Many States Suffer Severe Nursing Shortage
The country as a whole suffers from a shortage of registered nurses. But if you’re an experienced RN, your job skills and training are badly needed in some states more than others.
According to a recent Health Resources and Services Administration study, the national average of nurses (792 nurses per 100,000) fluctuates widely by state. For example, the District of Columbia has the highest number of registered nurses--2,236 registered nurses per 100,000 population. Next is New Hampshire, which has 1,321 nurses per 100,000. The states with the least nurses are Idaho, Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. The state of California fared worst with only 603 nurses per 100,000, followed by Nevada with just 612 nurses per 100,000.
The World Health Organization recommends that any locality have a least 1000 nurses per 100,000 population. That said, there are a number of developing countries that are severely understaffed with just 10 nurses per 100,000 population.
If you’re a nurse or presently studying to become a nurse, you might consider moving to a state where nurses are desperately needed. Hospitals and healthcare centers in these underserved areas would more than likely offer far more attractive incentives for qualified applicants. Some of these employers might even offer lucrative relocation assistance and tuition reimbursement plans.
At Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, for example, qualified nurses are being offered high pay, big incentives, and a generous relocation program. One nursing package includes a $10,000 sign-on bonus, $1,500 monthly housing allowance and a $5,000 relocation package.
For an added perspective, check out this video.
If you have any thoughts on the nursing shortage in your state, feel free to share them in the comments section.
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
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I am a new grad RN who graduated with an Associates degree this past January and am having a hard time finding work, anywhere. I also have over 10 years experience working in the health care industry as a medical assistant. Some of the new grads have no prior health care experience. I have obtained a relief position at a convalescent facility, but there are 3 relief nurses and the hours are insufficient. Seems like there are RN jobs available but they all require you to have a year of acute care experience. No one wants to give you the experience needed. The best opportunity out there for new graduates is the new grad programs and they are limited with limited positions for thousands of new grad applicants. There are RN's working as CNA's and caregivers waiting to be accepted. Some of them have worked at the hospital prior to obtaining their RN degree and continue to work as CNA's as they have been passed up with an RN from out of state. I have applied for nineteen positions just this week alone. That is only due to the new grad programs opening up their application process again. Most of the programs are starting in January through March 2012. Some of them require you to have a Bachelors degree. The application process is lengthy and requires personality testing, essays, questionnaires, transcripts, letters of recommendation, along with their application and resume. They also have deadlines and are only open for application for a couple of weeks if not days. On the 30th of November I found probably around forty new programs through out the U.S.. The programs seems to come around only once a year. If there is such a shortage then maybe they should reassess hiring of new graduates, amount of new grad positions and make them available through out the year. On top of it I just found a handful of places that only want to pay $15.00-$18.00/hr for new graduates. I made that as a medical assistant. I didn't go back to school and get a degree which is costing me 50 grand to make the same kind of money with more responsibility and stress. It's frustrating being a new graduate RN. By the way I live in California where your article states is in need of nurses.
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