I've been a nurse (LPN) for several years, and a fairly new RN now in California. While in school, both ASN and now my BSN I kept hearing about the huge nursing shortage we're facing, and how much worse it's going to get, and I still hear it. Then I read posts from experienced nurses on here who state that there's no nursing shortage in most US cities.
So which one is true? I read about how the Baby Boomers will need many more nurses, and I also read how there aren't enough Gen X and Millennials to take over the Baby Boomer Nurses' jobs once they retire. I also read statistics by the ACA 2010 that state that we're facing a major nursing shortage and how many more nurses are needed, and in fact many agencies and companies have been bringing in foreign nurses to fill these so-called vacancies in nursing.
So what's the real truth? In my state of California I see lots of nursing jobs posted all the time, and I wonder if it's because of nurses retiring, quitting, new positions being created, or if it's truly a shortage of nurses at all times. What do you think? Is there a shortage? Do you see a shortage in your city / state?
Thank you BeenThere. I appreciate the advice, and you're right. What you said does make a lot of sense, and I'll definitely think about it some more as being more experienced in various areas will definitely help me in my future goals.
For now, I just completed my BSN, and I think I'll find more doors opening for me vs. when I was an ASN. Although I know it's not essential to have a BSN and many nurses have ADNs and do fine with those degrees until they retire, where I live in CA, the standard seems to be a BSN, and while some LTC nurses don't have BSNs, many at hospitals in the area do. Either way, I'll have to start thinking about what I want to do next, and work towards achieving that.
Thanks again!
I think having the BSN is a good thing. I know many debate the "need" for a BSN for bedside nursing, but in general, having a Bachelors degree in anything is a good stepping stone to other careers in the future as well; if you decide to change professions, or for advanced practice nursing in particular specialties. Education is a good thing period as long as you don't go into huge debt.
The problem might not be that you don't have the magical 2 years of experience it might be that you don't have one year of experience and you are looking to leave your first job, the one that invested time and money in training you, in less than one year. That doesn't read well to another ICU that knows it will need to invest time and money into you because you aren't a well-experienced nurse and they don't know if you'll want to leave them too before the investment pays off.
I really wish this was the case, its really that its just a small market for those positions and they fill either internally or through direct recruitment (nursing students -> RN -> hired). Sure my less than one year there doesn't look stellar, but it sure beats what a vast majority of nurses are doing these days. I can't tell you how many I've talked to that stay in positions less than 6 months before finding a new position (echoing what others have said about retention issues). If my situation was better I'd have no problem staying, but I've literally been told that "there's nothing I can do about it". Kind of a good reason to re-locate.
Well, I moved back to CA in December. It took me 2.5 months to find a job. It was super low paying LVN job, but it was the only one who responded. I had to walk in the door to apply. This is the Inland Empire area where there are tons of people and lots of LVN schools. Now that I have been here 7 months, other opportunities are starting to present themselves but it was very hard at first. I see more opportunities and sign on bonuses up north.
BeenThere2012, ASN, RN
863 Posts
I think having the BSN is a good thing. I know many debate the "need" for a BSN for bedside nursing, but in general, having a Bachelors degree in anything is a good stepping stone to other careers in the future as well; if you decide to change professions, or for advanced practice nursing in particular specialties. Education is a good thing period as long as you don't go into huge debt.