Too Many Nurses?

[LilStudent]

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.

[Dixiedi]

Yes, there are a lot of people entering nursing schools.

But...the attrition rate is pretty stiff. In my own class I would estimate that we've lost 30% already, and I'm only halfway through the program. So, just because someone has gotten IN to nursing school doesn't mean that they'll make it THROUGH school. :uhoh21:

As you said, the attrition rate is huge. And those that do make it through (I heard someone say not too long ago that less the 50% graduate and pass the boards but I don't know if that is so.) may not stay any longer than they have to.

This is yet another point that I believe should made in favor of returning nursing education to the hospitals (NCLEX exams remain needed for licensure). LPN - Diploma RN. Then ADN, BSN, ...

Less time and money would be wasted on educating nurses who can't make the cut or who can make it but don't want it!

We need to focus not a creating more schools but in turning out nurses who want to be there (or somewhere in nursing) when they retire. This can not be done in the university. It must be done in the hospital where nursing actually takes place. Where the student will see it and be involved in it everyday.

I went to a hospital based school and I will never forget A&P. Simple class, yes? NO! In order to fully understand the structure we had to watch autopsies. Well, just once, but I know what the organs look like and classes were so much easier after I saw them. The coroner was great, he pointed out organs and supporting structures even threw a little lecture in to ensure we all understood how the body works. I don't believe any university presented nursing class in A&P could have done a better job. Anyway, I am falling off topic.

We need to start our nursing carreers at the bedside and work our way to the more complicated bedside and/or away from the bedside step by step. I really believe we would see a rise in the number of nurses who are still nurses when they retire.

[MiaLyse, APRN]

Everywhere that hospitals in shortage exist that are not willing to focus on RETENTION, will have a shortage>>

I see this where I live. They'd rather pay agency than try to keep the good nurses they have there.

Kelly

[NP2BE]

We have a high attrition rate at my schol, and most of the people that get cut deserve to be cut. There are 1 or 2 that are unjustly cut and would make great nurses, but they are given the oppurtunity to repeat. There are some that don't get cut that should be cut as well. Like one girl in my class who thinks she is too good to give a bed bath. That pisses me off.

[leslie :-D]

We have a high attrition rate at my schol, and most of the people that get cut deserve to be cut.

[NP2BE]

Clarify, they havn't been studying

[Angela Mac]

soon millions of baby boomers will be needing around the clock care, are there going to be enough nurses or facilities to care for them all?

And----- are there too many administrative nurses and not enough floor nurses?

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

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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.

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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.

I am the nurse who posted about their being too many nurses, not many jobs in my area. I live in Texas! Texas is a big state. nurses are needed in some areas of Texas, and not needed in others. Wages very low in my area, as well.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

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

I live in the Texas Panhandle.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

i do not believe their is a nursing shortage. even the ana says we are in a "false" shortage.

i will do a copy and paste of an old post of mine.

if you think the nursing shortage is real, please read this:

i am finally, totally convinced: there is no nursing shortage.

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almost 500,000 licensed registered nurses were not employed as nurses in 2000.*

data from the health resources and services administration's (hrsa's) 2000 national sample survey of rns shows that more than 500,000 licensed nurses (more than 18% of the national nurse workforce) have chosen not to work in nursing. this available labor pool could be drawn back into nursing if they found the employment opportunities attractive enough**

the ana maintains that the deterioration in the working conditions for nurses is the primary cause for the staff vacancies being reported by hospitals and nursing facilities - not a systemic nursing shortage. nurses are opting not to take these nursing jobs because they are not attracted to positions where they will be confronted by mandatory overtime and short staffing. **

76.6% (of) licensed rns (in the u.s. are) employed in nursing***

* projected supply, demand and shortages of registered nurses: 2000-2020 (released on 7/30/03 by the national center for health workforce analysis, bureau of health professions, health resources and services administration, u.s. department of health and human services). the bureau of labor statistics, in an earlier report, predicted that that we will need one million new nurses by 2010 (monthly labor review - november 2001) to cover new positions and replace the nurses who have retired.

**http://www.nursingworld.org/gova/fe.../107/ovrtme.htm

***https://www.aacn.org/aacn/practice....a6?opendocument