SHORTAGE OF NURSES

Published

I HAVE 1 QUESTION : IS THERE REALLY A SHORTAGE OF NURSING EVERYWHERE????:geek:

It seems that regardless of how many might retire, how many might "check out" while still employed, there will be thousands more licensed nurses than there are job openings.

California has approximately a 50% unemployment rate for new grads EVERY YEAR. Meaning that each year that goes by without a job for a new grad, there is another graduating class seeking employment. And now there are several hundred MORE graduates unemployed....and so on.

Metropolitan regions around the country have the toughest competition for employment, simply because they also have the highest population of nursing schools churning out new graduates twice a year!

Many employers have cut back on hiring unless it's absolutely necessary, as reimbursement rates from insurance companies and Medicaid/care aren't sufficient. And let's face it: whenever budgets have to be cut, heaven forbid we get rid of the complementary (and usually unnecessary) ammenities that make Hospital 'A' the place to go...no, better get rid of some useless expenses....like nursing staff! :D

OP, I see from your posting history that you are asking this same question on multiple threads.....I suspect by now you know your answer: if where you are has no jobs, be prepared to move where there are some.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...there never was a nursing shortage to begin with. There were thousands of licensed nurses. What was short was enough of them willing to work in crappy situations for crappy pay. Then the economy tanked and nurses came out of the woodwork more than willing to take the crappy jobs and crappy pay just to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. The economy has stabilized some but many people had to dip into their retirement just to make ends meet and now need to make up for it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I've said it before and I'll say it again...there never was a nursing shortage to begin with. There were thousands of licensed nurses. What was short was enough of them willing to work in crappy situations for crappy pay. Then the economy tanked and nurses came out of the woodwork more than willing to take the crappy jobs and crappy pay just to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. The economy has stabilized some but many people had to dip into their retirement just to make ends meet and now need to make up for it.

Well, you can't really say "never" -- there have, historically, been times when there legitimately was a US nursing shortage. But those times were long ago. I've been saying the same thing as you; the recent "shortage" was never a shortage of nurses, it was a shortage of nurses willing to put up with crappy pay and working conditions. Once the economy tanked, many of the nurses who had been cooling their jets on the sidelines flooded back into the job market, and there's no indication they are going anywhere any time soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
If there is no nurse shortage, then why is the saying out there??

Just curious. Where are you getting your information that there is a shortage?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Just curious. Where are you getting your information that there is a shortage?

I recently had a pre-nursing student tell me that all the books, magazines, say there is one...so I guess it MUST be true! Never mind that the books are going off of Dept of Labor statistics that are an eon out of date, and the magazines tend to go with the popular idea that if the nurses are "understaffed" in the hospitals it must mean that there are jobs just there for the taking :D NOT, of course, that the hospitals aren't HIRING.

Nope, just ask anyone: there's a shortage!! ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

There is a shortage in Bakersfield, that is where I live.Its in California

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
Well, you can't really say "never" -- there have, historically, been times when there legitimately was a US nursing shortage. But those times were long ago. I've been saying the same thing as you; the recent "shortage" was never a shortage of nurses, it was a shortage of nurses willing to put up with crappy pay and working conditions. Once the economy tanked, many of the nurses who had been cooling their jets on the sidelines flooded back into the job market, and there's no indication they are going anywhere any time soon.

Touche, but I was really speaking to the current decade and the perceived "shortage" that really didn't exist. :yes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Just curious. Where are you getting your information that there is a shortage?

I know there is not a shortage. But I have seen the shortage rumor in my nursing book, on Facebook, on the news, on the flyers that my old high school posted... Pretty much everywhere. Also folks in non healthcare careers believe there is a shortage as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

The ANA still claims there is a nursing shortage.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU.
I know there is not a shortage. But I have seen the shortage rumor in my nursing book, on Facebook, on the news, on the flyers that my old high school posted... Pretty much everywhere. Also folks in non healthcare careers believe there is a shortage as well.

I think that all is more people not researching what they're talking about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@ BenchyRN2Be What better reschreach can you get, if you go straight to the nurses that are actually in the nursing field???:bored:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
The ANA still claims there is a nursing shortage.

HooBoy! This ANA fact sheet is sure spouting the projected nurse job growth through 2030.

I wonder if they are revising the anticipated number of RN retirements? Lots of nurses that wanted to retire are not able to due to the economy, loss of retirement savings, spouse loss of job etc.

Just skimming these articles I am seeing a lot of "projection" such as nurses will be nearing retirement age, sicker patients mean more stressful job environments which could lead to more nurses leaving, boomers will be getting older, shortage will be latter part of the next decade. What I would call "soft research".

Certainly anecdotal evidence from this website indicates new/stale grads have had a hard time for the last 2-3 years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion