There is really no nursing shortage!?!?

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I was searching through this site for advice, and noticed a few times that LPNs have a hard time finding work!!! Someone even said that the shortage really means a shortage of Rns, but we have plenlty of HHA's CNAs and LPNs...just not LPNs!:crying2:

So should I and others just give of the dream? Since all that schooling will have everyone but Rn's at Mc Donalds working for income??

.... I got a good chuckle out of the 1922 referenced article - that is to funny...

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I should become a RN later..........but what about the LPNs? :cry:

Honestly? I know a lot of LPNs who find their career prospects extremely limited. LPNs can work in long term care, clinics, and... that's about it. In clinics, CMAs are just as frequently used so there's plenty of competition for those jobs.

You're far better off with more education.

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Honestly? I know a lot of LPNs who find their career prospects extremely limited. LPNs can work in long term care, clinics, and... that's about it. In clinics, CMAs are just as frequently used so there's plenty of competition for those jobs.

You're far better off with more education.

More education...........meaning become a RN? Or something else?

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Specializes in A little of this & a little of that.

Please New2Block - don't get discouraged. I replied to one of your other posts also. There are jobs for LPN's. There are definitely more opportunities for advancement for RN's but LPN's are still needed. Some people cannot go directly to a college nursing program for many different reasons. It seems to me that you are in that position. LPN programs are a good option.

Nursing shortage is a relative thing. There are shortages of nurses in some areas of the country in all nursing areas. Some places it is more a need for nurses with specialized training like trauma nurses. There are shortages just about everywhere in home health. Long Term Care has and will continue to have a need for RN's and LPN's. The population is aging and people don't realize the strain that puts on the healthcare system. That strain won't end soon.

In a down economy, more nurses change from part to full time. Other times nurses not working as nurses come back to the field because of underemployment in their other field. For example, I know of a lot of nurses who are also realtors. They kept up their licenses and with the bad housing market are back to working as nurses.

The nursing workforce is still mainly female. When husbands become unemployed, wives pick up the slack.

I've always thought that a lot of the so-called nursing shortage is that nurses burn out due to work stress, understaffing, lack of flexible work schedules,etc and either work less or stop working as nurses. The major reason for shortages is how nurses are treated as workers. With financial pressure, people can't be as picky about working conditions.

Nursing students and those considering nursing should not fear. There will always be jobs for nurses (at all levels). You might have more competition and to put in more time job-hunting. You might settle for less than the ideal job. For so long there have been so many jobs and nurses that have been around a while aren't used to competing for jobs.

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More education...........meaning become a RN? Or something else?

In nursing, yes. In general, a degree with almost always offer more opportunities than a shorter program.

Yes, you can find work as an LPN, it just may be more limited.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I live in OKC and there is indeed many, many positions open for RN's at almost all of the metro area hospitals as well as in the communities immediately surrounding the city. I just graduated in August, moved to a different area, passed boards and secured a job all in a matter of a few short weeks. There are so many positions available and endless opportunity for both new and experienced RN's here; I feel very lucky to have so many choices to start with! I was hired in a med/surg position and start orientation this week, can't wait to dig in after being absent from allnurses during this past year of intense study in nursing school.

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these are scary times we are living in, people say that in healthcare you will always have a job, but if people have no healthcare then I guess they will not go to the dr.

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I live in OKC and there is indeed many, many positions open for RN's at almost all of the metro area hospitals as well as in the communities immediately surrounding the city. I just graduated in August, moved to a different area, passed boards and secured a job all in a matter of a few short weeks. There are so many positions available and endless opportunity for both new and experienced RN's here; I feel very lucky to have so many choices to start with! I was hired in a med/surg position and start orientation this week, can't wait to dig in after being absent from allnurses during this past year of intense study in nursing school.

wow......Rns are popular:stone

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Please New2Block - don't get discouraged. I replied to one of your other posts also. There are jobs for LPN's. There are definitely more opportunities for advancement for RN's but LPN's are still needed. Some people cannot go directly to a college nursing program for many different reasons. It seems to me that you are in that position. LPN programs are a good option.

Nursing shortage is a relative thing. There are shortages of nurses in some areas of the country in all nursing areas. Some places it is more a need for nurses with specialized training like trauma nurses. There are shortages just about everywhere in home health. Long Term Care has and will continue to have a need for RN's and LPN's. The population is aging and people don't realize the strain that puts on the healthcare system. That strain won't end soon.

In a down economy, more nurses change from part to full time. Other times nurses not working as nurses come back to the field because of underemployment in their other field. For example, I know of a lot of nurses who are also realtors. They kept up their licenses and with the bad housing market are back to working as nurses.

The nursing workforce is still mainly female. When husbands become unemployed, wives pick up the slack.

I've always thought that a lot of the so-called nursing shortage is that nurses burn out due to work stress, understaffing, lack of flexible work schedules,etc and either work less or stop working as nurses. The major reason for shortages is how nurses are treated as workers. With financial pressure, people can't be as picky about working conditions.

Nursing students and those considering nursing should not fear. There will always be jobs for nurses (at all levels). You might have more competition and to put in more time job-hunting. You might settle for less than the ideal job. For so long there have been so many jobs and nurses that have been around a while aren't used to competing for jobs.

Thanks a lot, I got confused and lost on the next move!

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I get job listings in my email every day for nurses, so maybe it's just in certain areas that there is not a nursing shortage. I live in Hickory, NC, and while it's a very small town, there is definitely a nursing shortage here. Just the other day there were over 200 listings for nursing jobs in the Hickory area! It makes me wish I had gotten into nursing years ago (I'm just starting on my CNA in December).

Good luck to everyone looking for jobs...hopefully the economy will start looking up soon!

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I live in South Texas and there are always RN and LVN career fair events going on. I guess the shortage depends on where you are located. The Sunday paper is always filled with RN and LVN jobs, as well.

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