SHORTAGE OF NURSES

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

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

Really, do they hire new grads? Some hospitals require the 1 year experience that i don't have. I'm willing to relocate.

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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.

Plus the number of new grads has more than doubled in recent years, according to the Dept of H&H Services.

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Bakersfield nurse jobs.

I've lived in that town. Very hot, very dry and dusty.

Registered Nurse Jobs, Employment in Bakersfield, CA | Indeed.com

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Specializes in Studying.

And to the OP, no there is not a nursing shortage. The Dept of Health and Human Services just released a study showing that we are in a situation of too many nurses.

http://bhw.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/supplydemand/nursing/workforceprojections/nursingprojections.pdf

https://www.google.com/search?q=nurse+retention&oq=nurse+retention&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3455j0j4&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8

Didn't realize that there was not a shortage of Nurses (I'm going to Nursing School this summer)... But reading the posts, I'm glad that I'm going to Colorado (a state that seems to be one of the three best states for employment outlooks), and looking to get into the ER or ICU. So, all-in-all not bad news on the employment front :D

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
Didn't realize that there was not a shortage of Nurses (I'm going to Nursing School this summer)... But reading the posts, I'm glad that I'm going to Colorado (a state that seems to be one of the three best states for employment outlooks), and looking to get into the ER or ICU. So, all-in-all not bad news on the employment front :D

If you're going on projections proceed cautiously. You'd be best served to talk to nurses who actually work in Colorado to get a more accurate picture of job prospects there. There ARE jobs for experienced nurses. It's the new grads that are having the worst time finding employment. Not only that, your dream of ICU or ED nursing is one of the most popular (read less available) options out there.

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Specializes in Studying.

I regret that I may sound naive, but the BSN program I'm currently scheduled to attend has indicated that they have a 95% (or somewhere in the 90% range) job placement rate within 3 months of graduation. I checked and the statistics they compiled was for Nursing jobs not just mere employment. I was skeptical still and then found that the accrediting bodies hadn't found any cause to disagree with that statement (Denver School of Nursing).

At any rate, the main reason I'm relocating is because I live in SF Bay, and I'm almost entirely sure there isn't a more inhospitable location for Nursing grads in America than this place... Not only that, but a decent sized VA Hospital is scheduled to open in Denver when I graduate, and as a disabled vet I think I should have a decent shot at getting work there.

I'm not posting this to brag or anything stupid like that... Just posting my plans here b/c I have a dearth of knowledge when it comes to getting employment after graduation, and if anyone can poke holes in my plans I would welcome it. I'd much rather change my plans now than 2 years from now with my GI Bill run out!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I regret that I may sound naive, but the BSN program I'm currently scheduled to attend has indicated that they have a 95% (or somewhere in the 90% range) job placement rate within 3 months of graduation. I checked and the statistics they compiled was for Nursing jobs not just mere employment. I was skeptical still and then found that the accrediting bodies hadn't found any cause to disagree with that statement (Denver School of Nursing).

At any rate, the main reason I'm relocating is because I live in SF Bay, and I'm almost entirely sure there isn't a more inhospitable location for Nursing grads in America than this place... Not only that, but a decent sized VA Hospital is scheduled to open in Denver when I graduate, and as a disabled vet I think I should have a decent shot at getting work there.

I'm not posting this to brag or anything stupid like that... Just posting my plans here b/c I have a dearth of knowledge when it comes to getting employment after graduation, and if anyone can poke holes in my plans I would welcome it. I'd much rather change my plans now than 2 years from now with my GI Bill run out!

Of course the school is going to say they can get new grads jobs. That's how they are going to get people through the doors. It is always easier for experienced nurses to get jobs so I would ask around how easy/difficult it is for new grads to get a job in CO.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
There's only one issue with this conjecture: approximately one-third of all Baby Boomers have zero retirement funds saved. Hence, these people will be working until the day they die or the moment they are forced to stop working due to health problems.

78 million Baby Boomers are in the US. The 26 million (a.k.a. one-third) of Boomers who cannot retire due to lack of money are a force to be reckoned with.

Not to mention the fact that the majority of Republican leadership is advocating for raising the SS age to 70 so many of us will have no choice but to remain in the job market.

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I know that my school stopped taking as many students. Partly I think they wanted to focus on getting the BSN bridge program going, but it can be tough for ADNs to get work here, especially hospital work. The professors are very real with us about what to expect. I'm lucky enough that I would prefer some of the "crappy" non hospital work because I want to keep going to school. It really just depends on what you want to do. If you want to do skilled nursing, sub acute, LTC, there are jobs here. If you want to go out to the rural hospitals, there are jobs there. Short of 1-2 years of experience, a BSN, and knowing someone, it's harder to get work in the metro area though. I've seen positive signs though. More clinics and hospitals planning expansions. Maybe by the time I graduate it will be better.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Is the pay crappy, too? Have they tried offering cool stuff like tuition reimbursement, flex-time and sign-on bonuses like they used to do when there really was a shortage?

What I wonder is....if/when the hospital will wake up, eyes wide open, and see what they can do to improve the hospital itself and the way it is run.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I regret that I may sound naive, but the BSN program I'm currently scheduled to attend has indicated that they have a 95% (or somewhere in the 90% range) job placement rate within 3 months of graduation. I checked and the statistics they compiled was for Nursing jobs not just mere employment. I was skeptical still and then found that the accrediting bodies hadn't found any cause to disagree with that statement (Denver School of Nursing).

At any rate, the main reason I'm relocating is because I live in SF Bay, and I'm almost entirely sure there isn't a more inhospitable location for Nursing grads in America than this place... Not only that, but a decent sized VA Hospital is scheduled to open in Denver when I graduate, and as a disabled vet I think I should have a decent shot at getting work there.

I'm not posting this to brag or anything stupid like that... Just posting my plans here b/c I have a dearth of knowledge when it comes to getting employment after graduation, and if anyone can poke holes in my plans I would welcome it. I'd much rather change my plans now than 2 years from now with my GI Bill run out!

You do realize that VA hospitals even with veterans status can take 12-24 months in the application process alone and often don't consider new grads, right? Where are the nurses working? I guarantee they do not have a 90% placement of new grads in a hospital setting, never mind your desired highly coveted ED or ICU. There are only a select few new grad slots for critical care because of the necessary extensive orientation, training & preceptorship required over often a 6 month period costing the facility $$$$$$.

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You do realize that VA hospitals even with veterans status can take 12-24 months in the application process alone and often don't consider new grads, right? Where are the nurses working? I guarantee they do not have a 90% placement of new grads in a hospital setting, never mind your desired highly coveted ED or ICU. There are only a select few new grad slots for critical care because of the necessary extensive orientation, training & preceptorship required over often a 6 month period costing the facility $$$$$$.

I've been a VA employee- twice. Employment process takes 4-6 months.

Vets are first choice in all VA jobs.

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