The nursing shortage is nonexistent

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Dec 16, 2010

Great example of drawing a conclusion from too small amount of data. The "nursing shortage" waxes and wanes over time, and some geographical areas never seem to have enough nurses. Look for a job in a specific place and time and you might be disappointed. Look to a differant area for work until the job situation is better where you want to be and you might have better luck. I get contacts from recruiters several times per week to fill jobs near and far (mostly far). I hope your luck changes, don't give up too easy, and in any case continue your education. :up:

roxxy3773, RN, APRN · Dec 16, 2010

Honestly, it depends how much you want to be a nurse. There is probably much more competition than what you initially thought, but if truly want to be a nurse and have the dedication, then I would place money on your success.

CloudySky · Dec 16, 2010

From what I've seen the shortage has been over for quite some time. Many RN's from my graduating class are unable to find work.

It's probably best to pursue nursing only if it's your true passion because as far as my experience it's been hard work and very competitive each and every single step of the way.

Still in any industry the best and most dedicated workers will eventually find jobs.

OC_An Khe · Dec 16, 2010

There are two types of shortage. Both are based on the supply demand equation.One is based on current demand for nurses vs the current supply, which is the recent/current situation depending on your geographic location. The second, is a projected shortage due to increased demand as boomers nurses retire over the next 20 years and the increased demand for nursing care as the entire population ages.

stefanyjoy · Dec 16, 2010

There is a nursing "shortage" -- but hospitals and providers are learning to "do more with less!" as the motto goes -- for every post about somone not being able to find work, there are 3 posts about problems arising due to overworked nurses with too many patients. More nurses are needed, just no one willing to hire. Pretty depressing, but the same goes with most any other career right now. This is why people who become nurses should actually want to BE nurses, not just entering the field because finding a job will be easy. Hopefully that will be the case within a few years, but I wonder if those people are actually satisfied with their careers once they do have a job?

mentalhealthRN · Dec 16, 2010

gotta agree with the learning to do more with less concept--- prime example. When I worked a few years ago on a 30 bed inpatient psych floor I was told when I started that staffing was suppose to be min of 5 nurses on days, 4 on eves and 2 on nights. The entire time I worked there for almost 2 years we worked with 3 on days, 3 on eves and 2 on nights. A treat now and then of 4 nurses on days or eves would happen--maybe 3-4 shifts a month. When you are caring for 10 patients--including the charge having 10 patients and you have all ages 18 up through geri its hard-- you are informed that your patient has thrown furniture across the common room and you rush to get the tube feed you are giving on your geri patient in and get to that crisis. Meanwhile security is a 5 min wait. So its hard to have that many patients. Well one day my manager covers a shift on a holiday--census like 12-- and we get in the next day to hear him saying--geez I don't know why you all complain about staffing. What is the big deal. I had no problems. I think I will just keep the staffing where it is-- I mean really you are all getting the work right right? ----ummmmm A-hole...you had a census of 12 and it was one shift....do it everyday with a full census and lets talk.....and yeah we get the work done.....do we have a choice? How stupid is that logic. .......

Just because the nurses get the work done--like there is an option not to---the managers think that continuing with low staffing is just fine. They don't realizize how many corners get cut, how poor and rushed the care can be, the med errors that could happen and HOW STRESSED THE NURSES ARE.

So yeah all this does skew the whole "shortage" figures.

iwanna · Dec 16, 2010

On this topic, I called a former employer, last year. I was asking if they needed any per diem nurses. I was told that he was fully staffed. Although, he agreed to be a reference when I asked him. I figured that it had been over 5 years since I worked there. I left on good terms. I left there due to health problems, and was on disability. I thought that this may have had something to do with my rejection. However, I ran into former co-worker and she told me they need nurses. She siad that she referrred another nurse there and got the same response. But, they continue to call her and ask her to come back to work.(she is on workmen comp.now) So, I guess they are just working more with less, and don't want to be bothered training new people.

Trinitas2010RN · Dec 16, 2010

There is a nursing "shortage" -- but hospitals and providers are learning to "do more with less!" as the motto goes -- for every post about somone not being able to find work, there are 3 posts about problems arising due to overworked nurses with too many patients. More nurses are needed, just no one willing to hire. Pretty depressing, but the same goes with most any other career right now. This is why people who become nurses should actually want to BE nurses, not just entering the field because finding a job will be easy. Hopefully that will be the case within a few years, but I wonder if those people are actually satisfied with their careers once they do have a job?

Here's a question though. What happens in 5, 10, 20 years from now when these hospitals have nurses leaving them but don't have newer trained nurses or have a much small pool of experienced nurses to pull from? I mean really, what happens guys??????????????????????

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 16, 2010

Here's a question though. What happens in 5, 10, 20 years from now when these hospitals have nurses leaving them but don't have newer trained nurses or have a much small pool of experienced nurses to pull from? I mean really, what happens guys??????????????????????

Then it will be a repeat of 5-10 years ago where hospitals again have fully funded new grad programs, and will have $2000 sign-on bonuses for new grads, and every new grad will again have 3-4 job offers to choose from. And then people, seeing this huge demand for new nurses, will flock to nursing school, and capitalistic groups will see the huge demand for nursing school and start churning out nursing degree programs and then the number of new grads will increase by 500% and there will no longer be a nursing shortage, and the vicious cycle will start all over again...

Trinitas2010RN · Dec 16, 2010

Then it will be a repeat of 5-10 years ago where hospitals again have fully funded new grad programs, and will have $2000 sign-on bonuses for new grads, and every new grad will again have 3-4 job offers to choose from. And then people, seeing this huge demand for new nurses, will flock to nursing school, and capitalistic groups will see the huge demand for nursing school and start churning out nursing degree programs and then the number of new grads will increase by 500% and there will no longer be a nursing shortage, and the vicious cycle will start all over again...

But in the time in between to having the gap and to filling any voids, will the healthcare system be effected negatively in a significant way?

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 16, 2010

But in the time in between to having the gap and to filling any voids, will the healthcare system be effected negatively in a significant way?

Probably. ... But it will also be effected in some positive ways. That's just the way life is. The environment changes ... healthy people and organizations adapt successfully to the new realities while others fall by the wayside. The environment continues to change ... healthy people and organizations continue to adapt. etc. etc. etc.