Nursing shortage...right??

[oldlady]

Okay...

I've been hearing about the nursing shortages for years now and I would like to know, with the shortage being what is why is it so difficult to get accepted into nursing school. I understand, you don't want to accept just anyone into the program, however; the entire process is discouraging.

Say, I registered in ABC Community College, now simply because I am accepted at this particular college doesn't mean I'm accepted into the Nursing Program at ABC Community College. Now, once all testing has been sucessfully completed, I must must apply and again test to enrolled in the Nursing Program and hopefully be accepted.

Meanwhile, I've invested $$$ in paying for these Pre-req..classes that must be completed before I can attempt to enroll in the nursing program only to find out they don't want me because my grades are not good enough. That's alot of money and time wasted...I don't know maybe I have it all wrong.

Things seem so up in the air and therefore discouraging. After thinking about it all I ask is there a nursing shortage and maybe this adds to the all ready established list of why hospitals, nursing homes are without nurses.

[cassioo]

there is also a shortage of nursing school staff to teach the nursing students. We try and keep our clinical groups to 8-9 students each group. True an instructor could lecture to 100 students but when it's time for clinicals a school would need 11-12 instructors which in my area would be hard to come by. I was offered a full time lecture position with a pay of $20,000 LESS then I make as staff so they aren't going to get me to lecture I'll do my clinical instruction for extra $$$ but not give up my day job.

[BSN]

Try your best keep up your grades and you will get in surely. Just becasue their is a nursing shortage that does not mean that there should be a free ride through school. Even though it is true that it is hard to get into nursing program becasue of the nurse educator shortage (esp. BSN because this is not on a fist come first serve basis but highest grades get in others just don't), we should regardess keep a standard. To get into any shocol you have to take the pre-rec classes before knowing you are admited (such as pre-med). Good luck and keep trying

[newtocaliflvn]

i have been and lpn for over 25 years. i moved to california over a year ago. i have almost all my prereqs but went i spoke with counselors i was told that at present they are only accepting highest grades and that's 4.0...so i will never get in... i am a good nurse, an asset to my profession, but am unable to proceed with my education because of this instructor shortage... why doesn't the state run nursing programs expand... increase pay.. the governor keeps talking about the shortage...why doesn't he just make more nurses. i inquired about the 30 unit option for lvns, but they only accept 5 per year... the list is too long. by the time i get my r n license, i'll be collecting social security.
also it seems that lvn's don't work inhospitals in my area of california. so far i have only seen jobs in nursing homes. i have 25 years of icu experience. that is what i love to so.. i can understand no icu, but no hospital jobs..come on. lvn's have been under rated for years.
we are capable of taking excellent care of our patients
in a professional and caring way.i am so frustrated by the situation in california i just don't know what to do.. many lpn became lpn's becaude it was cheaper and faster to get into the work force.. but why produce lpns if you aren't going to let us do our jobs....any thoughts

[Preston]

I have been doing this work since I was a teen...I am now middle age. I went up the ranks. One thing I have noticed, after so many years, suddenly it turns around and then another rank is in demand...(LPNs aren't good enough, RN's are the way to go. Then suddenly, LPN's are affordable and excellent, RN's are too costly and etc, etc, etc...) Don't be discouraged...the work field goes through life changes just as people do...go to college anyway, learn as much as you can even if it isn't related to nursing...you may be surprised what you can do and who appreciates you!
Good luck...let me know how you do.
Preston

[pagandeva2000]

It is true that there are not enough instructors and it should not be more than about 8-10 students, because that instructor has to be there for each phase of patient care in order to cover her own license. She is ultimately responsible if something happens to the client. And, out of those 10 students, there may be some loose cannons there that need to be sat on like a horse.

While I can respect the fact that the standards should not decrease in regard to educating nurses, it IS ridiculous to do it so rigidly for those that can actually contribute to the profession. Many schools require insane pre-requisites (those that may never been utilized in nursing) and I notice that the bridge programs (at least here in New York) are misleading, because it is the same issue...many still require a 4.0.

Then, they want to say that they want to rid the units of associate degree nurses for BSN nurses, however, in many cases, the BSN nurse will NOT remain in a patient care area, since they are considered to be professional nurses. They basically move on to other positions where they do not have to kill themselves. I don't say that ALL BSN nurses are that way, but because they have more options, eventually, quite a few of them do move away from patient care.

Can't say if there will ever be a solution to the nursing shortage...unfortunately!

[cougarnurse]

I think the pay for Clinical Instructors may be a factor, also. True, no-one wants to 'give up their day job', where they have seniority, etc; but to be honest, wouldn't it be something to 'give back' to the profession, too? :o

[pagandeva2000]

I think the pay for Clinical Instructors may be a factor, also. True, no-one wants to 'give up their day job', where they have seniority, etc; but to be honest, wouldn't it be something to 'give back' to the profession, too? :o

While in theory, it would be ideal to give back to the profession, but in reality, people are tired, and want to be fairly compensated for their efforts. Each time a clinical instructor walks into the site with students, her own license is on the line. Yes, most students have malpractice insurance, but, still she is the responsible licensed person. You cannot guarentee what a student will do. I have seen students give medications without the presence of the instructor as well as perform things that we were specifically instructed NOT to do. These things can risk the instructor's hard earned license, and many are not willing to do it anymore.

[caroladybelle]

I think the pay for Clinical Instructors may be a factor, also. True, no-one wants to 'give up their day job', where they have seniority, etc; but to be honest, wouldn't it be something to 'give back' to the profession, too? :o

Lovely idea, but altruism does not pay the bills. And very few nurses/nursing instructors are working for pin money....they have to work to live.

We do not ask MDs do work as Attendings with all the attendant risks, pay them a pittance and do not give them extra benefits to compensate. We do not ask English teachers to get paid less to "give back". We don't ask drill sargeants in the military to sacrifice pay to train recruits with all that stress.

Why should nurses be expected after decades of honing their skills, to take a massive pay cut, increase their personal risks to "give back"?

[Pucklpnemt]

there is also a shortage of nursing school staff to teach the nursing students. We try and keep our clinical groups to 8-9 students each group. True an instructor could lecture to 100 students but when it's time for clinicals a school would need 11-12 instructors which in my area would be hard to come by. I was offered a full time lecture position with a pay of $20,000 LESS then I make as staff so they aren't going to get me to lecture I'll do my clinical instruction for extra $$$ but not give up my day job.

It is clear you are in Nursing for the Money..... I came from the school
that Nurses primary job is caring for patients. and money was a minor
thing.