Working RNs and the CNA are to blame for new graduate RN program shortages .

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2012

The problem is multifaceted and involves a heck of a lot more than 'high salaries.' Right now, the sluggish economy is partly to blame for the lack of new grad programs. Hospitals would rather hire and retain experienced nurses who do not need expensive new grad programs. Experienced nurses are usually ready to work after a quickie orientation.

New grads cost tens of thousands of dollar to train properly, and they traditionally have high employee turnover rates (read: many quit after they attain that golden year of experience).

Since you are a new member, please click on the link below to read about how nursing has been affected by the current economic situation. Good luck to you.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/nursing-not-recession-742084.html

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2012

I made close to a whopping 12 bucks an hour in 89 working as a new RN in the Pac NW. Umm, I had to pinch the pennies, and I lived very simply. My job wasn't handed to me either. I had to interview and apply to a couple of hospitals. I also didn't have a new grad program. My orientation was one week and then I was given 5 pt's.

So what opportunities did I have that you do not?

As for those overpaid nurses, I can assure you that CEO probably makes triple of what a senior nurse makes.

I plan on working late in life. It won't be to buy fancy cars/houses, but to keep health insurance. I bet those nurses you assume are buying 'stuff' are trying to sock it away for their retirement.

allnurses Guide · Jun 16, 2012

That Chief of Staff is full of it -- but it worked once again to have nurses at each other's throats. Really discouraging.

minnymi · Jun 16, 2012

I made close to a whopping 12 bucks an hour in 89 working as a new RN in the Pac NW. Umm, I had to pinch the pennies, and I lived very simply. My job wasn't handed to me either. I had to interview and apply to a couple of hospitals. I also didn't have a new grad program. My orientation was one week and then I was given 5 pt's.
So what opportunities did I have that you do not?
As for those overpaid nurses, I can assure you that CEO probably makes triple of what a senior nurse makes.
I plan on working late in life. It won't be to buy fancy cars/houses, but to keep health insurance. I bet those nurses you assume are buying 'stuff' are trying to sock it away for their retirement.

i had a nurse a couple weeks ago tell me how she made 4+ dollars an hour starting out. we were just talking about how much things have changed, but she wasn't implying that the 4+ an hour at that time was nothing and she had to "pinch pennies." in fact, she said she was able to live comfortably and take vacations. so the difference in pay has to do with the cost of living. it's not that nurses back then were paid less and had the same expenses.

murs · Jun 16, 2012

I made close to a whopping 12 bucks an hour in 89 working as a new RN in the Pac NW. Umm, I had to pinch the pennies, and I lived very simply. My job wasn't handed to me either. I had to interview and apply to a couple of hospitals. I also didn't have a new grad program. My orientatioek and then I was given 5 pt's. So what opportunitiedid I have that you do not? As for those overpaid nurses, I can assure you that CEO probably makes triple of what a senior nurse makes. I plan on working late in life. It won't be to buy fancy cars/houses , but to keep health insurI bet those nurses you assume are buying 'stuff' are trying to sock it away for their retirement.

thanks for your input. i actually personally know the nurses i mentioned. one told me, " i could retire but i like having nice stuff (her car payment alone is 600 plus every month) and the other nurse already has one home and just purchased a condo. i have no idea about who you are so please dont take it personal to mean your specific situation (if your not even a bay area rn)

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2012

i had a nurse a couple weeks ago tell me how she made 4+ dollars an hour starting out. we were just talking about how much things have changed, but she wasn't implying that the 4+ an hour at that time was nothing and she had to "pinch pennies." in fact, she said she was able to live comfortably and take vacations. so the difference in pay has to do with the cost of living. it's not that nurses back then were paid less and had the same expenses.

Yeah, I get that. I have been around for a few decades. But even for 'back then' it wasn't a lot for the education a nurse had to have, compared to what other people made. My brother worked in a grocery store and made more money than I did per hour. And they pay I was talking about was new grad pay, not senior nurse pay.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2012

thanks for your input. i actually personally know the nurses i mentioned. one told me, " i could retire but i like having nice stuff (her car payment alone is 600 plus every month) and the other nurse already has one home and just purchased a condo. i have no idea about who you are so please dont take it personal to mean your specific situation (if your not even a bay area rn)

Not taken personally at all.

You did not specify that you knew these nurses. Many people vent on AN about senior nurses staying in their positions only for luxery items and not 'moving over' so to speak, for the next generation.

Hopefully something will open up for you soon. Good luck

minnymi · Jun 16, 2012

actually, nurses are compensated well for the education they have to have.

a RN with a two year degree starts out on their first day making what others start out making with a four year degree.

for example...nurses get paid more than teachers. teachers MUST have a bachelor's degree while RNs can have a two year degree.

sorry....i'm just not seeing the shock factor here.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2012

for example...nurses get paid more than teachers. teachers MUST have a bachelor's degree while RNs can have a two year degree.

However, the typical teacher works only 9 months out of every year.

Teachers usually get to retire with full employer-sponsored pensions. On the other hand, the average nurse must fund their own retirement. Many nurses have reached retirement age, yet they do not have enough funds to retire.

Teachers have virtually no risk of career-ending events such as tainted needle sticks, back injuries, or savage beatings from drug-addicted patients or abusive visitors.

minnymi · Jun 16, 2012

However, the typical teacher works only 9 months out of every year.
Teachers usually get to retire with full employer-sponsored pensions. On the other hand, the average nurse must fund their own retirement. Many nurses have reached retirement age, yet they do not have enough funds to retire.
Teachers have virtually no risk of career-ending events such as tainted needle sticks, back injuries, or savage beatings from drug-addicted patients or abusive visitors.

i was replying specifically to the previous poster's comment: "But even for 'back then' it wasn't a lot for the education a nurse had to have, compared to what other people made."

which implies that nurses weren't getting compensated well for the amount of education (alone) they had to have. i disagree. most professions...almost EVERY profession requires MORE education and they start out making less.

i just used the teacher as one example.

murs · Jun 16, 2012

i want to add that i apologize if what i wrote came across like an attack. when i was a student many rns were very gracious to me during clinicals . the words by the chief of staff lit a fire within me and the situation us new grads find ourselves facing can be really trying at times.