Where do you think the nursing problem / shortage begins??

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Hello everyone. I am a nurse to be and I cant tell you how many complaints and problems I have heard about nursing and the healthcare system as a whole. I hear so many people blame this nurse and that administration, but Im assuming its a trickle effect that starts from somewhere higher up. My question is, where does this problem begin? What steps need to be taken to make things better? If these issues are known and can affect patient care, why isnt anything being done about it?

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

there is not a nursing shortage.... ask nurses... there is no shortage of us! ask non-nurse administrators and oddly, there is a shortage.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

these days there is no nursing shortage. new grads can't get jobs, hospitals are firing nurses and new grads. one hospital in my city fired 22 LPN's and 10 new grad RN's.

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I believe there will always be nursing shortage. But I don't think this economy can accommodate the shortage right now. I am a new grad who just passed the NCLEX and damn, is it hard!

I am about to take anything just to get my feet wet. This certainly is not what I expected after graduating but sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do:bluecry1:

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

i heard a nursing school instructor say about new grad RN's " the new grad RN's in 2009 face the greatest challlenges in trying to find a job since i have been a instructor." and that is true, due to ecomony if you are a nurse and you have a job.. stay where you are at and keep that job... if you are a new grad RN , don't give up you will get a job eventually. it took a new grad at my hospital a year to get a job but she did. ..

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Thanks for your replies. Maybe I didnt state the question properly, but Im more asking about what are the causes of the working conditions of nursing (ex. administrators want bonuses so they short staff) and what can be done to improve the conditions from the top. Thanks

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Specializes in cardiac, psychiatric emergency, rehab.

A reality check for directors would be a good start; lowering the financial bottom line would be next. Looking at how litigeous the units are and staffing accordingly. Adopting a real 'zero tolerance' policy for lateral harrassment, having a REAL orientation program for 'new grads' that includes everything they are going to be judged on later on. Allowing more flexibility in staffing that 'meets' or 'exceeds' the needs of the nurses to avoid burn out, and training in reflective listening. This would be a good start.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

I'd be happy if my managers would just TELL me about changes on the unit without me finding out in the middle of getting my tushy chewed -- if we've changed TLC caps from vendor A to vendor B, put out a MEMO, don't just jump me in the nurse's station because I used them.

When I've got a floor FULL of critical people -- people in the process of having MI's, evolving CVAs, 2 we're waiting to LifeFlight out before they code, don't come to the nurse's station and demand we all come to a 15 minute inservices on LAPPS -- we're already IN the hospital, LAPPS is self contained in our neuro check spreadsheet (which is what all of us do immediately when we've got a sudden change, because, well, we're nurses...), and if you want to see if someone's having a stroke, come down to the room all the nurses are flying in and out of, you can see one you idiot....

*sigh*

It's been a bad week.

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In answer to you original question - a government that values big corporations over healthcare for every citizen.

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I believe there will always be nursing shortage. But I don't think this economy can accommodate the shortage right now. I am a new grad who just passed the NCLEX and damn, is it hard!

I am about to take anything just to get my feet wet. This certainly is not what I expected after graduating but sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do:bluecry1:

If you compare how many nurses are licensed vs how many nurses are actually working as a nurse you will see a BIG discrepancy! So many have left the field due to the working conditions....there has never been a nursing shortage, just a shortage of nurses working.

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Specializes in Med Surg, LTC, Home Health.

The problems in nursing are directly related to ratios. We simply have too many patients no matter where we go. :)

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Get rid of for-profit insurance companies.

Hello everyone. I am a nurse to be and I cant tell you how many complaints and problems I have heard about nursing and the healthcare system as a whole. I hear so many people blame this nurse and that administration, but Im assuming its a trickle effect that starts from somewhere higher up. My question is, where does this problem begin? What steps need to be taken to make things better? If these issues are known and can affect patient care, why isnt anything being done about it?
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