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

Nurses New Nurse

Published

I am a new grad. A chief of staff of a major northern California health system told me, "RNs and their high salaries made new graduate programs cost prohibitive." I work in a hospital . And work with a few people who could retire. but they've opted to continue working, buying property, cars, while i work every day, rent a room in a house , wishing i had the same opportunities they were given as a new grad. The high paid bay area RN just isnt sustainable to the future of nursing.

I would like to encourage you to NEVER GIVE UP!! Yes it is tough right now for RN"S trying to find a job. Sometimes you may have to move, and I know that may be difficult for you and many others. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices.:nurse:
Thank you.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

TO GIRTSTER - You made some good, realistic, points. Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.

Even if facilities found themselves short of experienced/senior nurses tomorrow they would certianly *NOT* be hiring new grads/licensed nurses with no to little experience at anywhere near the wage/benefit levels of the departed nurses.

Especially considering how many programs are letting their students do less and less in the clinical setting...the students on my floor yesterday couldn't d/c an IV unless their teacher came in and stood over them (I was going to be in the room)....our patient care techs that are nursing students can't start a foley, try an IV, anything of the sort even if a nurse is in the room. The hospital where I went to school and worked let you do both of these things and more...I'm tempted to start calling these schools "fake nursing schools" where you graduate never having an opportunity to even try an IV or give medications. With training like that it's no wonder it costs tens of thousands of dollars to train a new grad. Isn't that what they're supposed to be in school for?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Especially considering how many programs are letting their students do less and less in the clinical setting...the students on my floor yesterday couldn't d/c an IV unless their teacher came in and stood over them (I was going to be in the room)....our patient care techs that are nursing students can't start a foley, try an IV, anything of the sort even if a nurse is in the room. The hospital where I went to school and worked let you do both of these things and more...I'm tempted to start calling these schools "fake nursing schools" where you graduate never having an opportunity to even try an IV or give medications. With training like that it's no wonder it costs tens of thousands of dollars to train a new grad. Isn't that what they're supposed to be in school for?

To be fair methinks allot of what students can or cannot do in a facility is governed by the latter, which by extension means their legal department/advisors. Bean counters and administration probably fear increased liability issues. This can or would also play into why *you* a staff nurse (their employee) aren't allowed and or restricted in your "teaching" role.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.

And that's pretty sad, what they are basically saying is that they don't trust their employees.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
And that's pretty sad, what they are basically saying is that they don't trust their employees.

Perhaps not so much as not trusting their nurses/employees so much as not willing to risk a judge or jury.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

More power to older Nurses staying in the field. I think it is amazing!

Nursing jobs are not a dime a dozen-the Nursing "shortage" is a joke. Too many people going into the field is what is flooding the new grad positions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

if you've been working for 30 years at your job, wouldn't you EXPECT, if not aspire to someday have enough money to own a home, own the car you drive to work and have money set aside for the vacation you so deserve?

i thought that sentence was sarcastic , to be honest. you earn higher pay because of tenure and experience. everyone scraps by the first couple years. let them enjoy themselves and relish in the fact that eventually, you will be the one with enough money to retire,but actually like your job enough that you dont!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology.
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.

But nurses that have a bachelor's degree aren't compensated in any way more than a diploma RN is! I have bachelor's degree and it's pretty much worthless in regards to compensation or any kind of acknowledgement. I don't even get to have BSN on my badge.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology.
Last time one checked owning a home was still supposed to be the "American Dream", so where is the crime if that is indeed motivating nurses to return or remain at work?

I don't believe everything people say either. However have cleaned up enough BMs to know BS when I smell it. *LOL*

Even if facilities found themselves short of experienced/senior nurses tomorrow they would certianly *NOT* be hiring new grads/licensed nurses with no to little experience at anywhere near the wage/benefit levels of the departed nurses.

Given the way things are going today more UAPs would be brought in, shifts broken down into part-time, or the old favourite; hire a new grad, give her the most minimal orientation then set her loose on the floors with a higher ratio than is right for her experience level with orders to "make it happen".

Yeh I agree with this. So what if nurses are working longer to be able to buy luxuries or for whatever reason they are choosing to work longer. I think it's absurd that the older nurse is expected to step aside, so to speak, so the younger nurses can jump in there. We should be able to work until we no longer want or need to! Many people have to work until medicare kicks in (65 y/o!). Personally, I am 52 years old and want to enjoy my life while I still can get around, so I am only planning on working until I am 60 (my husband is retiring at 58 and his company provides insurance for their employees until they are 65 and can apply for medicare) so I don't plan on working past 60 years old. But that should still be my perogative. I am floor nurse and job is mentally and physically exhausting and is becoming more so almost on daily basis, so I don't think I can last past 60 years old and many, many times feel like throwing in the towel at much sooner age!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology.
I think the problem is the over proliferation of greedy nursing schools. There are too many. It is that simple. And do not think the hosital administrators are not thrilled about that as they take advantage of it. And then there is the stagnant economy.

New nurses have been sold quite the bill of goods propaganda wise that this profession has a shortage. Which is BS.

Also, at age 49 I have years in and no way could I retire. Have never had any type of company match or anything else so I will have to work a long time, and if the social security disappears as it is slated too I will never be able to stop.

So, it is unfortunate that many new nurses got caught up in the hype provided by schools that want their money at any cost and "experts" who continue with predictions that have not been true for a very long time and are based on pre-recession economics and based on assumptions that there will be certain levels of hospitalization among againg baby boomers, but which do not account for the fact that many will not be adequately insured/incomed to obtain this care and do not acknowledge that hospital stays are much shorter and getting shorter all the time.

It is amazing to me that the nursing schools are still putting nurses out every year and that foolish people are still signing up for nursing programs that don't promise a job afterwards than any other ole regular liberal arts degree from a college?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology.
"Nursing just happens to be the largest work force in a hospital."

Really?

How about nursing just happens to be the department that allows the hospital to be, well, a hospital. It provides the actual services, without which, the hospital simply ceases to exist.

And, yes, they happen to be the largest workforce..........but if CEOs could figure out how to allow patients to get sicker without risking all the nasty publicity, they'd change that fact in a heartbeat.

Ohhhhhh . . . yeh!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment