Why Is There A Shortage?

PMHNP10 · Jan 2, 2004

Originally posted by Sanchai
Hi!
Until when do you think there would be a shortage of nurses?

Do not despair because there will be an end to the "nursing shortage". I believe it will come right around the time Hell freezes over. Of course as long as MDs cop attitudes, admin abuse power, ratios become smaller AND become based according to acuity, work weeks become regulated, pay scales become respectable, and possibly most important of all, nurses across the board become a cohesive united group (1 voice; 1 cause) this shortage shall continue. Until the end does come, I don't recommend you hold your breath or you will turn

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2004

Two points...

1) How many of the 500,000 are beyond the ability (or desire) to even be employed at all?

2) There are SOOOOO many areas of nursing...I have found that far too many nurses feel like they couldn't do anything else other than the type of nursing they are currently doing (I was one of them - Stuck in the ER, no end in sight...I took a chance and run a nursing home, and LOVE it!!!)

sean

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2004

Originally posted by ScarlettRN
Hmmm, what else am I forgetting for Perfect Hospital? I haven't even STARTED on the ED for this facility! :kiss

And in this hospital, everyone will do their job to the best of their ability and managementwill treat employess fairly.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2004

Originally posted by sagarcia210

There are many people that hold a nursing license that do not work in the field of nursing. I wonder, if they came back to the field, would there be such a shortage? I read somewhere-- I can't remember where-- that there are approximately 75,000 nurses who do not practice in their field.

That number is 500,000, not 75,000.

Here are the stats:

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

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2004

Originally posted by hogan4736
Two points...

1) How many of the 500,000 are beyond the ability (or desire) to even be employed at all?

A

sean

the evidence shows that the 500,000 nurses ARE employed for the most part, just not in nursing.

There are quite a number of them on this site, and on my own nursing web site.

I personally know nurses whom have left nursing and are now working in the following areas: Vet tech, flower-shop, making jewelry, food court at mall, JC Penney, paralegal, insurance billing, medical transcription, day care, nursing home activities director, etc.

Sheri257 · Jan 3, 2004

Originally posted by Hellllllo Nurse
the evidence shows that the 500,000 nurses ARE employed for the most part, just not in nursing.

Actually, there's not much evidence, one way or the other.

Page 7 of the report: ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/bhpr/nationalcenter/rnproject.pdf

"Unfortunately, little is known about this population."

piper_for_hire · Jan 4, 2004

These kind of reports are all bunk. You can still find reports that there is a shortage of technology people and then pick up a newspaper and read about one million unemployed technology people.

-S

mattsmom81 · Jan 4, 2004

The media listens to the healthcare industry right now. Follow this BB for any length of time, read what REAL NURSES write, and one will see the REAL reasons for the 'nursing shortage', IMHO.

PMHNP10 · Jan 4, 2004

Originally posted by mattsmom81
The media listens to the healthcare industry right now. Follow this BB for any length of time, read what REAL NURSES write, and one will see the REAL reasons for the 'nursing shortage', IMHO.

I have to disagree, it isn't your HO, IT'S FACT!!! Of course that is just MHO.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2004

Originally posted by lizz
Actually, there's not much evidence, one way or the other.

Page 7 of the report: ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/bhpr/nationalcenter/rnproject.pdf

"Unfortunately, little is known about this population."

Yes, there is.

Please read the books "Nurse Abuse: Impact and Resolution"

"From Silence to Voice: What Nurses Know and Must Communicate to the Public"

" Code Green: Money-Driven Hospitals and the Dismantling of Nursing "

The list goes on and on.

You keep quoting just the one line from that one report and source. There are many sources of stats.

Additionally, I've been a nurse for 12 long years now. I know what I know from my own personal experience and observations, as well. When you become a nurse, you will know these things, too.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2004

Originally posted by mattsmom81
The media listens to the healthcare industry right now. Follow this BB for any length of time, read what REAL NURSES write, and one will see the REAL reasons for the 'nursing shortage', IMHO.

Exactly, Mattsmom!

As psychrno3 stated, this is fact, not just our opinions.

Sheri257 · Jan 5, 2004

Originally posted by Hellllllo Nurse
Please read the books "Nurse Abuse: Impact and Resolution"
"From Silence to Voice: What Nurses Know and Must Communicate to the Public"
" Code Green: Money-Driven Hospitals and the Dismantling of Nursing " The list goes on and on.

You keep quoting just the one line from that one report and source. There are many sources of stats.

Additionally, I've been a nurse for 12 long years now. I know what I know from my own personal experience and observations, as well. When you become a nurse, you will know these things, too.

I understand that. I just can't figure out why the federal health department would do a major report on this, and not cite the same research you did. Instead, they said they didn't know the reasons why these 500,000 licensed RNs weren't working in the field.

I believe the reasons you cited are valid. I think the point the report is making is that they don't know HOW MUCH those factors play a role, versus other factors like routine retirements, etc. Perhaps there's no hard core, comprehensive, statistical evidence which breaks it all down, and I think that's what the report is saying here.