Friday, December 03, 2004

IS THE NURSING SHORTAGE OVER? NOT!

In a recent article it has been suggested that the nursing shortage has improved. While many places are trying to rely less on travel nurses and more on thier own nurses there are many factors that point to a critical shortage of nurses. The good news is that 119,000 nurses were added to the nurse ranks in 2003. The bad news is that 2/3 of the gains since 2001 have been in the 50-63 age group. Which means many of them are close to retirement age by the time they become nurses. To read the whole article click here

Another disturbing trend I have seen is that hospitals are not posting positions and working short handed. When they are asked if they have a shortage they deny and point out the lack of positons available. The reasons vary but the reality is that these kind of manipulations give a false picture. Travel Nurses are often hired for positions as "temporary" while the hospital tries like crazy to recruit the nurse to stay permanently.

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