Many people talk about the impending nursing shortage. However, I haven't heard anything about where the shortage will have the most impact. Will it be in LCT? Hospital nursing? Home health care? I would really like to see some hard data that shows, by percentages, how the shortage will play out.
-JT
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November 28th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I had a 20 minute conversation recently with a person in HR at a regional hospital. She basically said, “Nursing shortage? What nursing shortage?” For 6 intern positions (new grad), they had 90 applicants. She said the hospital is really picky about new grad hires. They are looking for specific characteristics. And don’t expect a call back if you come to the interview with your midrift showing and too short a skirt.
In short, my take is that the nursing shortage is patchy. It’s still very competitive to land your first good nursing job in suburban America. There may be nursing shortages in certain specialities – but only for more experienced nurses.
But for the typical new nurse grads? I don’t really think so.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:43 am
I tend to agree with you Dave.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:48 am
I agree, the shortage is “patchy”. I just started my nursing career and I can say (as well as MANY of my new grad counterparts) it was impossible to get a job as a new nurse in the more competive areas like ICU, NICU, L&D,and ER. I will tell you that I did eventually get in on an Oncology unit and the shortage is VERY evident. Many of our staff are travelers and when there contracts are up, we have no nurses. I have already been working overtime. I do work in an exceptional hospital and I really like my job albeit it is INCREDIBLY challenging on many days. The shortage is contributed to the ideal of nursing and that many nurses are wanting to work in those select areas. Med-Surg and Oncology is just not as appealing, so a shortage will probably always exist.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
I’m hoping the Canadian hospitals will change their policies to accommodate full time positions for new nurses and be more creative in keeping senior nurses happy. The brain drain to the USA is ridiculous.
December 6th, 2007 at 4:03 am
Magnet hospitals.
That was the cry of the 60-70’s. Where shortages were happening, a review of the hospitals that were over subscribed with applicants found several key factors that influenced who stayed where.
My belief is nurses will go where they feel valued and useful.
There is a shortage, but it shows more in some places than others, at the moment.
Nursing is a ticket to ride. I emigrated to practice elsewhere cos of the weather, lifestyle and this particularly nice lady I now live with. Little to do with the place I work at, tho it’s turnedd out to be pretty good fun.
We all have our reasons.