Too Many Nurses?

nurseygrrl, LPN · May 17, 2004

I don't think there will ever be too many nurses because unfortunately for every bright eyed new nurse looking to start the profession, there is a burned out experienced nurse looking to leave it.

roxannekkb · May 17, 2004

Right now, they say there is a Nursing shortage. I've read articles that say most states are scrambling to create more schools and more openings in the current schools to alleviate the shortage. It seems that alot of people are currently drawn to Nursing as a career. I think this might be because the salaries seem very appealing from the outside looking in and that there would be lots of job security. (Just my opinion)
My question is.....Do you ever foresee there being too many Nurses? With all the interest and people being trained right now, do you think that when the shortage finally alleviates that there will be too many skilled people and not enough jobs? That possibly the market could eventually end up flooded? (Just a side note....I've read about how there is no Nursing shortage in other posts. I'd still like everyone's opinion that's willing to share. Even those that don't feel there is a current shortage.)
Just curious what everyone's opinion is on this.

This same scenario has happened repeatedly. Nursing careers always look appealing in economic downturns. And as soon as things pick up, nursing school enrollment drops and nurses flee in increasing numbers out of the profession. And for every new nurse entering the field, at least two are leaving--either out of the profession entirely or at least, far away from the bedside. The market isn't going to be flooded any time soon, unless we open up the immigration gates and bring in unlimited numbers of foreign nurses.

NP2BE · May 19, 2004

unless we open up the immigration gates and bring in unlimited numbers of foreign nurses.

Looks like a real possibility, happened in every other sector,

The statue should read "bring us your weak, your tired, your poor, anyone who will will work for less, take our jobs and our money"

tmiller027 · May 20, 2004

unless we open up the immigration gates and bring in unlimited numbers of foreign nurses.
Looks like a real possibility, happened in every other sector,
The statue should read "bring us your weak, your tired, your poor, anyone who will will work for less, take our jobs and our money"

We have some African nurses at my facility and they are some of the best nurses I've ever seen. I'm glad they're here.

Tim

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · May 20, 2004

There are already too many nurse in my area. It was very hard to find a job when I moved here. Even the Sunday paper sometimes goes a few weeks without a single nursing job posted.

NP2BE · May 20, 2004

We have some African nurses at my facility and they are some of the best nurses I've ever seen. I'm glad they're here.
Tim

I didn't say they weren't competent, just driving our salaries down

tmiller027 · May 20, 2004

I didn't say they weren't competent, just driving our salaries down

I don't think they're driving anyone's salaries down. As far as I know, they make just as much as the other RNs there. I just didn't appreciate your little statue of liberty analogy that they sat overseas and said, "I know! Lets go to the U.S. and put American workers out of work and take their jobs and money!"

They came here to find a better life. They put themselves through school and became nurses. They're just as entitled to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness as any of the rest of us.

KaroSnowQueen, RN · May 20, 2004

They were screaming "nursing shortage" twenty years ago when I was in nursing school and predicting a glut of nurses from those entering the profession in response to all the announcements of shortage. :rolleyes:

Never happened.

I have never in twenty years been without a job that I couldn't find another one almost immediately.

And it's true, for every new grad there's an experienced nurse who can't wait to quit and go to work at Walmart! And there's also the statistic that the average nurse is in her late 40's - that means in less than 15 years there will a buttload of nurses retiring!!! I believe the nursing shortage is going to be chronic for some years to come.

Nemhain · May 20, 2004

There are already too many nurse in my area. It was very hard to find a job when I moved here. Even the Sunday paper sometimes goes a few weeks without a single nursing job posted.

Hellllllo Nurse,

Do you live in the U.S.? If so, what part? I ask because I'll be graduating in less than a year and I plan on moving out of the Northeast and I certainly don't want to move to where there aren't any jobs. :uhoh21:

a little concerned,

Nemhain

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · May 20, 2004

There are already too many nurse in my area. It was very hard to find a job when I moved here. Even the Sunday paper sometimes goes a few weeks without a single nursing job posted.

I'll be graduating in less than a year and I plan on moving out of the Northeast and I certainly don't want to move to where there aren't any jobs.

Come to Texas--lots of jobs, no personal income tax, big place, lots of room, and enough variety in climate to please (almost) anybody.

And there's also the statistic that the average nurse is in her late 40's - that means in less than 15 years there will a buttload of nurses retiring!!!

Not me--I'm planning to work into my 70's, but yes, eventually we will drop out.... and I am only one nurse.

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 20, 2004

There was a time in the early-mid-90s where people were scrambling for jobs here, and we actually had a layoff. Everyone was able to find jobs, but perhaps not where they desired. But that changed fast as the economy rolled along and the unemployment rate in other fields was low. So it could happen. But there are so many thousands of vacant positions open, the question is "if there are enough nurses one day are hospitals willing to pay the money to hire them?".