So is there really a nursing shortage?

[VegGal]

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?

[Nrs_333]

In Bay Area California, there is no shortage of RNs. Recently for one job posting - the recruiting manager said, she got hundreds of application. And that job post was already meant for an internal transfer nurse. So there is no shortage in simple terms in Bay area.

Many of my friends had to go to Texas or LA to find their first RN jobs then come back to Bay Area after a year or two experience. There is definitely a job shortage for new grad RNs and RNs with less than a yr of experience.

I cannot speak for other state or city.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Joanna, I wonder if that too is state-specific because I'm in a large city in California and we still have a major shortage. I see quite a number of jobs for new-grads every day, both in Acute and other areas, and I see even more for experienced nurses.

It's possible, yes. Although I'll tell you a secret about the postings you see- many of those postings will never be filled. That's another deliberate ploy, which gives people false hope, and contributes to "the nursing shortage".

There's that part, or you have 150 applicants for one position. This is very common, unless, as I mentioned, you're in a smaller center.

[MikeyT-c-IV]

There is no nursing shortage, just a shortage of nurses willing to put up with the realities of being a floor nurse. The "Nursing Shortage" is one of the buzz phrases they use to sell seats in nursing programs.

Exactly what I was thinking. We have quite a few med/surg jobs open at my hospital. Either new grads aren't qualified or experienced nurses don't want the job. Not sure what the hold-up is.... except I think a lot of new grads don't want the med/surg experience anymore and want to jump in to ER, ICU, etc.

[MikeyT-c-IV]

Just because a job is posted does NOT mean it exists. This has been going on since the last recession. I do not understand the benefit to the hospitals of doing this but there must be a financial incentive to them. I was a traveler RN for years and I heard the same thing over and over.

True! I don't know about financial incentive. There has been a part time job posted at one of our local hospitals that I would be very interested in taking. It's been posted for several years now. Please explain that one to me? So I actually know the hiring manager for this position and she tells me the "higher-ups" won't let her fill the vacancy. So why keep it posted and waste my time with the application process?

This also happened to my wife a few years ago. She submitted her information... and anymore completing the application process takes quite a while in front of a computer. Anyway, same scenario. The job was posted but they weren't actually going to fill it.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

So here's the deal with nursing.

Once you're in, you're in. If you have critical care experience, you can write your own ticket, because hospitals want transplantable nursing labor. In ten years every job will require an MSN, specialty certification, and five years of ICU experience....sigh

Your joking, right? Bedside nurses in 10 years will be required to be NPs???

[purplegal]

Where I live, it depends on where you're working. My city has a large, reputable hospital and clinic, a smaller hospital and then many skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes and home health agencies. Although there are job postings all the time at the biggest hospital, it does not really experience nursing shortages. When I had a brief orientation there, there was always adequate staff around for help. They have the option to be very selective as to who they hire and who they keep, because nearly every nurse in town wants to work there.

I am currently working at a skilled nursing facility and believe me--we are completely understaffed. We feel it almost every night we work, and there are tons of things that never get done because of it. Almost no one ever gets fired, because we're so desperate for anyone willing to work there. And, this is one of the nicer facilities in my area. But, as long as the hospital and clinic keep recruiting the majority of new nursing grads, we're never going to be adequately staffed. There really is no incentive for new grads to come to us.

As for the smaller hospital, I am not sure how they are on staffing shortage, but there are so few job postings for them, that I'm guessing they're probably doing alright. Also, I had applied for a job with them, and didn't hear about an interview until a month later. So, they must not be too desperate. I'm guessing that the home health agencies aren't doing too well either, since all of the ones I interviewed for hired me on the spot.

So, for my location, it really depends on the place of employment whether or not there is a "shortage." Our hospital is great, but it is the reason why other places struggle to get nurses. Not to mention, our nursing program basically focuses on hospital nursing, so that's what we're used to. There's barely any mention of these other facilities that need nurses, let alone clinicals there.

[BishopLPN, BSN]

I have placed the link to the study referenced by the article below. I encourage you to read it. Pay particular attention to the "Limitations" of this study. There is a nursing shortage but it's often in non traditional nursing roles. I work for an ICF/DD and we have been terribly short staffed for the past 4 years. I do realize my experience is purely anecdotal though. I do believe the need for nurses will start to increase exponentially. Politics aside our country is moving towards individuals having greater access to healthcare couple that with an aging population that is living longer. You will start to find a need in LTC and home health settings. Areas where nurses with advanced degrees tend to shy away.

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

[tenjuna, MSN]

I was a new grad 2 years ago and after 2 months of nationwide searching I had to move to North Dakota to get that coveted first job. The jobs are out there but usually the requirements are more than a new grad can handle. The job I took I was in over my head from the start, the nursing program I went to simply did not adequately prepare me. It took some soul searching to even decide to stay in nursing and even then I switched to nursing informatics and am

pursuing a DNP just to leverage the money I've already spent getting here.

The jobs are out there, but that doesn't mean that it'll be a good job for you. Do your research and stay in school as long as you can, you can thank me later.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

It depends where you live and what you're interests are, but many new grads want management or educator type roles after one to two years of experience, and they aren't qualified. Employers typically want at least 5 years for these positions, so they sit unfilled.

Then, as somebody mentioned, med surg always has postings. New grads and many experienced nurses don't want these jobs either.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

In ten years every job will require an MSN, specialty certification, and five years of ICU experience....sigh

Your joking, right? Bedside nurses in 10 years will be required to be NPs???

MSN does not equal NP. There are plenty of MSNs who are not, nor do not wish to be, NPs.

Sorry for the side comment, but I just felt it was important to clarify.

[Tommy5677]

Sometimes the cynic in me says that the nursing shortage is created. You can walk in any facility and find it so. They do it to save money. So many hospitals, administrators, etc., begrudge nurses their salaries and make you work short so they don't have to pay that one or two extra needed.

When I got my ASN oh so many years ago, I was able to do all my nursing and college credits together to graduate in 2 years. Now you have to Ace all your pre-reqs just to get in. It's absurd really. I've retired now, largely by force, because I am no longer marketable. I'm ok with that because at this age I'm not going to work the bedside in some disgusting nursing home. Apparently, that's all I'm good for now and experience counts for nothing. Yes, I'm just a little bitter about that but it's all good. I'm living a happy, relatively stress free life which is something I could never say in the 35 years of being a nurse.

[janemulligan]

Nursing shortage is expected in the upcoming years, as the baby boomers are aging and the need for health care grows. Moreover, nursing schools are struggling to fill the gap. The effect of this shortage shows mostly on the areas that are not considered the most attractive to work, live and lead a life in. Such areas suffer the most. And, there is a shortage of nurses, who specialize or are experienced in certain fields like critical care.

Due to the aging population, the demand of nurses is increasing rapidly and it will increase the career opportunities for nurses in different parts of the world.