Where is the 'shortage'?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

This is my first post here. I am an RN, been licensed for almost 5 years now. When I was a new grad and moved here (I am a foreign graduate), SNFs were the only ones open to accept new grads. My mom was here first and started in an SNF with an employer, I have tried applying to hospital jobs right after I passed my NCLEX and gave up after months of not being qualified and ended up getting a contract with the same SNF company that hired my mom.

Worked there for 2 and a half years, then lateral transferred to Home health of the same company. then another home care company after I got married.

Here is my dilemma, I have been trying so hard to get a new job since we have relocated to a new state. I want to expand my experience...my dream is to be a scrub nurse or an L and D nurse better yet a nurse educator! But right now, I feel that all that dreaming is futile. My mom said before when I started to work through my contract, get experience and it will be easier to get a job in a hospital.. What a bunch of hog-wash!! I cannot get out of this field that I was partly forced into and have no choice but to apply to jobs in the same field because that is the only applicable experience I have.

Where is the nursing shortage here if companies do not hire nurses to gain experience in the field of their choice? Right now I feel stuck in my profession! this is getting frustrating for me...I want to go back to school to get a masters but how will I pay for that if I cannot even find a job. I feel like this profession is a curse more than a blessing for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Remote/rural areas. There is not a nursing shortage, especially not of inexperienced nurses. There is a shortage of experienced specialized nurses (critical care, NICU, etc). There is a shortage of healthcare facilities willing to fully staff units or replace staff lost (moved on, transferred, retired, terminated).

The remote or rural areas outside of big cities often are hiring but there are reasons (far from city, higher crime, far from specialized facilities)

Consider applying for long term acute care hospitals or birthing centers (assuming that you do not need visa sponsorship and have work rights )

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Remote/rural areas. There is not a nursing shortage, especially not of inexperienced nurses. There is a shortage of experienced specialized nurses (critical care, NICU, etc). There is a shortage of healthcare facilities willing to fully staff units or replace staff lost (moved on, transferred, retired, terminated).

The remote or rural areas outside of big cities often are hiring but there are reasons (far from city, higher crime, far from specialized facilities)

Consider applying for long term acute care hospitals or birthing centers (assuming that you do not need visa sponsorship and have work rights )

I have been a permanent resident since 2009. So what is the difference with long term acute hospitals, long term care and hospitals?

That's the thing too, I cannot be experienced if they do not hire and be picky about it. My husband and I think that its because it takes more time and money to train in a newbie so to speak, which makes sense but do they really want to risk the burn out and high turn over rates with the employees they already have?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
Remote/rural areas. There is not a nursing shortage, especially not of inexperienced nurses. There is a shortage of experienced specialized nurses (critical care, NICU, etc). There is a shortage of healthcare facilities willing to fully staff units or replace staff lost (moved on, transferred, retired, terminated).

The remote or rural areas outside of big cities often are hiring but there are reasons (far from city, higher crime, far from specialized facilities)

Consider applying for long term acute care hospitals or birthing centers (assuming that you do not need visa sponsorship and have work rights )

BINGO

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

There is no current nursing shortage. Whoever told you there was lied.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

The nursing shortage exists only in the imaginations of news media and schools wishing to lure students to their programs by making them believe that top 10 hospitals will be beating a path to their doors upon graduation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

There *is* no shortage.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

What there IS a shortage of, is enough full-time jobs for everyone. So many places are hiring only perdiem or part time to get away from having to provide benefits. This whole "shortage" thing is contrived by greedy corporate hospitals and the like. There IS becoming a shortage of nurses willing to put up with the crap so many employers are dishing out, like mandated overtime, low census days, mandatory call and understaffing. There is no shortage of those employers out there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

ALSO: There is no shortage of nursing schools pumping out new grads into a world of under-employment or unemployment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment