Nursing job shortage?
Ok so i have been a nurse for almost 5 years now. I have been told and experienced first hand that there is in fact a nursing shortage that is getting worse and worse as the baby boomers get older. Never did I think there would be a shortage or jobs but there is.
Now let me explain where the shortage is. I am a travel nurse however I don’t really travel much. I have been in my hometown this entire time. I have managed to float around the different area hospitals and work 13 week assignments. Most travel nurses float around the country often between several different cities for jobs. The benefits for the nurse is usually a higher rate of pay then starting a new job and either a housing stipend, or a fully furnished apartment for the duration of you work assignment. Sounds good huh. I thought so and signed up. Then shortly into my first assignment was my engagement. So I couldn’t really take off traveling around the country and try to plan a wedding a little difficult so my intention was to get married then travel around a little, hopefully take my husband with me. Well then shortly after the wedding my husband had the opportunity to take a spot on his companies team that would work in California. Perfect we thought I could get a job out there and it would take care of our living situation. No go. there are currently no travel jobs for nurses right now. The economy has the hospitals scared to spend their money in fear that their customers will not pay their bills. Therefore a large shortage of jobs for the travel nurse. Now due to the horrible economy my husband and I thought twice about moving to California. We thought it safer to stay in Nebraska, the economy is a little more stable hear. But I figured I could still travel some. I applied for an assignment in Hawaii in which 48 applicants were searching for one of five spots. I didn’t get it, not surprising much but this is happening everywhere. Many nurses are trying to find jobs and are calling other traveling firms all over and it is the same story.
I guess the economy is even hitting the areas that you would think would have no issues. My other job, thankfully I have two, pretty much cut all of their benefits. the 401K matching went away, tuition reimbursement is suspended, parts of the health care benefits are gone, gift matching doesn’t exist and bonus shift are no longer now it is more, nursing shortage and very upset nurses working in poor unsafe conditions for patients. Safety is being compromised because hospitals want to save a few bucks. When there is a bad economy people do not stop getting sick, in fact health goes right out the window. But more people are unemployed which means uninsured or underinsured and hospitals fear they will suffer because bills are not being paid.
I Fear the worst is yet to come and I can’t imagine what will happen to patient care because of greedy CEO’s want their bonus.