 2015? Almost half are in an APRN program. Those in 2014? Almost 75% (my alma mater loves sending out these stats). Those who JUST GRADUATED IN December? Many are already considering the application process.

Wow! I'm guessing most are in a FNP program.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I see the movement of many into APN but I have a feeling that is going to be SO saturated soon that they are the ones not going to be able to get jobs.

We are hiring from new grads to clinical leads to nurse managers. There are 3 level 1 trauma centers here and 3-4 level 2s. They just can't keep them staffed. We are not an area of "churn 'em out" schools either. We have brick and mortar ADN, BSN, ABSN prepared nurses and still recruit from outside the area. Freaky

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