We don't have enough nurses!

koan · Feb 5, 2004

It's called job security =)

cannoli · Feb 5, 2004

Originally posted by koan
It's called job security =)

Yes, if it doesn't kill you!

IamRN · Feb 5, 2004

Originally posted by cannoli
Yes, if it doesn't kill you!

...and/or a patient :eek:

AuroraRN · Feb 5, 2004

Many people who are nurses may not actively practice. So although there are nurses, they have chosen for one reason or another to leave the field. Also, with the high patient loads and increased stress, many "bedside" nurses choose to leave that are and do other things, such as case managment, education, etc. I am one of those nurses who has left a staff nurse position due to the high stress and high ratios. FYI, I'm much happier (and less stressed out) now.

PsychoRN · Feb 5, 2004

The shortage will continue until the work environment for nurses drastically improves. For me life is too short to have to endure the stress of working as a nurse any longer so after 20 years I am leaving nursing and am returning to school to pursue another career.

koan · Feb 5, 2004

why not take that 20 years of experience to a different (less stressful) position nursing?

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 5, 2004

Originally posted by koan
why not take that 20 years of experience to a different (less stressful) position nursing?

That's exactly the way I feel about it. Nursing offers a wide variety of types of positions and so many different types of settings. And yet, so many leave nursing because they didn't like just 1 type of role and 1 type of setting -- bedside nursing in a hospital. It's as if they have this very narrow definition of the profession and can see only 1 thing as being a "nurse."

They will go back to school to switch into a different profession, but they won't go back to school to become qualified for a different type of nursing position.

It's a shame.

llg

koan · Feb 5, 2004

A shame perhaps but it is a personal choice and if someone really wants out of the field altogether I can understand that.

I was a chef for 15 years, I was in IT for 6 and now I want something new.

This time I am going to get a college education, the first 2 careers I taught myself how to do them (with the help of others on the job).

However if I spend 4 to 6 years in school or more) learning a trade you can bet that's what I want to do.

nialloh, RN · Feb 5, 2004

Part of the problem is that Hospitals (ect.) put little or no effort in retaining staff. They will spend thousands to recrut new rn's, but nothing on keeping those they have already. When a nurse is leaving, they don't try to get that nurse to stay. They are just short of saying "don't let the door hit you on the way out".

koan · Feb 5, 2004

This sounds counter productive to me, if there is a nursing shortage you would want to keep them around, not constantly be hiring new ones to have them walk out.

Now it may be the case but that has to change if everything I hear about the "nursing shortage" is true, or maybe they will lower the standards of nursing so they can get them in faster.

lower standards = less pay = more profit.

How important is a RN?

I don't know.

nialloh, RN · Feb 5, 2004

Originally posted by koan
This sounds counter productive to me, if there is a nursing shortage you would want to keep them around, not constantly be hiring new ones to have them walk out.
Now it may be the case but that has to change if everything I hear about the "nursing shortage" is true, or maybe they will lower the standards of nursing so they can get them in faster.
lower standards = less pay = more profit.
How important is a RN?
I don't know.

On my unit we had an NP working as an RN. She wanted tele experience so she could further herself. She was one of the best nurses I have had the honor of working with. She was smart, caring, and knowledgeable, you name it, it was her.

She left as she felt "dumped on", but was willing to work per diam to keep her hand in.

HR didn't even bother to ask, and we lost her for good.