How Have You Been Affected by the Shortage of Nurses?

Everyone knows about the shortage of nurses in thenursing as a career. Real estate sales, computers and
United States, but few have asked themselves,electronics, retail sales, and finance are just a few of
"How does the shortage of nurses affect me?" Tothe careers that people are leaving to join the nursing
answer the question, you may need a bit offield. Nursing is seen as a stable profession with
information about what nurses do.reasonable salaries and many opportunities for secure
Registered nurses (RNs) provide direct care forjobs. I asked some of the older students who are
patients in acute care settings (59% are in hospitals),changing careers to share why they are choosing
in public health programs, home health, long termnursing.
care, correctional facilities, schools, doctors' offices,For some, nursing was a lifelong passion that had to
summer camps, and in the military. RNs also work inbe set aside in youth for a variety of reasons -
jobs that do not provide direct patient care such as:following the wishes of a parent, meeting the needs
infection control nurses, nurse administrators, legalof children and family - and the situation is now ripe
nurse consultants and nurse educators. The roles andto fulfill that desire. For others, nursing is a calling - a
settings for RNs to work are varied and everyvocation - based on personal experiences with
potential site for a nurse to work is affected by thecaregivers during childbirth or illness/death of a loved
shortage.one. Some are choosing nursing because many family
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) provide basicmembers are nurses and have been for generations.
bedside care for patients in a variety of settings.Others are not sure why they are choosing nursing;
LVNs work in clinics, long term care/rehabilitationmaybe that the care given to others will eventually
facilities (75% are in nursing-homes), correctionalcome back to them and to those they love.
facilities, doctors' offices and in home health care.Regardless of the reasons for choosing nursing as a
LVNs care for patients under the direction of RNs orprofession, nurses reap many rewards from their
MDs. Patients need care 24 hours a day, and nursescare of others. Whether working with children,
(both RNs and LVNs) work a variety of hours andadolescents, adults, or the elderly, nurses make a
days. LVNs also work in jobs that do not providedifference in the life and health of others. For most
direct patient care such as: staff developers,nurses, this is the real reward.
administrators, educators and consultants.The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a Career
I think the major way in which most of us haveGuide/ Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009
been affected by the shortage of nurses is in thewith information about the training, employment, job
length of time we, and those we love, need to waitoutlook and earnings for both RNs ( and LVNs (
for nursing care, whether that wait is in a clinic, ourYou can compare both, although Vocational Nursing is
homes, a hospital, a residential care facility or someoften a first step in the career ladder to RN. Because
other health care setting. But this shortage is ongoingof the impacted status of most RN programs in the
and soon will be creating other problems for those ofSan Francisco Bay Area, many men and women who
us who need care.really want to become RNs start by becoming an
As a result of the nursing shortage and of otherLVN. The LVN license provides a way for the person
changes in the economy and in certain professionsto support themselves and their families while waiting
careers, many men and women are flocking tofor admission to an RN program.