Where have all the nurses gone?

Published

Due to more nurses leaving the profession and fewer entering nursing school,

health care facilities across the nation are suffering from a shortage of

RNs. The shortage is especially severe in California, where new legislation

made the state the first with mandatory nurse-to-bed standards. What do you

think is the cause of the shortage?

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The cause is quite blatant, poor pay, high risks, laughable benefits, terrible hours, and schedules. Not to mention its very mentally and physically stressful. Any other questions??

Originally posted by steve brock:

Due to more nurses leaving the profession and fewer entering nursing school,

health care facilities across the nation are suffering from a shortage of

RNs. The shortage is especially severe in California, where new legislation

made the state the first with mandatory nurse-to-bed standards. What do you

think is the cause of the shortage? Join the discussion at http://www.delphi.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=hg-womenshealth&nav=messages&m

sg=199.1 and let us know what you think.

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well i am new here and this is my first time on this web site. i was fumbling around and found it. But i am still a student in high school and i am in health occupations, which is a class where we go to the hospital, nursing home, etc. and shadow those people who do this for a living. this is a two year class. Well personally i love it so far and i plan on going far in it. i plan on going to a school for two years and then go to a four year school so hopefully i can ultimately move up in the profession. But to in your response i know im not much but i will become a nurse and no one can curve my decision.

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Originally posted by dutchfork 79:

well i am new here and this is my first time on this web site. i was fumbling around and found it. But i am still a student in high school and i am in health occupations, which is a class where we go to the hospital, nursing home, etc. and shadow those people who do this for a living. this is a two year class. Well personally i love it so far and i plan on going far in it. i plan on going to a school for two years and then go to a four year school so hopefully i can ultimately move up in the profession. But to in your response i know im not much but i will become a nurse and no one can curve my decision.

Why do you say that you are "not much." Believe in yourself! It's fantastic that you are exploring health careers while you are in high school. If you want to be a nurse, then follow your heart. Advocate for yourself -- check with your guidance counselor to explore nursing programs. You hold the future in your hands -- it's a valuable future -- and we really need dedicated nurses. Best of luck in your endeavors and hang in there!!!!

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I agree with NorthNurse. Why would a young person entertain the thought of nursing for a career when they can make more money faster and easier in mamy other areas of the work field? The pay and working conditions have fallen way behind any comparable profession. And the gratification you get from helping your patients does not pay the rent or the grocer.

Why do I stay in it? I enjoy helping others, it is never boring, and I do not sit well, I am also past the age of wanting to start over again in the education for a new area of the work world.

Would I do it again? Maybe, maybe not, just not sure (remember I just got home from a 3 to 11 shift.)

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Sheryl

If you enjoy word puzzles come visit me at www.CrosswordsForNurses.com

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Originally posted by puzzler:

I agree with NorthNurse. Why would a young person entertain the thought of nursing for a career when they can make more money faster and easier in mamy other areas of the work field? The pay and working conditions have fallen way behind any comparable profession. And the gratification you get from helping your patients does not pay the rent or the grocer.

Why do I stay in it? I enjoy helping others, it is never boring, and I do not sit well, I am also past the age of wanting to start over again in the education for a new area of the work world.

Would I do it again? Maybe, maybe not, just not sure (remember I just got home from a 3 to 11 shift.)

Hmm...this veteran nurse is in school now because I just can't see doing this at 50 years of age - I don't think my mind and body could stand up to it that long. The other night it was time for the evening med pass but first all the nurses had to take THEIR medicine!! We're all on some type of antidepressant and/or antianxiety medicine. Coincidence? No, I don't think so. Has more to do not only with the working conditions that we have but also with the personality type that feels we must subject ourselves to this profession and its demands - you know, the type that thinks it's ok to sacrifice your whole being for the good of someone else. I honestly believe one has to be a raging codependent to become a nurse - and once we develop ourselves emotionally we are no longer satisfied with that treatment and begin to look elsewhere for more fulfilliing work. Me? I plan to become a professor of Literature and Philosophy - nothing like the freedom of ideas and freedom of expression to excite me about my own future. If I planned to stay in nursing, I would feel very bleak indeed.

Babs

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I am 21 years old and a CNA. I am slowly moving up in the health field because I want to know what it is like to work all 3. I wanted to get the hands on with the resident's and then go back to school to get my LPN and then RN. I work in a Nursing Home and I really do not know how it is everywhere else, but I can tell you that here in Kingsport Some not All LPN's and RN's treat people like crap.. They act like we have no clue on what we are doing. I understand most of you do not consider us nurses but still the LPN's and RN's chase us away before we even get a chance to explore this field. I know that I have thought alot about leaving my work place a lot of time but I go in each night because these little resident need me. And I do agree that the pay i sucky and the benefits are not too good either, but I can tell you another thing it is a lot about how the place is run. Administration to start with and then down the ladder.. If you don't know how to treat people then u do not be there.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Just my two cents worth...I love nursing. I work in a level I trauma center, am 42 yrs and can still keep up with the younger nurses. And, no, I take no medicine, not even Tylenol! So, I don't buy it that you have to be co-dependent to be a nurse. I wish that high school student could come shadow me for a shift. Yest, I took care of newborns to geriatrics. I went home after 12 hours tired, but honestly felt that I helped people. Thats what I went into nursing for. Keep smiling.

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Specializes in CV-ICU.

I have seen many nurses retire from floor nursing at age 65, and now that I am 52, I am wondering how they did it. As I'm getting older, I find that the work is taking a bigger toll on me that I thought possible. I love what I do, but my body is starting to fall apart suddenly. It never bothered me before, but these past 2 years are really reminding me that this is a very physical job, and I'm not in the best of shape anymore. It takes me longer to recover from 12 hour shifts both mentally and physically; I never remember waking up as tired as when I went to bed before. Where do old nurses get the energy to keep going and going?

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Hello!

I am a nurse in Sweden and I just found this site. I feel a bite sad when I realise that you all "over there" have the same situation as we have. Horrible workinghours, badly paid and everybody is expecting you to be a Florence... What can we do??

Keep on the good work we all are doing! And sorry for my bad english!

Love Ullis.

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Hello Ullis, Thanks for the input, now we know its not just a problem here, Nurses need to unite globally for improvements to be made across the country and world. With forums for communication like this board that will make it possible. smile.gif

Originally posted by Ullis:

Hello!

I am a nurse in Sweden and I just found this site. I feel a bite sad when I realise that you all "over there" have the same situation as we have. Horrible workinghours, badly paid and everybody is expecting you to be a Florence... What can we do??

Keep on the good work we all are doing! And sorry for my bad english!

Love Ullis.

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Specializes in ER.

When I started nursing the city bus drivers were getting more per hour, and went on strike for an increase.

Anyone who truly knows what they are getting into does it for the people, and there aren't many people with that calling.

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